Lead connector, lead adapter, and lead insertion apparatus

• US 7,539,542 B1
• Filed: 12/19/2003
• Issued: 05/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Malinowski, Zdzislaw B
• Primary Examiner(s): Evanisko; George R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patton; Amanda
• Application Number:
  US10/741,412
• Time in Patent Office: 1,985 Days
• Field of Search: 607/37, 607/116, 607/119, 439/909
• US Class Current: 607/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3752 Details of casing-lead connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5224 for medical use
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/12 for medicine and surgery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/70 Insulation of connections end caps H01R4/22
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/909 Medical use or attached to human body

Abstract

A connector and adapter engage leads with each other or with an implantable medical device when a wedge is removed from the spring-loaded connector or adapter assembly, thereby permitting the connector or adapter to compress around the lead connector. The connector and adapter assembly may include a body with at least one lumen, at least one contact exposed within the at least one lumen of the body, at least one wire electrically connected to the at least one contact, at least one clamp ring capable of compressing around the body, and at least one wedge or similar tool capable of opening and closing the at least one clamp ring.

Claims

1. A lead adapter, comprising:

a body with two ends, the body having at least one lumen between the two ends, where at least one end of the body is configured for receiving and engaging with a lead having at least one contact;

a niche along an outside surface of the body;

at least one contact along the lumen of the body;

at least one wire, electrically connected to the at least one contact;

a clamp ring configured to nest within the niche, the clamp ring having a slit along its length; and

a wedge configured to removably fit within the slit of the clamp ring;

wherein the clamp ring is configured to compress into a closed position when the wedge is removed from the slit of the clamp ring, said compression being configured to compress the at least one contact along the lumen of the body against the at least one contact of the lead.

2. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the clamp ring is configured to assume an opened position when the wedge is engaged with the slit of the clamp ring, wherein the lead is configured to be removed from the lumen of the body when the claim ring is in the opened position.

3. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the clamp ring defines at least one notch at least one end of the slit of the clamp ring.

4. The adapter of claim 1 further comprising a relief slit along at least a portion of the body.

5. The adapter of claim 4 wherein the relief slit extends along the entire length of the body.

6. A lead adapter, comprising:

a body with first and second ends and having at least one a lumen disposed between the two ends, the first end configured to receive and engage with a first lead and the second end configured to receive and engage with a second lead, the first and second leads each comprising at least one contact;

a first and second niche along an outside surface of the body;

a first and second series of contacts along the lumen of the body, wherein each series comprises at least one contact;

at least one wire, electrically connecting the at least one contact of the first series of contacts with the at least one contact of the second series of contacts;

a first clamp ring configured to nest within the first niche and a second clamp ring configured to nest within the second niche, the first and second clamp rings each including a slit along their lengths;

a first wedge configured to removably fit within the slit of the first clamp ring; and

a second wedge configured to removably fit within the slit of the second clamp ring;

wherein the first clamp ring is configured to compress into a closed position when the first wedge is removed from the slit of the first clamp ring, said compression of said first clamp ring being configured to compress the at least one contact of the first series of contacts against the at least one contact of the first lead; and

wherein the second clamp ring is configured to compress into a closed position when the second wedge is removed from the slit of the second clamp ring, said compression of said second clamp ring being configured to compress the at least one contact of the second series of contacts against the at least one contact of the second lead.

7. The adapter of claim 6 wherein:

the first clamp ring is configured to assume an opened position when the first wedge is engaged with the slit of the first clamp ring;

the second clamp ring is configured to assume an opened position when the second wedge is engaged with the slit of the second clamp ring; and

the first and second leads are configured to be removed from the lumen of the body when the first and second clamp rings are in the opened positions.

8. The adapter of claim 6 wherein the first and second clamp rings each define at least one notch at least one end of the slits along their lengths.

9. The adapter of claim 6 further comprising a relief slit along a portion of the body.

10. The adapter of claim 9 wherein the relief slit extends along the entire length of the body.