Patent ID: 8010207

Claim:
A medical lead comprising: a first coiled portion including N filar(s) extending along a first segment of the lead; and a second coiled portion electrically coupled to the first coiled portion, the second coiled portion including N+M filars extending along a second segment of the lead, the N+M filars producing increased stiffness of the second coiled portion relative to the first coiled portion, wherein N and M are positive integers, the second coiled portion being located at a more distal end of the medical lead relative to the first coiled portion; wherein the M filar(s) in the second coiled portion form M filar coils in the second coiled portion; wherein the N filar(s) in the second coiled portion form N filar coils in the second coiled portion; wherein at least one M filar coil in the second coiled portion has a coil diameter that is the same as a coil diameter of at least one of the N filar coils; an electrode located on a distal tip of the medical lead, the electrode being electrically coupled to the second coiled portion; and an electrically conductive bus to electrically couple the N filar(s) of the first coiled portion to the N+M filars of the second coiled portion.