Patent ID: 8406897

Claim:
An implantable lead comprising: a lead body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal length; a plurality of electrodes disposed along the distal end of the lead body; a plurality of terminals disposed along the proximal end of the lead body; a plurality of conductors, each conductor electrically coupling at least one of the electrodes to at least one of the terminals, wherein at least one of the plurality of conductors comprises a first conductor that is arranged into at least one unit, the at least one unit comprising a first conductor segment of the first conductor extending along the lead body from beginning point to a first position, a second conductor segment of the first conductor extending along the lead body from the first position to a second position, and a third conductor segment of the first conductor extending along the lead body from the second position to an endpoint, wherein the first position is between the second position and the endpoint, and the second position is between the beginning point and the first position, wherein units are arranged so as to form a plurality of single-layer regions and a plurality of multi-layer regions, wherein the multi-layer regions are each formed from at least two overlapping conductor segments selected from the first, second, and third conductor segments of the first conductor, wherein the plurality of single-layer regions and the plurality of multi-layer regions are arranged along the longitudinal length of the lead body in an axially-alternating configuration with each individual single-layer region of the plurality of single-layer regions abutted by at least one of the plurality of multi-layer regions; wherein the plurality of multi-layer regions comprises a first multi-layer region and a second multi-layer region, and wherein the plurality of single-layer regions comprises a first single-layer region that is disposed between the first multi-layer region and the second multi-layer region and that abuts both the first multi-layer region and second multi-layer region; a plurality of discontinuous, axially-spaced-apart sections of interlayer material disposed along the longitudinal length of the lead body, wherein the interlayer material is disposed between at least two of the overlapping conductor segments of each of the first multi-layer region and the second multi-layer region, wherein the interlayer material completely physically separates the at least two overlapping conductor segments from each other, wherein the interlayer material is configured and arranged to prevent uncoiling of each of the first and second multi-layer regions and to maintain a constant axial spacing between the first multi-layer region and the second multi-layer region, and wherein the interlayer material comprises at least one of a doped material or foam; and a conductor insulation disposed over at least a portion of at least one of the plurality of conductors, the conductor insulation disposed between the at least one conductor and the interlayer material.