Medical lead adaptor assembly

• US 20040230268A1
• 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: Ries, Andrew J., Mehdizadeh, Bruce R., Holleman, Timothy W., Aarons, Timothy C., Skubitz, Frank L., Huff, Eric W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,130,699 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/116
• 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 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: 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

A medical lead adapter assembly is provided for facilitating an electrical connection between an implantable medical lead connector and an external medical device. The adapter includes a housing, having a sidewall and a longitudinally extending connector receptacle, and at least one contact opening passing through the sidewall to the receptacle. The contact opening is 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 allows electrical connection between at least one contact element of the external medical device and the at least one ring contact of the lead connector.

Claims

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

a housing including a sidewall and a longitudinally extending connector receptacle; and

at least one contact opening passing through the sidewall to the receptacle 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, the contact opening allowing electrical connection between at least one contact element of the external medical device and the at least one ring contact of the lead connector.

2. The adaptor of claim 1, wherein the housing further includes a grip portion.

3. The adaptor of claim 1, further comprising at least one contact clip positioned about the housing and including an external contact surface and an internal contact surface;

wherein the internal contact surface extends through the at least one contact opening to electrically engage the at least one ring contact of the lead connector engaged within the receptacle of the adaptor housing; and

the external contact surface provides an area for connection with the at least one contact element of the external medical device.

4. The adaptor of claim 3, wherein the at least one contact clip is preloaded by the housing.

5. The adaptor of claim 3, wherein the external contact surface forms a generally curved surface generally conforming to the sidewall of the housing.

6. The adaptor of claim 3, wherein the internal contact surface includes chamfered edges facilitating insertion of the connector therethrough.

7. The adaptor of claim 3, wherein the external contact surface forms a loop extending outward from the sidewall of the housing.

8. The adaptor of claim 3, wherein the external contact surface forms a substantially flattened tab extending outward from the sidewall of the housing.

9. The adaptor of claim 3, wherein the external contact surface includes a first longitudinal width and the contact opening includes a second longitudinal width, the first longitudinal width being greater than the second longitudinal width.

10. The adaptor of claim 1, further comprising a contact clip fixedly mounted on the housing and including an external contact surface and an internal contact surface;

wherein the internal contact surface is positioned in proximity to the at least one contact opening;

the external contact surface provides an area for connection with the at least one contact element of the external medical device; and

when the contact element of the external medical device connects with the external contact surface, the internal contact surface is forced through the contact opening to electrically engage the at least one ring contact of the lead connector engaged within the receptacle of the adaptor housing.

11. The adaptor of claim 1, wherein the housing further includes at least one pair of ridges extending outward from the sidewall of the housing and positioned on either side of the at least one contact opening.

12. The adaptor of claim 1, wherein the housing further includes a distal end, a proximal end, and a slot extending longitudinally from the distal end to the proximal end and passing through the sidewall to the receptacle.

13. The adaptor of claim 1, wherein the at least one contact opening is defined by a diametrically opposing pair of openings.

14. The adaptor of claim 3, wherein the at least one contact opening is defined by three openings aligned and spaced about a circumference of the sidewall.

15. The adaptor of claim 1, wherein the connector receptacle includes a portion forming a press fit about a corresponding portion of the lead connector when the lead connector is engaged within the receptacle.

16. The adaptor of claim 3, further comprising a push-bar assembly;

wherein the contact clip further includes a first segment, a second segment, and connecting segments joining the first segment and the second segment, the internal contact surface formed by the second segment and the external contact surface extending from the second segment; and

the push-bar assembly operatively coupled to the contact clip, engaging the connecting segments from within the first segment to force apart the internal contact surface of the second segment out from the at least one contact opening, thus facilitating insertion of the lead connector through the housing

17. The adaptor of claim 16, wherein the external contact surface is a substantially flattened tab.

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

a housing including a sidewall and a longitudinally extending connector receptacle; and

a plurality of openings passing through the sidewall to the receptacle and positioned in locations corresponding with a plurality of ring contacts of the lead connector when the lead connector is engaged within the receptacle; and

a plurality of contact clips positioned about the housing, each of the plurality of clips including an external contact surface and an internal contact surface;

wherein each internal contact surface, extending through each of the plurality of contact openings to electrically engage each of the plurality of ring contacts of the lead connector engaged within the receptacle of the adaptor housing, includes chamfered edges facilitating insertion of the connector therethrough; and

each external contact surface provides an area for connection with each of a plurality of contact elements of the external medical device.

19. The adaptor of claim 18, wherein the housing further includes at least one pair of ridges extending outward from the sidewall of the housing and positioned on either side of the at least one contact opening.

20. The adaptor of claim 18, wherein the housing further includes a distal end, a proximal end, and a slot extending longitudinally from the distal end to the proximal end and passing through the sidewall to the receptacle.

21. The adaptor of claim 18, wherein each of the plurality of contact openings is defined by a diametrically opposing pair of openings.

22. The adaptor of claim 18, wherein the at least one contact opening is defined by three openings aligned and spaced about a circumference of the sidewall.

23. The adaptor of claim 18, wherein the connector receptacle includes a portion forming a press fit about a corresponding portion of the lead connector when the lead connector is engaged within the receptacle

24. The adaptor of claim 18, further comprising a push-bar assembly;

wherein each of the plurality of contact clips further includes a \ first segment, a second segment, and connecting segments joining the first segment and the second segment, each internal contact surface formed by each of the second segments and each external contact surface extending from each of the second segment; and

the push-bar assembly operatively coupled to the plurality of contact clips, engaging the connecting segments from within each of the first segments to force apart each of the internal contact surfaces of each of the second segments out from the each of the plurality of contact openings, thus facilitating insertion of the lead connector through the housing.