Patent ID: 8554336

Claim:
An elongate lead comprising: a lead body having a pre-shaped section biased to a J-shaped configuration, the lead body including a proximal portion, a distal portion and a transition portion disposed between the proximal portion and the distal portion, the lead body having a first step reduction in stiffness between the proximal portion and the transition portion as a result of the proximal portion including polyurethane and the transition portion including silicone, the transition portion including a first sub portion and a second sub portion, the transition portion and the distal portion defining at least part of the pre-shaped section such that the transition portion and the distal portion are biased to the J-shaped configuration; an inner polymeric layer defining a lumen extending through the lead body; an additional polymeric tubing extending over the first sub portion of the transition portion such that the first sub portion is more stiff than the second sub portion, the lead body having a second step reduction in stiffness as a result of the additional polymeric tubing terminating at a transition point between the first sub portion and the second sub portion; and an electrode disposed between the transition portion and the distal portion, the electrode disposed within the pre-shaped section that is biased to the J-shaped configuration.