Systems and methods for coupling coiled conductors to conductive contacts of an electrical stimulation system

An electrical stimulating system comprising:

• an elongated member having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal length;
• a plurality of electrodes disposed on the distal end of the elongated member;
• a plurality of terminals disposed on the proximal end of the elongated member;
• a plurality of conductors, each conductor electrically coupling at least one of the electrodes to at least one of the terminals, wherein the plurality of conductors have an end portion, and wherein the plurality of conductors are disposed in the elongated member in a coiled configuration;
• a plurality of constraining elements disposed along at least one of the distal end or the proximal end of the elongated member, wherein each of the constraining elements is disposed over at least one of the plurality of conductors such that the underlying at least one of the plurality of conductors is maintained in the coiled configuration beneath the constraining element, and wherein at least one of the plurality of electrodes or at least one of the plurality of terminals is disposed over the constraining element and electrically coupled to at least one of the plurality of conductors;
• a control module configured and arranged to electrically couple to the proximal end of the elongated member, the control module comprising
• a housing, and
• an electronic subassembly disposed in the housing;
• and
• a connector for receiving the elongated member, the connector having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal length, the connector configured and arranged to receive the elongated member, the connector comprising
• a connector housing defining a port at the distal end of the connector, the port configured and arranged for receiving the proximal end of the elongated member, and
• a plurality of connector contacts disposed in the connector housing, the connector contacts configured and arranged to couple to at least one of the plurality of terminals disposed on the proximal end of the elongated member.

A method for forming an implantable lead, the method comprising:

• a) placing a plurality of elongated conductors into a coiled configuration;
• b) disposing a first constraining element over the plurality of conductors in proximity to an end portion of the conductors;
• c) uncoiling a first conductor of the plurality of conductors to the first constraining element from a location closer to the end portion than the first constraining element;
• d) disposing a second constraining element over a portion of the plurality of conductors such that the second constraining element is axially spaced apart from the first constraining element and is disposed closer to the end portion of the conductors than the first constraining element, wherein the uncoiled end of the first conductor extends radially from the elongated coiled conductors between the first constraining element and the second constraining element;
• e) uncoiling a second conductor of the plurality of conductors to the second constraining element from a location closer to the end portion than the second constraining element;
• f) disposing a first conductive contact over the first constraining element;
• and
• g) electrically coupling the uncoiled portion of the first conductor to the first conductive contact.