An implantable electrical lead that, upon implantation in an animal, is biocompatible and compatible with a magnetic resonance imaging scanner. The upon implantation in an animal has a body of dielectric material with a plurality of lumens and a plurality of insulated conductive helical coils embedded in one or more layers of dielectric material and placed within the plurality of lumens. Each helical coil is formed by one or more conductive wires having a predefined and controlled pitch and diameter. A layer of dielectric material separates the plurality of lumens, wherein the separation distance and properties of the dielectric material create a high impedance at the Larmor frequency of the magnetic resonance imaging scanner. A mechanically flexible, biocompatible layer forms an external layer of the electrical lead and is adapted to contact bodily tissue and bodily fluids of the animal.
