Patent ID: 7953494

Claim:
A method for implanting an implantable lead within a human body, the method comprising: inserting a stiffening member into a distal region of a body of the lead through a port formed in a sidewall of the lead body, the port being located in an intermediate region of the lead body, between the distal region and a proximal region of the lead body, and the lead body having at least one conductor disposed therein and extending from the proximal region to the distal region; inserting the lead body distal region, which has the stiffening member inserted therein, into the human body; retracting the stiffening member from the inserted lead body distal region; placing a first sleeve around the lead body to seal over the port after retracting the stiffening member; and placing a second sleeve around the first sleeve to hold the first sleeve in place over the port.