Connector assemblies

• US 7,445,528 B1
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Issued: 11/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Kuzma, Janusz
• Primary Examiner(s): NASRI, JAVAID H
• Application Number:
  US11/541,117
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 439/825, 439/827, 439/930, 439/369
• US Class Current: 439/825
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/227 Sensors with electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3752 Details of casing-lead connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/052 co-operating with sockets having a circular transverse section
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/405 Securing in non-demountable manner, e.g. moulding, riveting
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5224 for medical use
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/12 for medicine and surgery
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/93 Coupling part wherein contact is comprised of a wire or brush

Abstract

Systems for electrically coupling two or more devices include a receptacle connector assembly and a male connector assembly. The receptacle connector assembly includes one or more socket assemblies each having a socket with an at least partially conductive inner surface. The male connector assembly includes one or more plug contacts configured to mate with the sockets. Each of the plug contacts includes a multiplicity of compressible wires joined together at a distal tip such that when the plug contacts are inserted within the sockets, the compressible wires make electrical contact with the at least partially conductive inner surfaces of the sockets.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a receptacle connector assembly comprising one or more socket assemblies each having a socket with an at least partially conductive inner surface;

a male connector assembly comprising one or more plug contacts configured to mate with said sockets; and

a hermetic seal between the receptacle connector assembly and the male connector assembly,

wherein

each of said plug contacts comprises a multiplicity of flexible wires fixedly joined together at a distal tip such that when said plug contacts are within said sockets, said flexible wires make electrical contact with said at least partially conductive inner surfaces of said sockets, and

the hermetic seal is effective to hermetically seal the plug contacts and the sockets with said plug contacts disposed within said sockets.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

each of said plug contacts further comprises a holding sleeve; and

said multiplicity of flexible wires are encompassed within said holding sleeve and thereby joined at their proximal ends.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

each of said socket assemblies further comprises a first overmold surrounding said socket; and

said first overmold comprises a material that has shape memory.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said material of said first overmold comprises silicone.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein:

said first overmold comprises an extended tubular section extending distally beyond a distal end of said socket; and

said extended tubular section is configured to make the hermetic seal between said socket and one of said plug contacts.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein:

said first overmold comprises an extended tubular section extending proximally beyond a proximal end of said socket; and

said extended tubular section is configured to provide strain relief for said socket.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein each of said plug contacts further comprises:

a holding sleeve, wherein said multiplicity of flexible wires are joined at a proximal end to said holding sleeve; and

a second overmold configured to at least partially house said holding sleeve;

wherein said second overmold comprises at least one or more of a plastic material, a thermoplastic material, and a ceramic material.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said first overmold and said second overmold are configured to interact to create the hermetic seal with said receptacle connector assembly and said male connector assembly mated.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said sockets comprise a tapered opening configured to compress said flexible wires of said plug contacts when said plug contacts are inserted into said sockets.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more securing devices figured to prevent said receptacle connector assembly and said male connector assembly from disconnecting.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said one or more securing devices comprises at least one or more of a clip, a suture, a surgical tie, a hook, and an anchor.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the socket assemblies is dimensioned to receive the mating plug contact and, during the insertion of the plug contact into the socket assembly, apply a longitudinal force to the distal tip where the multiplicity of flexible wires are fixedly joined together such that the flexible wires are pressured laterally outward.

13. A male connector assembly configured to mate with a receptacle connector assembly having a collection of socket assemblies each having a socket with an at least partially conductive inner surface and an longitudinally directed inner sealing surface that extends beyond the at least partially conductive inner surface, said male connector assembly comprising:

a collection of longitudinally extending elongate plug contacts, each positioned to mate with a corresponding socket,

wherein each of said plug contacts comprises

a multiplicity of elongate flexible wires joined together at a distal tip such that when said plug contacts are within said sockets, said flexible wires make electrical contact with said at least partially conductive inner surfaces of said sockets, and

a longitudinally directed outer sealing surface disposed proximally of at least a portion of the flexible wires, wherein the outer sealing surface is dimensioned to hermetically seal with said inner sealing surface of said sockets.

14. The male connector assembly of claim 13, wherein:

each of said plug contacts further comprises a conductive holding sleeve; and

said multiplicity of flexible wires are encompassed within said conductive holding sleeve and thereby joined at their proximal ends.

15. The male connector assembly of claim 14, wherein:

each of said plug contacts comprises an overmold configured to at least partially house said holding sleeve;

said overmold comprises said longitudinally directed outer sealing surface; and

said longitudinally directed outer sealing surface comprises at least one or more of a plastic material, a thermoplastic material, and a ceramic material.

16. The male connector assembly of claim 15, wherein said overmold comprises at least one or more of PEEK and Hysol.

17. The male connector assembly of claim 13, further comprising one or more securing devices coupled to said male connector assembly and configured to prevent said male connector assembly and said receptacle connector assembly from disconnecting.

18. The male connector assembly of claim 13, wherein each of the sockets is dimensioned to receive the mating plug contact and, during the insertion of the plug contact into the socket, apply a longitudinal force to the distal tip where the multiplicity of elongate flexible wires are joined together such that the flexible wires are pressured laterally outward.

19. A system comprising:

a male connector assembly comprising an elongate plug having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the plug comprises

a collection of flexible, elongate, longitudinally extending conductive members, and

a joint that fixedly joins the conductive members together,

wherein

the conductive members are curved so that, before insertion, the conductive members curve laterally outward from a first position to return laterally inward to a second position,

the first position, the second position, and the joint are longitudinally arranged along the plug, and

the first position is proximal to both the second position and the joint;

a female receptacle connector assembly that defines a socket with an at least partially conductive inner surface, wherein the socket is dimensioned to receive the plug and, during the insertion of the plug into the socket, apply a longitudinal force to the joint such that the conductive members, in accordance with their curvature, are pressured laterally outward to ensure contact with the inner surface of the socket.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the socket comprises a base that is positioned and dimensioned to block passage of the joint during the insertion and thereby apply the longitudinal force to the plug to pressure the conductive members laterally outward.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the joint is longitudinally displaceable during insertion in response to the longitudinal force applied during insertion.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the joint is disposed at a distal end of the plug.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the plug defines an elongate void in between the conductive members.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the elongate void extends longitudinally at least between the first position and the second position.

25. The system of claim 19, further comprising a hermetic seal between the male connector assembly and the female receptacle connector assembly.

26. The system of claim 19, wherein the second position is positioned at the joint.