Stimulation lead and method including a multi-dimensional electrode array

A method of fabricating a stimulation lead for electrical stimulation of tissue of a patient, the method comprising:

• providing a paddle structure adapted to be implanted adjacent neural tissue for electrical stimulation, the paddle structure comprising a flexible polymer body;
• providing electrodes arranged in a multi-dimensional pattern and positioned along a contact side of the flexible polymer body;
• providing a plurality of sets of microtubes on the flexible polymer body, each microtube having an inner lumen;
• providing a lead body comprising a first plurality of conductor wires and a second plurality of conductor wires extending between a proximal and distal end of the lead body;
• routing a conductor wire through the inner lumen of each respective microtube of the plurality of sets of microtubes;
• and
• electrically coupling the conductor wires within plurality of sets of microtubes to respective electrodes positioned along a contact side of the flexible polymer body, wherein the polymer body of the paddle structure flexes transversely about its longitudinal axis and the plurality of sets of microtubes are arranged generally parallel to the longitudinal axis,
• wherein the first backing layer holds the first plurality of conductor wire side-by-side to form a first conductor layer, the second backing layer holds the second plurality of conductor wires side-by-side, the first and second backing layers projecting from the lead body in a splayed configuration.