Patent ID: 8061026

Claim:
A method for forming a lead body having a transition from a section having a first lead body characteristic to a section having a second lead body characteristic wherein the first and second lead body characteristics are selected from durometer, rigidity, flexibility, color, and combinations thereof, the method comprising: contacting (i) a proximal section of the lead body having the first lead body characteristic to (ii) a distal section of the lead body having the second lead body characteristic, wherein the proximal section of the lead body defines a lumen, wherein the distal section of the lead body defines a lumen, and wherein the proximal section is contacted with the distal section such that the lumen of the proximal section is axially aligned with the lumen of the distal section; disposing a lap band about a portion of the proximal section and a portion of the distal section; thermally forming the lead body by bonding the lap band to the proximal and distal sections; and applying axially compressive pressure to the lap band as the lead body is being thermally formed, wherein the pressure applied is sufficient to result in the lead body having an outer diameter in regions proximally and distally adjacent to the lap band that are substantially the same to an outer diameter in a region formed by the lap band.