Stimulation lead connector

• US 6,154,678 A
• Filed: 03/19/1999
• Issued: 11/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Lauro, B. Reno
• Primary Examiner(s): Jastrzab, Jeffrey R.
• Application Number:
  US09/272,847
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 607/115, 607/119, 607/37, 607/38, 607/116, 607/122, 439/909, 600/373-381
• US Class Current: 607/115
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3752 Details of casing-lead connections

Abstract

A stimulation lead connection assembly capable of easily receiving and engaging a stimulation lead for purposes of transmitting selected electrical energy to electrodes of a received stimulation lead. The connection assembly retains a stimulation lead in a manner that permits a user to freely insert (and/or withdraw) a steering mechanism, for example, a stylet, into the stimulation lead that is electrically engaged by the connection assembly.

Claims

1. A connector to receive at least a portion of a stimulation lead adapted to accept a steering mechanism through a steering mechanism inlet, the connector comprising:

a housing having a receiving portion to receive at least a connector portion of such a stimulation lead; and

at least one contact to electrically engage a connector portion of a stimulation lead received within the receiving portion,

wherein the housing is adapted to provide access to a steering mechanism inlet of an engaged stimulation lead to enable selective insertion or withdrawal of a steering mechanism through such steering mechanism inlet, and

wherein the housing is further adapted to operatively guide a distal end of a steering mechanism into a steering mechanism inlet of an engaged stimulation lead.

2. A connector in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a mechanism to selectively effect a translation of the at least one contact from the first position to the second position.

3. A connector in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one contact secures a connector portion of a stimulation lead within the receiving portion when the at least one contact is in the second position.

4. A connector in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a connecting element, coupled to the at least one contact, adapted for connection to an electrical energy source.

5. A connector to receive at least a portion of a stimulation lead adapted to accept a steering mechanism through a steering mechanism inlet, the connector comprising:

a housing having a reception channel to receive at least a connector portion of such a stimulation lead; and

a plurality of contacts, movable from at least a first position to a second position, to engage a connector portion of a stimulation lead received within the reception channel when the at least one contact is at the second position,

wherein the housing is adapted to provide access to a steering mechanism inlet of an engaged stimulation lead to enable selective insertion or withdrawal of a steering mechanism through such steering mechanism inlet.

6. A connector in accordance with claim 5, further comprising a mechanism to selectively effect a translation of at least one contact of the plurality of contacts from the first position to the second position.

7. A connector in accordance with claim 5, further comprising a connecting element, coupled to the plurality of contacts, adapted for connection to an electrical energy source.

8. A connector in accordance with claim 5, wherein the plurality of contacts secures a connector portion of a stimulation lead within the reception channel when the at least one contact is in the second position.

9. A connector to receive at least a portion of a stimulation lead adapted to accept a steering mechanism through a steering mechanism inlet, the connector comprising:

a connecting device to connect to an electrical energy source;

a housing having a reception space to receive at least a connector portion of a stimulation lead;

at least one contact, electrically coupled to the connecting device and further movable from at least a first position to a second position, to electrically engage a stimulation lead received within the reception space when the at least one contact is at the second position; and

an actuator to effect a translation of the at least one contact from the first position to the second position,

wherein the housing is adapted to provide access to a steering mechanism inlet of an engaged stimulation lead to enable selective insertion or withdrawal of a steering mechanism through such steering mechanism inlet.