Adapter for converting a metal encapsulated implantable cardiac pacer to an externally worn cardiac pacer

• US 4,545,381 A
• Filed: 10/01/1984
• Issued: 10/08/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cordis Corporation (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Inventors: Giurtino, Joel F., Bournay, Frederick M. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US06/656,696
• Time in Patent Office: 372 Days
• Field of Search: 128/419 P, 128/419 PS, 128/419 R
• US Class Current: 607/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3625 External stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3752 Details of casing-lead connections

Abstract

The adapter is adapted to convert a metal encapsulated device, such as an implantable cardiac pacer to an externally worn cardiac pacer whereby a physician can try various pacers before selecting an appropriate implantable cardiac pacer to meet the pacing needs of a patient and before implantation of any cardiac pacer. The adapter comprises a housing and a mechanism within the housing which is in direct electrical contact with the pacer and which secures the pacer within the housing in an electrically conductive manner. The adapter further comprises an interfacing mechanism for securing a conductive lead assembly to the housing in an electrically conductive manner and for electrically connecting the lead assembly to the pacer within the housing in an electrically conductive manner.

Claims

1. An adapter for converting a metal encapsulated implantable device, such as a cardiac pacer, to an externally worn device, said adapter comprising:

a non-conductive housing;

means for securing said device within said housing, said means for securing said device within said housing being in direct electrical contact with a metal housing of the device; and

electrical interfacing means for securing a conductive lead assembly to said housing in an electrically conductive manner and means within said housing for electrically connecting said lead assembly to said device within said housing in an electrically conductive manner.

2. The adapter of claim 1 wherein said housing includes two side walls, an upper end wall and a lower end wall, said two side walls and said end walls defining an open area therebetween and said open area being further defined by a front panel and a back panel secured to said side walls and said end walls.

3. The adapter of claim 2 wherein said back panel is removabale.

4. The adapter of claim 1 wherein said non-conductive material is a polymeric material.

5. The adapter of claim 4 wherein said polymeric material is selected from the group comprising acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polycarbonate, or other suitable polymers.

6. The adapter of claim 1 wherein said interfacing means for securing said lead assembly to said housing includes at least first and second electrically conductive chuck assemblies.

7. The adapter of claim 6 wherein said interfacing means for securing said lead assembly to said housing includes a third electrically conductive chuck assembly.

8. The adapter of claim 6 wherein said interfacing means for securing said lead assembly to said housing includes a fourth electrically conductive chuck assembly.

9. The adapter of claim 6 wherein each of said chuck assemblies include a conductive threaded post member which extends through a hole provided in said upper end wall, said post extending below said upper end wall and into said open area, and said chuck assemblies being upstanding from and perpendicular relative to said upper end wall and secured thereto by a threaded nut member, said threaded nut member being engagable with said threaded post member below said upper end wall.

10. The adapter of claim 6 wherein each of said chuck assemblies further includes a threaded cap member made of a nonconductive material, a conductive sleeve member having a conical configuration inserted in said cap member, a conductive threaded chuck seat member, and a plurality of conically configured conductive chuck members being freely positioned on said chuck seat member, said chuck seat member being connected to said post member and said cap member being threadably engeable with said seat member.

11. The adapter of claim 10 wherein each cap member includes an opening at its distal end adapted to receive a bared distal end of an electrical conductor, said chuck members being in an open position when said cap member is rotated in an upward or clockwise direction whereby an uninsulated end of a conductor is insertable into said opening and between said chuck members, and said chuck members conforming to said sleeve member of said cap member when said cap member is rotated in a downward or counterclockwise direction whereby said chuck members are urged relative to each other by said sleeve member so that the end of the conductor is secured between said chuck members in an electrically conductive manner and said chuck members with said seat member being in electrical contact with said threaded post member.

12. The adapter of claim 1 wherein said means for temporarily securing said pacer within said housing comprises a spring-clip member, said clip being U-shaped in configuration and comprising a base portion and two arm portions, said arm portions being biased inwardly at an angle relative to said base portion, and said base portion being provided with a plurality of holes having a diameter substantially larger than the diameter of said threaded posts and through which said threaded posts extend, said clip being secured to said upper end wall between said end wall and said threaded nut members and said arm portions extending downwardly into said open area.

13. The adapter of claim 12 wherein said spring-clip is rectangular in cross-section and is made of an electrically conductive material.

14. The adapter of claim 13 wherein said electrically conductive material is stainless steel.

15. The adapter of claim 12 wherein said distal ends of said arm portions turn inwardly and are parallel to said base portion and are urged relative to each other, a device such as a cardiac pacer being positionable between said distal ends and being in direct mechanical and electrical contact therewith such that the device can be secured between said distal ends in an electrically conductive manner.

16. The adapter of claim 6 wherein said interfacing means for electrically connecting said lead assembly to said pacer includes an anode jumper conductor and a cathode jumper conductor, said anode jumper conductor and said cathode jumper conductor having a distal end and a proximal end, each of said distal ends being connected to a terminal of said pacer, said proximal end of said anode conductor being in electrical contact with said base portion of said spring-clip and with said threaded post member of said first chuck assembly, and said proximal end of said cathode conductor being in direct electrical contact with said threaded post member of said second chuck assembly and being insulated from said base portion of said spring-clip member by an insulative washer interposed between said base member and said proximal end of said cathode jumper conductor.

17. The adapter of claim 7 wherein said means for electrically connecting said lead assembly to said pacer includes a jumper conductor having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end being connected to a terminal of said pacer and said proximal end being in direct electrical contact with said threaded post member of said third chuck assembly and being insulated from said base portion of said spring-clip member by an insulative washer interposed between said base member and said proximal end of said conductor.

18. The adapter of claim 8 wherein said means for electrically connecting said lead assembly to said pacer includes two pairs of conductors each pair comprising an anode jumper conductor and a cathode jumper conductor, said anode jumper conductors and said cathode jumper conductors each having a distal end and a proximal end, each of said distal ends being connected to a terminal of said pacer, said proximal end of said jumper cathode conductors being in direct electrical contact with said threaded post member of said third chuck assembly and insulated from said base portion of said spring-clip member by an insulative washer interposed between said base member and said proximal end of said cathode jumper conductors, and said proximal end of at least one of said anode conductors being in electrical contact with said threaded post member of one of said chuck assemblies and in electrical contact with said base portion of said spring-clip member through a metallic conductive washer interposed between said base member and said proximal end of said cathode conductor.

19. The adapter of claim 2 wherein said front panel includes a transparent window made of a suitable polymeric material.

20. The adapter of claim 19 wherein said polymeric material is Mylar.

21. The adapter of claim 1 wherein said housing includes means for attaching said adapter to a body.

22. The adapter of claim 21 wherein said means for attaching said adapter to a body comprises two U-shaped wire bales which are rotatably secured between said upper and lower end walls and said removable rear wall, said wire bales being adapted to receive a fastening strap therethrough, which strap is adapted to be secured to the body.