Medical lead adaptor

• US 6,038,479 A
• Filed: 09/09/1998
• Issued: 03/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Gravlin, Raymond W., Winkler, Thomas J., Werner, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): EVANISKO, GEORGE ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US09/150,165
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• Field of Search: 601/115, 601/116, 601/119, 601/122, 601/1, 601/2, 601/10, 601/37, 601/38, 600/372-374, 600/377, 439/909
• US Class Current: 607/115
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3752 Details of casing-lead connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/22 End pieces terminating in a spring clip
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/12 for medicine and surgery
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/909 Medical use or attached to human body

Abstract

A medical lead adaptor that provides a rapid, secure, insulated connection of the lead connector end assembly of a cardiac lead having electrodes adapted to be placed in or on the body with an external medical device. The adaptor connector assembly is configured with an elongated receptacle to accept a bipolar, in-line, or a unipolar lead connector end sharing common dimensions. The elongated receptacle includes connector pin and ring receptacle contacts spaced apart from one another therein. In a preferred embodiment, an elongated slot that extends laterally of the elongated receptacle cooperates with a lock mechanism to allow the lateral insertion of the lead connector end assembly, with a stylet wire inserted into the cardiac lead body lumen, into the elongated receptacle. When inserted therein, the lead connector ring and/or pin are nested into contact with the ring and/or pin receptacle contacts and are held there by the lock mechanism. Several embodiments are disclosed of alternate configurations of the elongated receptacle, receptacle contacts and lock mechanism.

Claims

1. An external medical lead adaptor for establishing a rapid electrical connection between an external medical device connector assembly and a proximal lead connector end assembly of an implantable cardiac lead having an elongated implantable lead body extending from the lead connector end assembly toward a distal cardiac lead end, the implantable lead body containing first and second spaced apart implantable lead conductors coupled to first and second spaced apart bipolar in-line proximal lead connector elements of the lead connector end assembly and having a lumen disposed therein for receiving a stylet wire through a lumen end opening, said stylet wire, when received in said lumen, extending proximally from said lumen end opening of said lead connector end assembly such that said stylet wire may be manipulated, said medical lead adaptor comprising:

external means for conducting electricity comprising at least first and second external electrical conductors, each conductor extending between a first external conductor end and a second external conductor end, the second external conductor end including an external connector element for establishing electrical contact with said external medical device connector assembly; and

an adaptor connector assembly coupled to said external conductor means for receiving said lead connector end assembly and for establishing electrical contact between said first and second implantable lead conductors and said first and second external electrical conductors, respectively, said adaptor connector assembly further comprising;

means for receiving lead connector elements defining an elongated receptacle shaped to conformably receive said first and second lead connector elements of said lead connector end assembly when inserted therein;

first and second receptacle in-line contacts positioned along said elongated receptacle for establishing electrical contact with said first and second lead connector elements, respectively;

means for electrically connecting each of said first and second receptacle contacts with said first external conductor end of said first and second external conductors, respectively, said adaptor connector assembly further comprising;

a planar housing of flexible insulating material having said elongated receptacle disposed along a housing surface thereof with said first and second receptacle contacts spaced apart between proximal and distal ends of said housing surface, wherein;

said first and second receptacle contacts each comprise a conductive material and are dimensioned and shaped to engage the first and second lead connector elements to inhibit them from moving laterally when the elements are positioned in said elongated receptacle in a locked position; and

said external medical lead adaptor further comprising a locking mechanism comprising first and second force beams for applying force against said lead connector elements.

2. The external medical lead adaptor of claim 1, wherein said first and second receptacle contacts each comprise saddle shaped conductive material having arcuate shaped contact surfaces for establishing contact with the first and second lead connector elements in the locked position.

3. An external medical lead adaptor for establishing a rapid electrical connection between an external medical device connector assembly and a proximal lead connector end assembly of an implantable cardiac lead having an elongated implantable lead body extending from the lead connector end assembly toward a distal cardiac lead end, the implantable lead body containing first and second implantable lead conductors coupled to first and second bipolar in-line proximal lead connector elements of the lead connector end assembly and having a lumen disposed therein for receiving a stylet wire through a lumen end opening, the stylet wire, when received in the lumen, extending proximally from the lumen end opening of the lead connector end assembly such that the stylet wire may be manipulated, said medical lead adaptor comprising:

an external lead body comprising first and second external electrical conductors, the first and second electrical conductors each extending between a first external lead conductor end and a second external lead conductor end, the second external lead conductor comprising first and second external lead connector elements for establishing electrical contact with the external medical device connector assembly; and

an adaptor connector assembly coupled to said external lead body for receiving the first and second external lead connector elements for establishing electrical contact between each respective implantable lead conductor and each external electrical conductor, said adaptor connector assembly further comprising;

means for receiving said adaptor connector assembly, the receiving means defining an elongated receptacle shaped to conformably receive each lead connector element of a lead connector end assembly when inserted therein;

first and second in-line receptacle contacts positioned along said elongated receptacle for establishing electrical contact with the first and second lead connector elements;

means for electrically connecting said receptacle contacts with said first external lead conductor end;

receptacle slot means extending laterally of said elongated receptacle through said adaptor connector assembly to an exterior surface thereof for laterally receiving the lead connector end assembly having the stylet wire extending proximally from said lumen end opening through said receptacle slot means and with each lead connector element in contact with its respective receptacle contact; and

a screwless and boltless locking mechanism hand manipulable to an open position with respect to said receptacle slot means for permitting the lead connector end assembly and stylet wire extending proximally from said lumen end opening to be inserted laterally through said receptacle slot means into said elongated receptacle and to be withdrawn laterally from said elongated receptacle through said receptacle slot means and hand manipulable to a locked position for locking the lead connector end assembly in said elongated receptacle to assure secure electrical contact between each receptacle contact and its corresponding lead connector element while permitting manipulation of the stylet wire with respect to said lumen, said adaptor connector assembly further comprising;

a housing of flexible insulating material having said elongated receptacle disposed along a housing surface thereof with first and second receptacle contacts spaced apart between proximal and distal ends of said housing surface, wherein;

said first and second receptacle contacts comprise a conductive material and are dimensioned and shaped to engage the first and second lead connector elements from moving laterally when the elements are positioned in said elongated receptacle in the locked position; and

said locking mechanism further comprises at least one force beam for applying force against at least one of said first and second lead connector elements seated against its respective receptacle contact.

4. The external medical lead adaptor of claim 3, wherein said first and second receptacle contacts comprise saddle shaped conductive material having arcuate shaped contact surfaces for establishing contact with the first and second lead connector elements in the locked position.