# US 11,304,772 B2 · Connection systems and methods thereof for establishing an electrical connection through a drape > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,304,772 B2 - Document ID: US11304772B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/932,425 - Filed: 2020-07-17 - Published: 2020-11-05 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2018-05-18 - Assignees: Bard Access Systems, Inc. - Applicants: Bard Access Systems, Inc. - Inventors: Chase Thompson; Jerry Zhao; Kent F. Beck - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11304772B2 ## CPC - A61B 46/23: with means to retain or hold surgical implements - A61M 39/18: Methods or apparatus for making the connection under sterile conditions, i.e. sterile docking - A61B 5/062: {using magnetic field} - A61B 5/6852: {Catheters} - A61B 2034/2051: {Electromagnetic tracking systems} - A61B 2046/234: {with means for retaining a catheter} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract Connection systems are disclosed for establishing one or more electrical connections through a drape. An example connection system includes a first connector and a second connector configured to connect to each other. The first connector includes a first-connector housing, an electrical lead extending from the first-connector housing, and at least a first piercing element within the first-connector housing configured to pierce the drape. The first piercing element is orthogonally connected to the electrical lead. The second connector includes a second-connector housing and at least a first receptacle within the second-connector housing. The first receptacle is configured to form at least a first electrical connection of the one or more electrical connections with the first piercing element when the first connector is disposed over the second connector with the drape therebetween. Methods are also disclosed herein for establishing one or more electrical connections through a drape with the connection systems. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A connection system for establishing an electrical connection through a drape, the system comprising: a tether connector coupled to a stylet, the tether connector including: a housing; an electrical lead extending from the housing; and a first piercing element in the housing orthogonally connected to the electrical lead, the first piercing element configured to pierce the drape; and a sensor connector including a first receptacle configured to form a first electrical connection with the first piercing element when the tether connector is coupled to the sensor connector through the drape. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The connection system according to claim 1, wherein the housing of the tether connector includes an integrated clip configured to couple the tether connector to the sensor connector. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The connection system according to claim 2, wherein the integrated clip includes a pair of opposing tabs extending along opposing major sides of the tether connector. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The connection system according to claim 3, wherein the sensor connector includes a pair of opposing protrusions on opposing major sides of the sensor connector, and wherein the pair of opposing tabs of the integrated clip includes openings configured to receive the pair of opposing protrusions. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The connection system according to claim 4, wherein the pair of opposing protrusions are beveled or chamfered to facilitate reception of the pair of opposing protrusions in the openings of the integrated clip. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The connection system according to claim 4, wherein opposing tabs are flexibly attached to the housing of the tether connector to facilitate removal of the tether connector from the sensor connector by deflecting the opposing tabs away from the housing of the tether connector. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The connection system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor connector includes opposing minor sides differing in profile, and wherein the housing of the tether connector includes opposing minor sides matching the opposing minor sides of the sensor connector to ensure a correct orientation of the tether connector when coupling to the sensor connector. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The connection system according to claim 1, wherein the first piercing element is a jack plug having a needle-like tip electrical contact, one or more ring electrical contacts, and a sleeve electrical contact, and wherein the first receptacle of the sensor connector is a jack having complementary electrical contacts. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The connection system according to claim 1, further comprising: a second piercing element and a third piercing element in the housing of the tether connector orthogonally connected to the electrical lead, each of the second piercing element and the third piercing element configured to pierce the drape; and a second receptacle and a third receptacle in the sensor connector configured to form a second electrical connection and a third electrical connection, respectively, with the second piercing element and the third piercing element when the tether connector is coupled to the sensor connector through the drape. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The connection system according to claim 1, wherein the housing of the tether connector includes a pair of opposing finger pads. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The connection system according to claim 10, wherein the housing of the tether connector includes opposing tabs configured to couple the tether connector to the sensor connector, wherein the opposing tabs are positioned in line with the pair of opposing finger pads. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The connection system according to claim 11, wherein each of the opposing finger pads includes a depression.