Patent ID: 7499755

Claim:
A medical lead system comprising a medical lead for electrical stimulation or sensing, the medical lead comprising: a generally round or tubular lead body having proximal and distal ends, and at least one electrical conductor extending between the proximal and distal ends; a connector on the proximal end of the lead body in electrical communication with the electrical conductor; and a generally flat paddle on the distal end of the lead body having an electrode array comprising at least one electrode in electrical communication with the electrical conductor, the paddle having proximal and distal ends and a length extending between the proximal and distal ends, the electrode array being displaced along the length of the paddle toward the distal end, whereby the electrode array may be advanced into position for electrical stimulation or sensing with the flat paddle extending through connective tissue, said connective tissue including ligamentum flavum, the flat paddle having opposite major surfaces and electrode apertures in one of the major surfaces, and the electrode array comprises a plurality of electrodes exposed through electrode apertures; and an anchor adapted for clamping the flat paddle and anchoring the flat paddle to connective tissue, the anchor comprising two clamping jaws adapted to clamp the major surfaces of the flat paddle therebetween, at least one of the clamping jaws is provided with at least one rib adapted to engage the flat paddle and retain it in position.