One piece header assembly for an implantable medical device

• US 20040093038A1
• Filed: 11/05/2003
• Published: 05/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Greatbatch Limited (Greatbatch Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Greatbatch Limited (Greatbatch Incorporated)
• Inventors: Faltisco, David A., Biggs, James C., Warchocki, David D., McNamara, George
• Granted Patent: US 7,167,749 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3752 Details of casing-lead connections

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a header assembly mounted to a medical device for connecting to at least one conductor lead terminating at a target organ or portion of the body intending to be assisted. The header assembly comprises a body of polymeric material supporting at least one unitary conductor wire. The conductor wire connects between a feedthrough wire exiting the medical device and a terminal block into which the conductor lead plugs. Various structures are described for connecting the conductor wire to the feedthrough wire.

Claims

1. A header assembly for connecting an implantable medical device to a conductor lead terminating at a body organ intended to be assisted by the medical device comprising a housing containing control circuitry, at least one electrical energy storage device, and at least one feedthrough wire extending from the control circuitry and through a wall of the housing, the header assembly comprising:

a) a body mounted on the housing for the medical device;

b) at least one terminal supported by the polymeric body, wherein the terminal is directly connectable to the conductor lead; and

c) a unitary intermediate conductor supported by the body, the intermediate conductor having a distal end connected to the terminal and a proximal end directly connected to the feedthrough wire.

2. The header assembly of claim 1 wherein the proximal end of the intermediate conductor wire comprises a step that is securable to the feedthrough wire in a lap joint construction.

3. The header assembly of claim 1 wherein the proximal end of the intermediate conductor wire comprises an enlarged head having a bore into which the feedthrough wire is receivable and connectable.

4. The header assembly of claim 3 wherein the enlarged head comprises a bore and a groove in communication with the bore, and wherein a spring is nested in the groove so that when the feedthrough wire is received in the bore, the spring contacts the feedthrough wire.

5. The header assembly of claim 4 wherein the groove is an annular groove supporting an annular spring that surrounds the feedthrough wire.

6. The header assembly of claim 4 wherein the spring is a leaf spring.

7. The header assembly of claim 1 wherein the body is of a polymeric material.

8. The header assembly of claim 1 wherein the body includes a first inlet that receives a bracket secured to the housing and a second inlet and wherein with the bracket received in the first inlet, a wedge is receivable in the second inlet and a bracket inlet to secure the header assembly to the medical device.

9. The header assembly of claim 8 wherein the bracket is either L-shaped or U-shaped.

10. The header assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing for the medical device comprises mating first and second clam shells.

11. The header assembly of claim 1 wherein the medical device is selected from the group consisting of a hearing assist device, neurostimulator, cardiac pacemaker, drug pump and cardiac defibrillator.

12. A header assembly for connecting an implantable medical device to a conductor lead terminating at a body organ intended to be assisted by the medical device comprising a housing containing control circuitry, at least one electrical energy storage device, and at least one feedthrough wire extending from the control circuitry and through a wall of the housing, the header assembly comprising:

a) a body mounted on the housing for the medical device;

b) at least one terminal supported by the polymeric body, wherein the terminal is directly connectable to the conductor lead; and

c) an intermediate conductor supported by the body, the intermediate conductor having a distal end connected to the terminal and a proximal end directly connected to the feedthrough wire.

13. The header assembly of claim 12 wherein the proximal end of the intermediate conductor wire connects to an enlarged head comprising a bore and a groove in communication with the bore, and wherein a spring is nested in the groove so that when the feedthrough wire is received in the bore, the spring contacts the feedthrough wire.

14. The header assembly of claim 12 wherein the groove is an annular groove supporting an annular spring that surround the feedthrough wire.

15. The header assembly of claim 12 wherein the spring is a leaf spring.

16. A method for connecting an implantable medical device to a conductor terminating at a body organ intended to be assisted by the medical device, comprising the steps of:

a) providing the medical device having a housing containing control circuitry, at least one electrical energy storage device and at least one feedthrough wire extending from the control circuitry through a wall of the housing to a distal end located outside the housing;

b) providing a body supporting at least one terminal and at least one unitary intermediate conductor, wherein the intermediate conductor has a distal end connected to the terminal and a proximal end;

c) mounting the body on the medical device with the proximal end of the feedthrough wire disposed in an overlapping relationship with at least a portion of the intermediate conductor; and

d) securing the proximal end of the feedthrough wire to the intermediate conductor.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the proximal end of the intermediate conductor wire comprises a step and including the step of securing the feedthrough wire to the conductor wire in a lap joint construction.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the proximal end of the intermediate conductor wire comprises an enlarged head having a bore into which the feedthrough wire is receivable and connectable.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the bore in the enlarged head comprises a groove supporting a spring, and including the step of mounting the header assembly on the medical device with the feedthrough wire received in the bore and the spring contacting the feedthrough wire.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the groove is an annular groove supporting an annular spring surrounding the feedthrough wire.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the spring is a leaf spring.

22. The method of claim 16 including providing the body of a polymeric material.

23. The method of claim 16 including providing the body comprising a first inlet that receives a bracket secured to the housing and a second inlet and including the step of mounting the header assembly on the medical device with the bracket received in the first inlet and moving a wedge into the second inlet and a bracket inlet thereby securing the header assembly to the medical device.