Electrical connector apparatus and methods
First Claim
1. An electrical connector adapted for use with a biomedical sensor of a particular size, said connector comprising:
- a first actuation element having at least one electrically conductive element associated therewith;
a second actuation element, at least a portion of said second actuation element adapted to be mated with said first actuation element, said mating comprising forming at least one feature for receiving at least a portion of said sensor; and
a pivot element adapted to enable said actuation elements to pivot with respect to one another, said pivoting causing an effective diameter of said feature for receiving said at least a portion of said sensor to adjust;
wherein said pivot element is configured to ensure that, upon said pivoting of said actuation elements to a resting position without the presence of the sensor, said effective diameter of said feature is maintained at a pre-set amount corresponding to the particular size of the biomedical sensor.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Size-specific electrical connector apparatus optimized for e.g., biomedical applications, and which prevents mating to the wrong sized terminals. In one embodiment, the connector apparatus comprises a device having a two piece assembly adapted to pivotally engage and lock a sensor such as those used in impedance cardiography (ICG). The conductor is shaped so as to provide a high degree of specificity in sensor connection as well as signal stability and reliability. In one variant, the pivot comprises a spring-loaded pivot having no external stops and the shape of a sensor engaging aperture is defined by a metal insert associated with one element of the assembly and the pivot is permanently formed within the connector. Thus, a user is obstructed from changing the properties of the connector to accept smaller or larger sensors. Methods of manufacturing and operating the connector are also disclosed. In one embodiment, an opening in the metal insert (212) is sized to exclude oversized sensors. In another embodiment, a V-shaped stop (308) on one of the elements (304) acts to limit closure and to prevent a tight grip upon an undersized sensor.
59 Citations
40 Claims
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1. An electrical connector adapted for use with a biomedical sensor of a particular size, said connector comprising:
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a first actuation element having at least one electrically conductive element associated therewith; a second actuation element, at least a portion of said second actuation element adapted to be mated with said first actuation element, said mating comprising forming at least one feature for receiving at least a portion of said sensor; and a pivot element adapted to enable said actuation elements to pivot with respect to one another, said pivoting causing an effective diameter of said feature for receiving said at least a portion of said sensor to adjust; wherein said pivot element is configured to ensure that, upon said pivoting of said actuation elements to a resting position without the presence of the sensor, said effective diameter of said feature is maintained at a pre-set amount corresponding to the particular size of the biomedical sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 40)
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13. An electrical connector adapted to be employed in conjunction with a biomedical sensor comprising at least one terminal composed of a shaft portion and a crown portion disposed at one end of said shaft portion, said crown portion having a greater diameter than said shaft portions, said electrical connector comprising:
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at least first and second body elements adapted to be pivotally mated to one another, the first of said body elements having at least one electrically conductive portion, and said mating of said body elements causing formation of at least two apertures; and at least one spring-loaded pivot element adapted to be received within a first of said apertures and enabling said body elements to pivot with respect to one another, said pivoting of said body elements causing a second of said apertures to be widened and narrowed; wherein said second aperture is adapted to removably receive at least a portion of said sensor therein, said widening of said second aperture enabling said at least a portion of said sensor to be received or removed and said narrowing of said second aperture enabling a sensor received therein to be substantially secured in place due to the first body element engaging primarily the sensor shaft portion and the second body element engaging primarily the sensor crown portion; and wherein modification of one or more components of said connector apparatus causes adjustment of an amount of force required to dislodge said electrical connector from said sensor. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An electrical connector adapted for use with a biomedical sensor comprising at least one terminal composed of a shaft portion and a crown portion disposed at one end of said shaft portion, said crown portion having a greater diameter than said shaft portion, said electrical connector comprising:
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two pivotally mated elements; said first element comprising at least one electrically conductive region adapted to accept at least a portion of said sensor terminal; and said second element comprising at least one terminal confining region, said terminal confining region adapted to substantially maintain a position of said terminal relative said first element via application of force primarily against said crown portion of said terminal; at least one pivot element about which said elements are adapted to pivot; and at least one pivot obstruction feature adapted to impede said pivoting of said elements in at least one direction, said pivot obstruction feature limiting movement of said elements such that they may pivot no more than a distance substantially equal to said diameter of said neck portion of said terminal. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. An electrical connector for use in biomedical applications having at least two terminals each with different diameters, the connector comprising:
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first and second body elements pivotally mated to one another; and a variable-geometry aperture, the geometry of said aperture being controlled at least in part by pivoting of said first and second body elements; wherein said variable-geometry aperture is configured to; (i) allow a first of said terminals having a first diameter to be received within said aperture and confined within the aperture by a terminal confining region of the second body element adapted to substantially maintain a position of said first terminal relative said first body element via application of force primarily against a crown portion of said first terminal; and (ii) prevent a second of said terminals having a second diameter to be received within said aperture; and wherein said first diameter is smaller than said second diameter. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35)
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36. An electrical connector for use in biomedical applications having at least two terminals each with different diameters, the connector comprising:
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first and second body elements pivotally mated to one another; and a variable-geometry aperture, the geometry of said aperture being controlled at least in part by pivoting of said first and second body elements; wherein said variable-geometry aperture is configured to; (i) allow a first of said terminals having a first diameter to be received within said aperture and confined within the aperture by a terminal confining region of the second body element adapted to substantially maintain a position of said first terminal relative said first body element via application of force primarily against a crown portion of said first terminal; and (ii) prevent a second of said terminals having a second diameter to be securely grasped within said aperture; and wherein said first diameter is larger than said second diameter. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39)
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Specification