SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING CONNECTORS FOR ELECTRICAL STIMULATION SYSTEMS

• US 20120071937A1
• Filed: 09/07/2011
• Published: 03/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Pandit, Aditya Vasudeo, Sundaramurthy, Priya
• Granted Patent: US 8,897,876 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3752 Details of casing-lead connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/12 for medicine and surgery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/58 Contacts spaced along longitudinal axis of engagement

Abstract

A connector for an implantable medical device includes an elongated connector housing having a first end, a second end, a length, and an outer surface. The connector housing defines a port at the second end of the connector housing that extends along the length toward the first end. The port is configured and arranged for receiving a proximal end of lead or lead extension. Connector contacts disposed in the connector housing are configured and arranged for coupling to terminals disposed on the lead or lead extension when the lead or lead extension is received by the port. At least one window is defined along the outer surface of the connector housing. The at least one window is configured and arranged for viewing at least a portion of the lead or lead extension when the lead or lead extension is received by the port.

Claims

1. A connector for an implantable medical device, the connector comprising:

an elongated connector housing having a first end, a second end, a length, and an outer surface, the connector housing defining a port at the second end of the connector housing that extends along at least a portion of the length of the connector housing, the port configured and arranged for receiving a proximal end of a lead or lead extension,

a plurality of connector contacts disposed in the connector housing, the connector contacts configured and arranged for coupling to terminals disposed on the proximal end of the lead or lead extension when the proximal end of the lead or lead extension is received by the port; and

at least one window defined along the outer surface of the connector housing, the at least one window configured and arranged for viewing at least a portion of the lead or lead extension when the lead or lead extension is received by the port.

2. The connector of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of contact housings abutting the port, wherein at least one of the plurality of connector contacts is disposed in each of the plurality of contact housings.

3. The connector of claim 2, wherein at least one of the plurality of connector contacts is disposed in one of the plurality of the contact housings such that the at least one of the plurality of connector contacts is positioned diagonally with respect to the length of the connector housing.

4. The connector of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of connector contacts has an oval-shaped cross-section.

5. The connector of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of connector contacts does not extend completely around a circumference of the port.

6. The connector of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of connector contacts comprises a flexible, conductive leaf spring.

7. The connector of claim 1, wherein the connector housing is isodiametric.

8. The connector of claim 1, wherein the connector housing has an outer shape that is not round and that comprises a circumference with at least two different opposing, connecting arced portions.

9. The connector of claim 1, wherein the connector housing further comprises at least one strain relief arrangement, the at least one strain relief arrangement configured and arranged to expand and contract along the length of the connector housing to absorb strain placed on the connector.

10. The connector of claim 1, further comprising an end stop disposed at a far end of the port, the end stop comprising a feedback mechanism for providing audible feedback to a user when the proximal end of the lead or lead extension is fully inserted into the port and the proximal end of the lead or lead extension contacts the end stop.

11. An electrical stimulating system comprising:

a lead comprising

a lead body with a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal length,

a plurality of electrodes disposed on the distal end of the lead,

a plurality of terminals disposed on the proximal end of the lead, wherein at least one spacer is disposed between adjacent terminals of the plurality of electrodes, and

a plurality of conductors, each conductor electrically coupling at least one of the electrodes to at least one of the terminals;

a control module electrically coupled to the plurality of electrodes, the control module comprising

a housing, and

an electronic subassembly disposed in the housing;

a lead extension having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of the lead extension is coupleable with the control module; and

the connector of claim 1 coupled to the distal end of the lead extension;

wherein the proximal end of the lead is configured and arranged for insertion into the port of the connector.

12. The electrical stimulating system of claim 11, wherein when the proximal end of the lead is fully received by the port, at least one of the at least one spacers disposed between adjacent terminals is disposed directly beneath at least one of the at least one windows disposed along the connector housing.

13. The electrical stimulating system of claim 12, wherein at least one of the at least one spacers disposed directly beneath at least one of the at least one windows is formed from a color that is visually distinct through the at least one window.

14. The electrical stimulating system of claim 11, further comprising an additional lead extension having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the distal end of the additional lead extension is configured and arranged to receive the proximal end of the lead, and wherein the proximal end of the additional lead extension is configured and arranged for insertion into the port of the connector.

15. A connector for an implantable medical device, the connector comprising:

an elongated connector housing having a first end, a second end, a length, and an outer surface, the connector housing defining a port at the second end of the connector housing that extends along at least a portion of the length of the connector housing, the port configured and arranged for receiving a proximal end of a lead or lead extension,

a plurality of connector contacts disposed in the connector housing, the connector contacts configured and arranged for coupling to terminals disposed on the proximal end of the lead or lead extension when the proximal end of the lead or lead extension is received by the port; and

a retaining element configured and arranged for retaining the lead or lead extension when the lead or lead extension is received by the port, wherein the retaining element comprises a pin vice.

16. A connector for an implantable medical device, the connector comprising:

an elongated connector housing having a first end, a second end, a length, and an outer surface, the connector housing defining a port at the second end of the connector housing that extends along at least a portion of the length of the connector housing, the port configured and arranged for receiving a proximal end of a lead or lead extension,

a plurality of connector contacts disposed in the connector housing, the connector contacts configured and arranged for coupling to terminals disposed on the proximal end of the lead or lead extension when the proximal end of the lead or lead extension is received by the port; and

at least one strain relief arrangement disposed along at least a portion of the connector housing, the at least one strain relief arrangement comprising a plurality of interconnected pleats configured and arranged to expand and contract along the length of the connector housing to absorb strain placed on the connector.

17. A connector for an implantable medical device, the connector comprising:

an elongated connector housing having a first end, a second end, a length, and an outer surface, the connector housing defining a port at the second end of the connector housing that extends along at least a portion of the length of the connector housing, the port configured and arranged for receiving a proximal end of a lead or lead extension,

a plurality of connector contacts disposed in the connector housing, the connector contacts configured and arranged for coupling to terminals disposed on the proximal end of the lead or lead extension when the proximal end of the lead or lead extension is received by the port; and

an end stop disposed at a first end of the port, the end stop comprising a feedback mechanism for providing audible feedback to a user when, during insertion of the proximal end of the lead or lead extension into the port, the proximal end of the lead or lead extension contacts the end stop.

18. The connector of claim 17, wherein the feedback mechanism of the end stop additionally provides tactile feedback to the user.

19. The connector of claim 17, wherein the outer surface of the connector housing comprises at least one window disposed over at least a portion of the end stop.

20. A connector for an implantable medical device, the connector comprising:

an elongated connector housing having a first end, a second end, a length, and an outer surface, the connector housing defining a port at the second end of the connector housing that extends along at least a portion of the length of the connector housing, the port configured and arranged for receiving a proximal end of a lead or lead extension; and

a plurality of coupleable members coupled together along the length of the connector housing, wherein plurality of coupleable members comprise

a plurality of first coupleable members each comprising at least one contact, the contacts configured and arranged to couple to terminals of the proximal end of the lead of lead extension when the proximal end of the lead or lead extension is received by the port, and

a plurality of second coupleable members comprising non-conductive spacers,

wherein at least one of the plurality of second coupleable members is disposed between adjacent first coupleable members;

wherein each of the plurality of first and the second coupleable members defines a port aperture configured and arranged to form a portion of a length of the port when the coupleable members are coupled together;

wherein the first and the second coupleable members are configured and arranged to retain the lead or lead extension when the lead or lead extension is received by the port by forming an interference fit between walls of the port and an outer surface of the lead or lead extension.

21. The connector of claim 20, further comprising at least one conductor-carrying member extending along at least a portion of the connector housing, wherein at least one conductor is disposed in the at least one conductor-carrying member, the at least one conductor extending from one of the plurality of contacts of the first coupleable members to the first end of the connector housing.

22. The connector of claim 20, wherein the port has major transverse axis and minor transverse axis, and wherein the major transverse axis has a length that is greater than a length of the minor transverse axis.

23. The connector of claim 20, wherein the port aperture of at least one of the plurality of second coupleable members has a sloped surface for contacting the lead or lead extension when the lead or lead extension is received by the port.

24. A connector for an implantable medical device, the connector comprising:

two body portions each having a first end, a second end, and a length, the two body portions coupled together along the lengths of the body portions by at least one hinge coupled to both body portions and extending along a fulcrum, wherein the hinge enables the two body portions to pivot the connector open or closed, wherein the body portions each include an inner pocket, wherein the inner pockets collectively form a contact housing configured and arranged for receiving a proximal end of a lead or lead extension;

a plurality of connector contacts disposed in the contact housing, the connector contacts configured and arranged to couple to terminals of the proximal end of the lead of lead extension when the proximal end of the lead or lead extension is received by the contact housing; and

a locking mechanism configured and arranged for retaining the proximal end of the lead or lead extension within the contact housing, the locking mechanism comprising at least one pin disposed on one of the two body portions and at least one retaining aperture disposed on the other of the two body portions, wherein the at least one retaining aperture is configured and arranged to receive the at least one pin when the body portions are closed.

25. The connector of claim 24, wherein the at least one retaining aperture clicks into the at least one retaining aperture to provide at least one of an audible or a tactile feedback mechanism to a user when the connector is closed.

26. A lead extension for an implantable medical device, the lead extension comprising:

a lead extension body having a proximal end and a distal end;

a plurality of terminals disposed at the proximal end of the lead extension body;

an elongated connector housing having a first end, a second end, a length, and an outer surface, the connector housing defining a port at the second end of the connector housing that extends along at least a portion of the length of the connector housing, the port configured and arranged for receiving a proximal end of a lead or lead extension;

a plurality of connector contacts disposed in the connector housing;

at least one window defined along the outer surface of the connector housing, the at least one window configured and arranged for viewing at least a portion of the lead or lead extension when the lead or lead extension is received by the port; and

a plurality of conductors, each conductor electrically coupling at least one of the connector contacts to at least one of the terminals.

27. The lead extension of claim 26, wherein the connector housing further comprises at least one strain relief arrangement, the at least one strain relief arrangement configured and arranged to expand and contract along the length of the connector housing to absorb strain placed on the connector.

28. The lead extension of claim 26, further comprising an end stop disposed at a far end of the port, the end stop comprising a feedback mechanism for providing audible feedback to a user when the proximal end of the lead or lead extension is fully inserted into the port and the proximal end of the lead or lead extension contacts the end stop.

29. The lead extension of claim 26, further comprising a retaining element configured and arranged for retaining the lead or lead extension when the lead or lead extension is received by the port, wherein the retaining element comprises a pin vice.