Lead assembly for implantable microstimulator

• US 20050165465A1
• Filed: 01/29/2003
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Whitehurst, Todd K, McGivern, James P, Pianca, Anne M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,364,278 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: H01R 13/5224 for medical use
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/16 for manufacturing contact members, e.g. by punching and by bending
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49204 Contact or terminal manufacturing

Abstract

A lead assembly (20) for a small implantable medical device (10) (a.k.a., microdevice (10) provides means to attach a remote electrode (14) to microdevice (10), which means inhibit fluid ingress when microdevice (10) is not attached to lead assembly (20). Microdevices may provide either or both tissue stimulation and sensing. Known microdevices (10) include spaced apart electrodes (12a, 12b) on the outer surface of the microdevice. Lead assembly (20) includes an insulated lead (16) including a proximal end and a distal end, with at least one conductor therebetween; at least one electrode (14) at the distal end of the lead and electrically connected to the at least one conductor, and a connector (18) attached to the proximal end of the lead and adapted to be removably connectable to microdevice (10). Connector (18) includes at least one contact (22) to electrically connect at least one device electrode (12a) on microdevice (10) to at least one conductor, thereby electrically connecting at least electrode (12a) and the at least one electrode (14) at the distal end of lead (16). Lead assembly (20) is configured to inhibit fluid ingress into the connector (18). A number of embodiments of the invention, capable of inhibiting fluid ingress into connector (18), are taught.

Claims

1. A lead assembly 20 for a small implantable medical device 10 including a device electrode 12a, comprising:

an insulated lead 16 including a proximal end and a distal end, with at least one conductor therebetween;

at least one electrode 14 at the distal end of the lead and electrically connected to the at least one conductor;

a connector 18 attached to the proximal end of the lead and adapted to be removably connectable to the small implantable medical device 10, which connector 18 includes at least one contact 22 to electrically connect the at least one device electrode 12a on the device to the at least one conductor, thereby electrically connecting the at least one device electrode 12a and the at least one electrode 14 at the distal end of the lead, the improvement comprising;

the lead assembly 20 configured to inhibit fluid ingress into the connector 18.

2. The lead assembly of claim 1 further comprising a closure 30 as part of the connector 18, which closure 30 inhibits fluid ingress into the connector 18.

3. The lead assembly of claim 2 wherein the closure 30 is created with a pouch 24 of biocompatible elastic material that collapses and seals when the small implantable medical device is not present in the connector.

4. The lead assembly of claim 2 further comprising suture material provided at the closure 30.

5. The lead assembly of claim 2 wherein the at least one contact 22 is configured with edges 23 that extend at least partly around electrode 12a when small implantable medical device 10 is inserted into connector 18 and which aids closure 30 in inhibiting fluid ingress into connector 18 when small implantable medical device 10 is not present in the connector.

6. The lead assembly of claim 2 further comprising a circumferential spring 36 as part of closure 30.

7. The lead assembly of claim 2 further comprising a seal 38 as part of the closure 30.

8. The lead assembly of claim 2 further comprising leaf springs 42 as part of closure 30.

9. The lead assembly of claim 1 further including a plug adapted for insertion into the connector when the small implantable medical device is not present in the connector.

10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the device is a microstimulator.

11. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the device is a microsensor.