US 6,743,055 B1Granted

Adapter integrated into a lead body

AssigneeCardiac Pacemakers, Inc.

InventorsDavid M. Flynn, Stuart R. Chastain, Steve Hahn, June M. Zytkovicz

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Abstract

A lead having an adapting member extending from the lead's main body, wherein the adapting member is suitable for receiving a terminal pin of a second lead thereby electrically coupling the second lead thereto. The lead may then be electrically and mechanically coupled to a single electrical port of a medical device. The lead may be unipolar, bipolar, or multipolar and suitable for use with a pacer, defibrillator or other cardiac rhythm management device, wherein the second lead is electrically connected in parallel with a selected conductor of the lead. The adapter may be positioned on the lead adjacent the terminal pin such that when the lead is coupled to the medical device the adapter engages a portion of the medical device.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A lead capable of electrical and mechanical coupling to both a port of an implantable medical device's header assembly and to another lead, said lead comprising:

(a) an elongated, main body portion having a proximal and distal end;
(b) at least one terminal connector attached to the proximal end of the main body and adapted for coupling the lead to a header assembly of a medical device;
(c) at least one electrode embodied within the main body portion;
(d) at least one conductor corresponding with each electrode and electrically insulated, wherein a distal end of each conductor is attached to each corresponding electrode and a proximal end of each conductor is attached to at least one corresponding terminal connector;
(e) an adapting member formed as a part of the main body portion and extending from the lead, the adapting member having a port adaptable for sealably receiving a terminal connector of a second lead, said port having an electrically conductive terminal block positioned within said port, wherein a jumper wire is electrically coupled to the terminal block and the conductors of the main body of the lead, said adapting member further including an aperture extending therethrough such that the aperture aligns with a header port when the lead is coupled to the header assembly.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.