Segmented electrode leads formed from pre-electrodes with alignment features and methods of making and using the leads

A pre-electrode for a stimulation lead, the pre-electrode comprising:

• a generally cylindrical body comprising an exterior surface, an interior surface opposite the exterior surface, a proximal end, and a distal end, the body comprising
• a plurality of segmented electrodes disposed along the body in a spaced-apart configuration, each of the plurality of segmented electrodes having opposing side-walls extending between the proximal end and the distal end of the body,
• connecting material disposed along, the outer surface of the body, the connecting material coupling each of the plurality of segmented electrodes to one another,
• a plurality of cutouts defined between adjacent segmented electrodes of the plurality of segmented electrodes, and
• at least one alignment feature selected from a slot or a notch extending inwardly from the exterior surface of the body and aligned with a one of the plurality of cutouts.

A pre-electrode for a stimulation lead, the pre-electrode comprising:

• a generally cylindrical body comprising an exterior surface, an interior surface opposite the exterior surface, a proximal end, and a distal end, the body comprising
• a plurality of segmented electrodes disposed along the body in a spaced-apart configuration, each of the plurality of segmented electrodes having opposing side-walls extending between the proximal end and the distal end of the body,
• connecting material disposed along the outer surface of the body, the connecting material coupling each of the plurality of segmented electrodes to one another,
• a plurality of cutouts defined between adjacent segmented electrodes of the plurality of segmented electrodes, and
• at least one longitudinal step section formed in the exterior surface of the body along a longitudinal side of the body and extending from the distal end to the proximal end of the body.