Patent ID: 8504168

Claim:
An implantable lead assembly comprising a lead body, a conductor contained within the lead body, a contact having an inside diameter and an outside surface defining an outer diameter of the contact, and a connection between the contact and the conductor, the connection comprising: a slot formed in the contact, the slot having a length extending parallel a longitudinal axis of the contact and a width transverse to the length, the width having a first dimension at the outer diameter of the contact and a second, smaller dimension at the inside diameter of the contact; a crimp sleeve comprising a conductor coupling and a contact coupling, the conductor coupling being crimped around the conductor within the lead body, the contact coupling having an outside surface located radially outward from the conductor coupling, and the contact coupling being attached to the contact and resting within the contact slot so that the outside surface of the contact coupling is approximately flush with the outside surface of the contact; wherein a width of the contact coupling of the crimp sleeve, at the outside surface thereof, fits within the slot at the outer diameter of the contact, but is greater than the width of the slot at the inside diameter, so that the contact coupling rests within the contact slot, without falling through to the inside diameter of the contact, prior to attachment thereto.