Patent ID: 8868207

Claim:
An implantable electrical stimulation lead comprising: a lead body having a distal end, a proximal end, a longitudinal length, and an outer surface; a plurality of stimulation electrodes disposed on the distal end of the lead body, wherein the plurality of stimulation electrodes are configured and arranged to stimulate patient tissue during normal operation of the electrical stimulation lead, the plurality of stimulation electrodes comprising a first stimulation electrode; a plurality of terminals disposed on the proximal end of the lead body, the plurality of terminals comprising a first terminal; a plurality of conductive wires extending along the longitudinal length of the lead body and electrically coupling the plurality of electrodes to the plurality of terminals, the plurality of conductive wires comprising a first conductive wire electrically coupling the first electrode to the first terminal; a stylet lumen extending along the longitudinal length of the lead body, the stylet lumen configured and arranged for receiving a stylet; and a first tissue coupler disposed along the lead body between the plurality of stimulation electrodes and the plurality of terminals such that the first tissue coupler is physically separate from each of the plurality of stimulation electrodes, the first tissue coupler electrically coupled to the first conductive wire, the first tissue coupler comprising a first inner member that is cylindrically-shaped or C-shaped and that is conductive, wherein the first inner member is disposed concentrically over at least a portion of the stylet lumen, a non-conductive member disposed adjacent to at least a portion of the conductive first inner member, and an outer member that is conductive and that is disposed adjacent to at least a portion of the non-conductive member such that at least a portion of the non-conductive member is sandwiched between the first inner member and the outer member to completely physically separate the outer member from the first inner member, from each of the plurality of conductive wires, and from each of the stimulation electrodes; wherein both the first stimulation electrode and the first inner member are conductively coupled to the first conductive wire, and wherein the outer member is disposed along a portion of the outer surface of the lead body such that the outer member is exposed to patient tissue when the lead is implanted in a patient; wherein the first conductive wire forms less than one revolution around the stylet lumen.