Patent ID: 8340784

Claim:
A method for implanting a stimulation lead into the epidural space of a patient, the method comprising: inserting a needle through tissue of the patient until a tip of the needle is disposed within the epidural space of the patient; inserting a stiffening stylet into a stimulation lead through an internal stylet guide of the stimulation lead, wherein the stimulation lead further comprises a plurality of a terminals at a proximal end of the stimulation lead, the stimulation lead comprises a body at a distal end of the stimulation lead, the body including two principal opposing planar surfaces with electrodes arranged on one of the planar surfaces, and the body having a first portion at a distal end of the body, the first portion of the body being flexible in a plane substantially parallel to the planar surfaces, and the stylet guide extends the proximal end to the distal end, and wherein after the inserting is performed, an end of the stylet is disposed at a distal end of the body of the stimulation lead; advancing the stimulation lead with the stiffening stylet through the needle and into the epidural space of the patient; and removing the needle from the epidural space of the patient.