Dual-locking mechanism for lead and header attachment in pre-molded headers
First Claim
1. A connector assembly for an implantable medical device including a casing having a mounting surface, the connector assembly comprising:
- a header extending between proximal and distal ends having an elongated receptacle with a longitudinal axis for receiving a proximal end portion of a lead carrying at least one electrical terminal, the receptacle carrying an electrical contact positioned to engage the at least one electrical terminal; and
a fastener assembly configured to releasably clamp the proximal end portion of the lead to the header within the receptacle and to attach the header to the casing, the fastener assembly comprising;
a lead-lock component to engage with the header; and
a fastener with a threaded portion, the threaded portion engaging with a tapped portion of the casing to simultaneously firmly attach the header to the casing by mounting the lead-lock component to the header and to releasably clamp the proximal end portion of the lead to the header.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A connector assembly for an implantable medical device including a casing includes a header having a receptacle with an electrical contact for engageably receiving an electrical terminal on a proximal end of a lead and a fastener assembly for simultaneously releasably clamping the lead to the header within the receptacle and firmly attaching the header to the casing. The header is mounted on the casing and has a distal notched region with an upper surface and a first channel in its upper surface aligned with, and being a partial extension of, the receptacle. The fastener assembly includes a lead-lock component engageably received within the notched region of the header and with a second channel therein which is aligned and juxtaposed with the first channel, the channels taken together being an extension of the receptacle. A fastener system firmly mounts the lead-lock component to the header at the notched region.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A connector assembly for an implantable medical device including a casing having a mounting surface, the connector assembly comprising:
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a header extending between proximal and distal ends having an elongated receptacle with a longitudinal axis for receiving a proximal end portion of a lead carrying at least one electrical terminal, the receptacle carrying an electrical contact positioned to engage the at least one electrical terminal; and a fastener assembly configured to releasably clamp the proximal end portion of the lead to the header within the receptacle and to attach the header to the casing, the fastener assembly comprising; a lead-lock component to engage with the header; and a fastener with a threaded portion, the threaded portion engaging with a tapped portion of the casing to simultaneously firmly attach the header to the casing by mounting the lead-lock component to the header and to releasably clamp the proximal end portion of the lead to the header. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A connector assembly for an implantable medical device including a casing having a mounting surface, the connector assembly comprising:
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a header extending between proximal and distal ends having an elongated receptacle with a longitudinal axis for receiving a proximal end portion of a lead carrying at least one electrical terminal, the receptacle carrying an electrical contact positioned to engage the at least one electrical terminal; and a fastener assembly configured to releasably clamp the proximal end portion of the lead to the header within the receptacle and to attach the header to the casing; wherein the header has an undersurface for mounting engagement on the mounting surface of the casing and a notched region at its distal end having an upper surface spaced from the undersurface; wherein the receptacle is cylindrical; wherein the notched region has a first channel in its upper surface aligned with, and being a partial extension of, the receptacle; and wherein the fastener assembly includes; a lead-lock component for engageable reception with the notched region of the header and having a second channel therein which, when engageably received in the notched region, is aligned and juxtaposed with the first channel of the header, the first and second channels taken together being a full cylindrical extension of the receptacle but having an inner diameter smaller than that of the receptacle when the connector assembly is firmly attached to the casing; and a fastener system for firmly mounting the lead-lock component to the header at the notched region. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An implantable medical device comprising:
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a sealed casing having a mounting surface; electronic circuitry enclosed within said casing; and a connector assembly attached to the outside of said casing for releasably affixing a lead having a proximal end portion carrying at least one electrical terminal and for electrically coupling the at least one electrical terminal to the electronic circuitry, the connector assembly comprising; a header extending between proximal and distal ends having an elongated receptacle with a longitudinal axis for receiving a proximal end portion of a lead carrying at least one electrical terminal, the receptacle carrying an electrical contact positioned to engage the at least one electrical terminal; and a fastener assembly simultaneously operative to releasably clamp the proximal end portion of the lead to the header within the receptacle and firmly attach the header to the casing, the fastener assembly comprising; a lead-lock component to engage with the header; and a fastener with a threaded portion, the threaded portion engaging with a tapped portion of the casing to simultaneously firmly attach the header to the casing by mounting the lead-lock component to the header and to releasably clamp the proximal end portion of the lead to the header. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. An implantable medical device comprising:
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a sealed casing having a mounting surface; electronic circuitry enclosed within said casing; and a connector assembly attached to the outside of said casing for releasably affixing a lead having a proximal end portion carrying at least one electrical terminal and for electrically coupling the at least one electrical terminal to the electronic circuitry, the connector assembly comprising; a header extending between proximal and distal ends having an elongated receptacle with a longitudinal axis for receiving a proximal end portion of a lead carrying at least one electrical terminal, the receptacle carrying an electrical contact positioned to engage the at least one electrical terminal; and a fastener assembly operative to releasably clamp the proximal end portion of the lead to the header within the receptacle and firmly attach the header to the casing; wherein the header has an undersurface for mounting engagement on the mounting surface of the casing and a notched region at its distal end having an upper surface spaced from the undersurface; wherein the receptacle is cylindrical; wherein the notched region has a first channel in its upper surface aligned with, and being a partial extension of, the receptacle; and wherein the fastener assembly includes; a lead-lock component for engageable reception with the notched region of the header and having a second channel therein which, when engageably received in the notched region, is aligned and juxtaposed with the first channel of the header, the first and second channels taken together being a full cylindrical extension of the receptacle but having an inner diameter smaller than that of the receptacle when the connector assembly is firmly attached to the casing; and a fastener system for firmly mounting the lead-lock component to the header at the notched region. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification