Connector constructions and components thereof for implantable medical electrical systems

A medical system comprising an assembly, the assembly comprising:

• a plurality of isolation ring components spaced apart from one another along a length of the assembly, the assembly comprising a bore and the bore defining a longitudinal axis of the assembly, each isolation ring component of the plurality extending around the bore and each having a surface that defines a seal lip extending into the bore;
• a plurality of contact ring components spaced apart from one another along the length of the assembly, each contact ring component of the plurality extending around the bore, being interspersed among the plurality of isolation ring components;
• and
• a plurality of conductor components, each conductor component of the plurality of conductor components having a curvature formed therein along a length thereof, wherein the curvature of each conductor component is defined by one of a repeating sigmoid or a helix, the helix having a centerline laterally offset from the longitudinal axis, a first end of each conductor component being coupled to a corresponding contact ring component, and the length of each conductor component extending proximally from the first end.

A medical device comprising a female connector assembly and a male connector assembly, the male connector assembly including a plurality of external contacts spaced apart from one another along a length of the male connector assembly, each contact of the male connector assembly being electrically coupled to the female connector assembly, the female connector assembly being contained in a flexible outer insulative sleeve, a bore of the female connector assembly extending along a longitudinal axis of the outer sleeve, and an opening into the bore being formed by a distal terminal end of the outer sleeve, and the female connector assembly comprising:

• a plurality of isolation ring components spaced apart from one another along a length of the assembly, each isolation ring component of the plurality extending around the bore and each having an inner surface that defines a seal lip extending into the bore;
• a plurality of contact ring components spaced apart from one another along a length of the assembly, each contact ring component of the plurality extending around the bore, being interspersed among the plurality of isolation ring components;
• and
• a plurality of conductor components, each conductor component of the plurality of conductor components having a curvature formed therein along a length thereof, wherein the curvature of each conductor component is defined by one of a repeating sigmoid or a helix, the helix having a centerline laterally offset from the longitudinal axis, a first end of each conductor component being coupled to a corresponding contact ring component, and the length of each conductor component extending proximally from the coupled first end into a proximal portion of the outer insulative sleeve.

An implantable medical system comprising:

• an implantable medical device configured to deliver therapy to a patient;
• a lead;
• and
• an extension configured to electrically couple the lead to the implantable medical device, the extension comprising a female connector assembly and a male connector assembly, the male connector assembly comprising a plurality of external contacts spaced apart from one another along a length of the male connector assembly, each contact of the male connector assembly being electrically coupled to the female connector assembly, the female connector assembly being contained in a flexible outer insulative sleeve, a bore of the female connector assembly extending along a longitudinal axis of the outer sleeve, and an opening into the bore being formed by a distal terminal end of the outer sleeve, and the female connector assembly comprising:
• a plurality of isolation ring components spaced apart from one another along a length of the assembly, each isolation ring component of the plurality extending around the bore and each having an inner surface that defines a seal lip extending into the bore;
• a plurality of contact ring components spaced apart from one another along a length of the assembly, each contact ring component of the plurality extending around the bore, being interspersed among the plurality of isolation ring components;
• and
• a plurality of conductor components, each conductor component of the plurality of conductor components having a curvature formed therein along a length thereof, wherein the curvature of each conductor component is defined by one of a repeating sigmoid or a helix, the helix having a centerline laterally offset from the longitudinal axis, a first end of each conductor component being coupled to a corresponding contact ring component, and the length of each conductor component extending proximally from the coupled first end into a proximal portion of the outer insulative sleeve.