Implantable lead bandstop filter employing an inductive coil with parasitic capacitance to enhance mri compatability of active medical devices

A medical lead, comprising:

• a conductor having a distal electrode contactable to biological cells;
• and
• a bandstop filter comprising at least a portion of the lead conductor, for attenuating RF current flow through the lead conductor at a selected center frequency or across a range of frequencies;
• wherein the bandstop filter comprises a capacitance in parallel with an inductance, said parallel capacitance and inductance placed in series with the lead conductor, wherein values of capacitance and inductance are selected such that the bandstop filter attenuates RF current flow at the selected center frequency or across the range of frequencies;
• wherein the bandstop filter has an overall circuit Q such that the resultant 3 dB bandwidth is at least 10 kHz and the resultant 10 dB bandwidth is at least 25 kHz;
• and
• wherein the bandstop filter is formed as at least a part of a coiled or spiral inductor portion of the lead conductor, and the capacitance is the parasitic capacitance formed between adjacent turns of said inductor portion.