CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY WITH INTERNAL SEALS AND MANUFACTURING METHOD

• US 20080139031A1
• Filed: 03/01/2007
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew J. Ries, George Patras, Thomas J. Olson
• Original Assignee: Andrew J. Ries, George Patras, Thomas J. Olson
• Inventors: Patras, George, Ries, Andrew J., Olson, Thomas J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,601,033 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/277
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49208 by assembling plural parts

Abstract

An implantable medical device connector assembly and method of manufacture include a molded, insulative shell having an inner surface forming a connector bore, a circuit member including a one or more traces extending through the shell; one or more conductive members positioned along the connector bore and electrically coupled to the traces; and sealing members positioned between the conductive members.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device connector assembly adapted for receiving a medical electrical lead, comprising:

a molded, insulative shell having an inner surface forming a connector bore,

a circuit member including a plurality of conductive traces extending through the shell; and

a stacked subassembly positioned along the connector bore, the stacked subassembly comprising;

a plurality of conductive members positioned along the connector bore and electrically coupled to the plurality of traces; and

a plurality of sealing members positioned between the conductive members, the plurality of sealing members having an inner surface adapted for forming a fluid-resistant interface with the medical electrical lead and an outer surface adapted for forming a fluid-resistant interface with the inner surface of the shell,

wherein each of the plurality of sealing members include a sealing ring protruding radially from the sealing member outer surface for forming the fluid resistant interface with the inner surface of the shell without axial compression of the sealing member.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein the plurality of conductive members each being formed with an axially-extending flange having an outer surface;

wherein the plurality of sealing members each being formed with an axially-extending flange having an outer surface, the sealing member flange being positioned between the outer surface of the conductive member flange of an adjacent conductive member and the shell inner surface; and

wherein the sealing ring extending along the sealing member flange outer surface.

3. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of sealing members includes a compression feature to allow for radial compression of the sealing ring.

4. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of sealing members include a proximal face and a distal face and a rigid support member having an outer surface and an inner surface extending between the proximal face and the distal face.

5. The connector assembly of claim 4 wherein the rigid support member extending beyond at least one of the proximal face and the distal face.

6. The connector assembly of claim 4 wherein the rigid support member having an end being flush with at least one of the proximal face and the distal face.

7. The connector assembly of claim 4 wherein the rigid support member comprises through holes extending from the rigid support member outer surface to the rigid support member inner surface.

8. The connector assembly of claim 4 wherein the rigid support member having an end terminating within the sealing member.

9. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein the plurality of conductive members and the plurality of sealing members include interlocking structures for stabilizing the position of the sealing members between the conductive members.

11. The medical device of claim 9 wherein the plurality of conductive members each being formed with an axially-extending flange having an outer surface;

wherein the plurality of sealing members each being formed with an axially-extending flange having an outer surface, the sealing member flange being positioned between the outer surface of the conductive member flange of an adjacent conductive member and the shell inner surface; and

wherein the sealing ring extending along the sealing member flange outer surface.

12. The medical device of claim 9 wherein each of the plurality of sealing members includes a compression feature to allow for radial compression of the sealing ring.

13. The medical device of claim 9 wherein each of the plurality of sealing members include a proximal face and a distal face and a rigid support member having an outer surface and an inner surface extending between the proximal face and the distal face.

14. The medical device of claim 12 wherein the rigid support member extending beyond at least one of the proximal face and the distal face.

15. The medical device of claim 12 wherein the rigid support member having an end being flush with at least one of the proximal face and the distal face.

16. The medical device of claim 12 wherein the rigid support member comprises through holes extending from the rigid support member outer surface to the rigid support member inner surface.

17. The medical device of claim 12 wherein the rigid support member having an end terminating within the sealing member.

18. The medical device of claim 9 wherein the plurality of conductive members and the plurality of sealing members include interlocking structures for stabilizing the position of the sealing members between the conductive members.

10. An implantable medical device, comprising:

a hermetically sealed housing;

a circuit member including a plurality of conductive traces;

a molded, insulative connector shell disposed along the housing, the connector shell embedding a portion of each of the plurality of conductive traces and having an inner surface forming a connector bore,

a plurality of conductive members positioned along the connector bore and electrically coupled to the plurality of traces;

a plurality of sealing members positioned between the conductive members, the plurality of sealing members having an outer surface forming a fluid-resistant interface with the inner surface of the shell;

wherein each of the plurality of sealing members include a sealing ring protruding radially from the sealing member outer surface for forming the fluid resistant interface with the inner surface of the shell without axial compression of the sealing member; and

internal circuitry enclosed in the housing and electrically coupled to the circuit member.

19. A method for manufacturing an implantable medical device connector assembly, comprising:

forming a connector shell with an inner surface forming a connector bore;

positioning a plurality of conductive members separated by a plurality of sealing members along the connector bore; and

wherein the positioning comprises forming a fluid resistant seal between each of the plurality of sealing members and the connector bore without axial compression of the plurality of sealing members.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the positioning comprises loading the plurality of conductive members and the plurality of sealing members onto an assembly tool mandrel.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the loading comprises loading the plurality of conductive member and plurality of sealing members onto the assembly tool mandrel in pairs, each pair including one conductive member and one sealing member, and wherein the positioning further comprises positioning the pairs into the connector bore one at a time.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the assembly tool mandrel being calibrated to accurately position the plurality of conductive members and the plurality of sealing members along the connector bore.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein the forming the fluid resistant seal comprises positioning an axially-extending flange of each of the plurality of sealing members between the connector shell inner surface and an axially extending flange of each of the plurality of conductive members.