Electrode design for leads of implantable electric stimulation systems and methods of making and using

1. A lead comprising:

a lead body with a distal end and a proximal end;

a plurality of terminals disposed along the proximal end of the lead body;

a plurality of electrodes disposed along the distal end of the lead body, each electrode comprising

an electrode body,

an outer rim extending around a perimeter of the electrode body,

at least one anchoring member coupled to the electrode body and extending into the lead body and beneath the electrode body to anchor the electrode to the lead body, the at least one anchoring member comprising a proximal region coupled to the electrode body and an opposing distal region configured and arranged for anchoring the electrode body to the lead body, and

one or more teeth disposed along the distal region of the at least one anchoring member, the one or more teeth configured and arranged for facilitating anchoring of the electrode body to the lead body; and

a plurality of conductive wires electrically coupling the plurality of electrodes to the plurality of terminals.

2. The lead of claim 1 , wherein a surface of the electrode body is flush with a surface of the lead body.

3. The lead of claim 1 , wherein a surface of the electrode body is inset from a surface of the lead body.

4. The lead of claim 1 , wherein a surface of the electrode body protrudes from a surface of the lead body.

5. The lead of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the proximal region or the distal region of the at least one anchoring member bends inwardly towards a center of the electrode body.

6. The lead of claim 1 , wherein the proximal region of the at least one anchoring member extends in a direction that is perpendicular to a surface of the lead body.

7. The lead of claim 1 , wherein the distal region of the at least one anchoring member extends in a direction that is parallel to a surface of the lead body.

8. The lead of claim 1 , wherein the proximal region of the at least one anchoring member extends inwardly towards a center of the electrode body.

9. The lead of claim 1 , wherein the electrode body is one of round or ovoid.

10. An electrical stimulating system comprising:

the lead of claim 1 ;

a control module configured and arranged to electrically couple to the proximal end of the lead body, the control module comprising

a housing, and

an electronic subassembly disposed in the housing; and

a connector having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal length, the connector configured and arranged to receive the lead body, the connector comprising

a connector housing defining a port at the distal end of the connector, the port configured and arranged for receiving the proximal end of the lead body, and

a plurality of connector contacts disposed in the connector housing, the connector contacts configured and arranged to couple to at least one of the plurality of terminals disposed on the proximal end of the lead body.

11. The electrical stimulating system of claim 10 , wherein the connector is disposed on the control module.

12. The electrical stimulating system of claim 10 , further including a lead extension having a distal end and at least one proximal end, the connector disposed on the distal end of the lead extension.

13. The electrical stimulating system of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the proximal ends of the lead extension is configured and arranged for insertion into another connector.

14. The electrical stimulating system of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the proximal region or the distal region of the at least one anchoring member bends inwardly towards a center of the electrode body.

15. A lead comprising:

a lead body with a distal end and a proximal end;

a plurality of terminals disposed at the proximal end of the lead body;

a plurality of electrodes disposed at the distal end of the lead body, each electrode comprising

an electrode body having a first major surface and an opposing second major surface,

an outer rim extending around a perimeter of the electrode body, and

a plurality of anchoring members coupled to the second major surface of the electrode body and extending into the lead body and beneath the electrode body to anchor the electrode to the lead body, the plurality of anchoring members each comprising a proximal region coupled to the electrode body and an opposing distal region configured and arranged for anchoring the electrode body to the lead body; and

a plurality of conductive wires electrically coupling the plurality of electrodes to the plurality of terminals;

wherein for each anchoring member of the plurality of anchoring members the proximal region of the anchoring member couples to the electrode body from a location medial to the outer rim;

wherein one or more teeth are disposed along the distal region of at least one anchoring member of the plurality of anchoring members.

16. The lead of claim 15 , wherein for at least one anchoring member of the plurality of anchoring members the distal region extends inwardly towards a center of the electrode body.

17. The lead of claim 15 , wherein for at least one anchoring member of the plurality of anchoring members the distal region extends outwardly towards the outer rim.

18. The lead of claim 15 , wherein for at least one anchoring member of the plurality of anchoring members the distal region extends outwardly towards the outer rim without extending beyond the outer rim.

19. The lead of claim 15 , wherein the first major surface is arced.

20. The lead of claim 15 , wherein the first major surface of the electrode body is flush with an outer surface of the lead body.