Patent ID: 8781590

Claim:
A proximal connector end of an implantable lead comprising: a connector pin made of a first conducting material; a tubular insulator made of an electrically insulating material concentrically positioned around at least a portion of the connector pin; a protective layer coating a surface of the connector pin such that the protective layer is disposed between the connector pin and the tubular insulator; and a connector ring made of a second conducting material concentrically positioned around at least a portion of the tubular insulator; wherein the connector pin, tubular insulator, and connector ring are at least partly connected by spark plasma sintering, wherein the protective layer prevents formation of a mechanical bonding between the connector pin and the tubular insulator, and wherein the protective layer is removed after the spark plasma sintering to create a gap between the tubular insulator and the connector pin to allow rotation of the connector pin relative to the tubular insulator.