Movable contact locking mechanism for spinal cord stimulator lead connector

• US 6,741,892 B1
• Filed: 03/05/2001
• Issued: 05/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Bionics Corporation (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Meadows, Paul M., Devor, Larry D., Goldman, Stephen L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dahbour, Fadi H.
• Application Number:
  US09/799,214
• Time in Patent Office: 1,177 Days
• Field of Search: 607/116, 607/30, 607/118, 607/37, 607/38, 607/36, 607/43, 607/46, 607/117, 606/129
• US Class Current: 607/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3752 Details of casing-lead connections

Abstract

A moveable contact connector system provides easy lead insertion, lead retention, and reliable electrical connection for implantable devices. The connector system may be used with in-line leads commonly found in such applications. Moveable contacts are provided in the connector, which contacts are placed in a first position for easy lead insertion, and in a second position for lead retention. The second position also provides a good electrical connection between the moveable connector contacts and the lead contacts. Multiple means for moving said at least one moveable contact between the first and second positions are described. A first embodiment uses a rotatable cam which is rotated to align the cam lodes with said at least one moveable contact, pushing the movable contacts against the lead contacts. The second and third embodiments use a sliding key to force said at least one moveable contact against the lead contacts.

Claims

1. A connector system for use with implantable medical devices comprising:

a connector body;

a passageway in the connector body;

a plurality of spaced-apart contacts moveable from a first, resting position into a second, downward position and resiliently attached to the connector body;

a lead end, wherein the lead end is insertable into the passageway;

a plurality of spaced-apart lead contacts residing on the lead end, wherein said lead contacts are respectively aligned with said moveable contacts when the lead end is fully inserted into the passageway; and

means for applying a downward force on said moveable contacts by moving the moveable contacts from the first position into the second position to press the moveable contacts into the second position against the respective said lead contacts when the lead end is inserted into the passageway;

wherein the lead end may be inserted into the passageway when the moveable contacts are in the first position and the downward force on the moveable contacts is not present, and wherein the lead end is held in the passageway and a reliable electrical connection is made between the moveable contacts and the lead contacts when the contacts are moved into the second position so the downward force on the moveable contacts is present.

2. The connector system of claim 1 wherein the connector is attached to an implantable electronic device.

3. The connector system of claim 2 wherein the implantable electronic device is an Implantable Pulse Generator (IPG).

4. The connector system of claim 1 wherein the lead end resides on an in-line lead.

5. The connector system of claim 1 wherein the lead end resides on an electrode lead.

6. A connector system comprising;

a connector body;

a passageway in the connector body;

a moveable contact resiliently attached to the connector body;

a lead end, wherein the lead end is insertable into the passageway;

a lead contact on the lead end, wherein said moveable contact is respectively aligned with said lead contact when the lead end is fully inserted into the passageway; and

a cam rotatably attached to the connector body, wherein the cam defines a lobe, and wherein said lobe is vertically aligned with said moveable contact, and wherein the cam has a first cam position wherein the lobe is pointed towards the moveable contact, thereby applying a downward force on said moveable contact to press the moveable contact against the lead contact, and wherein the cam has a second cam position wherein the lobe is pointed away from said moveable contact, thereby removing the downward force;

wherein the lead end may be inserted into the passageway when the downward force on the moveable contact is not present, and wherein the lead end is held in the passageway and a reliable electrical connection is made between the moveable contact and the lead contact when the downward force on the moveable contact is present.

7. The connector system of claim 6 wherein the cam comprises a solid cam and the lobe comprises a solid lobe, wherein the solid cam has a substantially straight shaft, and wherein said solid lobe comprises a rounded solid body attached to the substantially straight shaft, and wherein the solid lobe is offset from the axis of the substantially straight shaft.

8. The connector system of claim 7 wherein the substantially straight shaft has a rearward end protruding from the connector body, and wherein a handle lug may be attached to the rearward end, wherein the handle lug may be used to attach a handle to rotate the solid cam.

9. The connector system of claim 7 wherein the solid cam includes a cam stop lug and wherein the connector body includes a first cam stop that cooperates with the cam stop lug to provide a first rotational stop for the solid cam in the first cam position, and wherein the connector body includes a second cam stop that cooperates with the cam stop lug to provide a second rotational stop for the solid cam in the second cam position.

10. The connector system of claim 9 wherein the second rotational stop allows the solid cam to be rotated just past the point where the solid lobe is pointed towards said moveable contact.

11. The connector system of claim 6 wherein the cam comprises a wireform cam, and wherein said lobe comprises a wireform lobe, wherein the wireform cam may be formed from a wire.

12. The connector system of claim 11 wherein the connector body includes a cam support, and wherein the wireform cam includes a straight section, wherein the cam support rotatably supports the straight section thereby allowing the wireform cam to rotate about an axis substantially parallel with the passageway.

13. The connector system of claim 12 wherein the wireform cam has a wireform rearward end protruding from the connector body, and wherein the wireform cam includes a handle lug attached to the wireform rearward end, which handle lug may be used to attach a handle to rotate the wireform cam.

14. The connector system of claim 12 wherein the wireform cam includes a cam stop lug, and wherein the connector body includes a first cam stop and a second cam stop, wherein the cam stop lug cooperates with the first cam stop to the second cam stop cooperate to provide a first rotational stop for the solid cam in the first cam position, and wherein the connector body includes a second cam stop that cooperates with the cam stop lug to provide a second rotational stop for the solid cam in the second cam position.

15. The connector system of claim 14 wherein the cam stop lug is attached to the wireform cam at a forward end of the wireform cam.

16. A connector system comprising;

a connector body;

a passageway in the connector body;

a moveable contact resiliently attached to the connector body;

a lead end, wherein the lead end is insertable into the passageway;

a lead contact on the lead end, wherein said moveable contact is aligned with said lead contact when the lead end is fully inserted into the passageway;

a rod with a bulge, wherein the connector body has a rod passageway into which the rod is removably insertable; and

wherein the rod has a locked position wherein the rod is fully inserted into the rod passageway, wherein said bulge is aligned with said moveable contact, thereby applying a downward force to said moveable contact; and

wherein the rod has an open position wherein said bulge is not aligned with said moveable contact, thereby removing the downward force; and

wherein the lead end may be inserted into the passageway when the downward force on the moveable contact is not present, and wherein the lead end is held in the passageway and a reliable electrical connection is made between the moveable contact and the lead contact when the downward force on the moveable contact is present.

17. The connector system of claim 16 wherein the rod is removable and has an exposed rearward rod end, wherein the rearward rod end protrudes from the connector body when the removable rod is fully inserted into the connector body, and wherein the rearward rod end defines a hook hole, wherein a tool may be attached to the hook hole to remove the removable rod from the connector body.

18. The connector system of claim 16 wherein the removable rod defines a rod latch, and wherein the connector body includes a latch receptacle, and wherein the rod latch and the latch receptacle cooperate to removably retain the removable rod in the rod passageway.

19. The connector system of claim 16 wherein the removable rod has a forward rod end, and wherein the rod latch is on the forward rod end.

20. A connector system comprising;

a connector body;

a passageway in the connector body;

a moveable contact resiliently attached to the connector body;

a lead end, wherein the lead end is insertable into the passageway;

a lead contact on the lead end, wherein said moveable contact is aligned with said lead contact when the lead end is fully inserted into the passageway;

a captive actuator, wherein the connector body defines an actuator cavity adjacent the passageway, wherein the captive actuator moveably resides within the actuator cavity, wherein the captive actuator may move vertically within the actuator cavity; and

a removable key, wherein the connector body defines a key passageway adjacent the actuator cavity and on the side of the actuator cavity opposite the passageway;

wherein the removable key defines a locked position when the removable key is fully inserted into the key passageway;

in which locked position the removable key pushes down on the captive actuator, which causes the captive actuator to push down on said moveable contact, thereby applying the downward force to said moveable contact; and

wherein the removable key defines an open position when removed from the key passageway, in which open position the captive actuator is not pushed against said moveable contact, thereby removing the downward force; and

wherein the lead end may be inserted into the passageway when the downward force on the moveable contact is not present, and wherein the lead end is held in the passageway and a reliable electrical connection is made between the moveable contact and the lead contact when the downward force on the moveable contact is present.

21. The connector system of claim 20 wherein the captive actuator defines a bulge, wherein said bulge is on a surface of the captive actuator facing the moveable contact, and wherein said bulge is aligned with said moveable contact;

and wherein insertion of the removable key into the key passageway causes the bulge to push against the moveable contact, thereby applying downward force on the moveable contact.

22. The connector system of claim 20 wherein the removable key has a rearward key end that protrudes from the connector body and a forward key end opposite the rearward key end, and wherein the removable key defines a key bottom surface, wherein the key bottom surface has a downward ramp starting at the forward key end followed by a horizontal surface extending to the rearward key end, and wherein the captive actuator defines an actuator top surface, and wherein the key bottom surface slides over the actuator top surface when the removable key is inserted into the key passageway and placed downward force on the captive actuator.

23. The connector system of claim 20 wherein the removable key has a rearward key end that protrudes from the connector body, wherein the removable key further includes a hook hole at the rearward key end, and wherein a hook may be removably inserted to remove the removable key from the key passageway.

24. The connector system of claim 20 wherein the removable key defines a key latch and the connector body has a latch receptacle, and wherein the key latch and the latch receptacle cooperate to removably retain the removable key in the key passageway.

25. The connector system of claim 20 wherein the removable key has a rearward key end that protrudes from the connector body and a forward key end opposite the rearward key end, wherein the key latch is on the forward key end.

26. A connector system comprising:

a connector body;

a passageway in the connector body;

a moveable contact resiliently attached to the connector body;

a lead end, wherein the lead end is insertable into the passageway;

a lead contact on the lead end, wherein said moveable contact is aligned with said lead contact when the lead end is fully inserted into the passageway; and

an actuator, wherein the connector body defines an actuator guide adjacent the passageway, and wherein said actuator moveably reside in said actuator guide, and wherein said actuator is vertically aligned with said moveable contact; and

a removable key, wherein the connector body defines a key passageway adjacent the actuator guide, and wherein the removable key is removably insertable into the key passageway;

wherein the removable key defines a locked position wherein the removable key is fully inserted into the key passageway, which insertion causes the removable key to push against said actuator, thereby causing said actuator to exert a downward force against said moveable contact;

wherein the removable key defines an open position wherein removable key is removed from the key passageway, in which open position said actuator does not push against said moveable contact; and

wherein the lead end may be inserted into the passageway when the downward force on the moveable contact is not present, and wherein the lead end is held in the passageway and a reliable electrical connection is made between the moveable contact and the lead contact when the downward force on the moveable contact is present.

27. The connector system of claim 26 wherein the removable key has a rearward key end that protrudes from the connector body, and a forward key end opposite the rearward key end, and wherein the removable key further includes a bottom key surface, wherein the bottom key surface includes a downward ramp starting at the forward key end followed by a horizontal surface extending to the rearward end;

and

wherein the captive actuator has an actuator top surface, and wherein the bottom key surface slides over said actuator top surface when the removable key is inserted into the key passageway, thereby pushing against said actuator and causing said actuator push against the moveable contact.

28. The connector system of claim 26 wherein the removable key has a rearward key end that protrudes from the connector body, wherein the rearward key end defines a hook hole in which a hook may be removably inserted to remove the removable key from the key passageway.

29. The connector system of claim 26 wherein the removable key defines a key latch, and the connector body defines a latch receptacle, wherein the key latch and the latch receptacle cooperate to removably retain the removable key in the key passageway.

30. The connector system of claim 29 wherein the removable key has a rearward key end that protrudes from the connector body, and a forward key end opposite the rearward key end, wherein the forward key end defines the key latch.

31. A connector system comprising;

a connector body;

a passageway in the connector body;

a moveable contact wherein the connector body defines a contact guide adjacent the passageway, and wherein said moveable contact reside in said contact guide;

a lead end, wherein the lead end is insertable into the passageway;

a lead contact on the lead end, wherein said lead contact is aligned with said moveable contact when the lead end is fully inserted into the passageway; and

a removable key, wherein the connector body defines a key passageway adjacent the contact guide, wherein the removable key is removably insertable into the key passageway; and

wherein the removable key defines a locked position, wherein the removable key is fully inserted into the key passageway, which insertion causes the removable key to push against said moveable contact, thereby exerting a downward force against said moveable contact;

wherein the removable key defines an open position, wherein the removable key is removed from the key passageway, thereby relieving the downward force against said moveable contact; and

wherein the lead end may be inserted into the passageway when the downward force on the moveable contact is not present, and wherein the lead end is held in the passageway and a reliable electrical connection is made between the moveable contact and the lead contact when the downward force on the moveable contact is present.

32. The connector system of claim 31 wherein the removable key has a rearward key end that protrudes from the connector body, and a forward key end opposite the rearward key end, and wherein the removable key further has a bottom key surface, wherein the bottom key surface includes a downward ramp starting at the forward key end followed by a horizontal surface extending to the rearward end;

and

wherein the moveable contact has a contact top surface, and wherein the bottom key surface slides over said contact top surface when the removable key is inserted into the key passageway, thereby exerting the downward force against the moveable contact.

33. The connector system of claim 31 wherein the removable key has a rearward key end that protrudes from the connector body, wherein the rearward key end defines a hook hole in which a hook may be removably inserted to remove the removable key from the key passageway.

34. The connector system of claim 31 wherein the removable key defines a key latch, and the connector body defines a latch receptacle, wherein the key latch and the latch receptacle cooperate to removably retain the removable key in the key passageway.

35. The connector system of claim 34 wherein the removable key has a rearward key end that protrudes from the connector body, and a forward key end opposite the rearward key end, wherein the forward key end defines the key latch.

36. A method for connecting a lead of an implantable device to a connector of an implantable device comprising the steps of;

implanting a lead, wherein the lead has a lead end, and wherein the lead end includes a plurality of spaced-apart lead contacts;

implanting a connector, wherein the connector has a passageway, and wherein the lead end is insertable into the passageway, and wherein the connector includes a plurality of spaced-apart movable contacts, wherein the connector includes a means for applying a downward force on the movable contacts whereby the moveable contact are pushed against the lead contacts;

removing the downward force thereby allowing the lead end to be inserted into the passageway;

inserting the lead end into the passageway; and

applying the downward force thereby securing the lead end in the passageway, and providing electrical contact between the moveable contacts and the lead contacts.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein implanting a connector including a means for applying a downward force comprises implanting a connector including a means for applying a downward force, and a means for locking, whereby the downward force is sustained.

38. The method of claim 36 wherein implanting a lead comprises implanting an in-line lead.

39. The method of claim 36 wherein the step of removing the downward force comprises rotating a cam to an open position, wherein the cam includes a plurality of lobes, and wherein in the open position each of the plurality of lobes is pointed away from the movable contacts;

and

wherein the step of applying the downward force comprises rotating the cam to a closed position, wherein in the closed position each of the plurality of lobes is pointed towards a respective said movable contacts and pushes a said movable contacts against said lead contacts.

40. The method of claim 36 wherein the step of implanting a connector comprises implanting a connector having a rod passageway, and

wherein removing the downward force comprises removing a removable rod from the rod passageway;

and

wherein applying the downward force comprises inserting the removable rod fully into the rod passageway;

wherein the removable rod includes a plurality of bulges, and wherein when the removable rod is fully inserted into the rod passageway, said bulges cooperates with the movable contacts to push the movable contacts firmly against the lead contacts.

41. The method of claim 36 wherein the step of implanting a connector comprises implanting a connector having a key passageway;

and

wherein removing the downward force comprises removing a removable key from the key passageway; and

wherein applying a downward force comprises inserting the removable key fully into the key passageway;

wherein the connector includes means for applying the downward force when the removable key is fully inserted into the key passageway.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein the step of implanting a connector having a key passageway comprises implanting a connector having a key passageway, an actuator cavity, and a captive actuator, wherein the captive actuator moveably resides in the actuator cavity, and wherein the actuator cavity resides between the passageway and the key passageway, and wherein the moveable actuator includes a plurality of bulges on a bottom surface of the captive actuator, wherein said bulges are aligned with said movable contacts, and

wherein the step of removing a removable key from the key passageway comprises removing a removable key from the key passageway, wherein in the absence of the removable key in the key passageway the captive actuator does not exert the downward force on the movable contacts;

and

wherein the step of inserting the removable key fully into the key passageway comprises inserting the removable key fully into the key passageway so that the removable key pushes against the captive actuator causing the captive actuator apply the downward force against the movable contacts, thereby pushing the movable contacts against said lead contacts.

43. The method of claim 41 wherein the step of implanting a connector having a key passageway comprises implanting a connector having a key passageway, a plurality actuator guides, and a plurality of multi actuators moveably residing in the actuator guides, and wherein said actuator guides are defined between the passageway and the key passageway, and wherein the multi actuators are aligned with the movable contacts;

and

wherein the step of removing a removable key from the key passageway comprises removing a removable key from the key passageway, wherein in the absence of the removable key in the key passageway the multi actuators do not exert the downward force on the movable contacts; and

wherein the step of inserting the removable key fully into the key passageway comprises inserting the removable key fully into the key passageway whereby the removable key pushes against the multi actuators causing the multi actuators to apply the downward force against the movable contacts, thereby pushing the movable contacts against said lead contacts.

44. The method of claim 41 wherein the step of implanting a connector having a key passageway comprises implanting a connector having a key passageway, and a plurality of contact guides, wherein the moveable contacts moveably residing in the contact guides, and wherein the contact guides are defined between the passageway and the key passageway;

and

wherein the step of removing a removable key from the key passageway comprises removing a removable key from the key passageway, wherein in the absence of the removable key in the key passageway the downward force is removed from the movable contacts; and

wherein the step of inserting the removable key fully into the key passageway comprises inserting the removable key fully into the key passageway whereby the removable key pushes against the movable contacts applying the downward force against the movable contacts, thereby pushing the movable contacts against said lead contacts.