Terminal connector for connecting a cell to a medical device
AssigneeGreatbatch Ltd.
InventorsDavid Wutz, Gary Freitag
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A electrical connector for connection to an electrochemical cell is described. The connector comprises a conductive lid; a ferrule disposed within an opening through the conductive lid; a conductive center pin disposed within the ferrule; and a hermetic seal formed between the pin and an interior surface of the ferrule. A mating terminal connector adapted to be connected to the ferrule and the conductive center pin is further provided. The terminal connector is a device for easily and quickly connecting the cell to a circuit board of the kind found in an implantable medical device, such as a cardiac pacemaker, defibrillator, neuro-stimulator, drug pump, and the like.
Claims10
A terminal connector that is matable to a ferrule and a conductive terminal pin of an electrochemical cell, the terminal connector comprising:
- a) a non-conductive body including a flange, a center terminal embedded in the flange, and a perimeter terminal disposed within the body of the connector;
- and
- b) wherein the terminal connector is matable with the cell ferrule with the exterior surface of the ferrule being contactable to the perimeter terminal of the terminal connector and the terminal pin being contactable to the center terminal of the terminal connector.
A method for providing an electrochemical cell, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing an open ended container housing an electrode assembly comprising a first electrode of a first polarity, a second electrode of a second, opposite polarity, a current collector for the first electrode, and an electrolyte activating the electrode assembly;
- b) providing a conductive lid comprised of a wall having an inside surface, an outside surface, and an opening there through from the inside surface to the outside surface thereof;
- c) providing a ferrule comprised of a conductive hollow body, an interior surface, an exterior surface, an outer end, and an inner end;
- d) providing a conductive terminal pin comprising an elongated surface, an inner end, and an outer end, wherein the terminal pin is disposed in the hollow body of the ferrule with a sealing material contacting the terminal pin and the interior surface of the ferrule;
- e) connecting the inner end of the terminal pin sealed in the ferrule to the first electrode current collector;
- f) closing the open end of the container with the lid having the ferrule received in the lid opening;
- g) sealing the ferrule within the opening through the wall of the conductive lid;
- h) providing a terminal connector comprising a non-conductive body including a flange, a center terminal embedded in the flange, and a perimeter terminal disposed within the body of the terminal connector;
- and
- i) mating the terminal connector to the ferrule with the exterior surface of the ferrule contacting the perimeter terminal of the terminal connector and the terminal pin contacting with the center terminal of the terminal connector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.