Patent ID: 8849414

Claim:
An implantable paddle lead comprising: an elongated lead body with a proximal end and a distal end; a plurality of terminals disposed at the proximal end of the lead body; a paddle body coupled to the distal end of the lead body, the paddle body having a length, a width, and front surface, the paddle body disposed in a flat configuration; a plurality of contacts disposed on the front surface of the paddle body; at least one manually-bent, adjustable shape-retaining member interconnected with the paddle body, the at least one shape-retaining member formed from a deformable material, wherein the at least one shape-retaining member is interconnected with the paddle body such that bending the at least one shape-retaining member into a bent configuration causes the paddle body to bend from the flat configuration into a corresponding bent configuration, wherein the paddle lead is configured and arranged for implantation into a patient with the paddle body disposed in the bent configuration, wherein the plurality of contacts are configured and arranged to stimulate patient tissue while the paddle body is disposed in the bent configuration, wherein the at least one shape-retaining member is stiff enough to maintain the same bent configuration of the at least one paddle body for at least one day after implantation of the paddle lead, and wherein the bent configuration that the at least one shape-retaining member is configured and arranged for bending the paddle body into prior to implantation of the paddle lead into the patient corresponds to a shape of a portion of an anatomical structure disposed at, or in proximity to, a target stimulation region within the patient; and a plurality of conductors, each conductor electrically coupling at least one of the contacts to at least one of the terminals.