Abstract: Implantable medical leads and methods of making. The method includes providing first and second tubes, and arranging a segment of the first tube side-by-side with a segment of the second tube along a region of interface. The tubes are forced to a non-linear shape along at least a portion of the region of interface. An adhesive is applied to the portion of the region of interface and cured. Upon curing, the adhesive bonds the tubes to one another and elastically maintains the non-linear shape in the absence of an external force. A conductive element is disposed within at least one of the tubes. In some embodiments, the non-linear shape is a sigmoid shape, and the method includes arranging the tube segments in a fixture having a structure defining the sigmoid shape.

Abstract: Implantable lead assembly including a lead body, an elongated conductor, a coiled electrode, and a tether line. The lead body maintains the conductor. The electrode is coupled to the conductor, defining proximal and distal ends. The tether line defines a trailing segment and a leading segment terminating in a leading end. The tether line is coupled to the coiled electrode at a point proximal the distal end, and the leading end extends distal the distal end. With this configuration, a pulling force applied to the leading segment is transferred to the electrode at a point proximal the distal end as a pushing force, thereby minimizing an opportunity for overt stretching of the coiled electrode during implantation. The lead assembly can further include a needle connected to the tether line.

Abstract: Implantable medical leads and methods of making. The method includes providing first and second tubes, and arranging a segment of the first tube side-by-side with a segment of the second tube along a region of interface. The tubes are forced to a non-linear shape along at least a portion of the region of interface. An adhesive is applied to the portion of the region of interface and cured. Upon curing, the adhesive bonds the tubes to one another and elastically maintains the non-linear shape in the absence of an external force. A conductive element is disposed within at least one of the tubes. In some embodiments, the non-linear shape is a sigmoid shape, and the method includes arranging the tube segments in a fixture having a structure defining the sigmoid shape.

Abstract: Implantable medical leads that are flexible and extensible in a controllable manner to facilitate subject body movements, able to permit and withstand multiple degree of freedom of movement that are useful for use in the neck region of a subject body and other regions of any subject's body that may benefit from increased flexibility and extensibility. Features of medical leads are utilized to permit extensibility and are based upon the provision of shaped features that controllably permit lead extension under low load, but that maintain a desired shape under no load. The shaped lead portions provide extensibility to the lead as the shapes elastically deform under load. A shaping element, such as an elongate element or a tube defines and holds the lead in the desired shape, which may comprise one or more series of sigmoid shapes as a pattern.

Abstract: Implantable medical leads that are customizable and that are flexible and extensible in a controllable manner to facilitate subject body movements. In particular, implantable medical leads include the ability to be customized by selective and controllable separation of lead bodies from one another, which leads are also able to permit and withstand multiple degree of freedom of movement that are useful for use in the neck region of a subject body and other regions of any subject's body that may benefit from increased flexibility and extensibility.

Abstract: Implantable medical leads that are flexible and extensible in a controllable manner with a substantially two-dimensional profile to fit between adjacent tissue layers and to facilitate subject body movements. In particular, implantable medical leads able to permit and withstand multiple degree of freedom of movement that are useful for use in the neck region of a subject body and other regions of any subject's body that may benefit from increased flexibility and extensibility. Features of medical leads are utilized to permit extensibility and are based upon the provision of shaped features that controllably permit lead extension under low load, but that maintain a desired shape under no load. The shaped lead portions provide extensibility to the lead as the shapes elastically deform under load.

Abstract: Implantable lead assembly including a lead body, an elongated conductor, a coiled electrode, and a tether line. The lead body maintains the conductor. The electrode is coupled to the conductor, defining proximal and distal ends. The tether line defines a trailing segment and a leading segment terminating in a leading end. The tether line is coupled to the coiled electrode at a point proximal the distal end, and the leading end extends distal the distal end. With this configuration, a pulling force applied to the leading segment is transferred to the electrode at a point proximal the distal end as a pushing force, thereby minimizing an opportunity for overt stretching of the coiled electrode during implantation. The lead assembly can further include a needle connected to the tether line.

Abstract: Implantable medical leads that are flexible and extensible in a controllable manner to facilitate subject body movements and that are bundled to create a branched lead to permit lead body ends on one or both ends of the lead to be movable relative to one another so as to be positionable in different locations. Implantable medical leads advantageously include individual lead portions, sub-bundles, and bundles that are able to be selectively positioned and implanted within a subject body and that are useful, in particular, for use in the neck region of a subject body and other regions of any subject's body that may benefit from increased flexibility, extensibility and positionability.

Abstract: Implantable medical lead assemblies of a plurality of leads that are flexible and extensible in a controllable manner to facilitate subject body movements and that are bundled to create a branched lead assembly to permit lead ends on one or both ends of the lead assembly to be movable relative to one another so as to be positionable in different locations. In particular, implantable medical lead assemblies advantageously include individual lead portions, lead sub-bundles, and lead bundles that are able to be selectively positioned and implanted within a subject body and that are useful, in particular, for use in the neck region of a subject body and other regions of any subject's body that may benefit from increased flexibility, extensibility and positionability.

Abstract: Implantable medical lead assemblies that are customizable and that are flexible and extensible in a controllable manner to facilitate subject body movements. In particular, implantable medical lead assemblies in accordance with the present invention advantageously include the ability to be customized by selective and controllable separation of leads from one another, which lead assemblies are also able to permit and withstand multiple degree of freedom that are useful for use in the neck region of a subject body and other regions of any subject's body that may benefit from increased flexibility and extensibility.

Abstract: Implantable medical leads that are flexible and extensible in a controllable manner to facilitate subject body movements. In particular, implantable medical leads advantageously are able to permit and withstand multiple degree of freedom that are useful for use in the neck region of a subject body and other regions of any subject's body that may benefit from increased flexibility and extensibility. Preferably, features of medical leads are utilized to permit extensibility and are based upon the provision of shaped features that controllably permit lead extension under low load, but that maintain a desired shape under no load. The shaped lead portions provide extensibility to the lead as the shapes elastically deform under load. Preferably, a shaping element, such as an elongate element or a tube defines and holds the lead in the desired shape, which most preferably comprises one or more series of sigmoid shapes as a pattern.