Lead electrode for use in an MRI-safe implantable medical device

A pulse stimulation system configured for implantation into a patient's body, the system comprising:

• a pulse generator;
• a conductive stimulation lead having a proximal end electrically coupled to said pulse generator and having a distal end;
• and
• an electrode assembly coupled to said distal end and comprising:
• a paddle-shaped electrode body having first and second substantially opposite sides, the body coupled to said distal end of said stimulation lead;
• at least one electrode on said first side and electrically coupled to said stimulation lead for delivering therapy to the patient;
• a floating electrode on said second side and configured to contact patient body tissue;
• and
• a filter coupled between said at least one electrode and said floating electrode for diverting RF energy toward said floating electrode and away from said at least one electrode.

An electrode assembly for use in a pulse stimulation system configured to be implanted in a patient's body and of the type that includes a pulse generator and a stimulation lead having a proximal end electrically coupled to the pulse generator and having a distal end, the electrode assembly comprising:

• a paddle-shaped electrode body coupled to the distal end of the stimulator lead, said electrode body having first and second sides;
• at least one conductive filer within the stimulation lead and electrically coupled to the pulse generator;
• at least one electrode positioned on said first side and coupled to said filer and configured to deliver therapy to the patient;
• a conductive mesh positioned on said second side and configured to contact the patient's body tissue;
• and
• a high-pass filter coupled between said at least one electrode and said conductive mesh for diverting RF energy toward said conductive mesh and away from said at least one electrode.

An electrode assembly for use in a pulse stimulation system configured to be implanted in a patient's body and of the type that includes a pulse generator and a stimulation lead having a proximal end electrically coupled to the pulse generator and having a distal region, the electrode assembly comprising:

• a paddle-shaped electrode body having first and second substantially opposite sides, the body coupled to the distal region of the stimulation lead;
• at least one electrode within said body and electrically coupled to the stimulation lead, said at least one electrode having a first side for delivering therapy to the patient and having a second side;
• and
• alternating layers of conducting and non-conducting material stacked on said second side to capacitively couple said electrode to the patient's body tissue for diverting RF energy to the patient's body tissue.

An electrode assembly for use in a pulse stimulation system configured to be implanted in a patient's body and of the type that includes a pulse generator and a stimulation lead having a proximal end electrically coupled to the pulse generator and having a distal region, the electrode assembly comprising:

• a paddle-shaped electrode body having first and second substantially opposite sides, the body coupled to the distal region of the stimulation lead;
• at least one electrode within said body and electrically coupled to the stimulation lead, said electrode having a first side for delivering therapy to the patient, and said electrode having a second side;
• and
• a layer of dielectric material on said second side and configured to capacitively couple said electrode to the patient's body for diverting RF energy to the patient's body.