Lead connector with distal frame and method of manufacture

A method of manufacturing a lead connector for an implantable medical device, the method comprising:

• forming a distal frame having a plurality of through-holes extending from a rear face to a front face in a first process,
• connecting first ends of each of a plurality of conductive pins to an inner surface of a corresponding ring connector;
• arranging the conductive pins and corresponding ring connectors into a desired configuration;
• placing the distal frame over second ends of each of the conductive pins such that each of the conductive pins passes through a corresponding one of the through-holes with the second extend extending beyond the front face of the distal frame;
• filling the mold cavity with a mold material in a second process to overmold the connector assembly, the mold material abutting the rear face of the distal frame;
• and
• removing a resulting lead connector from the mold cavity, distal forming a distal geometry of the lead connector.

A distal frame for a lead connector comprising:

• a base having a front face, a rear face and an outer diameter, the base configured with a plurality of shafts extending between the front face and the rear face;
• and
• an extension extending from the front face of the base and configured with a central lumen extending through the extension;
• wherein the plurality of shafts are configured to receive a plurality of wires from the lead connector such that the wires extend through the rear face of the base and extend out beyond the front face of the base;
• and
• wherein a cylindrical connector body of the lead connector is configured adjacent the rear face of the base and configured to at least partially extend into the plurality of shafts in the base.