IMPLANTABLE CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF COMMUNICATING AN ELEMENT TO AN IMPLANTABLE DEVICE

• US 20150250933A1
• Filed: 09/30/2013
• Published: 09/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Circulite Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Circulite Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Kerkhoffs, Wolfgang, Keysselitz, Ellen, Flaherty, J. Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 10,213,536 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1022 additionally providing electrical connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1044 Verifying the connection, e.g. audible feedback, tactile feedback, visual feedback, using external light sources
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2207/00 Methods of manufacture, assembly or production
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/10 Tube connectors; Tube couplings A61M39/02 takes precedence; connecting needles to syringes or hubs A61M5/34; connecting catheter tubes to hubs A61M25/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/16 having provision for disinfection or sterilisation A61M39/143 takes precedence; methods or apparatus for disinfection or sterilisation A61L2/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/26 Valves closing automatically on disconnecting the line and opening on reconnection thereof check valves A61M39/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/148 in line with a blood vessel using resection or like techniques, e.g. permanent endovascular heart assist devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/165 implantable in, on, or around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/538 Regulation using real-time blood pump operational parameter data, e.g. motor current
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/585 User interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/859 Connections therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/88 Percutaneous cables
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/372 Arrangements in connection with the implantation of stimulators

Abstract

An implantable connector assembly (14) for communicating an element to an implantable device (12) within a patient (20) comprises a plug (16), a receptacle (18), and a pair of communication structures (72, 108). The plug (16) includes a plunger body (64). The receptacle (18) includes a sleeve (98) and a stopper (114). The sleeve (98) defines an opening (104), and the stopper (114) is resiliently mounted within the sleeve (98) to cover and fluidly seal the opening (104). The pair of communication structures (72, 108) is positioned respectively on the plunger body (64) and the sleeve (98). One of the communication structures (72, 108) connects to a source and the other communication structure (108, 72) connects to the implantable device (12). The plunger body (64) inserts into the sleeve (98) to displace the stopper (114) and couple the pair of communication structures (72, 108) for communication of the element therebetween.

Claims

1. An apparatus for implantation within a patient, comprising;

an implantable device configured for being positioned and operating at least subcutaneously within the patient;

a cable configured for communicating an element from a source toward the implantable device within the patient; and

an implantable connector assembly for communicating the element from the cable to the implantable device, comprising;

a plug operatively connected to one of the cable and the implantable device, the plug including a plunger body;

a receptacle operatively connected to the other of the cable and the implantable device, the receptacle including a sleeve and a stopper, the sleeve defining an opening sized for receiving the plunger body, the stopper resiliently mounted within the sleeve and biased toward the opening to cover and fluidly seal the opening for inhibiting contamination from entering within the sleeve when the plunger body is withdrawn from the sleeve; and

a pair of communication structures positioned respectively on the plunger body and the sleeve, one of the pair of communication structures operatively connecting to the cable for receiving the element from the cable and the other of the pair of communication structures operatively connecting to the implantable device for directing the element to the implantable device,

wherein inserting the plunger body into the sleeve displaces the stopper and removably couples the pair of communication structures for communication of the element therebetween.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the implantable device is selected from the group consisting of a pump, a pacemaker, a controller, and a battery.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plug is operatively connected to the cable and the receptacle is operatively connected to the implantable device.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the receptacle is integrated within the implantable device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a wiper seal positioned proximate to the opening, the stopper fluidly sealing against the wiper seal to further inhibit the entry of contamination within the sleeve.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the wiper seal fluidly seals against the plunger body during insertion of the plunger body into the sleeve such that the wiper seal removes further contamination from a portion of the plunger body within the sleeve.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plunger body is inserted coaxially within the sleeve.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the element is an electrical power, and the pair of communication structures are a pair of annular electrical conduits positioned respectively about the plunger body and the sleeve, the pair of annular electrical conduits configured to removably connect for communicating the electrical power therebetween.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the element is a fluid, and the pair of communication structures are a pair of tubes extending respectively through the plunger body and the sleeve, the pair of tubes configured to removably connect for communicating the fluid therebetween.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plug includes a groove, and the receptacle includes a holding member, the groove configured to removably receive the holding member such that the holding member mechanically couples the plug to the receptacle.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a contamination sensor positioned within the sleeve and operatively connected to one of the plug and the receptacle,

wherein the contamination sensor is configured to sense contamination within the sleeve.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

an alignment sensor positioned within the sleeve and operatively connected to one of the plug and the receptacle,

wherein the alignment sensor is configured to sense an alignment of the plug relative to the receptacle when the plug mechanically couples to the receptacle.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the source is a supply source positioned exterior of the patient.

14. An implantable connector assembly for communicating an element from a source exterior of a patient or implanted within the patient to an implantable device within the patient, comprising;

a plug configured to operatively connect to one of the source and the implantable device, the plug including a plunger body;

a receptacle configured to operatively connect to the other of the source and the implantable device, the receptacle including a sleeve and a stopper, the sleeve defining an opening sized for receiving the plunger body, the stopper resiliently mounted within the sleeve and biased toward the opening to cover and fluidly seal the opening for inhibiting contamination from entering within the sleeve when the plunger body is withdrawn from the sleeve; and

a pair of communication structures positioned respectively on the plunger body and the sleeve, one of the pair of communication structures is configured to operatively connect to the source for receiving the element from the source and the other of the pair of communication structures is configured to operatively connect to the implantable device for directing the element to the implantable device,

wherein inserting the plunger body into the sleeve displaces the stopper and removably couples the pair of communication structures for communication of the element therebetween.

15. The implantable connector assembly of claim 14 further comprising:

a wiper seal positioned proximate to the opening, the stopper fluidly sealing against the wiper seal to further inhibit the entry of contamination within the sleeve.

16. The implantable connector assembly of claim 15, wherein the wiper seal fluidly seals against the plunger body during insertion of the plunger body into the sleeve such that the wiper seal removes further contamination from a portion of the plunger body within the sleeve.

17. The implantable connector assembly of claim 14, wherein the plunger body is inserted coaxially within the sleeve.

18. The implantable connector assembly of claim 14, wherein the element is an electrical power, and the pair of communication structures are a pair of annular electrical conduits positioned respectively about the plunger body and the sleeve, the pair of annular electrical conduits configured to removably connect for communicating the electrical power therebetween.

19. The implantable connector assembly of claim 14, wherein the element is a fluid, and the pair of communication structures are a pair of tubes extending respectively through the plunger body and the sleeve, the pair of tubes configured to removably connect for communicating the fluid therebetween.

20. The implantable connector assembly of claim 14, wherein the plug includes a groove, and the receptacle includes a holding member, the groove configured to removably receive the holding member such that the holding member mechanically couples the plug to the receptacle.

21. The implantable connector assembly of claim 14 further comprising:

a contamination sensor positioned within the sleeve and operatively connected to one of the plug and the receptacle,

wherein the contamination sensor is configured to sense contamination within the sleeve.

22. The implantable connector assembly of claim 14 further comprising:

an alignment sensor positioned within the sleeve and operatively connected to one of the plug and the receptacle,

wherein the alignment sensor is configured to sense an alignment of the plug relative to the receptacle when the plug mechanically couples to the receptacle.

23. A method of communicating an element from a source to an implantable device within the patient, comprising;

inserting a plunger body of a plug into a sleeve of a receptacle;

displacing a stopper with the plunger body to unseal an opening within the sleeve;

connecting a communication structure of the plunger body with a communication structure of the sleeve through the opening; and

fluidly sealing the plug against the receptacle to inhibit contamination of the communication structures.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

removing the plunger body of the plug from the sleeve of the receptacle; and

biasing the stopper toward the opening to fluidly sealing the opening to further inhibit entry of the contamination into the sleeve.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the communication structure of the plunger body and the sleeve is an electrical conduit and the method further comprises:

communicating an electrical power from the electrical conduit of the plunger body to the electrical conduit of the sleeve.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein the communication structure of the plunger body and the sleeve is a fluid tube and the method further comprises:

communicating a fluid from the fluid tube of the plunger body to the fluid tube of the sleeve.

27. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

sensing for contamination of the communication structures within at least one of the plug or the receptacle with a contamination sensor.

28. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

sensing alignment between the communication structures of the plug and the receptacle.

29. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

wiping at least a portion of the plunger body with a wiper seal to remove contamination from the portion of the plunger body.

30. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

aligning the plunger body and the sleeve coaxially.

31. The method of claim 23 wherein the source is a supply source exterior of the patient, and the method further comprises:

communicating the element from the supply source exterior of the patient through the communication structures and to the implanted device within the patient.

32. The method of claim 23 wherein the source is another implanted device, and the method further comprises:

communicating the element from one implanted device within the patient through the communication structures and to the other implanted device within the patient.