Patent ID: 8857048

Claim:
A kit for making a lead or lead extension, the kit comprising an elongated bundle of conductor wires, each conductor wire comprising a conductive core and a layer of insulation disposed over the conductive core; a wire-separating element comprising a solid body defining a center, an outer rim, and a plurality of windows disposed circumferentially around the body, a mounting aperture configured and arranged to receive the bundle of conductor wires, wherein the mounting aperture is positioned at the center of the body, a plurality of retention devices disposed around the outer rim of the body, each retention device configured and arranged to receive, and retain, an end of one of the conductor wires which passes through the center aperture and is bent over, and extended along, the body of the conductor-separating element, wherein, the plurality of windows are positioned such that, when a one of the conductors is extended along the body of the conductor-separating element and received in a one of the retention devices, the one of the conductors has a portion that is entirely exposed through a one of the windows; and a laser ablation system configured and arranged to ablate a portion of the layer of insulation of each of the conductor wires through the windows.