Medical lead adaptor assembly

• US 20040230267A1
• Filed: 05/13/2003
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Wenger, William K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,917,228 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/04 Electrodes electrosurgical electrodes A61B18/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3752 Details of casing-lead connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/59 for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/12 for medicine and surgery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94

Abstract

An adaptor, including a housing and a flexible circuit, facilitates electrical connection between a connector of an implantable medical lead and an external medical device. The adaptor housing includes an inner surface forming a longitudinally extending connector receptacle and a first portion of the flexible circuit is adapted to be positioned within the connector receptacle, substantially conforming to the inner surface, such that at least one contact portion of the flexible circuit is directed inward and positioned in a location corresponding with at least one ring contact of the lead connector when the lead connector is engaged within the receptacle. A second portion of the flexible circuit is adapted to reside outside the housing such that at least one contact pad, coupled to the at least one contact portion via a conductive pathway, is accessible for coupling to at least one contact element of the external medical device.

Claims

1. An adaptor facilitating an electrical connection between a connector of an implantable medical lead and an external medical device comprising:

a housing including an inner surface forming a longitudinally extending connector receptacle;

a flexible substrate including a first portion and a second portion;

at least one contact portion formed on the first portion of the flexible substrate;

at least one contact pad formed on the second portion of the flexible substrate; and

at least one conductive pathway formed on the flexible substrate and coupling the at least one contact portion to the at least one contact pad;

wherein the first portion of the flexible substrate is adapted to be positioned within the connector receptacle, substantially conforming to the inner surface, such that the at least one contact portion is directed inward and positioned in a location corresponding with at least one ring contact of the lead connector when the lead connector is engaged within the receptacle; and

the second portion of the flexible substrate is adapted to reside outside the housing such that the at least one contact pad is accessible for coupling to at least one contact element of the external medical device.

2. The adaptor of claim 1 wherein the flexible substrate further includes a third portion adapted to reside outside the housing for detachably engaging the implantable medical lead.

3. The adaptor of claim 2, wherein the third portion includes an aperture therethrough for detachably engaging the implantable medical lead.

4. The adaptor of claim 3, wherein the third portion further includes a slit extending from said aperture to an edge of the third portion.

5. The adaptor of claim 1, wherein the at least one contact portion is formed by a dimple in the flexible substrate extending radially inward when the first portion of the flexible substrate is positioned within the connector receptacle.

6. The adaptor of claim 1, wherein the at least one contact portion is formed by a fold in the flexible substrate extending radially inward when the first portion of the flexible substrate is positioned within the connector receptacle.

7. The adaptor of claim 1, wherein the at least one contact portion comprises a plurality of conductive protrusions substantially aligned with a radial section of the connector receptacle and extending radially inward when the first portion of the flexible substrate is positioned within the connector receptacle.

8. The adaptor of claim 1, wherein the housing further includes a proximal end, a distal end, an outer surface and a longitudinal slot extending from the proximal end to the distal end and passing from the outer surface to the inner surface.

9. The adaptor of claim 8, wherein the housing has a horseshoe-shaped cross-section and the outer surface bends in toward the connector receptacle along the length of the slot forming capture portions for securing the first portion of the flexible substrate within the inner surface of the housing.

10. An adaptor facilitating an electrical connection between a connector of an implantable medical lead and an external medical device comprising:

a housing including an inner surface forming a longitudinally extending connector receptacle;

a flexible substrate including a first portion and a second portion;

a plurality of contact portions formed on the first portion of the flexible substrate, each of the plurality of contact portions including a plurality of conductive protrusions;

a plurality of contact pads formed on the second portion of the flexible substrate; and

a plurality of conductive pathways formed on the flexible substrate, each of the plurality of conductive pathways coupling each of the plurality of contact portions to each of the plurality of contact pads;

wherein the first portion of the flexible substrate is adapted to be positioned within the connector receptacle, substantially conforming to the inner surface, such that the plurality of contact portions are positioned in a plurality of locations corresponding with a plurality of ring contacts of the lead connector when the lead connector is engaged within the receptacle;

the plurality of conductive protrusions are substantially aligned with a radial section of the connector receptacle and extend radially inward when the first portion of the flexible substrate is positioned within the connector receptacle; and

the second portion of the flexible substrate is adapted to reside outside the housing such that the plurality of contact pads are accessible for coupling to a plurality of contact elements of the external medical device.

11. The adaptor of claim 10, wherein the flexible substrate further includes a third portion adapted to reside outside the housing for detachably engaging the implantable medical lead.

12. The adaptor of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of conductive protrusions is formed by a dimple in the flexible substrate.

13. The adaptor of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of conductive protrusions is formed by a fold in the flexible substrate.

14. The adaptor of claim 10, wherein the housing further includes a proximal end, a distal end, an outer surface and a longitudinal slot extending from the proximal end to the distal end and passing from the outer surface to the inner surface.

15. The adaptor of claim 10, wherein the housing has a horseshoe-shaped cross-section and the outer surface bends in toward the connector receptacle along the length of the slot forming capture portions for securing the first portion of the flexible substrate within the inner surface of the housing.

16. A method for making electrical connection between a connector of an implantable medical lead and an external medical device, comprising:

inserting a first portion of a flexible circuit into an inner surface of a housing forming a connector receptacle, the first portion of the flexible circuit including at least one contact portion formed thereon;

inserting the connector into the connector receptacle until at least one contact ring of the connector makes electrical contact with the at least one contact portion formed on the first portion of the flexible circuit; and

coupling a contact element of the external medical device to a contact pad formed on a second portion of the flexible circuit, the second portion of the flexible circuit residing outside the housing and the contact pad coupled to the at least one contact portion via a conductive pathway formed on the flexible circuit.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising removably attaching a third portion of the flexible circuit to the implantable medical lead.