Abstract: To prevent electrical conductors which connect a patient-implanted high energy electrode to a pulse generator from short circuiting at locations where a tubular lead body in which the conductors are contained encounters a sharp bend, the lead body has an oval cross section and the conductors are disposed on the major axis of the oval. This arrangement promotes preferential bending of the lead body about the major axis, rather than the minor axis of the oval body, tending to maintain the spacing between the conductors and thereby minimizing short circuits. The lead body can be resiliently compressed, however, for insertion into a patient in a cylindrical catheter of circular cross section.