Connector enclosure assemblies of medical devices including an angled lead passageway

• US 10,449,373 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2012
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Deininger, Steven T., Baade, Michael J., Bach, Katherine J., Snyder, Van L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marlen, Tammie K
• Application Number:
  US13/449,446
• Publication Number:
  US 20120203314A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,743 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/50 Supports for surgical instruments, e.g. articulated arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/086 Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] compatible leads
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/18 Applying electric currents by contact electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/375 Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3752 Details of casing-lead connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3754 Feedthroughs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3758 Packaging of the components within the casing
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/005 for making dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof connection, coupling, or casing
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/18 for manufacturing bases or cases for contact members
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/205 with a panel or printed circuit board
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/06 Hermetically-sealed casings specially adapted for small components H05K5/0095

Abstract

Connector enclosure assemblies for medical devices provide an angled lead passageway. The lead passageway which is defined by electrical connectors and intervening seals within the connector enclosure assembly establishes the angle relative to a base plane of the connector enclosure assembly. Various other aspects may be included in conjunction with the angled lead passageway, including an angled housing of the connector enclosure assembly, feedthrough pins that extend to the electrical connectors where the feedthrough pins may include angled sections, and a set screw passageway set at an angle relative to the lead passageway to provide fixation of a lead within the lead passageway.

Claims

1. A medical device connector enclosure assembly comprising:

a housing having an opening and having a base defining a first plane, the housing defining a semi-cylindrical elongated chamber that has an axial dimension at an angle greater than zero degrees and less than 90 degrees relative to the first plane, the housing further comprising a planar surface that resides in a second plane, wherein the planar surface abuts the elongated chamber;

a plurality of electrical connectors disposed within the housing, the electrical connectors being maintained adjacently by the elongated chamber and a plurality of electrical conductors extending from corresponding electrical connectors of the plurality of electrical connectors, the elongated chamber providing a straight edge formed by the planar surface abutting the elongated chamber where the straight edge is present between adjacent electrical conductors of the plurality of electrical conductors, the electrical connectors being aligned by the chamber with the opening to form a lead passageway, the lead passageway having an axial dimension established by the alignment of the electrical connectors that is at an angle greater than zero degrees and less than 90 degrees relative to the first plane.

2. The medical device connector enclosure assembly of claim 1, further comprising a panel attached to the housing, the panel having an indention that further defines the elongated chamber.

3. The medical device connector enclosure assembly of claim 1, further comprising seals intervening between the electrical connectors.

4. The medical device connector enclosure assembly of claim 1, wherein a most distal electrical connector is not electrically coupled to a conductor that exits the housing, wherein the housing provides an abutment between a next most distal electrical connector and the electrical connector that is not electrically coupled to a conductor that exits the housing, and wherein a seal engages the abutment.

5. The medical device connector enclosure assembly of claim 4, wherein a feedthrough pin passes into the housing and extends to contact the next most distal electrical connector.

6. The medical device connector enclosure assembly of claim 5, wherein at least a portion of the feedthrough pin forms an angle relative to the base.

7. The medical device connector enclosure assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing has a protruding portion and the opening is present on the protruding portion.

8. A medical device connector enclosure assembly comprising:

a housing having an opening and having a base defining a first plane, the housing defining a semi-cylindrical elongated chamber that has an axial dimension at an angle greater than zero degrees and less than 90 degrees relative to the first plane, the housing further comprising a planar surface that resides in a second plane, wherein the planar surface abuts the elongated chamber;

a plurality of electrical connectors disposed within the housing, the electrical connectors being maintained adjacently by the elongated chamber and a plurality of electrical conductors extending from corresponding electrical connectors of the plurality of electrical connectors, the elongated chamber providing a straight edge formed by the planar surface abutting the elongated chamber where the straight edge is present between adjacent electrical conductors of the plurality of electrical conductors, the electrical connectors being aligned by the chamber with the opening to form a lead passageway, the lead passageway having an axial dimension at an angle greater than zero degrees and less than 90 degrees relative to the first plane, wherein a most distal electrical connector is not electrically coupled to a conductor that exits the housing, wherein the housing provides an abutment between a next most distal electrical connector and the electrical connector that is not electrically coupled to a conductor that exits the housing, and wherein a seal engages the abutment.

9. The medical device connector enclosure assembly of claim 8, wherein a feedthrough pin passes into the housing and extends to contact the next most distal electrical connector.

10. The medical device connector enclosure assembly of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the feedthrough pin forms an angle relative to the base.

11. A medical device connector enclosure assembly comprising:

a housing having an opening and having a base defining a first plane, the housing defining semi-cylindrical elongated chamber that has an axial dimension at an angle greater than zero degrees and less than 90 degrees relative to the first plane, the housing where the axial dimension of the chamber at the angle is present being constructed of a rigid biocompatible material, the housing further comprising a planar surface that resides in a second plane, wherein the planar surface abuts the elongated chamber;

a plurality of electrical connectors disposed within the housing, the electrical connectors being maintained adjacently by the elongated chamber and a plurality of electrical conductors extending from corresponding electrical connectors of the plurality of electrical connectors, the elongated chamber providing a straight edge formed by the planar surface abutting the elongated chamber where the straight edge is present between adjacent electrical conductors of the plurality of electrical conductors, the electrical connectors being aligned by the chamber with the opening to form a lead passageway, the lead passageway having an axial dimension at an angle greater than zero degrees and less than 90 degrees relative to the first plane.

12. The medical device connector enclosure assembly of claim 11, wherein the rigid biocompatible material is a metal.