Patent ID: 8337511

Claim:
A method for implanting an electrical stimulation lead in position to stimulate tissue in a person's brain, comprising: inserting, into a burr hole formed in the person's skull, a burr hole ring system adapted to seat within the burr hole, wherein the burr hole ring system comprises a lead securing member comprising a radial slot, the slot being adapted to contract or expand; inserting a cannula through the radial slot of the lead securing member with sufficient force to cause the radial slot to expand; positioning the electrical stimulation lead through the cannula such that electrodes of the lead are disposed relative to a selected area of the person's brain to apply stimulation pulses to the selected area; and withdrawing the cannula while retaining the electrical stimulation lead in place, wherein the lead securing member automatically contracts about the stimulation lead as the cannula is withdrawn to hold the stimulation lead in place to stimulate the selected area of the person's brain.