Patent ID: 8655458

Claim:
A medical lead comprising: a lead body including at least one conductor extending from a proximal end, which is adapted to be connected to a pulse generator, to a distal end, wherein the distal end comprises a preformed curved portion; and one or more electrodes operatively connected to the at least one conductor and coupled to the preformed curved portion of the lead body, wherein at least a portion of each of the one or more electrodes includes an arrangement of interconnected, spaced-apart elements that are selectively configured to move with respect to each other such that each of the one or more electrodes is flexible and conforms to contours of the preformed curved portion during and after implantation of the medical lead, the spaced-apart elements of each electrode comprising a plurality of collars spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of the electrode and a plurality of struts, each strut extending parallel with the longitudinal axis of the electrode to connect a respective pair of adjacent collars, adjacent struts of the plurality of struts positioned in an offset arrangement with respect to each other, wherein the spaced-apart elements have a greater surface area along portions of an exterior surface of the one or more electrodes configured to face toward tissue to be stimulated by the one or more electrodes than along portions of the exterior surface of the one or more electrodes configured to face away from the tissue to be stimulated by the one or more electrodes, and wherein an inside radius of curvature of the one or more electrodes along the preformed curved portion is comprised of less material than an outside radius of curvature of the one or more electrodes along the preformed curved portion.