SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING IMPROVED CONNECTOR CONTACTS FOR ELECTRICAL STIMULATION SYSTEMS

• US 20130304140A1
• Filed: 05/07/2013
• Published: 11/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: DeRohan, Robert, Pandit, Aditya Vasudeo
• Granted Patent: US 8,849,396 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3752 Details of casing-lead connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2421 using coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/12 for medicine and surgery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/58 Contacts spaced along longitudinal axis of engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/006 the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle

Abstract

A port for receiving a lead is defined at a first end of a connector housing of a connector assembly for an implantable electrical medical device. A lumen extends from the port along a longitudinal axis of the connector housing. At least one of a plurality of connector contacts disposed in the connector housing couples to a terminal of the lead when the lead is received by the connector housing. The connector contacts include spring contact probes spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal axis of the connector housing with at least a portion of each of the spring contact probes extending along a first transverse axis into the lumen of the connector housing. The plurality of spring contact probes physically contact the terminals of the lead solely along the first transverse axis when the lead is received by the connector housing.

Claims

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

an elongated connector housing having a first end, an opposing second end, a longitudinal axis, a first transverse axis transverse to the longitudinal axis, and a second transverse axis transverse to the longitudinal axis and perpendicular to the first transverse axis,

a port defined at the first end of the connector housing, the port configured and arranged for receiving a proximal end of a lead or lead extension;

a lumen defined in the connector housing, the lumen extending from the port along the longitudinal axis of the connector housing; and

a plurality of connector contacts disposed in the connector housing, at least one of the plurality of connector contacts configured and arranged to couple to at least one of a plurality of 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 connector housing;

wherein the plurality of connector contacts comprise a plurality of spring contact probes spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal axis of the connector housing with at least a portion of each of the plurality of spring contact probes extending along the first transverse axis into the lumen of the connector housing;

wherein the plurality of spring contact probes are configured and arranged to physically contact the terminals of the lead or lead extension solely along the first transverse axis when the proximal end of the lead or lead extension is received by the connector housing.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of spring contact probes comprises

a contact housing having a first end and an opposing second end,

a biasing element disposed in the connector housing, the biasing element configured and arranged to transition between a relaxed position and a compressed position, and

an electrically-conductive spring-loaded pin coupled to the biasing element and extending from the first end of the contact housing along the first transverse axis, wherein transitioning by the biasing element causes a corresponding movement of the spring-loaded pin along the first transverse axis of the contact housing;

wherein the spring-loaded pin extends at least partially into the lumen of the connector assembly and is configured and arranged to couple to at least one of a plurality of 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 connector housing.

3. The connector assembly of claim 2, further comprising an actuator for facilitating transitioning of the biasing element between the relaxed position and the compressed position.

4. The connector assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one elongated support element disposed along the longitudinal axis of the connector housing.

5. The connector assembly of claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of spring contact probes is coupled to the at least one support element.

6. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector assembly further comprises a retaining element disposed along the first end of the connector housing, the retaining element configured and arranged for retaining a proximal end of the lead or lead extension when the proximal end of the lead or lead extension is inserted into the lumen.

7. The connector assembly of claim 6, wherein the retaining element defines an aperture extending along the first transverse axis.

8. The connector assembly of claim 6, wherein the retaining element is coupled to at least one support element disposed along the longitudinal axis of the connector housing.

9. The connector assembly of claim 1, further comprising an end stop disposed along the second end of the connector housing, the end stop configured and arranged for modulating insertion of the lead or lead extension into the lumen of the connector assembly.

10. The connector assembly of claim 9, wherein the end stop is coupled to at least one support element disposed along the longitudinal axis of the connector housing.

11. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector housing has a first width along the first transverse axis and a second width along the second transverse axis.

12. The connector assembly of claim 11, wherein the first width is constant along the entire longitudinal axis.

13. The connector assembly of claim 11, wherein the second width is constant along the entire longitudinal axis.

14. The connector assembly of claim 11, wherein the first width is larger than the second width.

15. The connector assembly of claim 11, wherein the first width is larger than the second width by at least 10%.

16. The connector assembly of claim 11, wherein the second width is no greater than 0.15 inches.

17. A lead assembly 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 body,

a plurality of terminals disposed on the proximal end of the lead body, and

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

a lead extension having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of the lead extension is configured and arranged for coupling with a control module; and

the connector assembly of claim 1 disposed on 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 assembly.

18. 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 body,

a plurality of terminals disposed on the proximal end of the lead body, 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 assembly of claim 1 disposed on 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 assembly.

19. A lead assembly 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 body,

a plurality of terminals disposed on the proximal end of the lead body, and

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

the connector assembly of claim 1;

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

20. 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, 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; and

the connector assembly of claim 1 coupled directly to the control module;

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