Patent ID: 6999819

Claim:
An implantable medical electrical lead for electrical stimulation of body tissue adapted to be introduced through and released into body tissue employing an introducer having an introducer lumen, comprising: a lead body extending between lead proximal and distal ends; P proximal connector elements formed in a connector array in a proximal segment of the lead body; P stimulation electrodes arranged in an electrode array extending proximally from the lead distal end through a distal segment of the lead body; P lead conductors extending between the P connector elements and the P stimulation electrodes; and a plurality of M tine elements formed of a flexible biocompatible plastic, formed in a tine element array extending through a segment of the lead proximal to the electrode array, each tine element comprising N flexible, pliant, tines, each tine having a tine width and thickness and extending through a tine length from an attached tine end to a free tine end, the attached tine end attached to the lead body from a tine attachment site and supporting the tine extending outwardly of the lead body and proximally toward the lead proximal end, whereby the M×N tines are adapted to be folded inward against the lead body when fitted into and constrained by the lumen of an introducer without overlapping one another and deploy outward to engage body tissue when the introducer is withdrawn proximally and release the tines to inhibit axial dislodgement of the P stimulation electrodes.