Implantable electrical stimulation systems with leaf spring connective contacts and methods of making and using

An implantable control module of an electrical stimulation system, the implantable control module comprising:

• a housing defining a connector receptacle configured and arranged to receive a proximal end of a lead, the housing further defining within the connector receptacle region a plurality of spaced-apart leaf spring connective contacts, each leaf spring connective contact being corrugated and wrapped around at least a portion of an inner surface of the connector receptacle;
• an electronic subassembly disposed in the housing;
• and
• a plurality of conductors, each conductor coupling the electronic subassembly with at least one of the leaf spring connective contacts, wherein the leaf spring connective contacts are welded to at least one of the conductors.

A method for stimulating patient tissue, the method comprising:

• implanting a lead into a patient, the lead comprising a plurality of electrodes disposed on a distal end of the lead and electrically coupled to at least one contact terminal disposed on a proximal end of the lead;
• disposing the proximal end of the lead into a connector comprising a plurality of leaf spring connective contacts coupled electrically to a control module, at least one leaf spring connective contact configured and arranged to couple electrically with at least one contact terminal, each leaf spring connective contact comprising an elongated body having a first end and an opposing second end, the leaf spring connective contact wrapped around at least a portion of an inner surface of the connector receptacle such that the first end and the second end overlap one another, wherein the connective contact is corrugated such that the connective contact comprises a plurality of alternating ridges and grooves;
• and
• providing electrical signals from the control module to electrically stimulate patient tissue using at least one of the electrodes.

An implantable lead extension of an electrical stimulation system, the implantable lead extension comprising:

• a housing disposed at a distal end of the lead extension, the housing defining a connector receptacle configured and arranged to receive a proximal end of a lead, the housing further defining within the connector receptacle region a plurality of spaced-apart leaf spring connective contacts, each leaf spring connective contact comprising an elongated body having a first end and an opposing second end, the leaf spring connective contact wrapped around at least a portion of an inner surface of the connector receptacle such that the first end and the second end overlap one another, wherein the connective contact is corrugated such that the connective contact comprises a plurality of alternating ridges and grooves;
• a plurality of terminal contacts disposed at a proximal end of the lead extension;
• and
• a plurality of conductors, each conductor coupling at least one of the leaf spring connective contacts with at least one of the terminal contacts.