Lead anchor for an electrical stimulation system

1. A lead anchor comprising:

an anchor body having a band section, guide members and a support section, the guide members and the support section spaced apart from each other in a fixed relationship, the band section and guide members defining a band channel;

a flexible band coupleable to the guide members, wherein at least a portion of the flexible band is positionable within the band channel, wherein the flexible band and the support section define a first lead channel comprising a spaced-apart distance between the flexible band and the support section, and wherein the first lead channel includes an open side for allowing a lateral ingress or egress of a portion of a lead; and

a fastener selectively movable relative to the anchor body to reduce or increase the spaced-apart distance of the first lead channel to hold or release, respectively, the portion of the lead within the first lead channel.

2. The lead anchor of claim 1 , wherein the guide members are integrally formed with the anchor body.

3. The lead anchor of claim 1 , wherein the flexible band forms a continuous loop.

4. The lead anchor of claim 3 , wherein opposite ends of the loop are disposed around the guide members.

5. The lead anchor of claim 1 , wherein the flexible band includes bulbous end portions that are larger than an opening of the band channel.

6. The lead anchor of claim 1 , wherein the fastener is a set screw.

7. The lead anchor of claim 1 , wherein the fastener directly engages with the flexible band.

8. The lead anchor of claim 1 , wherein the anchor body includes a rigid wall extending between the band section and the support section to maintain the band section in the fixed relationship with the support section.

9. The lead anchor of claim 1 , wherein reducing the spaced-apart distance of the first lead channel places the first lead channel in a closed position and increasing the spaced-apart distance of the first lead channel places the first lead channel in an open position.

10. The lead anchor of claim 1 , further comprising an exterior body encapsulating at least a portion of the anchor body.

11. The lead anchor of claim 10 , wherein a thickness of the exterior body varies along a longitudinal direction of the exterior body.

12. The lead anchor of claim 10 , wherein the exterior body includes an end portion.

13. The lead anchor of claim 12 , wherein the end portion defines a second lead channel having an open side to laterally receive another portion of the lead.

14. The lead anchor of claim 13 , wherein the second lead channel includes a retention region that is larger than an inlet region.

15. An electrical stimulation system comprising:

the lead anchor of claim 1 ;

a control module having a housing and an electronic subassembly disposed in the housing; and

a lead comprising:

an array of electrodes selectively controllable by the control module; and

a lead body carrying a plurality of conductors that are electrically coupled to the control module and electrically coupled to the array of electrodes, wherein a portion of the lead body is laterally insertable into or extractable from the first lead channel of the lead anchor.

16. The electrical stimulation system of claim 15 , further comprising an exterior body encapsulating at least a portion of the anchor body.

17. The electrical stimulation system of claim 16 , wherein the exterior body includes an end portion.

18. The electrical stimulation system of claim 17 , wherein the end portion defines a second lead channel having an open side to laterally receive another portion of the lead body.

19. The electrical stimulation system of claim 18 , wherein the second lead channel includes a retention region that is larger than an inlet region.

20. A method of assembling a lead with the lead anchor of claim 1 , the method comprising:

laterally inserting an intermediate portion of the lead through an open side of the first lead channel of the lead anchor; and

reducing the spaced-apart distance of the first lead channel to capture the intermediate portion of the lead within the lead anchor.