ELECTRICAL CONNECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICES

• US 20110065301A1
• Filed: 09/15/2010
• Published: 03/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deringer-Ney, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Deringer-Ney, Inc.
• Inventors: Poppy, Michael, Grant, Michael, Boyd, Garth W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,251,731 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/271
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3752 Details of casing-lead connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5224 for medical use
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap

Abstract

A multiple contact connector interfaces between an implanted medical device and an implanted cable or lead. A connector connects between multiple implanted leads, each of which has multiple independent conductors. The connection system is a planar array of male connector pins on one portion, and a matching array of female connector receptacles on a second portion. Alignment via alignment features and pressing together the portions allows pins to engage with the receptacles providing a secure electrical connection. Sealing features on the connector apparatus seal out external fluids and isolate fluid present in the connector apparatus prior to mating, which electrically isolates each pin and its corresponding receptacle from other pin and receptacle pairs. Latching features retains the relative position of the pins, receptacle, and the positioning of the fluid seals, and is reversible for removal of the connector.

Claims

1. A connector system for establishing an electrical connection between an implanted medical device and a lead, the connector system comprising:

an array of electrically active pins and complementary electrically conductive receptacles;

wherein one of the array and the complementary receptacles are provided in a recessed area of the implanted medical device and are exposed from the implanted medical device prior to establishing the electrical connection, and the other of the array and the complementary receptacles are encased in a lead housing from which a distal end of the lead extends;

wherein the electrical connection is established upon pressing the pins and the complementary receptacles together; and

wherein upon establishing the electrical connection, the lead housing is exposed at an exterior of the implanted medical device.

2. The connector system according to claim 1, wherein the recessed area of the implanted medical device is provided as a recessed sidewall and the lead housing laterally attaches to the medical device.

3. The connector system according to claim 1, wherein the recessed area of the implanted medical device is provided as a recessed upper wall such that the lead housing attaches to an upper end of the medical device.

4. The connector system according to claim 1, wherein the recessed area and the lead housing further comprise complementary alignment structures for aligning the lead housing with the recessed area prior to establishing the electrical connection.

5. The connector system according to claim 1, further comprising a latching device for latching the lead housing to the implanted medical device.

6. The connector system according to claim 5, wherein the latching device comprises legs that latch the lead housing to the implanted medical device upon being received by latch openings formed in each of the recessed area and the lead housing.

7. The connector system according to claim 6, wherein the legs are chamfered, and as the latching device is inserted into the latch openings, the chamfered legs force the lead housing towards the recessed area to establish a latched position of the lead housing.

8. The connector system according to claim 7, wherein the latching device is reversible so that the legs are received by ejection openings formed in each of the recessed area and the lead housing and force the lead housing out of the latched position.

9. The connector system according to claim 5, wherein the latching device latches the lead housing to the implanted medical device by drawing the lead housing into the recessed area to establish a latched position of the lead housing.

10. The connector system according to claim 9, wherein the latching device is reversible, and upon removing the latching device and reinserting the latching device in a reversed position, the latching device presses the lead housing out of its latched position.

11. A connector system for establishing an electrical connection between an implanted medical device and a lead, the connector system comprising:

a connector comprising a body portion that houses a plurality of electrically active contacts and a flange portion extending from the body portion, wherein the lead extends from the connector and is coupled to the electrically active contacts;

an implanted medical device comprising a plurality of electrically conductive contacts in a recessed area of the implanted medical device, said electrically conductive contacts exposed from an exterior of the implanted medical device prior to establishing the electrical connection; and

a seal;

wherein the electrically active contacts and the electrically conductive contacts establish the electrical connection upon inserting the body portion into the recessed area; and

wherein upon establishing the electrical connection, the seal is arranged between the connector and the implanted medical device and protects the electrical connection from fluids.

12. The connector system according to claim 11, wherein the seal comprises a sealing ring arranged between the flange portion and the body portion of the connector, and wherein upon insertion of the body portion into the recessed area, the sealing ring presses against the recessed area and seals the electrical connection.

13. The connector system according to claim 11, wherein the seal comprises one or more sealing rings surrounding each of the electrically active contacts, the sealing rings arranged on a surface of the body portion facing the implanted medical device, wherein upon establishing the electrical connection, the sealing rings contact the recessed area and seal the electrical connection.

14. The connector system according to claim 13, wherein the seal further comprises a perimeter seal surrounding a periphery of the surface of the body portion facing the implanted medical device and seals the electrical connection.

15. The connector system according to claim 14, wherein a portion of the recessed area comprises a seal corresponding to the perimeter seal, and wherein the seals mate upon establishing the electrical connection.

16. The connector system according to claim 11, wherein the flange portion is exposed from the exterior of the implanted medical device upon establishing the electrical connection.

17. A connector system for establishing an electrical connection between an implanted medical device and a lead, the system comprising:

a first and a second connector block, the first and the second connector blocks each comprising a body portion that houses a plurality of electrically active contacts, a flange portion extending from the body portion, and a lead extending from the connector block;

an implanted medical device comprising a plurality of electrically conductive contacts arranged in each of a first and a second recessed area of the implanted medical device, said electrically conductive contacts exposed from an exterior of the implanted medical device prior to establishing the electrical connection;

wherein the body portion of the first and the second connector block are differently shaped from one another; and

wherein the first and the second recessed areas comprise sidewalls complementary to respective shapes of the first body portion and the second body portion such that the electrical connection may only be established between the first connector block and the first recessed area and the second connector block and the second recessed area.

18. The connector system according to claim 17, further comprising a channel arranged in a surface of the implanted medical device, the channel extending from the recessed area and forming an opening at a sidewall of the implanted medical device, said channel for receiving the lead, and upon establishing the electrical connection, the lead resides in the channel and extends out of the sidewall of the implanted medical device.

19. The connector system according to claim 17, further comprising fasteners received by fastener openings formed in the flange portion and the recessed area, wherein upon establishing the electrical connection, the fasteners are inserted into the connector openings and lock the connector block to the implanted medical device.