Electrical connector and devices using the same

• US 20060166563A1
• Filed: 01/27/2006
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oscor Inc
• Original Assignee: Oscor Inc
• Inventors: Osypka, Thomas P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,422,487 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/668
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3752 Details of casing-lead connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5219 Sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5224 for medical use
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/909 Medical use or attached to human body

Abstract

The subject disclosure is directed to female connectors which can be employed in a quick connect/disconnect system used in medical devices to provide a non-permanent electrical and mechanical engagement with a male connector. The female connectors include, inter alia, a connector body that has an outer periphery and an aperture extending therethrough. The connector body has a flexible, non-conductive portion and a conductive portion which is at least partially exposed in the aperture and on the outer periphery of the connector body. The connector body is constructed such that when a male connector is inserted into the aperture of the connector body, the flexible, non-conductive part and the conductive part of the connecter body cooperate to allow for expansion of the aperture, creating contact pressure between the conductive part of the connector body and the male connector.

Claims

1. A female connector for use with a male connector, the female connector comprising:

a connector body having an outer periphery and defining a through aperture, the connector body including a flexible, non-conductive portion and a conductive portion which is at least partially exposed in the aperture and on the outer periphery of the connector body, the connector body being constructed such that when the male connector is inserted into the aperture of the connector body, the flexible, non-conductive part and the conductive part of the connecter body cooperate to allow for expansion of the aperture, creating contact pressure between the conductive part of the connector body and the male connector.

2. A female connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the connector body is a cuboid.

3. A female connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the aperture has a circular cross-section when viewed in a plane extending perpendicularly through its central axis.

4. A female connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the conductive portion of the connector body is more rigid than the non-conductive portion of the connector body.

5. A female connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the conductive portion of the connector body includes two or more conductive segments.

6. A female connector as recited in claim 5, wherein conductive portion of the connector body includes two conductive segments which are positioned on diametrically opposing sides of the aperture.

7. A female connector as recited in claim 5, wherein the conductive portion of the connector body includes interlocking segments which define the aperture and are free to move radially with respect to each other.

8. A female connector as recited in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the aperture is defined by the flexible, non-conductive portion of the connector body.

9. A female connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the conductive portion of the connector body defines an inner diametrical surface of the aperture.

10. A female connector as recited in claim 9, wherein the inner diametrical surface defined by the conductive portion of the connector body includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced, axially extending grooves.

11. A female connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the conductive portion of the connector body is made from either titanium, 316L stainless steel or MP35N, or combinations thereof.

12. A female connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the conductive portion of the connector body is made from a nonmagnetic, nickel-cobalt-chromium-molybdenum alloy.

13. A female connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the non-conductive portion of the connector body is made from silicon.

14. A female connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the connector body is made using an over-molded process.

15. A female connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the connector body is made using an injection molding process.

16. A female connector for use with a male connector having an outer diameter, the female connector comprising:

a connector body having an outer periphery and defining a through aperture, the connector body including a flexible, non-conductive portion and a conductive portion which is at least partially exposed in the aperture and on the outer periphery of the connector body, the connector body being constructed such that when the outer diameter of the male connector is larger than the inner diameter of the aperture, the flexible, non-conductive part and conductive part of the connecter body cooperate to allow for expansion of the aperture and receipt of the male connector and create contact pressure between the conductive part of the connector body and the male connector.

17. A female connector as recited in claim 16, wherein the connector body is a cuboid.

18. A female connector as recited in claim 16, wherein the aperture has a circular cross-section when viewed in a plane extending perpendicularly through its central axis.

19. A female connector as recited in claim 16, wherein the conductive portion of the connector body is more rigid than the non-conductive portion of the connector body.

20. A female connector as recited in claim 16, wherein the conductive portion of the connector body includes two or more conductive segments.

21. A female connector as recited in claim 20, wherein conductive portion of the connector body includes two conductive segments which are positioned on diametrically opposing sides of the aperture.

22. A female connector as recited in claim 20, wherein the conductive portion of the connector body includes interlocking segments which define the aperture and are free to move radially with respect to each other.

23. A female connector as recited in claim 16, wherein at least a portion of the aperture is defined by the flexible, non-conductive portion of the connector body.

24. A female connector as recited in claim 16, wherein the conductive portion of the connector body defines an inner diametrical surface of the aperture.

25. A female connector as recited in claim 24, wherein the inner diametrical surface defined by the conductive portion of the connector body includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced, axially extending grooves.

26. A female connector as recited in claim 16, wherein the conductive portion of the connector body is made from either titanium, 316L stainless steel or MP35N, or combinations thereof.

27. A female connector as recited in claim 16, wherein the conductive portion of the connector body is made from a nonmagnetic, nickel-cobalt-chromium-molybdenum alloy.

28. A female connector as recited in claim 16, wherein the non-conductive portion of the connector body is made from silicon.

29. A female connector as recited in claim 16, wherein the connector body is made using an over-molded process.

30. A female connector as recited in claim 16, wherein the connector body is made using an injection molding process.

31. An electrical adapter for receiving at least one male connector, the adapter comprising:

a) a housing defining at least one receptacle for receiving the male connector; and

b) at least one female connector disposed within the receptacle defined by the housing, the female connector including a connector body having an outer periphery and defining a through aperture, the connector body including a flexible, non-conductive portion and a conductive portion which is at least partially exposed in the aperture and on the outer periphery of the connector body, the connector body being constructed such that when the male connector is inserted into the aperture of the connector body, the flexible, non-conductive part and the conductive part of the connecter body cooperate to allow for expansion of the aperture, creating contact pressure between the conductive part of the connector body and the male connector.

32. An electrical adapter as recited in claim 31, further comprising a plurality of female connectors coaxially positioned within the receptacle and axially spaced apart, each female connector being adapted for electrical communication with surface electrodes provided on the male connector.

33. An electrical adapter as recited in claim 31, wherein the housing is made substantially from electrically non-conductive material.