Marking system for lead connector and header

• US 6,672,895 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2001
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Scheiner, Avram
• Primary Examiner(s): Luebke, Renee
• Assistant Examiner(s): Figueroa, Felix O.
• Application Number:
  US09/994,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20030100220A1
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 439/491, 439/488, 439/909, 174/112, 607/36
• US Class Current: 439/491
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5224 for medical use
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/12 for medicine and surgery
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/907 Contact having three contact surfaces, including diverse surface

Abstract

A marking system to enable physicians to determine whether a connector of a lead is properly seated within the pulse generator.

Claims

1. An assembly comprising:

a translucent header coupled with an energy source, the translucent header embedded with at least a first color;

at least one first connector extending from a terminal end to a distal end, the terminal end disposed within a first opening of the header; and

the terminal end having at least one color connector marking thereon, the at least one connector marking providing a visual indication proper placement of the connector within the header, the at least one connector marking substantially similar to the at least first color, wherein the at least one connector marking is disposed completely within the first opening of the header indicating when the connector is seated therein.

2. The assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a second connector having a second connector marking of a second color, and the at least one first connector marking includes a first connector marking of a first color, and the first color is different than the second color.

3. The assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the second connector includes a third connector marking of a third color, and the first connector includes a fourth connector marking of the third color, and the third connector marking and the fourth connector marking are substantially aligned when the first connector and the second connector are properly seated within the header.

4. The assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one header marking on the header, wherein at least one header marking is disposed around the first opening of the header, the at least one header marking disposed on an external surface of the header.

5. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the header includes a second color, and the first color is different than the second color.

6. The assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the first color is embedded adjacent to the at least one opening.

7. A system comprising:

an implantable electrical stimulator;

a connector coupled with a lead having a lead body and at least one electrical component, the connector coupled with the implantable electrical stimulator; and

a means for visually indicating when the connector is properly seated within the implantable electrical stimulator, where the means for visually indicating is applied to the connector and an external surface of the implantable electrical stimulator; and

a means for visually indicating whether a proper connector is coupled with the implantable electrical stimulator, including a first visual indicator on the connector and a second visual indicator on the electrical stimulator, wherein the first visual indicator has a color or pattern marking, the means for visually indicating when the connector is properly seated is coupled with the electrical stimulator, and the first visual indicator is completely disposed internally to the implantable electrical stimulator when the connector is properly seated within the implantable electrical stimulator; and

the first visual indicator is substantially similar to the second visual indicator.

8. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein the second visual indicator is disposed directly adjacent to an opening of the implantable electrical stimulator.

9. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the second visual indicator is disposed around a perimeter of the opening of the implantable electrical stimulator, and the opening receives the connector therein.

10. The assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein a part of the implantable electrical stimulator is translucent.

11. A system comprising:

a lead extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the lead including a lead body;

a connector coupled with the proximal end of the lead, the connector including a terminal end;

an implantable electrical stimulator having an opening therein, the opening configured to receive the connector therein;

at least one first visual indicator marked around the opening of the implantable electrical stimulator; and

at least one color or pattern connector marking disposed on the terminal end, the connector marking is substantially similar as the first visual indicator, the color or pattern connector marking disposed fully within the opening when the connector is properly seated within the opening.

12. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the implantable electrical stimulator includes a second opening therein, the second opening having a second visual indicator marked around the second opening, where the second visual indicator is different than the first visual indicator.

13. The system as recited in claim 11, further comprising a second lead having a second connector, the second connector including a second connector marking thereon, the second connector marking is substantially similar to the second visual indicator.

14. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the implantable electrical stimulator includes a header, and the header is translucent and includes a color embedded therein.

15. A method comprising:

marking a connector with at least a first connector visual indicator having a color pattern marking;

marking an external surface of a header with a first header visual indicator;

inserting the connector into the header; and

stopping insertion of the connector into the header once the first connector visual indicator is no longer visible, wherein the first header visual indicator is substantially similar to the first connector visual indicator prior to insertion.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein marking the connector comprises marking the connector with a color marking, and marking the header comprises marking the header with a color marking.

17. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein marking the header comprises marking around an opening of the header, and inserting the connector includes inserting the connector into the opening.

18. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein marking the header comprises marking around a first opening with the first header visual indicator, and marking around a second opening with a second header visual indicator.

19. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising marking a second lead with a second connector visual indicator, disposing the second lead into the second opening, and stopping insertion of the second lead into the second opening when the second connector visual indicator is no longer visible.