US 5,782,645 A · Percutaneous connector for multi-conductor electrical cables

Abstract

A biologically implantable percutaneous connector (20) for providing optionally separable interconnection between an implanted connector (21) attached to bone tissue and a removable connector (40). The connectors each include a supporting matrix of dielectric material (86, 94) within which an array of tiny conductive rods (90, 88) are sealed with ends (112, 110) of the rods exposed as contacts at mating faces (94, 92) and the other ends (102, 100) joined to conductors (33, 43) of cables (32, 42). Elastomeric anisotropic connector material (44) is located between corresponding arrays of contacts to provide for repeated reliable electrical connection and disconnection of corresponding contacts. External surfaces of the implantable body (21) of the percutaneous connector may be coated with a bioactive material promoting integration of surrounding tissue into the surfaces of the implanted percutaneous connector. A contact block (22, 62) including the mating face (94, 92) and a terminal face (98, 96) to which the conductors of a cable are individually connected is made by shaping an array of conductive rods (90, 88) and supporting dielectric material to form a smooth surface including dielectric matrix material and the ends of the electrically conductive rods.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A miniature biologically implantable multi-conductor electrical connector for interconnecting respective parts of a multi-conductor cable, comprising:

(a) a biologically implantable lower contact block having an upper end and a lower end and defining a plurality of bores extending therethrough from said lower end to said upper end in a predetermined arrangement with respect to one another;
(b) a plurality of electrically conductive rods each having a first end and an opposite terminal end, said rods extending through respective ones of said bores;
(c) a matrix of dielectric material holding said rods in said bores, said lower contact block including a planar mating face defined on said upper end thereof, said mating face including said first end of each of said rods surrounded by said matrix of dielectric material, said first ends being arranged in a predetermined array on said mating face;
(d) a terminal face located at said lower end of said first contact block and including said terminal end of each of said rods;
(e) a biologically implantable base on which said lower contact block is mounted removably;
(f) a layer of elastomeric sealing material adhered to said terminal face of said lower contact block and compressed between said lower contact block and said base;
(g) an upper contact-bearing member including a mating face having an array of contacts thereon located correspondingly to mate with said first ends of said rods in said predetermined array on said mating face of said first contact block;
and
(h) a layer of an anisotropically conductive elastomeric material having a pair of opposite sides, said lower contact block and said upper contact-bearing member being mated together, with said respective mating face of each in contact with a respective one of said opposite sides of said layer of anisotropically conductive elastomeric material and with said anisotropically conductive elastomeric material interconnecting said first ends of said rods of said lower contact block with respective ones of said contacts contained in said array included in said upper contact-bearing member.

6 more elements

A miniature biologically implantable multi-conductor electrical connector for interconnecting respective parts of a multi-conductor cable, comprising:

(a) a pair of contact blocks each including
(i) a collar member defining an internally located passage extending therethrough and a plurality of fastener bores located outwardly from said passage, said passage having a pair of opposite ends;
(ii) a plurality of electrically conductive rods each having a first end and an opposite terminal end, said rods extending through said passage in a predetermined arrangement with respect to one another from one to the other of said opposite ends of said passage;
(iii) a matrix of dielectric material contained by and located within said passage and holding said rods in said predetermined arrangement within said passage, said matrix extending through said passage from one to the other of said opposite ends thereof;
(iv) a mating face adjacent a first one of said opposite ends of said passage and including said first end of each said rod, said first ends of said rods being arranged in a predetermined array on said mating face and said mating face including said first ends, a surface of said matrix, and a surrounding surface of said collar, all located in a single plane;
and
(v) a terminal face located adjacent the other one of said opposite ends of said passage and including a terminal end of each said rod;
and
(b) a layer of an anisotropically conductive elastomeric connector material having a pair of opposite sides, said pair of contact blocks being mated together with each of said mating faces in contact with a respective one of said opposite sides of said layer of anisotropically conductive elastomeric connector material and with said anisotropically conductive elastomeric connector material interconnecting respectively said first ends of corresponding ones of said conductive rods of said contact blocks.

6 more elements

A miniature multi-conductor cable system including a biologically implantable connector for interconnecting two parts of a multi-conductor cable, comprising:

(a) a pair of contact blocks each including
(i) a collar member defining a passage extending therethrough, said passage having a pair of opposite ends;
(ii) a plurality of electrically conductive rods each having a first end and an opposite terminal end, said rods extending through said passage in a predetermined arrangement with respect to one another;
(iii) a matrix of dielectric material holding said rods in said predetermined arrangement within said passage;
(iv) a mating face adjacent a first one of said opposite ends of said passage and including said first end of each said rod, said first ends being arranged in a predetermined array on said mating face;
and
(v) a terminal face located adjacent the other one of said opposite ends of said passage and including a terminal end of each said rod;
(b) a plurality of conductors of each said part of said miniature multi-conductor cable being electrically connected with respective ones of said terminal ends of a respective one of said contact blocks;
(c) a layer of an anisotropically conductive elastomeric connector material located between said contact blocks and having a pair of opposite sides;
and
(d) a fastener removably holding said pair of contact blocks mated together, with said mating faces in contact with respective sides of said anisotropically conductive elastomeric connector material and with said anisotropically conductive elastomeric connector material interconnecting respectively said first ends of corresponding ones of said conductive rods of said contact blocks;
(e) a base member;
and
(f) a sealing layer of an elastomeric dielectric material, one of said contact blocks being detachably mounted on said base member, and said sealing layer being compressed between said base member and said terminal face of said one of said contact blocks.

11 more elements

A miniature biologically implantable multi-conductor electrical connector for interconnecting two parts of a multi-conductor cable, comprising:

(a) at least one contact block including
(i) a collar member defining an internally located passage extending therethrough and a plurality of fastener bores located outwardly apart from said passage, said passage having a pair of opposite ends;
(ii) a plurality of electrically conductive rods each having a first end and an opposite terminal end, said rods extending through said passage in a predetermined arrangement with respect to one another from one to the other of said opposite ends of said passage;
(iii) a matrix of dielectric material contained by and located within said passage and holding said rods in said predetermined arrangement within said passage, said matrix extending through said passage from one to the other of said opposite ends thereof;
(iv) a mating face located adjacent a first one of said opposite ends of said passage and including said first end of each said rod, said first ends of said rods being arranged in a predetermined array on said mating face and said mating face including said first ends, a surface of said matrix, and a surrounding surface of said collar, all located in a single plane;
and
(v) a terminal face located adjacent the other one of said opposite ends of said passage and including said terminal ends of said conductive rods;
(b) a contact-bearing member including a mating face having a plurality of contacts located thereon in an array corresponding with said predetermined array of said first ends of said rods on said mating face of said contact block;
and
(c) a layer of anisotropically conductive elastomeric material having a pair of opposite sides, said contact block and said contact-bearing member being mated together, with said mating face of each in contact with a respective one of said opposite sides of said layer of anisotropically conductive elastomeric material and with said anisotropically conductive elastomeric material interconnecting said first ends of said rods of said contact block with respective corresponding ones of said contacts contained in said array included in said contact-bearing member.

7 more elements

A miniature multi-conductor cable system including a connector for interconnecting two parts of a multi-conductor cable, comprising:

(a) at least one contact block including
(i) a collar member defining an internally located passage extending therethrough and a plurality of fastener bores located outwardly apart from said passage, said passage having a pair of opposite ends;
(ii) a plurality of electrically conductive rods each having a first end and an opposite terminal end, said rods extending through said passage in a predetermined arrangement with respect to one another from one to the other of said opposite ends of said passage;
(iii) a matrix of dielectric material contained by and located within said passage and holding said rods in said predetermined arrangement within said passage, said matrix extending through said passage from one to the other of said opposite ends thereof;
(iv) a mating face adjacent a first one of said ends of said passage and including said first end of each said rod, said first ends of said rods being arranged in a predetermined array on said mating face and said mating face including said first ends, a surface of said matrix, and a surrounding surface of said collar, all located in a single plane;
and
(v) a terminal face located adjacent the other one of said opposite ends of said passage and including said terminal end of each said rod, a plurality of conductors of one of said parts of said miniature multi-conductor cable being electrically connected with respective ones of said terminal ends;
(b) a second contact-bearing member electrically interconnected with the other of said parts of said cable and including a mating face having an array of contacts thereon located correspondingly to mate with said first ends of said rods in said predetermined array on said mating face of said contact block;
(c) a layer of an anisotropically conductive elastomeric connector material having a pair of opposite sides, located between said contact block and said second contact-bearing member;
and
(d) a plurality of fasteners located in respective ones of said fastener bores holding said contact block and said second contact-bearing member mated together, with said mating faces in contact with respective ones of said opposite sides of said layer of anisotropically conductive elastomeric connector material and with said anisotropically conductive elastomeric connector material interconnecting said first ends of said conductive rods of said contact block with respective corresponding ones of said contacts of said array on said mating face of said second contact-bearing member.

8 more elements

A miniature multi-conductor cable system including a biologically implantable connector for interconnecting two parts of a multi-conductor cable, comprising:

(a) a pair of contact blocks each including
(i) a collar member defining an internally located passage extending therethrough and a plurality of fastener bores located outwardly apart from said passage, said passage having a pair of opposite ends;
(ii) a plurality of electrically conductive rods each having a first end and an opposite terminal end, said rods extending through said passage in a predetermined arrangement with respect to one another from one to the other of said opposite ends of said passage;
(iii) a matrix of dielectric material contained by and located within said passage and holding said rods in said predetermined arrangement within said passage, said matrix extending through said passage from one to the other of said opposite ends thereof;
(iv) a mating face adjacent a first one of said opposite ends of said passage and including said first end of each said rod, said first ends of said rods being arranged in a predetermined array on said mating face and said mating face including said first ends, a surface of said matrix, and a surrounding surface of said collar all located in a single plane;
and
(v) a terminal face located adjacent the other one of said opposite ends of said passage and including said terminal end of each said rod, a plurality of conductors of the respective part of said miniature multi-conductor cable being electrically connected with respective ones of said terminal ends;
(b) a layer of an anisotropically conductive elastomeric connector material located between said contact blocks and having a pair of opposite sides;
and
(c) a plurality of fasteners removably holding said pair of contact blocks mated together, with said mating faces thereof in contact with respective sides of said anisotropically conductive elastomeric connector material and with said anisotropically conductive elastomeric connector material interconnecting respectively said first ends of corresponding ones of said conductive rods of said contact blocks.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Percutaneous connector for multi-conductor electrical cables

Life of this patent

Percutaneous connector for multi-conductor electrical cables

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21