COUPLINGS FOR IMPLANTED LEADS AND EXTERNAL STIMULATORS, AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20110071593A1
• Filed: 09/18/2009
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nevro Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nevro Corporation
• Inventors: Parker, Jon, Walker, Andre B.
• Application Number:
  US12/562,892
• Publication Number:
  US 20110071593A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/00 Electrotherapy; Circuits therefor A61N2/00 takes precedence; irradiation apparatus A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/04 Electrodes electrosurgical electrodes A61B18/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/048 Electrodes characterised by a specific connection between lead and electrode
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0488 Details about the lead
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3752 Details of casing-lead connections

Abstract

Couplings for implanted leads and external stimulators, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a cable assembly that in turn includes an electrical cable having a proximal end and a distal end. A first connector is attached to the cable toward the proximal end and has a plurality of first connector contacts positioned to releasably connect to an external patient device. A second connector is attached by the cable toward the distal end, and includes a first portion and a second portion pivotably connected to the first portion. The first portion has a slot elongated along a slot axis and positioned to receive an implantable patient signal delivery element axially along the slot axis. The second portion has a plurality of second connector contacts positioned to releasably, electrically contact the signal delivery element when the signal delivery element is positioned within the slot and the first and second portions are placed in a secured position. At least one of the first and second portions is pivotable relative to the other between the secured position and an unsecured position.

Claims

1. A patient treatment system, comprising:

a cable assembly that includes;

an electrical cable having a proximal end and a distal end;

a first connector attached to the cable toward the proximal end, the first connector having a plurality of first connector contacts positioned to releasably connect to an external patient device; and

a second connector attached to the cable toward the distal end, the second connector including;

a first portion having a slot elongated along a slot axis and positioned to receive an implantable patient signal delivery element axially along the slot axis;

a second portion pivotably connected to the first portion, at least one of the first and second portions being pivotable relative to the other between an unsecured position and a secured position, the second portion having a plurality of second connector contacts positioned to releasably, electrically contact the signal delivery element when the signal delivery element is positioned within the slot and the first and second portions are placed in the secured position.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising the signal delivery element.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the signal delivery element includes a lead having a terminal portion and an extension portion releasably connected to the terminal portion, and wherein the second connector contacts are positioned to releasably, electrically contact the extension portion.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the second portion includes eight second connector contacts positioned to releasably contact the signal delivery element when the signal delivery element is positioned within the slot and the first and second portions are in the secured position, and wherein the second connector has a footprint of about 7.2 cm² or less.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the second connector includes a pivot stop positioned to allow a maximum opening between the first and second housing portions in the unsecured position is less than about 90°

.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the second connector includes a pivot stop positioned to allow a maximum opening between the first and second housing portions in the unsecured position is less than about 45°

.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the second connector includes a pivot stop positioned to allow a maximum opening between the first and second housing portions in the unsecured position is less than about 5°

.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a lead stop positioned along the slot axis to prevent axial motion of the signal delivery element beyond the lead stop.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the slot has first, second and third openings, the first opening being toward a first end of the slot axis and having first width, the second opening being toward a second end of the axis and having a second width, and the third opening extending along the slot axis from the first opening to the second opening and having a third width, the first width being greater than the third width, the first portion further having an alignment indicator that is visually accessible from outside the first portion, and wherein the system further comprises:

a support member carried by the first portion, the support member carrying the second connector contacts in position to releasably contact the signal delivery element when the signal delivery element is positioned within the slot and the first and second portions are placed in the secured position; and

a latch having a first element carried by the first portion and a second element carried by the second portion, the first and second elements being releasably engaged with each other when the first and second portions are placed in the secured position.

10. A patient treatment system, comprising:

a cable assembly that includes;

a cable having a proximal end and a distal end, the cable carrying a plurality of conductors;

a first connector attached to the cable at the proximal end, the first connector having a plurality of first connector contacts, with individual first connector contacts electrically connected to corresponding individual conductors and positioned to releasably connect to an external patient stimulator; and

a second connector attached to the cable at the distal end, the second connector including;

a first housing portion having a slot elongated along a slot axis, the slot having first, second and third openings, the first opening being positioned toward a first end of the slot axis and having first width, the second opening being positioned toward a second end of the axis and having a second width, and the third opening extending along the slot axis from the first opening to the second opening and having a third width, the first width being greater than the third width, the first housing portion further having an alignment indicator that is visually accessible from outside the first housing portion;

a second housing portion pivotably connected to the first housing portion, at least one of the first and second housing portions being pivotable relative to the other between an unsecured position and a secured position;

a support member carried by the second housing portion, the support member having a plurality of second connector contacts positioned to releasably contact an implantable patient lead when the implantable patient lead is positioned within the slot and the first and second housing portions are placed in the secured position, with individual second connector contacts electrically connected to corresponding individual conductors; and

a latch having a first element carried by the first housing portion and a second element carried by the second housing portion, the first and second elements being releasably engaged with each other when the second housing portion is placed in the secured position.

11. The treatment system of claim 10, further comprising the external patient stimulator, and wherein the first connector is releasably connected to the external patient stimulator.

12. The treatment system of claim 10, further comprising the implantable patient lead, and wherein the second connector is releasably connected to the implantable patient lead.

13. The treatment system of claim 12 wherein the implantable patient lead includes a row of connection contacts, and wherein a first connection contact in the row is positioned directly adjacent to the alignment indicator, with both the first connection contact and the alignment indicator visually accessible from outside the first housing portion.

14. The treatment system of claim 12, further comprising a stylet slidably positioned within the implantable patient lead, the implantable patient lead having a lead width, the stylet having a stylet width, and wherein the first width of the first opening is greater than the lead width, and wherein the third width of the third opening is greater than the stylet width and less than the lead width.

15. The treatment device of claim 10 wherein the first opening has a funnel shape.

16. The treatment device of claim 10 wherein the second opening is positioned adjacent to a ramped surface of the first housing portion.

17. The treatment device of claim 10 wherein the first housing portion includes a first outwardly extending closure tab, and wherein the second housing portion includes a second outwardly extending closure tab, the first and second closure tabs being offset from each other in a direction generally parallel to a pivot axis about which the second housing portion pivots relative to the first housing portion.

18. The system of claim 10 wherein the first element of the latch includes a recess and wherein the second element of the latch includes a flexible projection, and wherein an inner surface of the recess is covered by the projection when the second housing portion is in the secured position to provide a visual indication that the second housing portion is secured, and wherein the inner surface of the recess is exposed when the second housing portion is in the unsecured position to provide a visual indication that the second housing portion is unsecured.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the recess is a first recess, and wherein the latch includes a second recess, the second recess receiving the projection when the first and second housing portions are in the unsecured position to at least resist further pivoting of the first and second housing portions away from each other.

20. The system of claim 10, further comprising a lead stop positioned along the slot axis to prevent axial motion of the lead beyond the lead stop.

21. A method for operating a patient treatment system, comprising:

implanting an implantable signal delivery element in a patient;

positioning a cable assembly proximate to connector contacts of the implantable signal delivery element, the cable assembly having a proximal end with a first connector having first connector contacts, and a distal end with a second connector having first and second portions;

sliding the connector contacts of the signal delivery element axially into a slot carried by the second portion of the second connector, the slot being elongated axially along a slot axis;

pivoting at least one of the first and second portions relative to the other to electrically connect the connection contacts of the signal delivery element with second connector contacts carried by the second portion of the second connector; and

releasably connecting the first connector to an external patient device.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising halting axial motion of the signal delivery element by sliding the signal delivery element into contact with a stop carried by the second connector.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein pivoting at least one of the first and second portions includes pivoting at least one of the first and second portions with only a single hand.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising both applying a pivoting force to the at least one of the first and second portions, and reacting the pivoting force, with the single hand.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising pivoting at least one of the first and second portions away from the other with a only single hand to electrically disconnect the connector contacts of the signal delivery element from the second connector contacts.

26. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

pivoting at least one of the first and second portions away from the other to electrically disconnect the connector contacts of the signal delivery element from the second connector contacts; and

at least restricting relative pivoting between the first and second portions beyond about 90°

.

27. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

pivoting at least one of the first and second portions away from the other to electrically disconnect the connector contacts of the signal delivery element from the second connector contacts; and

at least restricting relative pivoting between the first and second portions beyond about 45°

.

28. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

pivoting at least one of the first and second portions away from the other to electrically disconnect the connector contacts of the signal delivery element from the second connector contacts; and

at least restricting relative pivoting between the first and second portions beyond about 5°

.

29. The method of claim 21, further comprising latching the first and second portions to each other with the connection contacts of the signal delivery element in electrical contact with the second connector contacts.

30. The method of claim 21 wherein sliding the connection contacts of the signal delivery element axially into a slot includes sliding the connection contacts fully into the slot without electrically connecting the connection contacts of the signal delivery element with the second connector contacts.

31. A method for operating a patient treatment system, comprising:

implanting an implantable patient lead in a patient by inserting a stylet into the implantable patient lead and inserting the lead and the stylet together into the patient, the implantable patient lead having distal contacts and proximal contacts, the distal contacts being positioned within the patient, the proximal contacts being positioned outside the patient;

positioning a cable assembly proximate to the proximal contacts of the implantable patient lead, the cable assembly having a proximal end with a first connector and a distal end with a second connector, the second connector having a first housing portion and a second housing portion pivotably connected to the first housing portion, the first housing portion having a slot elongated along a slot axis, the slot having a first slot opening toward a first end of the slot axis, a second slot opening toward a second end of the slot axis, and a third slot opening extending along the slot axis from the first slot opening to the second slot opening;

sliding the proximal contacts of the patient implantable lead into the first slot opening;

passing the stylet into the slot through the third slot opening so that the stylet extends outwardly from the slot through the second slot opening;

visually confirming alignment of at least one of the proximal contacts of the implantable patient lead with an alignment indicator of the first housing portion;

releasably securing the patient lead to the second connector using only a single hand by;

pivoting the at least one of the first and second housing portions toward the other with only the single hand;

clamping the proximal contacts of the implantable patient lead against corresponding second contacts carried by the second housing portion with only the single hand; and

releasably latching the first and second housing portions together with only the single hand;

wherein the method further comprises;

releasably connecting the first connector to an external patient stimulator.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein implanting the patient lead includes implanting the patient lead proximate to the patient'"'"'s spine, and wherein the method further comprises activating the external patient stimulator to address the patient'"'"'s pain.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein pivoting at least one of the first and second housing portions relative to the other includes:

engaging a first tab carried by the first housing portion with a first part of the hand;

engaging a second tab carried by the second housing portion with a second part of the hand, the second tab being offset from the first tab in a direction generally parallel to a pivot axis about which the second housing portion pivots relative to the first housing portion; and

moving at least one of the first and second parts of the hand toward the other.

34. The method of claim 31 wherein latching includes engaging a flexible projection carried by one of the first and second housing members with a recess carried by the other of the first and second housing members.

35. The method of claim 31, further comprising unclamping the proximal contacts from the second contacts by pivoting at least one of the first and second housing portions away from the other with only a single hand.