Patent ID: 8897890

Claim:
An implantable system comprising: a lead, wherein the lead comprises: a) a lead body having a proximal end, a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a major axis; b) a plurality of electrodes located at the distal portion of the lead body; c) a plurality of electrical contacts located on an outer surface at the proximal portion of the lead body, wherein each of the plurality of electrical contacts has a contact length along the major axis of the lead body; d) a plurality of insulating regions located at the proximal portion of the lead body, wherein each of the plurality of insulating regions has an insulating length along the major axis of the lead body; and e) a plurality of conductive elements that operably couple the plurality of electrodes to the plurality of electrical contacts, wherein the plurality of the electrical contacts and the plurality of the insulating regions are configured so that the plurality of insulating regions electrically isolate the electrical contacts, and wherein either one of the plurality of insulating lengths is different from the other insulating lengths or one of the plurality of contact lengths is different from the other contact lengths; and an implantable signal generator, wherein the implantable signal generator comprises: a) electronic circuitry; and b) a connector block comprising: i. a lumen having a major axis, wherein the lumen is configured to receive at least a portion of the lead; ii. a plurality of electrical connectors each having an electrical connector length along the major axis of the lumen, wherein the plurality of electrical connectors are operably coupled to the electronic circuitry, iii. a plurality of electrical insulators each having an electrical insulator length along the major axis of the lumen, wherein either one of the plurality of electrical connector lengths is different from the other electrical connector lengths or one of the plurality of electrical insulator lengths is different from the other electrical insulator lengths, wherein the plurality of electrical contacts and the plurality of insulating regions on the lead, and the plurality of electrical connectors and the plurality of electrical insulators in the connector block are configured so that the lengths of the plurality of electrical connectors are the same lengths as the lengths of the corresponding electrical contacts and so that the plurality of electrical contacts form operable connections to the electronic circuitry through the plurality of electrical connectors, and the insulating regions and the electrical insulators electrically isolate adjacent operable connections.