Patent ID: 8244372

Claim:
A neurostimulation lead comprising: an elongated body of insulative material, comprising a longitudinal lumen, a first end portion, and a second end portion; a plurality of terminals longitudinally positioned along the first end portion; a plurality of electrodes longitudinally positioned along the second end portion; a plurality of conductors electrically coupling the plurality of electrodes to the plurality of terminals; a flexible metal longitudinal stiffener positioned within the lumen, the stiffener including at least a first and second region with the first region being solid walled and the second region comprising one or more spiral cuts including at least a first pitch and a second pitch, wherein the second pitch is different than the first pitch, the stiffener causing the neurostimulation lead to exhibit a greatest amount of column strength adjacent to one end portion of the elongated body and a transition to a lower column strength toward a medial portion of the elongated body.