Endocardial lead with reduced diameter tip portion and method for making such lead

An endocardial lead assembly, adapted to transmit electrical signals between a proximal end portion of the lead assembly and a distal end portion of the assembly and to thereby stimulate selected body tissue, includes at least two coiled, insulatively coated conductors extending between the proximal and distal end portions for transmitting the electrical signals. The coils of the at least two insulated conductors are contiguous and have substantially the same first outer diameter, one of the coiled conductors having a portion extending through said distal end portion of the lead and being electrically connected to said tip electrode. The remaining conductor(s) terminate at a proximal extremity of the distal end portion, the portion of the one coiled conductor within the distal end portion including contiguous, uninsulated coils having a second outer diameter that is less than the first diameter. The lead assembly includes an insulating sheath of biocompatible material for electrically insulating the at least two coiled conductors from body tissue and fluids.