Patent ID: 7383090

Claim:
An electrode assembly for an implantable medical device, the electrode assembly comprising: a) an electrical contact having a sidewall extending to an upper face and a lower face; b) a crimping member comprising a crimping member sidewall surrounding an opening extending from a crimping member upper surface to a crimping member lower surface, wherein the crimping member opening receives the electrical contact sidewall in a closely spaced relationship, and wherein the crimping member has a radial bore extending from a crimping member outer surface spaced from the electrical contact to a crimping member inner surface in communication with the crimping member opening defined by the crimping member sidewall, wherein the radial bore is disposed intermediate the crimping member upper and lower surfaces; c) a helical strand comprising at least one coiled filar providing a rugosity extending to a proximal end connectable to the medical device and a distal end; and d) a mandrel received in a lumen of the helical strand at the distal end thereof, wherein the distal end of the helical strand supporting the mandrel resides in the radial bore of the crimping member characterized as having been deformed under a compression pressure to lock onto the sidewall of the electrical contact and into the rugosity of the helical strand with the mandrel residing permanently in the coiled filar and preventing damage to the coiled filar.