Patent ID: 8322026

Claim:
A method for forming a lead or lead extension, the method comprising: forming an arrangement of a plurality of elongated conductors, each conductor extending from a proximal end of the arrangement to a distal end of the arrangement, each of the plurality of conductors is a wire that comprises a layer of insulation disposed over a conductive core; the plurality of conductors comprising a first conductor; disposing a conductor-separating element over the proximal end of the arrangement, the conductor-separating element comprising a plurality of windows defined in a body, the plurality of windows comprising a first window; radially extending a proximal end of the first conductor over a portion of the conductor-separating element such that a portion of the first conductor extends across, and is exposed through, the first window of the conductor-separating element; directing ablation energy through the first window to ablate insulation from the portion of the first conductor extending across the first window in order to expose a portion of the conductive core of the first conductor; and removing the conductor-separating element from the proximal end of the arrangement of the plurality of elongated conductors.