Multipolar in-line proximal connector assembly for an implantable stimulation device
First Claim
1. An implantable stimulation lead having a proximal end and a distal end having at least tip and ring electrodes and a sensor for sensing a physiological parameter of the body, the sensor having a first and second sensor terminal, the tip and ring electrodes and the first and second sensor terminals being coupled to at least a first, a second, a third and a fourth conductor, respectively, the implantable stimulation lead further comprising:
- a pin terminal at the proximal end;
at least a first, second and third ring terminal at its proximal end;
at least a first, second and third conductive rod, each rod having a proximal end in electrical contact with only one of the ring terminals without touching the other of the ring terminals, each rod having a distal end electrically connected to a respective one of the second, third and fourth conductors;
a conductive tube electrically connected to the pin terminal, the conductive tube being shaped to avoid electrical contact with the ring terminals and their respective rods, the conductive tube being electrically connected to the first conductor; and
a plurality of prefabricated insulating spacers, each spacer having mechanical joining means for slidably joining, while electrically insulating, one pair of adjacent proximal terminals;
whereby the sensor is electrically connected between the second and third ring terminals and electrically isolated from the tip and ring electrodes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An in-line, multipolar proximal connector assembly for an implantable stimulation lead is provided which incorporates at least one sensor. Advantageously, the present invention uses straight conductive rods, or wires, to electrically connect the proximal terminals to a multilumen lead body. The straight conductive rods enable the diameter of the lead assembly to remain small. Additional terminals can easily be added by simply decreasing the spacing between terminals and adding additional conductive rods. In one embodiment, insulating spacers are premolded to include protruding portions which interlock with the ring terminals. Recesses within the insulating spacers are dimensioned to self-position the ring terminals a precise distance from the pin terminal according to precise dimensions defined by the VS-1 (or other) standards. In another embodiment, the terminals are injection molded. While the present invention is directed towards a quadrapolar (four conductors) design, it may be easily adapted to a bipolar, tripolar or multipolar (five conductors or more) design.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. An implantable stimulation lead having a proximal end and a distal end having at least tip and ring electrodes and a sensor for sensing a physiological parameter of the body, the sensor having a first and second sensor terminal, the tip and ring electrodes and the first and second sensor terminals being coupled to at least a first, a second, a third and a fourth conductor, respectively, the implantable stimulation lead further comprising:
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a pin terminal at the proximal end; at least a first, second and third ring terminal at its proximal end; at least a first, second and third conductive rod, each rod having a proximal end in electrical contact with only one of the ring terminals without touching the other of the ring terminals, each rod having a distal end electrically connected to a respective one of the second, third and fourth conductors; a conductive tube electrically connected to the pin terminal, the conductive tube being shaped to avoid electrical contact with the ring terminals and their respective rods, the conductive tube being electrically connected to the first conductor; and a plurality of prefabricated insulating spacers, each spacer having mechanical joining means for slidably joining, while electrically insulating, one pair of adjacent proximal terminals; whereby the sensor is electrically connected between the second and third ring terminals and electrically isolated from the tip and ring electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An implantable stimulation lead having at least distal tip and ring electrodes and a sensor for sensing a physiological parameter of the body, the sensor having a first and second sensor terminal, the tip and ring electrodes and the first and second sensor terminals being coupled to at least a first, a second, a third and a fourth conductor, respectively, the implantable stimulation lead further comprising:
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a pin terminal; at least a first, second and third ring terminal; at least a first, second and third conductive rod, each rod having a proximal end in electrical contact with only one of the ring terminals without touching the other of the ring terminals, each rod having a distal end electrically connected to a respective one of the second, third and fourth conductors; a conductive tube electrically connected to the pin terminal, the conductive tube being shaped to avoid electrical contact with the ring terminals and their respective rods, the conductive tube being electrically connected to the first conductor; and insulating means for providing electrical isolation between each of the pin, the first, the second and the third ring terminals; whereby the sensor is electrically connected between the second and third ring terminals and electrically isolated from the tip and ring electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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Specification