Medical snap connector

• US 5,232,383 A
• Filed: 10/21/1992
• Issued: 08/03/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert C. Barnick
• Original Assignee: Robert C. Barnick
• Inventors: Barnick, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): ECHOLS, PERCY W
• Application Number:
  US07/964,543
• Time in Patent Office: 286 Days
• Field of Search: 439/500, 439/818, 439/848, 439/856, 439/857, 439/859, 128/639, 128/641, 128/802
• US Class Current: 439/859
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/048 Electrodes characterised by a specific connection between lead and electrode
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/48 utilising a spring, clip, or other resilient member H01R4/52 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/909 Medical use or attached to human body

Abstract

An electrical medical connector having an integrally formed conductive pad including several flexible fingers defined by several radial slots. Each contact finger is flexible radially outward into a conforming recess when a male conductive stud from a contact pad is inserted within the connector. Each flexible finger engages a narrowed portion of the male stud to form a conductive path at a first contact region, wherein a surface of each contact finger engages collar portion of the male stud to provide a second contact region. Due to the redundancy of the first and second contact regions, damage, loss or wear of one contact finger does not result in degraded electrical contact between the connector and the stud, hence, a more reliable connector is established. The conductive pad formed in insulating connector body includes an integrally formed crimp finger which is crimped to a conducting wire. The connecting wire typically is routed to a medical device such as an electrocardiograph. Because the crimp finger is integrally formed with the conductive pad, time-consuming soldering or welding between the two is avoided to provide an improved and more reliable physical and electrical connection. The radial fingers which are biased toward the received male stud provide an increased bite against the male stud in contrast to two tangent contacting surfaces to reduce the effects of worn or dirty surface areas.

Claims

1. In combination, a medical electrical connector and a conductive stud extending out from a patient engaging electrode for establishing an electrical connection between the electrode and connector, the stud having a proximal portion, a distal portion adjacent the electrode and an intermediate portion therebetween, the intermediate portion having a smaller diameter than the diameter of the proximal portion, said proximal portion curving to an annular collar about a base of said stud;

The connector comprising;

an insulated conductor;

insulation means for receiving said stud forming a connector body, and shaped to form a socket having an opening defining a socket wall;

a plate-like conductive pad disposed in said insulation means and coupled to said conductor, said conductive pad having an aperture defining an annular contact region and a rim, said rim having several notches defining several rim fingers, wherein a portion of said rim is spaced from said socket wall such that upon inserting said stud in said socket said rim fingers flex radially outward and engage said stud at a first contact area and said annular contact region engages said collar of said stud at a second contact area.

2. The medical electrical connector as specified in claim 1 wherein said socket wall further includes an annular recess proximate said rim fingers, wherein said rim fingers radially flex within said recess when said stud is inserted into said socket.

3. The medical electrical connector as specified in claim 2 wherein said recess closely conforms to radially flexed said rim fingers.

4. The medical electrical connector as specified in claim 1 wherein said rim fingers define a generally frusto-conical shape tapering at least partially into said socket.

5. The medical electrical connector as specified in claim 1 wherein said conductive pad further includes an integrally formed connecting means within said insulation means for connecting to said conductor.

6. The medical electrical connector as specified in claim 5 wherein said connecting means comprises a crimp finger which can be crimped to said conductor.

7. The medical electrical connector as specified in claim 1 wherein said rim fingers engage said intermediate portion of said stud when said stud is inserted in said socket in a locking relationship.

8. The medical electrical connector as specified in claim 1 wherein said notches are defined by radial slits.