Electrical connection apparatus

• US 8,187,015 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2011
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deringer-Ney, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Deringer-Ney, Inc.
• Inventors: Boyd, Garth W., Engel, Aaron, Dubuc, Dana, Smith, Edward F. III, Poppy, Michael E., Grant, Michael E.
• Primary Examiner(s): HYEON, HAE M
• Application Number:
  US13/034,044
• Publication Number:
  US 20110151698A1
• Time in Patent Office: 460 Days
• Field of Search: 439/263, 439/262, 439/265, 439/717, 439/712, 439/711, 439/721, 439/725, 607/37
• US Class Current: 439/263
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/514 composed as a modular blocks or assembly, i.e. composed of co-operating parts provided with contact members or holding contact members between them
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5219 Sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5224 for medical use
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/717 with built-in light source
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

An electrical connection apparatus includes an electrical connection contact and an adjustment component within an interior of the electrical connection apparatus. The electrical connection contact is operatively coupled to the adjustment component so that the electrical connection contact adjusts between an insertion position and a contact position in response to rotating the adjustment component. A slider movably arranged within the interior of the electrical connection apparatus causes the electrical connection contact to move in response to rotation of the adjustment component. The electrical connection apparatus includes one or more blocks, and the adjustment component, electrical contact and slider are arranged within an interior of the one or more blocks.

Claims

1. An electrical connection apparatus comprising a plurality of stackable blocks coupled to each other with an electrical connection contact and an adjustment component arranged in an interior of the coupled stackable blocks, wherein the electrical connection contact is operatively coupled to the adjustment component such that the electrical connection contact adjusts between an insertion position and a contact position in response to rotating the adjustment component, wherein at least one of the plurality of stackable blocks comprises an internal wall defining an opening configured to receive the adjustment component, and wherein the adjustment component is arranged rotatably within the opening.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical connection contact comprises a lead portion disposed at an exterior of the electrical connection apparatus, said lead portion electrically coupled a portion of the electrical connection contact arranged in the interior of the coupled stackable blocks.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adjustment component is configured to be operably coupled to an adjacent adjustment component.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a seal component arranged between the plurality of stackable blocks.

5. A method of electrically connecting a medical device to an electrode, comprising:

providing a connection device comprising a plurality of stackable blocks coupled to each other with an electrical connection contact and an adjustment component arranged in an interior of the coupled stackable blocks, wherein the electrical connection contact is operatively coupled to the adjustment component such that the electrical connection contact adjusts between an insertion position and a contact position in response to rotating the adjustment component;

inserting a pin into the electrical connection contact in the pin insertion position, said pin electrically coupled to the medical device or the electrode;

electrically coupling lead portions of the electrical connection contact disposed at an exterior of the connection device to the other of the medical device or the electrode; and

rotating the adjustment component to cause the electrical connection contact to move from the pin insertion position to the contact position.

6. A method of assembling an electrical connection apparatus, comprising:

providing a plurality of stackable blocks, each of the stackable blocks comprising at least one electrical connection contact, wherein the at least one electrical connection contact comprises a first portion disposed within an interior of the stackable block and a second portion extending to an exterior of the stackable block;

coupling an adjustment component arranged within the plurality of stackable blocks to the one or more electrical connection contacts;

connecting the plurality of stackable blocks such that the first portions align and form a passageway for receiving a pin, and the adjustment component is rotatably arranged within the plurality of stackable blocks and actuates to move the first portions in and out of contact with the pin.

7. An electrical connection apparatus comprising at least one block, the at least one block comprising a plurality of electrical connection contacts, an adjustment component, and a slider operatively coupling the electrical connection contacts to the adjustment component, wherein the electrical connection contacts comprise a contact portion arranged in the interior of the at least one block, said contact portion coupled to the slider such that the slider moves the contact portion between an insertion position and a contact position upon actuating the slider, and a rotational movement of the adjustment component causes the slider to actuate, and wherein the electrical connection contacts comprise a lead portion disposed at an exterior of the electrical connection apparatus, said lead portion electrically coupled to the contact portion.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein in the insertion position, the contact portion receives a pin, and upon moving to the contact position, the electrical connection contacts are electrically coupled to the pin.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein upon moving to the contact position, the contact portions secure the pin to the electrical connection apparatus.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein upon moving from the contact position to the insertion position, the pin is removable from the electrical connection apparatus.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the slider moves transversely relative to a rotational axis of the adjustment component in response to the rotational movement of the adjustment component.

12. A method of electrically connecting a medical device to an electrode, comprising:

providing a connection device comprising at least one block, a plurality of electrical connection contacts, a rotatable adjustment component, and a slider operatively coupling the electrical connection contacts to the adjustment component, wherein the electrical connection contacts comprise a contact portion arranged in an interior of the connection device, said contact portion movable between an insertion position and a contact position;

inserting a pin into the contact portions, said pin electrically coupled to the medical device or the electrode;

electrically coupling lead portions of the electrical connection contacts disposed at an exterior of the connection device to the other of the medical device or the electrode; and

rotating the adjustment component to cause the slider to actuate and cause the contact portions to move from the insertion position to the contact position.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein rotating the adjustment component causes the slider to actuate by the slider moving transversely relative to a rotational axis of the adjustment component.

14. A method of assembling an electrical connection apparatus, comprising:

providing a plurality of stackable blocks, each of the stackable blocks comprising an electrical connection contact, the electrical connection contact comprising a first portion disposed within an interior of the stackable block and a second portion extending to an exterior of the stackable block;

coupling a slider to the first portion of one or more of the electrical connection contacts;

coupling an adjustment component to the slider; and

connecting the plurality of stackable blocks to provide the electrical connection apparatus, wherein the first portions of the electrical connection contacts align to provide a passageway for receiving a pin, and the slider is movably arranged within the plurality of stackable blocks to move the first portions in and out of contact with the pin in response to rotation of the adjustment component.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising securing the plurality of connected stackable blocks by coupling an external clip to terminal ends of the electrical connection apparatus.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising securing the plurality of connected stackable blocks by inserting a bolt through the plurality of stackable blocks.