Self-locking implantable stimulating lead connector

A connector assembly for detachably connecting a terminal pin of a stimulating lead to an implantable stimulation device, comprising:

• a connector housing attached to said implantable stimulation device, said connector housing having a cylindrical lumen therein adapted to accept a terminal pin of a lead;
• and
• a resilient metallic spring clip affixed within said connector housing and having a generally centrally located opening therethrough adapted to receive the terminal pin, said spring clip including at least two metallic spring members and one pair of metallic jaws bounding said opening, said metallic jaws being positioned generally parallel to said spring members, each jaw of said pair of jaws being positioned on an opposite side of said opening to its paired jaw, said jaws being adapted to fixably engage the terminal pin when the terminal pin is inserted into said opening, said jaws and said spring members being positioned within a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the lumen when in a relaxed condition out of engagement with a terminal pin, said resilient metallic spring clip further comprising two leg members extending distally from said metallic jaws and bent to form a high angle the plane of the jaws and spring members, said leg members being adapted to translate a force to said jaws and spring members in response to an application of a transverse compressing force to said leg members to thereby release said jaws from the terminal pin of the lead.

A connector assembly for detachably connecting a terminal pin of a stimulating lead to an implantable stimulation device, comprising:

• a connector housing attached to said implantable stimulation device, said connector housing having a cylindrical lumen therein adapted to accept a terminal pin of a lead;
• and
• a resilient metallic spring clip affixed within said connector housing and having a generally centrally located opening therethrough adapted to receive the terminal pin, said spring clip including at least two metallic spring members and one pair of metallic jaws bounding said opening, said metallic jaws being positioned generally parallel to said spring members, each jaw of said pair of jaws being positioned on an opposite side of said opening to its paired jaw, said jaws being adapted to fixably engage the terminal pin when the terminal pin is inserted into said opening and being adapted to increase the retaining force on the terminal pin upon application of a withdrawing force on the terminal pin, said metallic jaws and said spring members being positioned within a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the lumen when in a relaxed condition, out of engagement with a terminal pin, said resilient metallic spring clip further comprising two leg member extending distally from said metallic jaws and bent to form a high angle with the plane of the jaws and spring members, said leg members being adapted to translate a force to said jaws and spring members in response to an application of a transverse compressing force to said leg members to thereby release said jaws from the terminal pin of the lead.

A connector assembly for detachably connecting a terminal pin of an electrical lead to an electrical device, comprising:

• a connector housing of insulating material carried by said electrical device, said housing including an elongate lumen therein having a closed proximal end and an open distal end which receives said electrical lead;
• and
• a generally U-shaped electrically conductive spring clip positioned within said housing and having first and second spaced apart leg portions extending alongside respective opposite sides of the lumen, a base portion extending between said leg portions generally transversely of the lumen, and first and second jaw members extending generally toward one another transversely of the lumen and having end portions thereon terminating at spaced apart locations within the lumen, the spacing between said end portions being less than the width of the terminal pin so that said jaw members are adapted to grip the terminal pin upon insertion of the terminal pin into the lumen, said U-shaped spring clip and said housing being constructed and arranged so that upon application of a compressive force to opposite sides of the housing, adjacent to said first and second leg portions, said first and second jaw members move away from one another, increasing the separation of the end portions thereof to a spacing greater than the width of the terminal pin and facilitating withdrawal of the terminal pin from the lumen.