Implantable conducting lead

Abstract

An electrically conducting lead ( 20 ) that can used in the body for electrical stimulations applications, such as a cochlear implant. The lead comprises a body of relatively electrically insulative material ( 41 ) having a relatively electrically conductive element ( 18 ) extending therethrough in a wound arrangement. The electrically conductive element ( 18 ) is comprised of a plurality of layers of electrical conductors ( 14 ). The conductive element ( 18 ) is disposed in the lead such that the longitudinal extent of each of the electrical conductors ( 14 ) is the same.

1 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . An electrically conducting lead comprising:
 an electrically-insulative elongate body; and   an electrically conductive element, wound around a length of said elongate body, having first and second ends and comprising a plurality of electrical conductors positioned within said conductive element,   wherein each of said electrical conductors is readily identifiable at both of said first and second ends of said conductive element based on the relative positions of said electrical conductors within said conductive element.   
     
     
         30 . The lead of  claim 29 , wherein said conductive element is wound in one direction around said length of said elongate body. 
     
     
         31 . The lead of  claim 30 , wherein said conductive element is twisted by 180 degrees at a location along said length of said elongate body. 
     
     
         32 . The lead of  claim 31 , wherein said location is the midpoint of said length of said elongate body. 
     
     
         33 . The lead of  claim 31 , wherein said conductive element comprises a plurality of layers, each of said layers comprising one or more of said electrical conductors, and wherein a first one of said layers is adjacent to the elongate body on a first side of said location and a second one of said layers is adjacent to the elongate body on a second side of said location. 
     
     
         34 . The lead of  claim 29 , wherein said conductive element is wound in an anticlockwise direction for a first portion of said length and in a clockwise direction for a second portion of said length. 
     
     
         35 . The lead of  claim 34 , wherein said first portion of said length is substantially equal to said second portion of said length. 
     
     
         36 . The lead of  claim 34 , wherein said first portion of said length is equal to said second portion of said length. 
     
     
         37 . The lead of  claim 34 , wherein the conductive element is folded back on itself to transition from anticlockwise to clockwise windings. 
     
     
         38 . The lead of  claim 29 , wherein, when said conductive element is in said wound arrangement, each of said electrical conductors has a substantially identical longitudinal extent over said length of said elongate body. 
     
     
         39 . The lead of  claim 29 , wherein the longitudinal extent of each of said electrical conductors over said length of said elongate body is identical when in said wound arrangement. 
     
     
         40 . The lead of  claim 29 , wherein each of said layers has the same number of electrical conductors. 
     
     
         41 . An electrically conducting lead comprising:
 an electrically-insulative elongate body; and   an electrically conductive element, wound around a length of said elongate body, having first and second ends and comprising a plurality of layers, each of said layers comprising a plurality of electrical conductors,   wherein a first one of said layers has a different number of said electrical conductors than a second one of said layers, and wherein each of said electrical conductors is readily identifiable at both of said first and second ends of said conductive element based on the relative positions of said electrical conductors within said conductive element.   
     
     
         42 . The lead of  claim 41 , wherein said conductive element is twisted by 180 degrees at a location along said length of said elongate body. 
     
     
         43 . The lead of  claim 42 , wherein said location is the midpoint of said length of said elongate body. 
     
     
         44 . The lead of  claim 41 , wherein said conductive element is wound in an anticlockwise direction for a first portion of said length and in a clockwise direction for a second portion of said length. 
     
     
         45 . An electrically conducting lead comprising:
 an electrically-insulative elongate body; and   an electrically conductive element, helically wound around a length of said elongate body, having first and second ends and comprising a plurality of layers, each of said layers comprising a plurality of electrical conductors positioned within said conductive element,   wherein each of said electrical conductors is readily identifiable at both of said first and second ends of said conductive element based on the relative positions of said electrical conductors within said conductive element, and wherein said conductive element is wound around said length of said elongate body such that each of said layers extends for substantially the same distance over said length of said elongate body.   
     
     
         46 . The lead of  claim 45 , wherein said conductive element is wound around said length of said elongate body such that each of said layers extends the same distance over said length of said elongate body. 
     
     
         47 . The lead of  claim 45 , wherein said conductive element is twisted by 180 degrees at a location along said length of said elongate body. 
     
     
         48 . The lead of  claim 45 , wherein said conductive element is wound in an anticlockwise direction for a first portion of said length and in a clockwise direction for a second portion of said length.