ECG Electrode Connector

• US 20120196474A1
• Filed: 04/10/2012
• Published: 08/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kpr U.S., LLC (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Selvitelli, David, Meyer, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,408,948 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/449
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/227 Sensors with electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/274 using snap or button fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/28 for electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/303 Patient cord assembly, e.g. cable harness
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/193 Means for increasing contact pressure at the end of engagement of coupling part , e.g. zero insertion force or no friction
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6277 comprising annular latching means, e.g. ring snapping in an annular groove
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/62933 Comprising exclusively pivoting lever
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2101/00 One pole
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/12 for medicine and surgery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/20 Coupling parts carrying sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured only to wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/909 Medical use or attached to human body

Abstract

Disclosed is an ECG electrode lead wire connector which provides improved electrical and mechanical coupling of the ECG electrode press stud to the lead wire, provides enhanced ergonomics to the clinician, and may alleviate patient discomfort associated with the attachment and removal of ECG leads. The connector may be engaged and disengaged with little or no force imparted to the patient or the ECG pad, which significantly minimizes the risk of inadvertent dislodgement of the pad. In one embodiment the disclosed connector provides a thumb cam lever which affirmatively engages the press stud to the connector, and provides tactile feedback to the clinician that the connector is properly engaged. In other embodiments, the connector provides a pushbutton to enable the clinician to easily engage and disengage the connector from the ECG stud. The disclosed connectors may also decrease clinician fatigue, and may provide more reliable ECG results.

Claims

1-14. -14. (canceled)

15. An ECG connector assembly, comprising:

a housing having a first opening disposed therein dimensioned to operably receive the press stud of an ECG electrode pad;

an electrical contact member having a second opening disposed therein, the second opening disposed substantially concentrically to the first opening, wherein the perimeter of the second opening is less than the perimeter of the first opening; and

a pushbutton slidably disposed within the housing and having at least a released position and a depressed position, wherein the pushbutton further includes a central opening defined therein, the opening configured to operably engage the press stud and the electrical contact member when the pushbutton is in the released position.

16. The ECG connector assembly in accordance with claim 15, wherein the housing is constructed from electrically non-conducting material.

17. The ECG connector assembly in accordance with claim 16, wherein the housing material is selected from the group consisting of polybutylene terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, thermoplastic urethanes, thermoplastic elastomers, and fiber-reinforced polymers.

18. The ECG connector assembly in accordance with claim 15, wherein the second opening has a shape selected from the group consisting of ovoid shaped, pear-shaped, keyhole-shaped, circular, and a shape described by the intersection of two partially-coincident circles.

19. The ECG connector assembly in accordance with claim 15, wherein the electrical contact member is constructed from material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel and low-carbon steel.

20. The ECG connector assembly in accordance with claim 15, further comprising:

a lead wire having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end thereof is electrically coupled to the electrical contact member; and

a strain relief included with the housing and having at least part of the lead wire disposed therethrough.

21. The ECG connector assembly in accordance with claim 20, wherein the coupling of the lead wire to the electrical contact member is selected from the group consisting of a solder connection, a crimp connection, a welded connection, and a wire bond connection.

22. The ECG connector assembly in accordance with claim 15, wherein the housing further comprises a cover.

23. The ECG connector assembly in accordance with claim 22, wherein the cover comprises an identification marking.

24. The ECG connector assembly in accordance with claim 23, wherein the identification marking is formed by at least one of printing, engraving, silk screening, stamping, or integrally molding said marking onto the top cover.

25. A method of engaging an ECG connector with a press stud of an ECG pad, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an ECG connector having a pushbutton slidably disposed within a housing having a first opening disposed therein dimensioned to operably receive the press stud of an ECG electrode pad, an electrical contact member having a second opening disposed therein, the second opening disposed substantially concentrically to the first opening, wherein the perimeter of the second opening is less than the perimeter of the first opening and having at least a released position and a depressed position;

positioning the pushbutton to the depressed position;

introducing the press stud into a central opening provided by the ECG connector; and

positioning the pushbutton to the released position.

26. The method in accordance with claim 25, wherein the pushbutton is biased to the released position.

27. The method in accordance with claim 26, wherein the first positioning step includes the application of finger pressure to overcome the bias of the pushbutton.