Implantable multiple connector

• US 4,411,276 A
• Filed: 04/28/1981
• Issued: 10/25/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Dickhudt, Eugene A., Paulson, Roger A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shein, Mitchell J.
• Application Number:
  US06/258,259
• Time in Patent Office: 910 Days
• Field of Search: 128/419 P, 128/784, 339/60, 339/61, 339/75 RM, 339/256 S, 339/119 R, 339/120, 339/122 F, 339/125, 339/252 P, 339/259 R, 46/1 R, 24/115 N
• US Class Current: 607/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3752 Details of casing-lead connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/70 Insulation of connections end caps H01R4/22

Abstract

A body implantable connector for connecting a plurality of implantable devices, such as connecting an extension to a lead. There is a sheath having two open ends, one of which frictionally fits over the end of the lead and the other of which fits over the end of the extension. The sheath is of pliant material of sufficient strength to resist breaking under the forces normally exerted on the connector, but sufficiently pliable to deform and to contract about the lead and the extension under the frictional forces created between the sheath and the lead, and the sheath and the extension when the lead and the extension are urged in a direction tending to separate them. A wire extends longitudinally within the sheath and mates with lumens in the conductors of the lead and the extension to make electrical connection between the lead and the extension. There is a member within the sheath, intermediate the open ends of the sheath, and integrally formed with the sheath which supports the wire within the sheath. A stop is attached to the wire to prevent it from pulling through the support member.

Claims

1. A body implantable connector for connecting cut ends of a pair of body implantable leads, each lead including a helical conductor having a lumen, the helical conductor being encased in an insulator, the connector comprising:

sheath means made of a pliable rubber-like nonconductive material which is generally inert to body fluids, the sheath means being provided with a pair of open ends shaped for closely receiving cut ends of the leads and for frictionally fitting about the insulators of the leads in a generally fluid-tight connection, the material having sufficient strength to resist breaking under the forces normally exerted on the connector while implanted, but being sufficiently pliable to deform and so that the sheath means contracts about the leads under the frictional forces created between the sheath means and the insulators when the leads are urged in directions tending to separate them from the connector; and

a wire means mounted in the sheath means and projecting within the open ends for mating in each lumen and including means for making conductive and mechanical connections between the helical conductors.

2. The connector of claim 1 further including a member, composed of the pliable material, integrally formed within the sheath means for mounting the wire means at its position to mate with the lumens.

3. The connector of claim 2 wherein the wire means has a bent portion lying at an angle to a longtiudinal axis of an unbent portion of the wire means.

4. The connector of claim 3 wherein the bent portion includes multiple bends which form an S-shaped configuration.

5. The connection of claim 1 further comprising means for compressing the sheath means about the leads after the leads are placed within the opening, thereby increasing frictional contact between the pliable material of the sheath means and the insulator of the lead.

6. The connector of claim 5 wherein the means for compressing includes at least one resilient O-ring mounted over the sheath means.

7. The connector of claim 6 further comprising a rigid sleeve mounted over the sheath means for supporting the O-ring in a stretched condition out of contact with the sheath means while leads are being inserted in the sheath means.

8. The connector of claim 5 wherein the means for compressing includes a suture around the sheath means.