Implantable neurostimulator adapters

• US 7,563,141 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2007
• Issued: 07/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: van Venrooij, Paulus C., Alexander, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams; Neil
• Application Number:
  US11/684,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20080208302A1
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 439/668, 439/669, 439/638, 607/36, 607/37, 607/38
• US Class Current: 439/669
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3752 Details of casing-lead connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/12 for medicine and surgery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94

Abstract

An adapter for coupling a pair of implantable neurostimulator lead extensions to a connector port of a neurostimulator device includes an elongate body, a connector including eight contacts coupled to a first end of the elongate body, and a housing, which includes two pairs of ports, coupled to a second end of the elongate body. A first pair of ports has openings located on a first face of the housing, and a second pair of ports has openings located on a second face of the housing, wherein the first face is opposite the second face. The adapter connector contacts provide for electrical coupling within the device port, and openings of each of the pairs of adapter housing ports are arranged to receive insertion of side-by-side connector terminals of a plug of each lead extension for electrical coupling within the ports.

Claims

1. An adapter for coupling a pair of implantable neurostimulator lead extension plugs to a connector port of a neurostimulator device;

each plug of the pair of plugs including first and second connector terminals extending side-by-side;

each of the first and second connector terminals of each plug including a terminal pin contact and a contact surface spaced apart from the pin contact along a length of the corresponding connector terminal;

the adapter comprising;

an elongate body and eight elongate conductors extending therein;

a connector coupled to a first end of the elongate body, the connector including eight contacts, each of the eight connector contacts for electrical coupling with a corresponding device contact mounted within the connector port of the device, and each of the eight connector contacts coupled to a corresponding conductor of the eight elongate conductors; and

a housing coupled to a second end of the elongate body, the housing including a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a first face extending between the first and second sidewalls, a second face, opposite the first face, extending between the first and second sidewalls, a first pair of housing ports and a second pair of housing ports;

wherein each port of the first and second pairs of housing ports includes a first housing contact and a second housing contact, each of the first and second housing contacts coupled to a corresponding connector contact via the corresponding conductor extending from the elongate body and into the housing;

each port of the first pair of housing ports has an opening located on the first housing face and each port of the second pair of housing ports has an opening located on the second housing face; and

the port openings of each pair of ports provides for insertion of the connector terminals of one of the pair of extension plugs therein for electrical coupling of the pin contact of each plug connector terminal with the corresponding first housing contact, and electrical coupling of the contact surface of each plug connector terminal with the corresponding second housing contact.

2. The adapter of claim 1, wherein each port of the first and second pairs of housing ports includes a longitudinal axis, and all the longitudinal axes are approximately co-planar.

3. The adapter of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second housing faces includes a first portion, on which the corresponding pair of port openings is located, and a second portion receding from the first portion at an angle greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees.

4. The adapter of claim 3, wherein the elongate body extends from the housing at a location between the first and second portions of one of the at least one of the first and second housing faces.

5. The adapter of claim 3, wherein the elongate body extends from the housing at a location along the second portion of one of the at least one of the first and second housing faces.

6. The adapter of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second housing faces includes a first portion, on which the corresponding pair of port openings is located, and a second portion projecting out from the first portion at an angle of approximately 90 degrees.

7. The adapter of claim 6, wherein the at least one of the first and second housing faces further includes a third portion receding from the second portion at an angle greater than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees.

8. The adapter of claim 7, wherein the elongate body extends from the housing at a location along the third portion of one of the at least one of the first and second housing faces.

9. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the eight connector contacts are spaced apart from one another along a length of the connector.

10. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the elongate body has a length between approximately 10 centimeters and approximately 20 centimeters.

11. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the elongate body has a length greater than approximately 40 centimeters.

12. The adapter of claim 1, wherein a maximum thickness between the first and second housing sidewalls is no greater than approximately 0.3 inch.

13. The adapter of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second housing sidewalls has a relatively flat outer surface extending alongside all of the housing ports.

14. The adapter of claim 1, wherein:

the first housing contact of a first port of the first pair of housing ports comprises a set screw mounted in a set screw block;

the second housing face includes a first portion, on which the second pair of port openings is located, and a second portion receding from the first portion at an angle greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees; and

the housing further includes an access port for the set screw, the access port located on the second portion of the second housing face.

15. The adapter of claim 14, wherein:

the first housing contact of a first port of the second pair of housing ports comprises another set screw mounted in another set screw block;

the first housing face includes a first portion, on which the first pair of port openings is located, and a second portion receding from the first portion of the first housing face at an angle greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees; and

the housing further includes another access port for the other set screw, the other access port located on the second portion of the first housing face.

16. The adapter of claim 1, wherein:

the first housing contact of a first port of the first pair of housing ports comprises a set screw mounted in a set screw block;

the housing further includes a third face extending between the first and second sidewalls and the first and second housing faces, and an access port, for the set screw, located on the third housing face.

17. The adapter of claim 16, wherein:

the first housing contact of a first port of the second pair of housing ports comprises another set screw mounted in another set screw block;

the housing further includes a fourth face, opposite the third housing face, extending between the first and second housing sidewalls and the first and second housing faces, and another access port, for the other set screw, located on the fourth housing face.

18. The adapter of claim 1, wherein:

the first housing contact of each port of the first and second pairs of housing ports comprises a set screw mounted in a set screw block;

the housing further includes an access port for each of the set screws; and

none of the access ports are located along either sidewall of the housing.

19. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the first housing contact of a first port of the first pair of housing ports comprises a set screw mounted in a set screw block, and a shaft of the mounted set screw extends at an angle greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees with respect to the first housing face.

20. The adapter of claim 19, wherein the first housing contact of a first port of the second pair of housing ports comprises another set screw mounted in another set screw block, and a shaft of the other set screw extends at an angle greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees with respect to the second housing face.

21. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the housing further includes a hole extending therethrough from the first sidewall to the second sidewall.

22. The adapter of claim 21, wherein the hole is lined with a reinforcing material.

23. An extension system for coupling an implantable neurostimulator lead to a connector port of a neurostimulator device, the system comprising:

a lead extension including an elongate body, a connector port, coupled to a first end of the elongate body, for receiving a connector terminal of the neurostimulator lead, and an extension plug coupled to a second end of the elongate body, the extension plug including first and second connector terminals extending side-by-side;

each of the first and second plug connector terminals including a terminal pin contact and a contact surface spaced apart from the pin contact along a length of the corresponding plug connector terminal; and

an adapter comprising;

an elongate body and eight elongate conductors extending therein;

a connector coupled to a first end of the elongate body, the connector including eight contacts, each of the eight connector contacts for electrical coupling with a corresponding device contact mounted within the connector port of the device, and each of the eight connector contacts coupled to a corresponding conductor of the eight elongate conductors; and

a housing coupled to a second end of the elongate body, the housing including a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a first face extending between the first and second sidewalls, a second face, opposite the first face, extending between the first and second sidewalls, a first pair of housing ports and a second pair of housing ports;

wherein each port of the first and second pairs of housing ports includes a first housing contact and a second housing contact, each of the first and second housing contacts coupled to a corresponding connector contact via the corresponding conductor extending from the elongate body and into the housing;

each port of the first pair of housing ports has an opening located on the first housing face and each port of the second pair of housing ports has an opening located on the second housing face; and

the port openings of each pair of ports provides for insertion of the connector terminals of one of the pair of extension plugs therein for electrical coupling of the pin contact of each plug connector terminal with the corresponding first housing contact, and electrical coupling of the contact surface of each plug connector terminal with the corresponding second housing contact.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein each port of the first and second pairs of adapter housing ports includes a longitudinal axis, and all the longitudinal axes are approximately co-planar.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein at least one of the first and second adapter housing faces includes a first portion, on which the corresponding pair of port openings is located, and a second portion receding from the first portion at an angle greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the elongate body of the adapter extends from the adapter housing at a location between the first and second portions of one of the at least one of the first and second housing faces.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the elongate body of the adapter extends from the adapter housing at a location along the second portion of one of the at least one of the first and second housing faces.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein at least one of the first and second housing faces includes a first portion, on which the corresponding pair of port openings is located, and a second portion projecting out from the first portion at an angle of approximately 90 degrees.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the at least one of the first and second adapter housing faces further includes a third portion receding from the second portion at an angle greater than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees.

30. The adapter of claim 29, wherein the elongate body of the adapter extends from the adapter housing at a location along the third portion of one of the at least one of the first and second housing faces.

31. The system of claim 23, wherein the eight connector contacts of the adapter are spaced apart from one another along a length of the adapter connector.

32. The system of claim 23, wherein the elongate body of the adapter has a length between approximately 10 centimeters and approximately 20 centimeters.

33. The system of claim 23, wherein the elongate body of the adapter has a length greater than approximately 40 centimeters.

34. The system of claim 23, wherein a maximum thickness between the first and second adapter housing sidewalls is no greater than approximately 0.3 inch.

35. The system of claim 23, wherein at least one of the first and second adapter housing sidewalls has a relatively flat outer surface extending alongside all of the housing ports.

36. The system of claim 23, wherein:

the first housing contact of a first port of the first pair of adapter housing ports comprises a set screw mounted in a set screw block;

the second adapter housing face includes a first portion, on which the second pair of port openings is located, and a second portion receding from the first portion at an angle greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees; and

the adapter housing further includes an access port for the set screw, the access port located on the second portion of the second housing face.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein:

the first housing contact of a first port of the second pair of adapter housing ports comprises another set screw mounted in another set screw block;

the first adapter housing face includes a first portion, on which the first pair of port openings is located, and a second portion receding from the first portion of the first housing face at an angle greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees; and

the adapter housing further includes another access port for the other set screw, the other access port located on the second portion of the first housing face.

38. The system of claim 23, wherein:

the first housing contact of a first port of the first pair of adapter housing ports comprises a set screw mounted in a set screw block;

the adapter housing further includes a third face extending between the first and second housing sidewalls and the first and second housing faces, and an access port, for the set screw, located on the third housing face.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein:

the first housing contact of a first port of the second pair of adapter housing ports comprises another set screw mounted in another set screw block;

the adapter housing further includes a fourth face, opposite the third housing face, extending between the first and second sidewalls and the first and second faces, and another access port, for the other set screw, located on the fourth housing face.

40. The system of claim 23, wherein:

the first housing contact of each port of the first and second pairs of adapter housing ports comprises a set screw mounted in a set screw block;

the adapter housing further includes an access port for each of the set screws; and

none of the access ports are located along either sidewall of the adapter housing.

41. The system of claim 23, wherein the first housing contact of a first port of the first pair of adapter housing ports comprises a set screw mounted in a set screw block, and a shaft of the mounted set screw extends at an angle greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees with respect to the first housing face of the adapter.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the first housing contact of a first port of the second pair of adapter housing ports comprises another set screw mounted in another set screw block, and a shaft of the other set screw extends at an angle greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees with respect to the second housing face of the adapter.

43. The system of claim 23, wherein the adapter housing further includes a hole extending therethrough from the first sidewall to the second sidewall.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the hole is lined with a reinforcing material.