Patent ID: 8306631

Claim:
An implantable lead with a coupling for connecting a conductor to a contact, comprising: a lead body; at least one conductor contained in the lead body; at least one contact carried on the lead body, electrically connected to the conductor, and having a slot; and at least one coupling comprising: a proximal end and a distal end; a first coupling region, wherein the conductor extends into and attaches to the coupling along the first coupling region to define a longitudinal axis of the coupling and the first coupling region extends from the proximal end to the distal end; a second coupling region, adjacent to the first coupling region, extending from the proximal end to the distal end, and void of conductor; and a third coupling region adjacent to the second coupling region, engaged within the slot of the contact, and extending from the proximal end to the distal end; wherein a cross section of the coupling transverse to the longitudinal axis includes the first, second, and third coupling regions, with the first coupling region directly attached to the conductor at the cross section.