Electrical barrier and moisture seal for an implanted medical device
First Claim
1. An electrical connection apparatus comprising:
- (a) at least one stackable block, wherein each stackable block is operably coupleable to another stackable block;
(b) at least one pin receiving portion defined by an inner wall within the at least one stackable block;
(c) at least one electrical connection contact comprising a first portion disposed within the at least one pin receiving portion of the at least one stackable block, the first portion for receiving a pin, and a second portion disposed at a location exterior to the stackable block, wherein the first portion and the second portion integrally form the at least one electrical connection contact; and
(d) a fluid seal arranged in the stackable block adjacent to the electrical connection contact, the fluid seal comprising;
(i) a seal tube defining a pin receiving portion for receiving the pin; and
(ii) a cinch for reducing the diameter of the seal tube around the pin;
wherein when the diameter of the seal tube is reduced around a diameter of the pin, the seal tube fluidly isolates the at least one electrical connection contact associated with one stackable block from another electrical connection contact associated with the another stackable block.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Multiple seals, internal to a connector block, provide for connecting an implantable medical device and an implanted cable or lead. The forces to engage sealing or releasing the seals are derived from a mechanism so they can be relaxed to permit ease of insertion or withdrawal of a lead, or can be increased to tightly seal against fluid migration, and to provide an electrical insulation between adjacent conductors of the lead and connector block. During implant of the medical device, the lead is inserted and a shaft is rotated with a tool to engage the seals. Later, the seals can be released by rotating the control shaft in the opposite direction to allow extraction of the lead from the connector block. The seals therefore are able to provide improved sealing without increasing the insertion or the extraction forces for the lead.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electrical connection apparatus comprising:
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(a) at least one stackable block, wherein each stackable block is operably coupleable to another stackable block; (b) at least one pin receiving portion defined by an inner wall within the at least one stackable block; (c) at least one electrical connection contact comprising a first portion disposed within the at least one pin receiving portion of the at least one stackable block, the first portion for receiving a pin, and a second portion disposed at a location exterior to the stackable block, wherein the first portion and the second portion integrally form the at least one electrical connection contact; and (d) a fluid seal arranged in the stackable block adjacent to the electrical connection contact, the fluid seal comprising; (i) a seal tube defining a pin receiving portion for receiving the pin; and (ii) a cinch for reducing the diameter of the seal tube around the pin; wherein when the diameter of the seal tube is reduced around a diameter of the pin, the seal tube fluidly isolates the at least one electrical connection contact associated with one stackable block from another electrical connection contact associated with the another stackable block. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An electrical connection apparatus comprising:
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(a) a plurality of stackable blocks, wherein each stackable block is operably coupleable to another stackable block; (b) at least one pin receiving portion defined by an inner wall within one of the plurality of stackable blocks; (c) at least one electrical connection contact comprising a first portion disposed within the at least one pin receiving portion of the one stackable block, the first portion for receiving a pin, and a second portion disposed at a location exterior to the one stackable block, wherein the first portion and the second portion integrally form the at least one electrical connection contact; and (d) a fluid seal arranged in another of the plurality of stackable blocks, the fluid seal comprising; (i) a seal tube defining a pin receiving portion for receiving the pin; and (ii) a cinch for reducing the diameter of the seal tube around the pin; wherein when the diameter of the seal tube is reduced around a diameter of the pin, the seal tube fluidly isolates the at least one electrical connection contact associated with the one stackable block from the another stackable block having the fluid seal. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification