CONNECTORS WITH SPRING CONTACTS FOR ELECTRICAL STIMULATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING SAME
First Claim
1. A connector assembly, comprising:
- a connector body having an elongated shape with a first end, an opposing second end, and a longitudinal axis, the connector body defining a port at the first end configured and arranged to receive a proximal portion of a lead or lead extension; and
a plurality of contact assemblies axially spaced-apart within the connector body and collectively forming a lumen that extends from the port along the longitudinal axis of the connector body, each contact assembly comprisinga contact housing, anda spring contact disposed within contact housing and having a contact region that extends diagonally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the connector body, wherein the contact region is positioned within the contact housing so that insertion of the proximal portion of the lead or lead extension into the contact housing results in a bending deflection of the contact region of the spring contact while maintaining contact between the contact region and the lead or lead extension.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A connector assembly includes a connector body with an elongated shape and a longitudinal axis. The connector body defines a port at a first end configured to receive a proximal portion of a lead or lead extension. Contact assemblies are axially spaced-apart within the connector body and collectively form a lumen that extends from the port along the longitudinal axis of the connector body. Each contact assembly includes a spring contact disposed within a contact housing. The spring contact has a contact region that extends diagonally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the connector body. The contact region is positioned within the contact housing so that insertion of the proximal portion of the lead or lead extension into the contact housing results in a bending deflection of the contact region of the spring contact while maintaining contact between the contact region and the lead or lead extension.
13 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A connector assembly, comprising:
-
a connector body having an elongated shape with a first end, an opposing second end, and a longitudinal axis, the connector body defining a port at the first end configured and arranged to receive a proximal portion of a lead or lead extension; and a plurality of contact assemblies axially spaced-apart within the connector body and collectively forming a lumen that extends from the port along the longitudinal axis of the connector body, each contact assembly comprising a contact housing, and a spring contact disposed within contact housing and having a contact region that extends diagonally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the connector body, wherein the contact region is positioned within the contact housing so that insertion of the proximal portion of the lead or lead extension into the contact housing results in a bending deflection of the contact region of the spring contact while maintaining contact between the contact region and the lead or lead extension. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 19, 20)
-
-
14. A contact assembly, comprising:
-
a contact housing defining a lumen through the contact housing and a longitudinal axis along the lumen, wherein the contact housing is configured and arranged to receive a proximal portion of a lead or lead extension within the lumen of the contact housing, and a spring contact disposed within the contact housing and having a contact region that extends diagonally with respect to longitudinal axis of the contact housing, wherein the contact region is positioned within the contact housing so that insertion of the portion of the lead or lead extension into the contact housing results in a bending deflection of the contact region while maintaining contact between the contact region and the lead or lead extension. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
-
-
17. A connector assembly, comprising:
-
a connector body having an elongated shape with a first end, an opposing second end, an inner circumferential wall, and a longitudinal axis, the connector body defining a port at the first end configured and arranged to receive a proximal portion of a lead or lead extension, the port opening to a cavity defined within the connector body and bound, in part, by the inner circumferential wall; and a first contact assembly and a second contact assembly axially spaced-apart from one another within the cavity of the connector body and collectively forming a lumen that extends from the port along the longitudinal axis of the connector body, the first and second contact assemblies each comprising a contact housing having a first sidewall, an opposing second sidewall, and an outer circumferential surface, the contact housing defining circumferential chamfers extending between the outer circumferential surface and each of the first and second sidewalls, and a connector contact disposed in the contact housing and exposed to the lumen; and a seal disposed within the cavity between the first contact assembly and the second contact assembly, the seal comprising a deformable, washer-shaped seal body having an outer circumference, and a deformable flange disposed around the outer circumference of the seal body; wherein the seal is positioned between the contact housings of the first and second contact assemblies with the flange positioned between opposing ones of the circumferential chamfers of the first and second contact assemblies. - View Dependent Claims (18)
-
Specification