Quick connect electrode headbox

• US 6,227,885 B1
• Filed: 03/26/1999
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Natus Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bio-Logic Systems Corporation (Natus Medical Incorporated)
• Inventors: Raviv, Gabriel, Tarasewicz, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Application Number:
  US09/280,154
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 439/131
• US Class Current: 439/131
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 35/04 Turnable line connectors with limited rotation angle with frictional contact members
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/2466 using a planar conductive structure, e.g. printed circuit board
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/2491 Terminal blocks structurally associated with plugs or sockets

Abstract

A novel quick connect electrode headbox is provided with an internal assembly positioned within a housing. The internal assembly has at least one support and a plurality of pivotable electrode receptacle bases pivotably mounted to the at least one support. Further, the plurality of pivotable electrode receptacle bases have a plurality of receptacles each adapted to receive an electrode connector.

Claims

1. An electrode connection headbox comprising:

a base;

a first electrode receptacle pivotably mounted about a first axis to the base, the first electrode receptacle adapted to receive electrodes in spaced side-by-side relationship along a length of the first electrode receptacle;

a second electrode receptacle pivotably mounted about a second axis to the base, the second electrode receptacle adapted to received electrodes in spaced side-by-side relationship along a length of the second electrode receptacle; and

the first axis and the second axis being aligned in parallel side-by-side relationship.

2. The electrode connection headbox of claim 1, wherein the first axis is parallel to the length of the first electrode receptacle.

3. The electrode connection headbox of claim 1, wherein the second axis is parallel to the length of the second electrode receptacle.

4. The electrode connection headbox of claim 1, at least one circuit board secured to the base and being electrically coupled to at least one of the first electrode receptacle and the second electrode receptacle.

5. The electrode connection headbox of claim 1, the first electrode receptacle and the second electrode receptacle being independently pivotable with respect to each other.

6. The electrode connection headbox of claim 1, at least one of the first electrode receptacle and the second electrode receptacle including slot configured to receive at least one label.

7. The electrode connection headbox of claim 1, further comprising a third electrode receptacle pivotably mounted about a third axis to the base, the third electrode receptacle adapted to receive electrodes in spaced side-by-side relationship along a length of the third electrode receptacle, the third axis being co-linear with one of the first axis and the second axis, the third electrode receptacle thereby being laterally displaced from the first electrode receptacle and the second electrode receptacle.

8. An electrode connection headbox comprising:

a base, the base having a bottom, a first side support disposed at a first edge of the base, a second side support arranged parallel to the first side support and disposed at a second edge of the base, the first side support and the second side support extending from the bottom;

a first electrode receptacle pivotably mounted to the base between the first side support and the second side support, the first electrode receptacle adapted to receive electrodes in spaced side-by-side relationship along a length of the first electrode receptacle;

a second electrode receptacle pivotably mounted to the base between the first side support and the second side support, the second electrode receptacle adapted to received electrodes in spaced side-by-side relationship along a length of the second electrode receptacle; and

the first electrode receptacle and the second electrode receptacle being in parallel side-by-side relationship.

9. The electrode connection headbox of claim 8, at least one circuit board secured to the base and being electrically coupled to at least one of the first electrode receptacle and the second electrode receptacle.

10. The electrode connection headbox of claim 8, the first electrode receptacle and the second electrode receptacle being independently pivotable with respect to each other.

11. The electrode connection headbox of claim 8, at least one of the first electrode receptacle and the second electrode receptacle including a slot configured to receive at least one label.

12. An electrode connection headbox comprising:

a base, the base having a substantially planar bottom, a first side support disposed at a first edge of the base, a second side support arranged parallel to the first side support and disposed at a second edge of the base, a center support disposed between the first side support and the second side support and being arranged substantially parallel to each of the first side support and the second side support, each of the first side support, the second side support and the center support extending substantially perpendicularly from the bottom;

a first electrode receptacle pivotably mounted to the base between the first side support and the center support, the first electrode receptacle adapted to receive electrodes in spaced side-by-side relationship along a length of the first electrode receptacle;

a second electrode receptacle pivotably mounted to the base between the first side support and the center support, the second electrode receptacle adapted to receive electrodes in spaced side-by-side relationship along a length of the second electrode receptacle;

the first electrode receptacle and the second electrode receptacle being in parallel side-by-side relationship; and

a third electrode receptacle pivotably mounted to the base between the center support and the second side support, the third electrode receptacle adapted to receive electrodes in spaced side-by-side relationship along a length of the third electrode receptacle.

13. The electrode connection headbox of claim 12, at least one circuit board secured to the base and being electrically coupled to at least one of the first electrode receptacle, the second electrode receptacle and the third electrode receptacle.

14. The electrode connection headbox of claim 12, the first electrode receptacle, the second electrode receptacle and the third electrode receptacle being independently pivotable with respect to each other.

15. The electrode connection headbox of claim 12, at least one of the first electrode receptacle, the second electrode receptacle and the third electrode receptacle including a slot configured to receive at least one label.