Connector assemblies and contacts for implantable medical electrical systems

• US 8,206,180 B1
• Filed: 02/21/2012
• Issued: 06/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Kast, John E., Peters, Charles E., Baade, Michael J., Alexander, James A., Ries, Andrew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US13/400,812
• Publication Number:
  US 20120149254A1
• Time in Patent Office: 126 Days
• Field of Search: 439/668, 439/669, 439/909, 439/830, 439/816, 439/857, 439/856, 607/37, 607/36
• 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 1/3752 Details of casing-lead connections
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/909 Medical use or attached to human body

Abstract

A connector assembly of a medical electrical device includes a plurality of electrical contacts and an insulative base that supports the plurality of electrical contacts and extends between the plurality of electrical contacts and a housing of the device, and, wherein at least one contact of the plurality includes an elongate electrical coupling receptacle in which a first part of a feedthrough member extends, being fixedly coupled thereto. The feedthrough member further includes a second part and a bend, which is located between the first and second parts. The second part of the feedthrough member extends away from the contact and through a port formed in the insulative base adjacent to the contact.

Claims

1. A medical electrical device comprising a housing, electronic circuitry enclosed within the housing, and a connector assembly mounted on the housing, the connector assembly comprising:

a plurality of electrical contacts, each of at least one electrical contact of the plurality of electrical contacts including an elongate electrical coupling receptacle;

an insulative base extending between the plurality of electrical contacts and the housing, supporting the plurality of electrical contacts, and including at least one port extending therethrough, each port being located adjacent a corresponding one of the at least one electrical contact; and

at least one feedthrough member, each of the at least one feedthrough member including a first part, a second part and a bend located between the first and second parts, the first part of each feedthrough member extending within the electrical coupling receptacle of the corresponding one of the at least one electrical contact and being fixedly coupled thereto, and the second part of the feedthrough member extending away from the corresponding electrical contact and through the corresponding port of the insulative base.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one contact of the plurality of electrical contacts further includes a pair of opposing sidewalls extending at an angle away from one another to form the electrical coupling receptacle.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein each of the at least one contact of the plurality of electrical contacts further includes a pair of opposing elongate protrusions, each protrusion extending along a corresponding sidewall of the pair of opposing sidewalk to further form the electrical coupling receptacle.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein:

each of the at least one contact of the plurality of electrical contacts further includes a longitudinal axis, a pair of opposing sidewalls, a first pair of protrusions formed along a first sidewall of the pair of opposing sidewalk, and a second pair of protrusions formed along a second sidewall of the pair of opposing sidewalk, the pair of opposing sidewalk and the first and second pairs of protrusions forming the electrical coupling receptacle;

the electrical coupling receptacle of each of the at least one contact extends approximately parallel to the corresponding longitudinal axis;

each first pair of protrusions are spaced apart from one another a direction approximately orthogonal to the corresponding longitudinal axis; and

each second pair of protrusions are spaced apart from one another in a direction approximately orthogonal to the corresponding longitudinal axis.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one contact of the plurality of electrical contacts further includes a longitudinal axis and a tab extending approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis, each tab including an opening through which the second part of the corresponding feedthrough member extends.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the connector assembly further comprises at least one fastening element, each of the at least one fastening element securing a corresponding one of the at least one electrical contact to the insulative base; and

each of the at least one contact of the plurality of electrical contacts further includes a longitudinal axis and a tab extending approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis, each tab including an opening through which the corresponding fastening element extends.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein:

each of the at least one contact of the plurality of electrical contacts further includes another tab extending approximately parallel to the corresponding longitudinal axis, each other tab including an opening through which the second part of the corresponding feedthrough member extends;

the electrical coupling receptacle of each of the at least one contact extends approximately parallel to the corresponding longitudinal axis; and

the tabs of each of the at least one contact extend from opposite sides of the corresponding electrical coupling receptacle.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the connector assembly further comprises a sealing member, the sealing member having a surface mating with the insulative base, and including at least one aperture; and

each of the at least one contact of the plurality of electrical contacts extends within a corresponding one of the at least one aperture of the sealing member.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one contact of the plurality of electrical contacts comprises two columns of contacts.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the first part of each feedthrough member has a diameter in a range from approximately 0.005 inch to approximately 0.012 inch.