Patent ID: 8567055

Claim:
A method for assembling an in-line connector terminal to complete construction of an implantable medical electrical lead, the lead including an elongate insulative body, a plurality of elongate peripheral conductors, and a plurality of electrodes, each conductor extending within the body and having a proximal portion extending out from a proximal end of the body, each electrode being mounted to a distal portion of the elongate body, each of the of the plurality of electrodes being coupled to a corresponding conductor of the plurality of peripheral conductors, and the method comprising: coupling each of a plurality of conductive sleeves to the proximal portion of the corresponding conductor of the plurality of peripheral conductors such that each conductive sleeve is in conductive contact with the corresponding peripheral conductor and a first length exists between the coupled conductive sleeve of a first conductor of the plurality of peripheral conductors and the proximal end of the elongate body of the lead, and a second length exists between the coupled conductive sleeve of a second conductor of the plurality of peripheral conductors and the proximal end of the elongate body, the second length being greater than the first length; mounting a plurality of contact members and a corresponding plurality of insulator members onto a strut member such that each insulator member is positioned adjacent to a corresponding contact member of the plurality of contact members, the strut member including a lumen that defines a central longitudinal axis of the in-line connector; forming a junction between the coupled conductive sleeve of each conductor and the corresponding mounted contact member such that the proximal portion of each conductor extends along the strut member and across a gap between the proximal end of the elongate body of the lead and a distal end of the strut member; positioning the proximal portion of each of the conductors in a helical path between the proximal end of the elongate body and the distal end of the strut member; and forming a grip zone around the proximal portions of the conductors, between the proximal end of the elongate body and the distal end of the strut member.