Hybrid implantable connectors
AssigneeVerily Life Sciences LLC
InventorsKedar Shah, Shivkumar Sabesan, Brian Pepin, Jared Floyd
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hybrid connector for connecting a bulk conductor to a planar strand of a flexible circuit is described. The hybrid connector can include a connector body, a first connector end, and a second connector end. The first connector end can be attached to the connector body and can define a first opening having a first cross-sectional shape that corresponds to a first distal end of the strand. The second connector end can be attached to the connector body opposite the first connector end and can define a second opening having a second cross-sectional shape that corresponds to a second distal end of the bulk conductor.
Claims35
A system, comprising:
- a connector defining a cavity, with a first opening formed at a first end of the connector and a second opening formed at a second end of the connector, the first opening defining a first connector cross-sectional shape;
- and
- a flexible circuit defining a neural interface and comprising an elongate planar strand, the elongate planar strand comprising a conductive region disposed at a distal end of the elongate planar strand on a top surface of the elongate planar strand or a bottom surface of the elongate planar strand, the distal end comprising a strand cross-sectional shape,
- wherein at least a portion of the conductive region of the elongate planar strand is disposed within the first opening and permanently bonded to the connector.
A hybrid connector, comprising:
- a connector body;
- a first connector end attached to the connector body and defining a first opening defining a first cross-sectional shape that corresponds to a first distal end of a planar flexible circuit;
- and
- a second connector end attached to the connector body opposite the first connector end and defining a second opening defining a second cross-sectional shape that corresponds to a second distal end of a bulk conductor.
A hybrid connector, comprising:
- a connector body;
- a first connector end attached to the connector body, the first connector end comprising a set of raised tabs corresponding to a set of openings formed in a distal region of a planar flexible circuit;
- and
- a second connector end attached to the connector body opposite the first connector end, the second connector end defines an opening defining a cross-sectional shape that corresponds to a distal end of a bulk conductor.
A system, comprising:
- a neural interface comprising an elongate planar strand, the elongate planar strand comprising a conductive region disposed at a first distal end of the elongate planar strand, the first distal end comprising a first cross-sectional shape;
- a bulk conductor comprising a second distal end comprising a second cross-sectional shape;
- and
- a connector disposed between the elongate planar strand and the bulk conductor, the connector comprising:
- a first end in which is formed a first opening corresponding to the first cross-sectional shape, the first distal end being held within the first opening;
- and
- a second end in which is formed a second opening corresponding to the second cross-sectional shape, the second distal end being held within the second opening,
- wherein an electrical connection is formed between the conductive region and the bulk conductor via the connector.
A method of forming a hybrid connection, the method comprising:
- placing a conductive planar region of a planar strand of a flexible circuit into a first opening of a connector;
- placing an end of a bulk conductor into a second opening of the connector;
- and
- deforming the connector to form an electrical connection between the conductive planar region and the bulk conductor.
A method of forming a hybrid connection, the method comprising:
- aligning a set of openings formed in a conductive planar region of a planar strand of a flexible circuit with a set of tabs of a connector, the set of tabs disposed at a first end of the connector;
- placing an end of a bulk conductor into an opening of the connector, the opening disposed at a second end of the connector;
- and
- deforming the connector to form an electrical connection between the conductive planar region and the bulk conductor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.