Percutaneous lead

1 . A percutaneous lead assembly for supplying electrical signals to a medical device implanted within a body of a patient, said lead assembly comprising a flexible elongate member having a first portion adapted to remain external to the body of a patient, said first portion having a first diameter; and a second portion joined to said first portion and adapted to extend through a hole in a skin layer of the body of the patient, and wherein said second portion having a second diameter which is substantially smaller than said first diameter.

2 . The percutaneous lead assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said first portion includes a shielding layer.

3 . The percutaneous lead assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 , wherein at least a segment of said second portion is covered with a textured surface.

4 . The percutaneous lead assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said first portion and said second portion are joined by connectors.

5 . The percutaneous lead assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said percutaneous lead assembly includes a lead restraint.

6 . An external lead restraint for use with a percutaneous lead, wherein said lead is implanted within a body of a patient and extends through a hole in the patient's skin and characterised in that an excess length of lead is releasably secured near to the hole by releasable securing means affixed to the patient's skin.

7 . A percutaneous lead assembly for supplying electrical signal to a medical device implanted within a body of a patient, wherein said lead assembly has a flexible elongate member including a first unshielded portion that extends through a hole in a skin layer of the body of the patient; and a second shielded portion which is joined to said first unshielded portion at a site external to the body of the patient.