Multielectrode quick connect cardiac pacing lead connector assembly
First Claim
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1. A cardiac pacing system including:
- a multiconductor, multielectrode pacing lead having a distal end and a proximal end, anda cardiac pacer comprising a metal case with a plurality of insulated conductor feedthroughs in a top side thereof and a neck mounted to said top side of said metal case, said neck being made of a soft pliable material, flexible means within said neck material for connecting each insulated conductor feedthrough to a specific electrode of a multielectrode pacing lead, said flexible connecting means comprising a plurality of U-shaped electrical contacts, each having a bight and two upstanding legs for contacting ring contacts at the proximal end of the pacing lead, said neck having a lumen with a closed proximal end and an open distal end which receives said multiconductor pacing lead, said upstanding legs of each U-shaped electrical contact straddling the lumen in position to flexibly engage and grip a respective ring contact on the pacing lead, and said neck having a slit on its top side extending along the length of the neck and inwardly to a position above said lumen and between upper ends of said two upstanding legs of each U-shaped contact.
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Abstract
The cardiac pacing system includes a cardiac pacer and a multiconductor pacing lead having a distal end and a proximal end. The pacer comprises a metal case with insulated conductor feedthroughs in a top side thereof and a neck mounted to the top side of the metal case. The neck is made of a soft pliable material and spring contacts are provided in the neck for connecting the cardiac pacer with the pacing lead.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A cardiac pacing system including:
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a multiconductor, multielectrode pacing lead having a distal end and a proximal end, and a cardiac pacer comprising a metal case with a plurality of insulated conductor feedthroughs in a top side thereof and a neck mounted to said top side of said metal case, said neck being made of a soft pliable material, flexible means within said neck material for connecting each insulated conductor feedthrough to a specific electrode of a multielectrode pacing lead, said flexible connecting means comprising a plurality of U-shaped electrical contacts, each having a bight and two upstanding legs for contacting ring contacts at the proximal end of the pacing lead, said neck having a lumen with a closed proximal end and an open distal end which receives said multiconductor pacing lead, said upstanding legs of each U-shaped electrical contact straddling the lumen in position to flexibly engage and grip a respective ring contact on the pacing lead, and said neck having a slit on its top side extending along the length of the neck and inwardly to a position above said lumen and between upper ends of said two upstanding legs of each U-shaped contact. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 17)
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13. A cardiac pacing system including a multiconductor, multielectrode pacing lead having a distal end and a proximal end, and
a cardiac pacer comprising a metal case with a plurality of insulated conductor feedthroughs in a top side thereof and a neck mounted to said top side of said metal case, said neck being made of a soft pliable material, flexible means within said neck material for connecting each insulated conductor feedthrough to a specific electrode of a multielectrode pacing lead, said flexible connecting means comprising a plurality of U-shaped electrical contacts, each having a bight and two upstanding legs for contacting ring contacted at the proximal end of the pacing lead, said neck having a lumen with a closed proximal end and an open distal end which receives said multiconductor pacing lead, said upstanding legs of each U-shaped electrical contact straddling said lumen in position to flexibly engage a respective ring contact on the pacing lead, means in said neck for reinforcing said neck for reinforcing said neck along its length, and said reinforcing means comprising two parallel reinforcing bars each one of which extends from approximately said closed end to approximately said open end of said neck and to one side of said lumen.
- 19. A cardiac pacing system including a multiconductor, multielectrode pacing lead having a distal end and a proximal end and a cardiac pacer comprising a metal case with a plurality of insulated conductor feedthroughs in a top side thereof and a neck mounted to said top side of said metal case, said neck being made of a soft pliable material, flexible means within said neck material for connecting each insulated conductor feedthrough to a specific electrode of a multielectrode pacing lead, said flexible connecting means comprising a plurality of U-shaped electrical contacts each having a bight and two upstanding legs for contacting ring contacts on said proximal end of said pacing lead, said neck having a lumen with a closed proximal end and an open distal end which receives said multiconductor pacing lead, said upstanding legs of each U-shaped electrical contact straddling said lumen and flexibly engaging a respective ring contact on said pacing lead, and said neck having a plurality of radial projections protruding into said lumen of said neck for sealing said neck against said pacing lead at various points along said pacing lead between ring contacts thereof.
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24. A method of connecting an implantable multielectrode cardiac pacing lead to the electronic circuitry in a cardiac pacer comprising the steps of:
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mounting flexible U-shaped spring contacts to the top side of a metal case of the pacer having insulated conductor-carrying feedthroughs extending therethrough; enclosing said spring contacts in a soft pliable neck which contains a lumen which legs of said spring contacts straddle; providing a slit in said neck above the lumen; inserting an insertion tool into the slit; expanding said legs of said spring contacts with said insertion tool; inserting a proximal end of a multielectrode pacing lead into said lumen and within said legs of said spring contacts so that each spring contact is grippingly engaged to a particular electrode on the multielectrode lead; and causing contraction of said legs of said spring contacts around respective electrodes of said pacing lead by removing said insertion tool.
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Specification