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US 2019/0290816 A1Published application
Driveline Connectors and Methods for Use with Heart Pump Controllers
AssigneeTc1 LLC
InventorEthan Petersen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connector assembly for connecting external power sources to an implanted medical device enables continual supply of electrical power to the implanted medical device during replacement of an external power source. A connector assembly includes a distal driveline contact assembly, a first driveline contact assembly, and a second driveline contact assembly. The second driveline contact assembly is connectable to the distal driveline contact assembly prior to disconnection of the first driveline contact assembly from the distal driveline contact assembly.
Claims20
A method of replacing a first external power supply that supplies electrical power to an implanted medical device with a second external power supply that supplies electrical power to the implanted medical device without interrupting supply of electrical power to the implanted medical device from at least one of the first external power supply and the second external power supply, the method comprising:
- supplying electrical power to the implanted medical device from the first external power supply via a first driveline connected to the first external power supply and a distal driveline through which electrical power is transmitted to the implanted medical device, wherein the first driveline comprises a first driveline contact assembly, and wherein the distal driveline comprises a distal driveline contact assembly connected to the first driveline contact assembly and receiving electrical power from the first driveline contact assembly;
- while the first external power supply is operatively connected to the implanted medical device via the first driveline contact assembly being connected to the distal driveline contact assembly, operatively connecting the second external power supply to the implanted medical device by connecting a second driveline contact assembly to the distal driveline contact assembly, wherein a second driveline connected to the second external power supply comprises the second driveline contact assembly;
- and
- while the second external power supply is operatively connected to the implanted medical device via the second driveline contact assembly being connected to the distal driveline contact assembly, disconnecting the first external power supply from the implanted medical device by disconnecting the first driveline contact assembly from the distal driveline contact assembly.
1 more element
A blood circulation assist system, comprising:
- an implantable blood pump;
- a first external controller;
- a first driveline connected to the first external controller and through which electrical power is transmittable via the first external controller to the implantable blood pump;
- a first driveline contact assembly electrically connected to the first driveline;
- a second external controller;
- a second driveline connected to the second external controller and through which electrical power is transmittable via the second external controller to the implantable blood pump;
- a second driveline contact assembly electrically connected to the second driveline;
- a distal driveline through which electrical power is transmitted to the implantable blood pump;
- and
- a distal driveline contact assembly electrically connected to the distal driveline, the distal driveline contact assembly being electrically connectable to
- either of the first driveline contact assembly and the second driveline contact assembly;
- and
- either of the first driveline contact assembly and the second driveline contact assembly while being connected to the other of the first driveline contact assembly and the second driveline contact assembly.
10 more elements
A connector assembly for connecting external power sources to an implanted medical device, the connector assembly comprising:
- a distal driveline contact assembly comprising
- a first side coupling feature;
- first side electrical contacts disposed on a first side of the distal driveline contact assembly and surrounding the first side coupling feature;
- a second side coupling feature;
- and
- second side electrical contacts disposed on a second side of the distal driveline contact assembly and surrounding the second side coupling feature;
- a first driveline contact assembly comprising
- first driveline contact assembly electrical contacts;
- a first driveline contact assembly coupling feature that can be interfaced with the first side coupling feature to
- align the first driveline contact assembly electrical contacts with the first side electrical contacts,
- accommodate engagement between the first driveline contact assembly electrical contacts and the first side electrical contacts, and
- rotational couple the first driveline contact assembly with the distal driveline contact assembly and accommodate rotation of the first driveline assembly relative to the distal driveline contact assembly between a retention orientation for the first driveline contact assembly in which engagement of the first driveline contact assembly with the distal driveline contact assembly blocks disconnection of the first driveline contact assembly from the distal driveline contact assembly to a connection orientation for the first driveline contact assembly in which the distal driveline contact assembly accommodates disconnection of the first driveline contact assembly from the distal driveline contact assembly;
- and
- a second driveline contact assembly comprising
- second driveline contact assembly electrical contacts;
- and
- a second driveline contact assembly coupling feature that can be interfaced with the second side coupling feature to
- align the second driveline contact assembly electrical contacts with the second side electrical contacts,
- accommodate engagement between the second driveline contact assembly electrical contacts and the second side electrical contacts, and
- rotational couple the second driveline contact assembly with the distal driveline contact assembly and accommodate rotation of the second driveline assembly relative to the distal driveline contact assembly between a connection orientation for the second driveline contact assembly in which the distal driveline contact assembly accommodates connection of the second driveline contact assembly to the distal driveline contact and a retention orientation for the second driveline contact assembly in which engagement of the distal driveline contact assembly with the distal driveline contact assembly disconnection of the second driveline contact assembly from the distal driveline contact assembly.
17 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.