Abstract: During fabrication of an electrical medical lead, a cut end of a stranded wire conductor is subjected to electrical current sufficient to heat and weld the strands together upon discharge of a high voltage between the cut end and a ground metal plate formed of a material of the stranded wire conductor. The discharge of weld energy between the stranded wire cut end and the ground plate induces heat in the wire strands at the stranded wire cut end and the ground plate sufficient to transfer conductive material from the ground plate to fuse the wire strands together. The fusing inhibits unraveling of the wire strands at the fused cut end, whereby the insertion of the stranded wire cable through a lead body lumen and the connection of the fused stranded wire cut end to a further lead component, e.g., a proximal lead connector element or distal electrode, is facilitated.

Abstract: During fabrication of an electrical medical lead, a cut end of a stranded wire conductor is subjected to electrical current sufficient to heat and weld the strands together upon discharge of a high voltage between the cut end and a ground metal plate formed of a material of the stranded wire conductor. The discharge of weld energy between the stranded wire cut end and the ground plate induces heat in the wire strands at the stranded wire cut end and the ground plate sufficient to transfer conductive material from the ground plate to fuse the wire strands together. The fusing inhibits unraveling of the wire strands at the fused cut end, whereby the insertion of the stranded wire cable through a lead body lumen and the connection of the fused stranded wire cut end to a further lead component, e.g., a proximal lead connector element or distal electrode, is facilitated.