Implantable lead and surgical accessories

A lead introduction system for introducing an electrical lead into an anatomical target within the human body, said system comprising:

• (A) an implantable electrical lead having an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end, said elongated lead body having a stepped outside diameter and a stepped body portion having a proximally facing shoulder formed by said stepped outside diameter, said lead comprising an electrode terminal at said distal end of said lead, a connector terminal at said proximal end of said lead, and a conductor cable connecting said electrode terminal to said contact terminal, said electrode terminal and at least a portion of said cable extending from said electrode terminal comprising a contiguous reinforcing means;
• (B) a removable stylet assembly comprising a stylet and a stylet spacer, said stylet having a central lumen, said lumen accommodating said cable body and said stylet spacer so that said stylet and said stylet spacer are external to said lead;
• said stylet having a proximal end, a distal end, and a handle, said handle being attached to said proximal end of said stylet;
• (C) a stop bushing having a lumen and a locking means arranged to lock said stylet handle to said stop bushing when said stylet handle arrives at said bushing after said lead is advanced through said lumen to a desired initial position above the anatomical target;
• whereby after said stylet handle is locked in said stop bushing, said lead can be advanced or retracted with said stop bushing when said lead is being localized in the anatomical target and, after said lead is successfully localized, said stop bushing and said stylet can be immobilized to hold said lead from retracting when said stylet spacer is being removed, and wherein the removal of said stylet spacer clears the radial space between said lead and said stylet, whereby said stylet can be subsequently removed without causing traction on said lead.

An implantable electrical lead system comprising an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end, said elongated body having a stepped outside diameter, said lead comprising:

• (A) an electrode terminal at said distal end of said lead, said electrode terminal comprising a body and at least one electrode embedded in said body;
• (B) a stepped body portion having a proximally facing shoulder formed by said stepped outside diameter;
• (C) a connector terminal at said proximal end of said lead, said connector terminal having a body and at least one contact embedded in said body;
• (D) a conductor cable between said electrode terminal and said connector terminal, said cable having an insulating jacket and at least one conductor encased in said jacket, said conductor electrically connecting said electrode to said contact;
• (E) a removable, substantially tubular stylet, said stylet having a proximal end, a distal end, and a central lumen;
• said lumen accommodating said cable so that said stylet is external to said elongated body of said lead and has its distal end in contact with said proximally facing shoulder of said stepped portion of said lead;
• wherein said body of said electrode terminal and at least a portion of said conductor cable extending from said electrode terminal have a contiguous reinforcing means, whereby said reinforcing means minimizes flexing and tilting of said electrode terminal with respect to said portion of said conductor cable adjacent to said electrode terminal, and whereby said distal end of said stylet is bearing on said shoulder of said lead when said lead is being introduced into an anatomical target in the human body, and whereby said stylet holds said lead from retracting when a cannula used to guide said lead to the anatomical target is being removed;
• and
• wherein said lead system further has a radial clearance between said stylet and said elongated body of said lead, whereby after said lead is implanted in the anatomical target, said stylet can be removed without causing traction on said lead.