Medical catheter/lead body design and means of manufacture thereof

An implantable endocardial lead extending between proximal and distal ends for use with a cardiac stimulation device comprising:

• an elongated lead body of flexible resilient material comprising:
• a first elongated tubular component having a first face and a first longitudinally extending channel forming a partial lumen in the first face;
• a second elongated tubular component having a second face opposite the first face and a second longitudinally extending channel forming a partial lumen in the second face;
• the first and second elongated tubular components being integrated by contiguously uniting the first and second faces with the first and second partial lumina being in overlying relationship resulting in a full lumen within the elongated lead body;
• wherein the elongated lead body has a peripheral outer surface with a first pair of longitudinally spaced annular grooves therein and a second pair of longitudinally spaced annular grooves therein, a first length of the lead body between the first pair of annular grooves being smaller than a second length of the lead body between the second pair of annular grooves;
• and
• further comprising:
• an elastic ring received in each of the annular grooves for biasing together the first and second faces of the first and second elongated tubular components;
• whereby the flexibility of the elongated lead body is greater along the second length than along the first length.

An implantable endocardial lead extending between proximal and distal ends for use with a cardiac stimulation device comprising:

• an elongated lead body of flexible resilient material comprising:
• a first elongated tubular component having a first face and a first longitudinally extending channel forming a partial lumen in the first face;
• a second elongated tubular component having a second face opposite the first face and a second longitudinally extending channel forming a partial lumen in the second face;
• the first and second elongated tubular components being integrated by contiguously uniting the first and second faces with the first and second partial lumina being in overlying relationship resulting in a full lumen within the elongated lead body;
• wherein the elongated lead body has a peripheral outer surface with a first pair of longitudinally spaced annular grooves therein and a second pair of longitudinally spaced annular grooves therein, a first length of the lead body between the first pair of annular grooves being smaller than a second length of the lead body between the second pair of annular grooves;
• and
• further comprising:
• an inelastic ring received in each of the annular grooves for biasing together the first and second faces of the first and second elongated tubular components;
• wherein the flexibility of the elongated lead body is greater along the second length than along the first length.