Implantable connector

• US 20050165464A1
• Filed: 01/05/2005
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Original Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Inventors: Darley, Ian, Parker, John, Milojevic, Dusan
• Granted Patent: US 7,534,127 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/115
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3752 Details of casing-lead connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/12 for medicine and surgery
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/909 Medical use or attached to human body

Abstract

An implantable electrical connector is disclosed for use with implanted medical devices. Each part of the connector has an array of contacts which can mate, one part being a cutting contact and the other half a receiving contact. When mated, this forms a reliable electrical connection.

Claims

1. An implantable electrical connector including:

a first body portion having a plurality of first contacts; and

a second body portion having a plurality of second contacts, said contacts being operatively alignable with corresponding ones of said first contacts;

wherein each individual pair of corresponding first and second contacts comprises a cutting contact and a receiving contact, to enable releasable inter-engagement therebetween, upon alignment of and forced engagement between said first and second body portions.

2. The implantable connector of claim 1, wherein said first contacts are said cutting contacts and said second contacts are said receiving contacts.

3. The implantable connector of claim 1, wherein said cutting contacts are formed from a harder material than said receiving contacts.

4. The implantable connector of claim 1, wherein said receiving contacts are substantially surrounded by a resilient material.

6. The implantable connector of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second contacts are made from a metal.

7. The implantable connector of claim 6, wherein said cutting contacts are made from iridium.

8. The implantable connector of claim 7, wherein said receiving contacts are made from platinum.

22. A body portion operatively adapted for use in a connector according to claim 1.

5. The implantable connector of 1, wherein each of said cutting contacts are sharpened to facilitate penetration into the corresponding receiving contact.

9. An implantable device, including

a first component electrically connected to a first connector portion having a plurality of first contacts;

and

a second component electrically connected to a second connector portion having a plurality of second contacts, the second contacts being operatively alignable with corresponding ones of said first contacts;

wherein each individual pair of corresponding first and second contacts comprises a cutting contact and a receiving contact, to enable releasable inter-engagement and electrical connection therebetween, upon alignment of and forced engagement between said first and second connector components.

10. The implantable device of claim 9, wherein said first contacts are said Cutting contacts and said second contacts are said receiving contacts.

11. The implantable device of claim 9, wherein said cutting contacts are formed from a harder material than said receiving contacts.

12. The implantable device of claim 9, wherein said receiving contacts are substantially surrounded by a resilient material.

13. The implantable device of claim 9, wherein some or all of said cutting contacts are sharpened to facilitate penetration into the corresponding receiving contact.

14. The implantable device of claim 9, wherein each of the first and second contacts are made from a metal.

17. The implantable device of claim 9, wherein the implantable device is a cochlear implant.

18. The implantable device of claim 17, wherein the first component is a stimulator Unit, and the second component is an electrode array.

19. The implantable device of claim 18, wherein the second contacts are the receiving contacts.

20. The implantable device of claim 19, wherein the second connector portion is attached to or part of the second component.

21. A component and connector operatively adapted for use in a device according to claim 9.

15. The implantable device of 14, wherein said cutting contacts are made from iridium.

16. The implantable device of claim 15, wherein said receiving contacts are made from platinum.