Adapter assemblies for implantable medical electrical systems

#The present disclosure is related to implantable medical electrical systems, and more particularly to configurations of adapter assemblies useful for coupling an implantable medical electrical lead to an implantable electrical device and casings for attaching adapters to implantable electrical devices.

#Implantable medical electrical systems are commonly used to treat conditions such as cardiac arrhythmias, pain, incontinence, sleep disorders, and movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease and epilepsy. Typically, these systems include an elongate implantable medical electrical lead and an implantable pulse generator device, wherein the lead includes one or more electrodes that deliver electrical stimulation from the generator device to target tissue of a patient, when the lead is connected to the device. The generator device is usually implanted in a subcutaneous pocket, for example, formed in the buttock, abdomen or pectoral region of the patient. In some cases, a connection between the lead and the generator device requires an adapter assembly, which is also implanted in the pocket, to make the lead terminal connector compatible with a connector header of the device.

#The present disclosure relates to, among other things, adapter assemblies useful for coupling implantable medical leads to implantable electrical devices with which the leads are not configured to directly couple. Such adapter assemblies may be of use when an implanted electrical device is replaced with a new electrical medical device, and a medical lead that was previously implanted and compatible with the device to be explanted is not directly couplable to the new electrical device to be implanted. The adapter assemblies include an adapter connector module comprising a port configured to couple to the previously implanted lead and include a terminal for connecting the adapter connector module to the new device. The adapter assembly includes a clip comprising first and second plates spaced apart from one another by a gap therebetween. A bottom perimeter edge of the connector module joins the first and second plates to define the gap. The gap is configured to retain the electrical device such that sides of the electrical device are in confronting engagement with the first and second plates.

#FIG. 1 is a schematic exploded perspective view of an embodiment of an implantable electrical medical system that includes an adapter and an electrical signal generator device.

#FIGS. 2A-B are schematic perspective views of an embodiment of a casing for holding an implantable electrical device and an adapter connector module together. FIG. 2A shows the casing without the electrical device and the adapter connector module. FIG. 2B shows the casing with the electrical device and the adapter connector module held therein.

#FIG. 2C is a schematic first side elevation view of an embodiment of the casing depicted in FIGS. 2A-B.

#The following detailed description is illustrative in nature and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of inventive embodiments disclosed herein in any way. Rather, the following description provides practical examples, and those skilled in the art will recognize that some of the examples may have suitable alternatives. Embodiments will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, which are not to scale (unless so stated), wherein like numerals/letters denote like elements. However, it will be understood that the use of a number to refer to a component in a given drawing is not intended to limit the component in another drawing labeled with the same number. In addition, the use of different numbers to refer to components in different drawings is not intended to indicate that the different numbered components cannot be the same or similar to other numbered components. Examples of constructions, materials, dimensions and fabrication processes are provided for select elements and all other elements employ that which is known by those skilled in the art.

#Reference will now be made in greater detail to various embodiments of the subject matter of the present disclosure, some embodiments of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings

#FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an illustrative implantable medical electrical system 100 that includes an elongate lead (or extension) 1000, an adapter 10, and an electrical device 100, all known in the art. The electrical device 100 may be one or both of an electrical signal generating device or an electrical signal receiving device. An example of electrical signal generating device is an electrical pulse generator. An example of an electrical signal receiving device includes a device configured to sense, for example, a physiological parameter of a subject.