Systems and methods for making and using improved leads for electrical stimulation systems

A lead for providing deep brain stimulation, the lead comprising:

• a lead body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal length, the lead body comprising a multi-lumen conductor guide having an outer surface and defining a central stylet lumen configured and arranged for receiving a stylet and a plurality of conductor lumens disposed around the central stylet lumen in a ring, each conductor lumen configured and arranged to receive at least one conductor, wherein the plurality of conductor lumens are completely inset from the outer surface of the multi-lumen conductor guide, wherein at least a portion of the multi-lumen conductor guide is twisted such that the multi-lumen conductor guide forms at least a first helical section and a second helical section where each of the plurality of conductor lumens forms a helical pathway around the stylet lumen, wherein each of the helical pathways of the first and second helical sections has a pitch that is no less than 0.04 turns per centimeter, wherein the first and second helical sections are axially separate from each other and the first helical section and the second helical section are twisted in opposite directions from one another along the longitudinal length of the lead body;
• a plurality of electrodes disposed on the distal end of the lead body;
• a plurality of lead terminals disposed on the proximal end of the lead body;
• and
• a plurality of conductors electrically coupling the plurality of electrodes to the plurality of lead terminals, wherein the plurality of conductors extend along the longitudinal length of the leady body within the plurality of conductor lumens, wherein the multi-lumen conductor guide extends the entire longitudinal length of the lead body from the electrodes to the terminals.

A lead, comprising:

• a lead body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal length, the lead body comprising a multi-lumen conductor guide having an outer surface and defining a central stylet lumen and a plurality of conductor lumens extending along the multi-lumen conductor guide and disposed around the central stylet lumen in a ring, each conductor lumen configured and arranged to receive at least one conductor, wherein the plurality of conductor lumens are completely inset from the outer surface of the multi-lumen conductor guide, wherein at least a portion of the multi-lumen conductor guide is twisted such that the multi-lumen conductor guide forms at least one helical section where each of the plurality of conductor lumens forms a helical pathway along the at least one helical section of the multi-lumen conductor guide, wherein each of the helical pathways of the at least one helical section has a pitch that is no less than 0.04 turns per centimeter, the lead body further comprising at least one outer coating of material disposed over the outer surface of the multi-lumen conductor guide;
• a plurality of electrodes disposed on the distal end of the lead body;
• a plurality of lead terminals disposed on the proximal end of the lead body;
• and
• a plurality of conductors electrically coupling the plurality of electrodes to the plurality of lead terminals, wherein the plurality of conductors extend along the longitudinal length of the lead body within the plurality of conductor lumens, wherein the multi-lumen conductor guide extends the entire longitudinal length of the lead body from the electrodes to the terminals.

A lead, comprising:

• a lead body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal length, the lead body comprising a multi-lumen conductor guide having an outer surface and defining a central stylet lumen and a plurality of conductor lumens extending along the multi-lumen conductor guide and disposed around the central stylet lumen in a ring, each conductor lumen configured and arranged to receive at least one conductor, wherein the plurality of conductor lumens are completely inset from the outer surface of the multi-lumen conductor guide, wherein at least a portion of the multi-lumen conductor guide is twisted such that the multi-lumen conductor guide comprises a first straight section, a helical section where each of the plurality of conductor lumens forms a helical pathway along the helical section of the multi-lumen conductor guide, and a second straight section, wherein the helical section is disposed between the first straight section and the second straight section and has a pitch that is no less than 0.04 turns per centimeter;
• a plurality of electrodes disposed on the distal end of the lead body;
• a plurality of lead terminals disposed on the proximal end of the lead body;
• and
• a plurality of conductors electrically coupling the plurality of electrodes to the plurality of lead terminals, wherein the plurality of conductors extend along the longitudinal length of the lead body within the plurality of conductor lumens, wherein the multi-lumen conductor guide extends at least from the electrodes to the terminals.