Sealing arrangement for heart pacer electrode leads

• US 4,072,154 A
• Filed: 05/28/1976
• Issued: 02/07/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Anderson, Jon A., Malin, Wendell R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US05/691,032
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 128/418, 128/419 P, 128/419 PG, 128/421, 128/422, 128/423, 339/60 R, 339/60 C, 339/94 R, 339/94 C, 277/183 A, 277/177
• US Class Current: 607/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3752 Details of casing-lead connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/20 Pins, blades, or sockets shaped, or provided with separate member, to retain co-operating parts together
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5224 for medical use
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2101/00 One pole
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/76 with sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. to a wall

Abstract

An improved electrode sealing arrangement for use on lead assemblies to be coupled to an implantable pulse generator to form a cardiac pacer apparatus. The conductive portion of the lead includes a terminal pin which is both rigid and durable, and which is arranged to be clamped between a set screw and a terminal post. The improved sealing means includes a generally closed cylindrical resilient segment which is arranged generally coaxially of the lead conductor, with a resilient peripheral sleeve extending outwardly of the cylindrical segment and having a raised resilient ring extending continuously about the outer periphery of the peripheral sleeve. The raised resilient ring is disposed axially outwardly from the distal end of the terminal pin, so as to provide an axial displacement between the terminal pin and the resilient sealing ring. Since the peripheral seal arrangement permits substantial canting and deflection of the lead assembly within the tubular bore formed in the pulse generator without adversely affecting the sealing conditions, ease of lead insertion is facilitated due to the increased tolerances which may be employed between the inner end of the lead and the pulse generator connector block.

Claims

1. In combination, a lead assembly and an implantable pulse generator forming a cardiac pacer apparatus:

a. said lead assembly comprising an elongated generally tubular lead having a conductive element disposed therewithin, with electrode means coupled to said conductive element and disposed at the distal end of said lead assembly, and electrical and mechanical connector means at the proximate end thereof for coupling said lead assembly to said pulse generator;

b. said pulse generator comprising an enclosure having a bore formed therewithin for receiving said connector means in sealed relationship within said bore, connector block means disposed within said bore for securing the proximal end of said conductive element to said pulse generator and sealing means disposed about the periphery of said lead assembly at a point adjacent said proximal end and normally disposed within said bore when said lead is coupled to said connector means;

c. said sealing means including a generally closed cylindrical resilient segment arranged generally coaxially of said conductive element with a resilient peripheral sleeve extending outwardly of said cylindrical segment and with a first raised resilient ring disposed about the periphery of said cylindrical segment and disposed between the base of said cylindrical segment at the proximal end thereof and the proximal end of said peripheral sleeve and with a second raised resilient ring extending continuously about the outer periphery of said peripheral sleeve, said resilient peripheral sleeve having axially extending portions arranged in oppositely disposed relationship of said second raised resilient ring; and

d. a rigid terminal pin member disposed generally coaxially thereof, with one end of said pin being lockingly received within a bore formed in said connector block means and with the other end of said rigid terminal pin being spaced axially inwardly of said resilient peripheral sleeve and outwardly of said first raised resilient ring.