US 8,412,330 B2Granted

Connector assemblies for implantable medical electrical systems

AssigneeMedtronic, Inc.

InventorsJohn E. Kast, Charles E. Peters, Michael J. Baade, James A. Alexander, Andrew J. Ries

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Abstract

A device connector assembly includes a plurality of electrical contacts and a sealing member including a corresponding plurality of apertures; each electrical contact extends within a corresponding aperture of the plurality of apertures such that each contact is accessible for coupling with a corresponding connector element of a lead connector. The lead connector elements protrude from a first side of an insulative substrate of the lead connector, and may be coupled to the contacts of the device connector assembly by aligning each connector element with the corresponding aperture of the sealing member, and applying a force to a second side of the insulative substrate, opposite the first side, in order to press each connector element into engagement with the corresponding contact.

Claims32

Dependent claims

A medical electrical system comprising:

a medical electrical lead including a lead body, a plurality of conductors extending within the lead body, and a connector coupled to a proximal end of the lead body, the connector comprising:
an insulative substrate including first side and a second side;
and
a plurality of connector elements protruding from the first side of the insulative substrate, each connector element of the plurality of connector elements coupled to a corresponding conductor of the plurality of conductors;
and
a medical electrical device including a housing, electronic circuitry enclosed within the housing, and a connector assembly, the connector assembly comprising:
a feedthrough mount joined to the housing and including a cavity;
an insulative base mounted within the cavity of the feedthrough mount;
a sealing member including a first surface, a second surface, opposite the first surface, and a plurality of apertures extending front the first surface to the second surface, the first surface being joined to the insulative base;
a plurality of electrical contacts, each contact of the plurality of electrical contacts being supported by the insulative base and extending within a corresponding aperture of the plurality of apertures of the sealing member to be accessible for coupling with a corresponding connector element of the plurality of connector elements of the lead connector, each contact being recessed within the corresponding aperture with respect to the second surface of the sealing member;
a plurality of feedthrough members, each feedthrough member of the plurality of feedthrough members being coupled to a corresponding contact of the plurality of electrical contacts and extending into the housing, through the insulative base and the feedthrough mount, to couple with the electronic circuitry;
and
a lid including a top seal member, the top seal member configured to mate with the second surface of the sealing member and with the second side of the insulative substrate of the lead connector, when the plurality of connector elements are coupled to the plurality of electrical contacts.

10 more elements

A medical electrical system comprising:

a first medical electrical lead and a second medical electrical lead, each of the first and second leads including a lead body, a plurality of conductors extending within the lead body, and a connector coupled to a proximal end of the lead body, each of the connectors comprising:
an insulative substrate including first side and a second side;
an aperture extending through the insulative substrate, from the first side to the second side;
and
a plurality of connector elements protruding from the first side of the insulative substrate, each connector element of the plurality of connector elements coupled to a corresponding conductor of the plurality of conductors;
and
a medical electrical device including a housing, electronic circuitry enclosed within the housing, and a connector assembly, the connector assembly comprising:
a feedthrough mount joined to the housing and including a cavity;
an insulative base mounted within the cavity of the feedthrough mount;
a sealing member including a first surface, a second surface, opposite the first surface, and a plurality of apertures extending from the first surface to the second surface, the first surface being joined to the insulative base;
a plurality of electrical contacts, each contact of the plurality of electrical contacts being supported by the insulative base and extending within a corresponding aperture of the plurality of apertures of the sealing member to be accessible for coupling with a corresponding connector element of the plurality of connector elements of the first and second lead connectors, each contact being recessed within the corresponding aperture with respect to the second surface of the sealing member, and the plurality of electrical contacts being divided into a first group and a second group, the contacts of the first group being arranged for coupling with the connector elements of first lead connector, and the contacts of the second group being arranged for coupling with the connector elements of the second lead connector;
a plurality of feedthrough members, each feedthrough member of the plurality of feedthrough members being coupled to a corresponding contact of the plurality of electrical contacts and extending into the housing, through the insulative base and the feedthrough mount, to couple with the electronic circuitry;
a first feature for mating with the aperture of the first lead connector and second feature for mating with the aperture of the second lead connector, the first and second features being located in between the first and second groups of the plurality of electrical contacts;
and
a lid including a top seal member, the top seal member configured to mate with the second surface of the sealing member and with the second side of the insulative substrate of each of the first and second lead connectors, when the plurality of connector elements of each of the first and second lead connectors are coupled to the plurality of electrical contacts.

12 more elements

A method for coupling a medical electrical lead connector to a medical electrical device connector assembly, the method comprising:

orienting a first side of an insulative substrate of the lead connector such that a plurality of connector elements, which protrude from the first side of the substrate, face a corresponding plurality of apertures of a sealing member of the device connector assembly;
aligning each connector element of the plurality of connector elements with a corresponding aperture of the plurality of apertures, after orienting the first side of lead connector;
applying a force from a second side of the insulative substrate to press each aligned connector element of the plurality of connector elements into the corresponding aperture and into engagement with an electrical contact coupling receptacle that extends within the corresponding aperture;
and
securing a top seal member over the lead connector, after applying the force to press each connector element into engagement, such that the top seal member engages the second side of the insulative substrate of the lead connector and the sealing member of the device connector assembly;
wherein aligning the plurality of connector elements comprises coupling an alignment feature formed in the insulative substrate of the lead connector with a mating feature of the device connector assembly;
and
coupling the alignment feature of the lead connector comprises inserting a post of the device connector assembly through an aperture formed through the insulative substrate of the lead connector.

5 more elements

A method for coupling a medical electrical lead connector to a medical electrical device connector assembly, the method comprising:

orienting a first side of an insulative substrate of the lead connector such that a plurality of connector elements, which protrude from the first side of the substrate, face a corresponding plurality of apertures of a sealing member of the device connector assembly;
aligning each connector element of the plurality of connector elements with a corresponding aperture of the plurality of apertures, after orienting the first side of lead connector;
applying a force from a second side of the insulative substrate to press each aligned connector element of the plurality of connector elements into the corresponding aperture and into engagement with an electrical contact coupling receptacle that extends within the corresponding aperture;
and
securing a top seal member over the lead connector, after applying the force to press each connector element into engagement, such that the top seal member engages the second side of the insulative substrate of the lead connector and the sealing member of the device connector assembly;
wherein securing a top seal member over the lead connector comprises closing a lid over the lead connector, the top seal member being attached to the lid.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/680,580Filed 22 Sep 2008 · us provisional application
Priority: 3 Oct 2007
Published: US 2010/0240253 A123 Sep 2010
Granted: 2 Apr 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

A61N 1/3752
Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings: details of casing-lead connections
A61N 1/0551
For implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode: spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
A61N 1/3754
Details of casing-lead connections: feedthroughs
H01R 13/5224
Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof cases: for medical use