Connector assemblies with bending limiters for electrical stimulation systems and methods of making and using same
First Claim
1. A connector assembly comprising:
- an elongated connector housing having a first end, a second end, and a length, the connector housing defining a port at the second end of the connector housing, the port configured for receiving a proximal end of a lead or lead extension;
a lumen that extends from the port along at least a portion of the length of the connector housing;
a plurality of connector contacts axially spaced-apart and disposed along the lumen such that the connector contacts are each exposed to the lumen, the connector contacts configured for coupling to a proximal end of a lead or lead extension when the proximal end of the lead or lead extension is inserted into the lumen;
a plurality of non-conductive spacers disposed between adjacent connector contacts, at least one of the plurality of non-conductive spacers comprises a first region; and
at least one non-conductive first insert disposed on or within the first region between adjacent connector contacts, the at least one non-conductive first insert having a length that permits a limited amount of bending in a first direction parallel to the length of the at least one non-conductive first insert and maintains a minimum distance between the adjacent connector contacts when the first region is placed under a compressive stress during the bending in the first direction,wherein, for each of the at least one non-conductive first insert, the adjacent connector contacts each comprise a first insert engagement region which the at least one non-conductive first insert engages during bending in the first direction to maintain the minimum distance, wherein, absent bending, a distance between furthest opposite sides of the first insert engagement regions of the adjacent connector contacts is greater than the length of the at least one non-conductive first insert to permit the limited amount of bending in the first direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A connector assembly includes an elongated connector housing defining a port at the second end of the connector housing for receiving a proximal end of a lead or lead extension; a lumen that extends from the port along at least a portion of the length of the connector housing; connector contacts axially spaced-apart and disposed along the lumen; and non-conductive spacers disposed between adjacent connector contacts, at least one of the non-conductive spacers includes a first region. One or more additional features are included to resist bending of the connector assembly. One such feature is a non-conductive first insert disposed between adjacent connector contacts to maintains a minimum distance between the adjacent connector contacts. Another feature is a stiffening element disposed within apertures in the spacers and connecting two or more of the spacers. Yet another feature is a stiffening sleeve disposed within the housing.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A connector assembly comprising:
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an elongated connector housing having a first end, a second end, and a length, the connector housing defining a port at the second end of the connector housing, the port configured for receiving a proximal end of a lead or lead extension; a lumen that extends from the port along at least a portion of the length of the connector housing; a plurality of connector contacts axially spaced-apart and disposed along the lumen such that the connector contacts are each exposed to the lumen, the connector contacts configured for coupling to a proximal end of a lead or lead extension when the proximal end of the lead or lead extension is inserted into the lumen; a plurality of non-conductive spacers disposed between adjacent connector contacts, at least one of the plurality of non-conductive spacers comprises a first region; and at least one non-conductive first insert disposed on or within the first region between adjacent connector contacts, the at least one non-conductive first insert having a length that permits a limited amount of bending in a first direction parallel to the length of the at least one non-conductive first insert and maintains a minimum distance between the adjacent connector contacts when the first region is placed under a compressive stress during the bending in the first direction, wherein, for each of the at least one non-conductive first insert, the adjacent connector contacts each comprise a first insert engagement region which the at least one non-conductive first insert engages during bending in the first direction to maintain the minimum distance, wherein, absent bending, a distance between furthest opposite sides of the first insert engagement regions of the adjacent connector contacts is greater than the length of the at least one non-conductive first insert to permit the limited amount of bending in the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification