Patent ID: 8437864

Claim:
A medical electrical lead comprising: a lead body that comprises a length between proximal end and a distal end, wherein the lead body defines a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal end and the distal end; a conductive element located within an interior of the lead body and extending along the longitudinal axis for at least a portion of the length of the lead body; a tubular electrode sub-assembly positioned over the exterior surface of the lead body such that the longitudinal axis extends through the tubular electrode sub-assembly, wherein the tubular electrode sub-assembly comprises: a thermoplastic tubular liner comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, an electrode embedded into the outer surface of the thermoplastic tubular liner to depth sufficient to mechanically couple the electrode to the thermoplastic tubular liner, wherein at least a portion of an outer surface of the electrode comprises an exposed outer surface proximate the outer surface of the thermoplastic tubular liner; one or more selected attachment sites at which the tubular electrode sub-assembly is positioned over and attached to underlying structure of the lead body, wherein the one or more selected attachment sites occupy only a portion of the inner surface of the thermoplastic tubular liner; an electrical connection within the medical electrode lead between the electrode and the conductive element.