Patent ID: 8214058

Claim:
A lead assembly comprising: a lead body having a plurality of conductor wires embedded therein, wherein the plurality of conductor wires comprises an input/output wire, an anode wire, and a cathode wire, wherein the input/output wire, the anode wire, and the cathode wire are separate wires; a plurality of electrode contacts at least partially disposed on an outer surface of the lead body, wherein each of the electrode contacts is configured to apply stimulation current to one or more stimulation, sites; and a plurality of switching networks disposed in the lead body, each switching network corresponding to and configured to control an operation of one or more of the plurality of electrode contacts, wherein each of the switching networks comprises a memory unit coupled to the input/output wire and configured to store one or more unique address codes and one or more stimulation parameters configured to facilitate independent control of each of the electrode contacts, a switching element configured to couple and decouple at least one of the plurality of electrode contacts to the anode wire or the cathode wire in response to signals received at the memory unit from the input/output wire, and adjusting circuitry coupled to the switching element and the memory unit and configured to adjust one or more of the stimulation parameters; wherein the input/output wire, the anode wire, and the cathode wire are electrically coupled to each of the switching networks.