IMD connector header with grommet retainer

• US 7,231,253 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2003
• Issued: 06/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Tidemand, Kevin K., Zhao, Jennifer J., Ries, Andrew J., Kelley, James F., Haeg, Daniel C., Jin, Hui J., Wiklund, Craig L., Rice, David C., Christenson, James J., Vo, Loc Van
• Primary Examiner(s): DROESCH, KRISTEN L
• Application Number:
  US10/732,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20040122481A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,279 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 607/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37512 Pacemakers

Abstract

An implantable medical device (IMD) includes a connector header for making electrical and mechanical connections with a proximal connector assembly of an electrical medical lead and includes a retainer for retaining a penetrable grommet within a header grommet aperture. A connector block disposed within a header body of the connector header has a threaded bore aligned with a header grommet aperture and a connector block bore aligned with a header connector bore. The penetrable grommet is disposed within the header grommet aperture, and a setscrew is threaded into the threaded bore having a setscrew socket disposed to be engaged by a tool inserted through the penetrable grommet within the header grommet aperture to enable rotation of the setscrew within the threaded bore to tighten the setscrew against or to loosen the setscrew from a lead connector element received in the header connector bore.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device having a connector header adapted to be coupled through the use of a tool to an electrical lead connector element of an elongated electrical medical lead, wherein:

the connector header is formed of a header body, having at least one header connector bore, a header grommet aperture having a grommet aperture sidewall, and a retention groove extending into the header body spaced away from and substantially surrounding the header grommet aperture sidewall;

a connector block is disposed within the connector header, the connector block having a threaded bore aligned with the header grommet aperture and a connector block bore aligned with the header connector bore adapted to receive a lead connector element when a proximal connector assembly of the elongated electrical medical lead is received in the header connector bore;

a setscrew is threaded into the threaded bore, the set screw having a setscrew socket disposed to be engaged by the tool to enable rotation of the setscrew within the threaded bore to tighten the setscrew against or to loosen the setscrew from a lead connector element received in the header connector bore;

a penetrable grommet is disposed within the header grommet aperture, the penetrable grommet comprising a generally cylindrical elastomer body having a grommet central axis and including a self-sealing passage extending between opposed inner and outer end walls enabling passage of the tool therethrough into the setscrew socket for rotating the setscrew and sealing of the passage upon withdrawal of the tool; and

a retainer cap having a central cap opening aligned with the grommet central axis that the tool can be passed through is disposed against an annular portion of the outer end wall, and a retainer cap sidewall is fitted into the retention groove to entrap the penetrable grommet within the grommet aperture.

2. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the retainer cap is formed of a rigid material, whereby the retainer cap sidewall fitted into the retention groove stabilizes a portion of the header body between the retention groove and the grommet aperture sidewall from changing substantially in dimension over chronic implantation time.

3. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the retainer cap sidewall is formed with at least one retention flange extending laterally that engages the header body upon insertion of the retainer cap sidewall into the groove and resist removal of the retainer cap.

4. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the retainer cap sidewall is further formed with enhancements for promoting adhesion with the header body upon application of thermal energy to thermoplastic material of the header body contacting the enhancements.

5. The implantable medical device of claim 4, wherein the enhancements comprise at least one aperture through the retainer cap sidewall into which thermoplastic material flows upon melting through application of thermal energy and solidifies upon cooling of the thermoplastic material.

6. The implantable medical device of claim 5, wherein each aperture comprises a notch in the retainer cap sidewall with a key slot that receives a key of thermoplastic material formed within the retention groove inserted into the key slot and filling the notch.