Grounding of a shield within an implantable medical lead

A method of grounding a braided shield of an implantable medical lead, comprising:

• providing a radio frequency conductive coupling between a metal conductor coated with a non-conductive material and the braided shield for at least one point along the lead;
• and
• establishing a ground path from the metal conductor.

29-30. (canceled)

A method of grounding a shield of an implantable medical lead, comprising:

• providing a radio frequency conductive coupling through a doped jacket covering the shield for at least one point along the lead;
• and
• establishing a ground path from the doped jacket.

A method of grounding a shield of an implantable medical lead, comprising:

• providing a radio frequency conductive coupling between a plurality of metal conductors and the shield for a plurality of points along the lead, a most proximal metal conductor being spaced apart from a most distal metal conductor by a nearest edge-to-nearest edge distance of 2 millimeters to 40 centimeters;
• and
• establishing a ground path from the metal conductors.

An implantable medical lead, comprising:

• a jacket;
• a braided shield within the jacket, where a thickness of the jacket covering the braided shield for at least one point is within a range of zero to less than a thickness of the jacket at areas on either side of the at least one point.

41-42. (canceled)