MULTI-PORT MODULAR CONNECTOR FOR IMPLANTABLE ELECTRICAL STIMULATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING
First Claim
1. A connector for an electrical stimulation system, the connector comprising:
- an assembly of individual contact modules arranged along a common axis, the assembly having a first end and a second end, each contact module comprising a body having a first major surface and an opposing second major surface, the first major surface defining a seat and at least two insertion apertures, the body comprising at least two aperture contacts, each aperture contact being associated with one of the insertion apertures and configured and arranged to electrically couple to a terminal of an elongated member when the elongated member is inserted into the associated insertion aperture;
a first end plate positioned at the first end of the assembly of individual contact modules;
a plurality of seal plates, a different one of the plurality of seal plates being disposed in the seat of an associated one of the contact modules such that the seal plate is sandwiched between the associated contact module and one other contact module of the assembly or the first end plate, wherein each seal plate is configured and arranged to electrically isolate the aperture contacts of the associated contact module from the aperture contacts of the other contact modules; and
a second end plate positioned at the second end of the assembly of individual contact modules, the second end plate coupled to the first end plate by a retaining mechanism and configured and arranged to facilitate arrangement of the assembly along the common axis.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A connector for an electrical stimulation system includes an assembly of individual contact modules arranged along a common axis. Each contact module includes a body having a seat and at least two insertion apertures. An aperture contact is associated with each of the insertion apertures and is configured and arranged to electrically couple to a terminal of an elongated member when the elongated member is inserted into the associated insertion aperture. A seal plate is disposed in each seat of an associated one of the contact modules such that the seal plate is sandwiched between adjacent contact modules. Each seal plate is configured and arranged to electrically isolate the aperture contacts of the associated contact module from the aperture contacts of the other contact modules.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A connector for an electrical stimulation system, the connector comprising:
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an assembly of individual contact modules arranged along a common axis, the assembly having a first end and a second end, each contact module comprising a body having a first major surface and an opposing second major surface, the first major surface defining a seat and at least two insertion apertures, the body comprising at least two aperture contacts, each aperture contact being associated with one of the insertion apertures and configured and arranged to electrically couple to a terminal of an elongated member when the elongated member is inserted into the associated insertion aperture; a first end plate positioned at the first end of the assembly of individual contact modules; a plurality of seal plates, a different one of the plurality of seal plates being disposed in the seat of an associated one of the contact modules such that the seal plate is sandwiched between the associated contact module and one other contact module of the assembly or the first end plate, wherein each seal plate is configured and arranged to electrically isolate the aperture contacts of the associated contact module from the aperture contacts of the other contact modules; and a second end plate positioned at the second end of the assembly of individual contact modules, the second end plate coupled to the first end plate by a retaining mechanism and configured and arranged to facilitate arrangement of the assembly along the common axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A connector for an electrical stimulation system, the connector comprising:
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an assembly of individual contact modules arranged along a common axis, the assembly having a first end and a second end, each contact module comprising a body defining at least two insertion apertures, and for each of the at least two insertion apertures, an aperture contact is disposed in the body and exposed in the corresponding insertion aperture, the aperture contact configured and arranged to electrically couple to a terminal of an elongated member when the elongated member is inserted into a corresponding one of the at least two insertion apertures; a first end plate positioned at the first end of the assembly of individual contact modules, the first end plate defining at least two insertion apertures, wherein the insertion apertures of the first end plate are configured and arranged to align with the insertion apertures of each of the contact modules; a plurality of seal plates, each seal plate coupled to the body of one of the contact modules such that each seal plate is sandwiched between the contact module onto which the seal plate is coupled and one of another contact module of the assembly or the first end plate, the seal plate defining at least two insertion apertures, wherein each seal plate is configured and arranged to electrically isolate each of the aperture contacts from other aperture contacts in an adjacent contact module; and a second end plate positioned at the second end of the assembly of individual contact modules. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for forming a connector, the method comprising:
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inserting a seal plate into a seat defined in a contact module for each of a plurality of contact modules, the contact module defining at least two insertion apertures, the seal plate defining at least two insertion apertures aligned with the at least two insertion apertures defined in each contact module, the seal plate comprising at least one seal disposed around each insertion aperture defined in the seal plate, the contact module comprising an aperture contact configured and arranged to electrically couple with a terminal of an elongated member when the elongated member is inserted in the insertion aperture; aligning the plurality of contact modules and coupled seal plates along an axis so that the insertion apertures of the plurality of contact modules are aligned; and retaining the plurality of contact modules between a first end cap at a first end of the aligned plurality of contact modules and a second end cap at a second end of the aligned plurality of contact modules, wherein the first end cap defines at least two insertion apertures aligned with the at least two insertion apertures defined in each contact module thereby forming at least two ports configured and arranged to receive an elongated member with spaced-apart terminals. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification