Multi-contact connector for electrode for example for medical use

• US 20040005802A1
• Filed: 06/24/2003
• Published: 01/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dixi Medical S.A.S.
• Original Assignee: Dixi Microtechniques SAS
• Inventors: Lamirey, Marc
• Granted Patent: US 6,913,478 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/345
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/227 Sensors with electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/293 Invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/33 Contact members made of resilient wire
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/12 for medicine and surgery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/58 Contacts spaced along longitudinal axis of engagement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/909 Medical use or attached to human body

Abstract

Multiple contact connector for an electrode, for example, for medical use.

The present invention relates to a multiple contact connector with reduced space requirement and weight regardless of the number of electrical contacts of the electrode, which can receive one or two electrodes, which guarantees a reliable and secured electrical connection with no risk of accidental disconnection and which is not a problem for a patient in whom the electrodes are implanted.

This connector (1) consists of male plug (6) which has elongated support (60) provided on at least one of its sides with a number of contact zones (61) equal to the number of contacts of said electrode (2) and which are aligned parallel to the axis of first cable section (4), and female socket (7) having roughly cylindrical body (70) arranged in the extension of second cable section (5) and having at least one housing (71) provided with a number of contact elements (72) equivalent to the number of contact zones (61) of said male plug (6) and capable of receiving said support (60). This connector (1) is characterized in that it has tightening sleeve (8) arranged in order to maintain support (60) in housing (71) and to exert a radial pressure of contact zones (61) on contact elements (72) in such a way as to ensure the electrical connections.

Claims

1. A multiple contact connector comprising:

a) one or more so-called male plugs (6), each comprises an elongated and electrically insulated support (60) and, along the longitudinal axis of said support (60), a number of electrically conductive contact zones (61);

b) a so-called female socket (7), comprises an elongated and electrically insulated body (70) and, along the longitude axis of said body, at least one longitudinal and electrically insulated housing (71), wherein said housing (71) further comprises a number of electrically conductive contact elements (72) positioned along the longitudinal axis of said housing;

c) wherein said contact zones (61) and said contact elements (72) are facing each other so that, when said support (60) are put into said housing (71), said contact zones (61) contact with said contact elements (72) and form electrical connections; and

d) a tightening device (8) for maintaining said support (60) in said housing (71) and to exert a radial pressure of contact zones (61) on contact elements (72) to ensure electrical connections.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein said support (60) of said male plug (6) has a geometry which is complementary to that of housing (71) of said female socket (7).

3. The connector of claim 2, wherein said support (60) has at least two flat lateral surfaces (60a) while said body (70) comprises at least two later surfaces (71a) of said housing (71), so that said flat lateral surfaces (60a) of said support (60) correspond geometrically to said lateral surfaces (71a) of said body (70).

4. The connector of claim 1, wherein said support (60) has notches (62) in which said contact zones (61) are arranged, these notches (62) delimiting radial walls (62′

) interposed between said contact zones (61) in such a way as to insulate them electrically from one another.

5. The connector of claim 1, wherein said support (60) consists of a groove (63) for receiving a first cable section (4), wherein said first cable section is connected electrically to said contact zones (61).

6. The connector of claim 1, wherein said body (70) of said female socket (7) has a first free end zone (70a), a second free end zone (70b) for coupling with a second cable section (5), and a middle zone (70c), comprising radial walls (73′

) that are interposed along the longitudinal axis of said body (70) and electrically insulate said contact elements (72) from one another.

7. The connector of claim 6, wherein said second end zone (70b) has bore (75) for receiving the end of said second cable section (5) and said middle zone (70c) has at least one circulation channel (76), that is parallel to the axis of said second cable section (5) for receiving electrical wires (5′

) of said cable section (5), wherein the electrical wires (5′

) are electrically connected to said contact elements (72).

8. The connector of claim 1, wherein each contact element (72) consists of a curved metallic spring blade of which one end projects in said housing (71) and the other end is mounted integrally in said body (70) by a connecting component (77).

9. The connector of claim 8, wherein each connecting component (77) consists of a metallic rivet housed in a radial bore (74′

) which passes through said axial core (74) of said body (70).

10. The connector of claim 8, wherein said connecting components (77) are hollow and serve as a wire guide for the electrical wires (5′

).

11. The connector of claim 9, wherein said axial core (74) of said body (70) has at least one flat part (71b) defining the bottom of said housing (71) facing which the projecting end of said contact elements (72) and said contact zones (61) of male plug (6) is arranged.

12. The connector of claim 7, wherein said body (70) has two diametrically opposed circulation channels (76) in which the electrical wires (5′

) of said second cable section (5) are distributed.

13. The connector of claim 12, wherein said body (70) has two diametrically opposed housings (71) for receiving two male plugs (6) connected to two electrodes (2).

14. The connector of claim 13, wherein the contact elements (72) of the two housings (71) alternate with each other with respect to their positions.

15. The connector of claim 6, wherein the tightening device (8) further comprises an electrically insulating tightening sleeve (80), the tightening device (80) being mounted on said female socket (7) is moveable along the axis of the body (70) to assert one of the following positions:

an open position in which the tightening sleeve (80) releases said middle zone (70c) of body (70) and allows positioning of support (60) of said male plug (6) in said corresponding housing (71), and a closed position in which it covers this middle zone (70c) and exerts a radial pressure on said support (60) in its housing (71) by pressing said contact zones (61) on said contact elements (72).

18. The connector of claim 6, wherein the tightening device (8) further comprises an electrically insulating tightening sleeve (80), the tightening device (80) being mounted on said female socket (7) is moveable along the axis of the body (70) to assert one of the following positions:

an open position in which the tightening sleeve (80) releases said middle zone (70c) of body (70) and allows positioning of support (60) of said male plug (6) in said corresponding housing (71), and a closed position in which it covers this middle zone (70c) and exerts a radial pressure on said support (60) in its housing (71) by pressing said contact zones (61) on said contact elements (72).

16. A multiple contact connector comprising:

a) one or more so-called male plugs (6), each comprises an elongated and electrically insulated support (60) and, along the longitudinal axis of said support (60), a number of electrically conductive contact zones (61);

b) a so-called female socket (7), comprises an elongated and electrically insulated body (70) and, along the longitude axis of said body, at least one longitudinal and electrically insulated housing (71), wherein said housing (71) further comprises a number of electrically conductive contact elements (72) positioned along the longitudinal axis of said housing; and

c) wherein said contact zones (61) and said contact elements (72) are facing each other so that, when said support (60) are put into said housing (71), said contact zones (61) contact with said contact elements (72) and form electrical connections.

17. The connector of claim 16, wherein the connector further comprises a tightening device (8) for maintaining said support (60) in said housing (71) and to exert a radial pressure of contact zones (61) on contact elements (72) to ensure electrical connections.