Implantable medical device lead conductor having integral biostable in-situ grown oxide insulation and process for forming

An implantable medical device, comprising:

• a housing generating electrical signals for delivering cardiac therapy, the housing having a connector block;
• a lead having a lead body extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the proximal end of the lead being insertable within the connector block and electrically coupling the housing and the lead;
• a plurality of conductor wires electrically coupling the proximal end and the distal end of the lead body, one or more of the plurality of conductor wires being formed of a material having a chemically modifiable surface for forming an insulating oxide layer thereon;
• and
• a first insulation layer formed about the one or more of the plurality of conductor wires, wherein the first insulation layer corresponds to the insulating oxide layer.

A method for forming a conductor insulation within a medical device lead of an implantable medical device, comprising the steps of:

• a.) immersing a first portion of a conductor wire formed of a material having a chemically modifiable surface for producing an insulating oxide layer thereon within an anodization solution corresponding to the producing of the insulating oxide layer;
• b.) applying a bias corresponding to a predetermined current limit and a corresponding voltage limit to the conductor wire;
• c.) determining whether a predetermined cell anodization voltage has been reached;
• d.) maintaining the predetermined cell anodization voltage for a predetermined time period;
• and
• e.) removing the bias and advancing the conductor wire through a water rinse so that a next portion of the conductor wire is immersed within the anodization solution.