Implantable electrical stimulation systems with leaf spring connective contacts and methods of making and using

• US 7,803,021 B1
• Filed: 07/21/2008
• Issued: 09/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Brase, Randall Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Gushi; Ross N
• Application Number:
  US12/177,056
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 439/851, 439/843, 439/668, 439/909
• US Class Current: 439/668
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/187 with spring member in the socket
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/12 for medicine and surgery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/58 Contacts spaced along longitudinal axis of engagement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/909 Medical use or attached to human body

Abstract

An implantable control module of an electrical stimulation system includes a housing, an electronic subassembly disposed in the housing, and a plurality of conductors. The housing defines a connector receptacle configured and arranged to receive a proximal end of a lead. The housing further defines, within the connector receptacle region, a plurality of spaced-apart leaf spring connective contacts. Each leaf spring connective contact is corrugated and wrapped around at least a portion of an inner surface of the connector receptacle. Each conductor couples the electronic subassembly with at least one of the leaf spring connective contacts.

Claims

1. An implantable control module of an electrical stimulation system, the implantable control module comprising:

a housing defining a connector receptacle configured and arranged to receive a proximal end of a lead, the housing further defining within the connector receptacle region a plurality of spaced-apart leaf spring connective contacts, each leaf spring connective contact comprising an elongated body having a first end and an opposing second end, the leaf spring connective contact wrapped around at least a portion of an inner surface of the connector receptacle such that the first end and the second end overlap one another, wherein the connective contact is corrugated such that the connective contact comprises a plurality of alternating ridges and grooves;

an electronic subassembly disposed in the housing; and

a plurality of conductors, each conductor coupling the electronic subassembly with at least one of the leaf spring connective contacts.

2. The implantable control module of claim 1, wherein the ridges are configured and arranged to contact the proximal end of the lead when the proximal end of the lead is inserted in the connector receptacle and the grooves are configured and arranged to contact an inner surface of the connector receptacle.

3. The implantable control module of claim 1, wherein the connector receptacle further defines at least one connection port, at least one of the conductors extending through the at least one connection port.

4. The implantable control module of claim 1, wherein the connector receptacle further comprises a plurality of a connector pockets, and wherein at least one of the leaf spring connective contacts is disposed in each of the connector pockets.

5. The implantable control module of claim 1, wherein at least one of the leaf spring connective contacts has a lateral length that includes a ridge or a groove extending across the entire lateral length of the at least one leaf spring connective contact.

6. The implantable control module of claim 5, wherein the ridge or groove extending across the entire lateral length of the at least one leaf spring connective contact extends longitudinally along substantially entirely the length of the at least one leaf spring connective contact.

7. The implantable control module of claim 5, wherein the ridge or groove extending across the entire lateral length of the at least one leaf spring connective contact extends across the second end of the at least one leaf spring connective contact.

8. The implantable control module of claim 1, wherein the first end of the leaf spring connective contact is flat.

9. The implantable control module of claim 1, wherein the first end of at least one of the plurality of leaf spring connective contacts is coupled to the inner surface of the connector receptacle.

10. The implantable control module of claim 1, wherein at least one of the grooves of at least one of the plurality of leaf spring connective contacts is coupled to the inner surface of the connector receptacle.

11. The implantable control module of claim 1, wherein at least one of the leaf spring connective contacts further comprises at least one substantially flat portion disposed between one of the alternating ridges and grooves.

12. An electrical stimulating system comprising:

the implantable control module of claim 1; and

a lead having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of the lead is configured and arranged for insertion into the connector receptacle of the implantable control module, the lead comprising

a plurality of electrodes disposed on the distal end of the lead,

a plurality of contact terminals disposed on the proximal end of the lead, and

a plurality of conductor wires extending along the lead to couple the electrodes electrically to the contact terminals.

13. The electrical stimulation system of claim 12, wherein the connector receptacle is configured and arranged to sandwich at least one of the leaf spring conductive contacts between an inner surface of the connector receptacle and the proximal end of the lead when the proximal end of the lead is inserted into the connector receptacle.

14. The electrical stimulation system of claim 12, wherein the connector receptacle further defines at least one connection port, at least one conductor extending through the at least one connection port.

15. The electrical stimulation system of claim 12, wherein the connector receptacle further comprises a plurality of a connector pockets, and wherein at least one of the leaf spring connective contacts is disposed in each of the connector pockets.

16. An implantable control module of an electrical stimulation system, the implantable control module comprising:

a housing defining a connector receptacle configured and arranged to receive a proximal end of a lead, the housing further defining within the connector receptacle region a plurality of spaced-apart leaf spring connective contacts, each leaf spring connective contact being corrugated and wrapped around at least a portion of an inner surface of the connector receptacle;

an electronic subassembly disposed in the housing; and

a plurality of conductors, each conductor coupling the electronic subassembly with at least one of the leaf spring connective contacts, wherein the leaf spring connective contacts are welded to at least one of the conductors.

17. A method for stimulating patient tissue, the method comprising:

implanting a lead into a patient, the lead comprising a plurality of electrodes disposed on a distal end of the lead and electrically coupled to at least one contact terminal disposed on a proximal end of the lead;

disposing the proximal end of the lead into a connector comprising a plurality of leaf spring connective contacts coupled electrically to a control module, at least one leaf spring connective contact configured and arranged to couple electrically with at least one contact terminal, each leaf spring connective contact comprising an elongated body having a first end and an opposing second end, the leaf spring connective contact wrapped around at least a portion of an inner surface of the connector receptacle such that the first end and the second end overlap one another, wherein the connective contact is corrugated such that the connective contact comprises a plurality of alternating ridges and grooves; and

providing electrical signals from the control module to electrically stimulate patient tissue using at least one of the electrodes.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein disposing the proximal end of the lead into the connector comprises the connector being disposed in the control module.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein disposing the proximal end of the lead into the connector comprises the connector being disposed in a lead extension, the lead extension configured and arranged to couple electrically to the control module.

20. An implantable lead extension of an electrical stimulation system, the implantable lead extension comprising:

a housing disposed at a distal end of the lead extension, the housing defining a connector receptacle configured and arranged to receive a proximal end of a lead, the housing further defining within the connector receptacle region a plurality of spaced-apart leaf spring connective contacts, each leaf spring connective contact comprising an elongated body having a first end and an opposing second end, the leaf spring connective contact wrapped around at least a portion of an inner surface of the connector receptacle such that the first end and the second end overlap one another, wherein the connective contact is corrugated such that the connective contact comprises a plurality of alternating ridges and grooves;

a plurality of terminal contacts disposed at a proximal end of the lead extension; and

a plurality of conductors, each conductor coupling at least one of the leaf spring connective contacts with at least one of the terminal contacts.

21. The electrical stimulation system of claim 20, wherein the proximal end of the lead extension is configured and arranged to couple to a control module.