Systems and methods for making and using enhanced electrodes for electrical stimulation systems

A medical lead for providing electrical stimulation of patient tissue, the medical lead comprising:

• a lead body having a distal end portion, a proximal end portion, and a longitudinal length;
• a plurality of electrodes disposed along the distal end portion of the lead body, the plurality of electrodes each having an exterior surface and an opposing interior surface, wherein the plurality of electrodes are configured and arranged such that when the lead is implanted in a patient the exterior surfaces of each of the plurality of electrodes are exposed to patient tissue and provide a surface along which stimulation energy propagates from the lead to patient tissue, wherein at least one of the plurality of electrodes is a grooved electrode, wherein a plurality of grooves are defined along the exterior surface of the at least one grooved electrode and extend non-linearly with each of the plurality of groove extending in a curved line around less than an entire circumference of the lead, wherein the interior surface of the at least one grooved electrode is ungrooved;
• a plurality of terminals disposed along the proximal end portion of the lead body;
• and
• a plurality of conductive wires coupling the plurality of terminals to the plurality of electrodes.