Patent ID: 7729781

Claim:
An implantable medical lead comprising: a) an elongate lead body having a lead sidewall comprising a non-conducting material extending from a proximal lead portion to a distal lead portion, wherein a cross-section of the distal lead portion perpendicular to a longitudinal axis thereof has a substantially curved section extending to and meeting with a planar surface; b) at least one electrical conductor extending between the proximal lead portion and the distal lead portion; wherein the conductor is embedded within the lead body or extends within a lumen within the lead body; and c) at least one electrode electrically coupled to the at least one conductor and disposed completely within the planar surface of the lead sidewall in the distal lead portion, the electrode comprising: i) an electrode substrate having an upper substrate surface and a lower substrate surface, both extending to a substrate sidewall intermediate the upper and lower substrate surfaces, wherein the substrate sidewall defines a first perimeter; ii) a hydrophilic coating supported on the upper substrate surface, the hydrophilic coating having an upper coating surface and a lower coating surface, both extending to a coating sidewall intermediate the upper and lower coating surfaces, wherein the coating sidewall defines a second perimeter; and iii) wherein the second perimeter of the hydrophilic coating is spaced inwardly from the first perimeter of the electrode substrate to provide an upper edge of the upper substrate surface that is not contacted by the hydrophilic coating, but is directly contacted by the non-conductive material of the lead body to thereby lock the substrate in place completely within the planar surface of the lead sidewall.