Discriminating medical electrode connector

• US 4,915,656 A
• Filed: 10/21/1988
• Issued: 04/10/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Physio-Control Incorporated (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Physio-Control Incorporated (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Alferness, Clifton A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Briggs, William
• Application Number:
  US07/260,798
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 439/909, 439/217, 439/218, 439/269, 439/296, 439/725, 439/729, 439/819, 439/822, 439/829, 128/639, 128/641, 128/798, 128/802, 128/803
• US Class Current: 439/729
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/046 Specially adapted for shock therapy, e.g. defibrillation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/048 Electrodes characterised by a specific connection between lead and electrode
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/642 by position or shape of contact members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/909 Medical use or attached to human body

Abstract

A discriminating connector (38) can be connected to a defibrillation electrode (36), but not to an ECG monitoring electrode (10), even though both electrodes (38 and 10) have identical conducting posts (50 and 12). The discriminating connector (38) is formed by upper and lower members (40 and 42) and a pivot (44) that connects the upper and lower members (40 and 42) so as to define an opening (43). A mating receptacle (48) is disposed within an upper wall (74) of the opening (43). A distance (49) between the mating receptacle (48) and the pivot (44) is equal to or greater than a distance (59) between the conducting post (50) and an outer edge (53) of the defibrillation electrode (36) so as to permit the conducting post (50) to be received by the mating receptacle (48). A conductive receptacle (15) in a prior art ECG connector (11) is identical to the mating receptacle (48) and can be attached to the conducting post (50) on the defibrillation electrode (36). The distance (49) of the discriminating connector (38) is less than a distance (19) between the conducting post (12) and an outer edge (30) of the ECG monitoring electrode (10). As a result, the discriminating connector (38) cannot be connected to the ECG monitoring electrode (10).

Claims

1. A discriminating connector for connecting a defibrillation electrode but not an ECG monitoring electrode to a cable, the defibrillation electrode having a conducting post located a first distance from an outer edge of the defibrillation electrode and the ECG monitoring electrode having a conducting post substantially identical to the conducting post of the defibrillation electrode located a second distance from an outer edge of the ECG monitoring electrode, the second distance being substantially greater than the first distance, wherein the discriminating connector comprises:

(a) housing means having an opening that is configured to permit a medical electrode having a conducting post to be inserted edge first therein, wherein said housing means includes an upper member having sides and first and second ends, a lower member having sides and first and second ends, wherein said lower member is substantially parallel to and spaced apart from said upper member, and a connecting member located between said first and second ends of said upper and lower members and connecting said upper and lower members, and wherein said opening is defined by an upper wall formed by said upper member between said first end of said upper member and said connecting member, a lower wall formed by said lower member between said first end of said lower member and said connecting member, and a backwall formed by said connecting member; and

,

(b) conductive receiving means disposed within said opening of said housing means for receiving said conducting post of said medical electrode, wherein said housing means is constructed to permit the insertion of said medical electrode into said opening to a depth which is at least equal to that required for said conductive receiving means to receive the conducting post of the defibrillation electrode but which is less than that required to receive the conducting post of the ECG monitoring electrode.

2. The discriminating connector claimed in claim 1, wherein said conductive receiving means is a mating receptacle constructed to mate with said conducting post, wherein said mating receptacle is disposed within said upper member.

3. The discriminating connector claimed in claim 2, wherein said conducting post and said mating receptacle form a snap connector.

4. The discriminating connector claimed in claim 1, wherein said connecting member comprises a pivot having a pivotal axis that is substantially parallel with said upper and lower members and substantially normal to said sides of said upper and lower members.

5. The discriminating connector claimed in claim 4, wherein said conductive receiving means is a mating receptacle constructed to mate with said conducting post, wherein said mating receptacle is disposed within said upper member.

6. The discriminating connector claimed in claim 5, wherein said conducting post and said mating receptacle form a snap connector.

7. The discriminating connector claimed in claim 4, wherein said discriminating connector further comprises a spring, said spring biasing said first ends of said upper and lower members together and biasing said second ends of said upper and lower members apart.

8. The discriminating connector claimed in claim 7, wherein said conductive receiving means is a mating receptacle constructed to mate with said conducting post, wherein said mating receptacle is disposed within said upper member.

9. The discriminating connector claimed in claim 8, wherein said conducting post and said mating receptacle form a snap connector.

10. The discriminating connector claimed in claim 9, wherein said upper and lower members are substantially nonconductive.

11. The discriminating connector claimed in claim 10, wherein said upper and lower members are formed of a substantially rigid material.