Multiple in-line contact connector
First Claim
1. A medical device comprising components housed within an enclosure, wherein the components are configured to carry out a desired function, the medical device further comprising:
- at least one lead terminating in at least one connector pin; and
at least one receptacle within the enclosure for receiving the at least one connector pin;
wherein the at least one connector pin comprises at least two rows of connector pin contacts; and
wherein the at least one receptacle comprises at least two rows of receptacle contacts; and
wherein the at least one connector pin is configured to be inserted into the at least one receptacle.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tool-less connector with multiple contacts and a compact design is provided. Therefore, a connector that is normally tunneled through body tissue will now require only a minimally invasive subcutaneous tunnel, which should reduce tissue healing time, patient discomfort, and risk of infection. In addition, providing additional contacts allows enhanced stimulation protocols. One embodiment of the present invention provides a connector pin containing multiple in-line contacts. Each “line” consists of a row of independent contacts arranged in a linear array running along the long axis of the pin. In other embodiments of the invention, the mating receptacle of the connector allows for multiple contacts while minimizing the space required for the increased number of contacts. Additional embodiments provide features that, for instance, prevent the contacts on the connector pin to touch the contacts in the receptacle until all contacts are appropriately aligned.
67 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A medical device comprising components housed within an enclosure, wherein the components are configured to carry out a desired function, the medical device further comprising:
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at least one lead terminating in at least one connector pin; and
at least one receptacle within the enclosure for receiving the at least one connector pin;
wherein the at least one connector pin comprises at least two rows of connector pin contacts; and
wherein the at least one receptacle comprises at least two rows of receptacle contacts; and
wherein the at least one connector pin is configured to be inserted into the at least one receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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12. An electrical connector comprising at least one receptacle and at least one connector pin configured to mate with the at least one receptacle wherein the at least one connector pin comprises at least two rows of connector pin contacts and wherein the at least one receptacle comprises at least two rows of receptacle contacts.
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23. A method of making a connector pin, comprising
providing a hollow pin with insulating material between grooves configured to accept electrical contacts, providing a plurality of electrical contacts; -
providing a plurality of conducting wires;
situating the contacts in the grooves;
positioning the conducting wires in the hollow of the pin; and
attaching at least one conducting wire to each contact;
wherein the grooves are situated in at least two rows.
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28. A method of making a connector pin, comprising
providing a plurality of electrical contacts; -
providing a plurality of conducting wires, each having an end;
electrically attaching the end of at least one conducting wire to each contact;
positioning at least the electrical contacts and the ends of the conducting wires in a mold; and
introducing insulating material into the mold to form a pin with electrical contacts positioned along the pin and the ends of the conducting wires contained within the pin;
wherein the electrical contacts are situated in at least two rows.
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Specification