Patent ID: 8548582

Claim:
An implantable electrical stimulation system comprising: a lead comprising a lead body having a distal end and a proximal end, a plurality of electrodes disposed on the distal end of the lead body, a plurality of terminals disposed on the proximal end of the lead body, and a plurality of conductors electrically coupling at least one of the electrodes to at least one of the terminals, the plurality of conductors extending along a longitudinal length of the lead body; a control module configured and arranged to electrically couple to the lead, the control module comprising a housing, and an electronic subassembly disposed in the housing; a connector assembly for receiving the lead body, the connector assembly comprising a connector assembly housing defining a port that is configured and arranged for receiving the proximal end of the lead body, a plurality of connector contacts disposed in the connector assembly housing and electrically coupled to the electronic subassembly, the plurality of connector contacts configured and arranged to align with the plurality of terminals such that an electrical connection is formed between the plurality of connector contacts and the plurality of terminals when the proximal end of the lead body is disposed in the port of the connector assembly, and a disconnecting feature comprising a switch disposed on or in the connector assembly, the switch configured and arranged to electrically disable, or at least significantly reduce, the electrical connection between the plurality of connector contacts and the electronic subassembly when the switch is opened by mechanically moving the proximal end of the lead body relative to the connector assembly housing to misalign the plurality of connector contacts from the plurality of terminals to severe, or at least significantly reduce, the electrical connection between the plurality of connector contacts and the plurality of terminals.