Split contact with super elastic retaining ring for implantable medical device
First Claim
1. In body implantable apparatus for implantation in a living body, for delivering electrical stimulation to the nervous system of the body, the apparatus including a wire-like electrical conductor, an improved electrical and mechanical connector for the conductor, comprising:
- a multi-piece body forming a receptor for the conductor, at least one of the body pieces being electrically conductive; and
an elastic member retaining together the body pieces of the multi-piece body, the elastic member biasing the body pieces into mechanical, restraining contact with the conductor, when the conductor is introduced into the receptor, and biasing the electrically conductive body piece into electrical contact with the conductor, when the conductor is introduced into the receptor, the elastic member further elastically yieldable under mechanical force to permit introduction of the conductor into the receptor.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A construction and method are employed for connecting leads and extensions that minimizes the need for set screws, and the times and physical efforts required of surgeons for connecting leads and connector blocks is reduced. An improved electrical and mechanical connector for the conductor comprises at least two components. First a multi-piece body forms a receptor for the conductor. At least one of the body pieces is electrically conductive. Second, an elastic member retains together the body pieces of the multi-piece body. The elastic member biases the body pieces into mechanical, restraining contact with the conductor, and biases the electrically conductive body piece into electrical contact with the conductor, when the conductor is introduced into the receptor. The elastic member further elastically yields under mechanical force to permit introduction of the conductor into the receptor.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. In body implantable apparatus for implantation in a living body, for delivering electrical stimulation to the nervous system of the body, the apparatus including a wire-like electrical conductor, an improved electrical and mechanical connector for the conductor, comprising:
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a multi-piece body forming a receptor for the conductor, at least one of the body pieces being electrically conductive; and
an elastic member retaining together the body pieces of the multi-piece body, the elastic member biasing the body pieces into mechanical, restraining contact with the conductor, when the conductor is introduced into the receptor, and biasing the electrically conductive body piece into electrical contact with the conductor, when the conductor is introduced into the receptor, the elastic member further elastically yieldable under mechanical force to permit introduction of the conductor into the receptor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. In body implantable apparatus for implantation in a living human body, for delivering electrical stimulation to at least one nerve of the body, the apparatus including an implantable pulse generator (IPG), for generating the electrical stimulation, and an implantable wire-like electrical lead for delivering the stimulation from the IPG to the desired site of stimulation, the lead having a distal portion for placement at the site and a proximal portion, the proximal portion including multiple proximal electrical contacts, an improved connector block for electrical and mechanical connection of the proximal portion of the lead into the apparatus by connection to an extension, the improved connector block comprising:
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a plurality of multi-piece bodies each forming a receptor opening for a proximal electrical contact, at least one of the body pieces of each body being electrically conductive adjacent the receptor opening; and
a plurality of elastic members, each elastic member retaining together the body pieces of one of the multi-piece bodies, the elastic member biasing the body pieces into mechanical, fixating contact with a proximal electrical contact, when the contact is introduced into the receptor opening, and biasing the electrically conductive body piece into electrical contact with the proximal electrical contact, when the proximal electrical contact is introduced into the receptor opening, the elastic member further elastically yieldable under mechanical force to permit introduction of the proximal electrical contact into the receptor opening. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification