Medical lead adaptor

• US 6,038,481 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: Winkler, Thomas J., Werner, Robert L., Gravlin, Ray
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): EVANISKO, GEORGE ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US09/150,160
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• Field of Search: 607/115, 607/116, 607/119, 607/122, 607/1, 607/2, 607/10, 607/37, 607/38, 600/372-374, 600/377, 439/909
• US Class Current: 607/119
• 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 a 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 of the type 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 style 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 conductor means for conducting electricity comprising at least first and second external electrical conductors, the first and second external electrical conductors extending between a first external conductor end and a second external conductor end, the second external conductor end further comprising 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, the receiving means defining an elongated open 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;

proximal end opening means at a proximal end of said receiving means for receiving said stylet wire extending proximally from a lead lumen end opening;

receptacle slot means formed laterally of said elongated receptacle for laterally passing said lead connector end assembly having said stylet wire extending proximally from said lumen end opening into and out of said elongated receptacle and said proximal end opening means;

said adaptor connector assembly further comprising an elongated housing enclosing said elongated receptacle and said first and second receptacle contacts and extending between proximal and distal housing ends having proximal and distal housing end openings therein;

said receptacle slot means further comprising an elongated slot extending longitudinally in one elongated housing side and open to said proximal and distal end openings of a width sufficient to laterally receive said lead connector end assembly with said stylet wire extending proximally through said proximal housing end opening and said implantable lead body extending distally through said distal housing end opening; and

said first and second receptacle contacts each defining a conductor spring material having a U-shape, the contacts being spaced apart within said elongated receptacle, each receptacle contact having a base section extending to first and second opposed branch sections terminating in free ends spaced apart from one another to define respective slot widths that lock and that do not permit the respective lead connector elements to pass therethrough but which may be widened to receive the respective lead connector elements, and wherein said opposed branch and base sessions are dimensioned to tightly engage the respective first and second lead connector elements when the elements are positioned in said elongated receptacle in a locked position.

2. 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 load 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 end 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 and 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 to said first external 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 clement in contact with its respective receptacle contact; and

said adaptor connector assembly further comprising an elongated housing enclosing said elongated receptacle and said receptacle contact and extending between proximal and distal housing ends having proximal and distal housing end openings therein;

said receptacle slot means further comprising an elongated slot extending longitudinally in one elongated housing side and open to said proximal and distal end openings of a width sufficient to laterally receive said lead connector and assembly with said stylet wire extending proximally through said proximal housing end opening and said implantable lead body extending distally through said distal housing end opening; and

said first and second receptacle contacts each defining a conductor spring material having a U-shape, the contacts being spaced within said elongated receptacle, each receptacle contact having a base section extending to first and second opposed branch sections terminating in free ends spaced apart from one another to define respective slot widths that lock and that do not permit the respective lead connector element to pass therethrough but which may be widened to receive the respective lead connector elements, and wherein said opposed branch and base sections are dimensioned to tightly engage the respective first and second lead connector elements when the elements are positioned in said elongated receptacle in a locked position.