Patent ID: 7917213

Claim:
An implantable electrical lead that is biocompatible upon implantation in an animal and compatible with a magnetic resonance imaging scanner for the purpose of diagnostic quality imaging, wherein the magnetic resonance imaging scanner is responsive to signals at a Larmor frequency, said implantable electrical lead comprising: a first plurality of coiled insulated conducting wires wound in a first direction forming an outer layer of conductors having a first total length with a first number of turns per unit of length; a second plurality of coiled insulated conducting wires wound in a second direction forming an inner layer of conductors within the outer layer and having a second total length with a second number of turns per unit of length; a layer of dielectric material separating the inner layer and the outer layer by a distance, wherein the distance and properties of the dielectric material create a high impedance at the Larmor frequency of the magnetic resonance imaging scanner; an electrically conductive layer around the outer layer of conductors; and a mechanically flexible, biocompatible layer forming an external layer of the implantable electrical lead and adapted to contact with body tissue or body fluids of an animal.