Method of assembling an in-line connector terminal
First Claim
1. A method for assembling an in-line connector terminal to complete construction of an implantable medical electrical lead, the lead including an elongate insulative body, a plurality of elongate peripheral conductors, and a plurality of electrodes, each conductor extending within the body and having a proximal portion extending out from a proximal end of the body, each electrode being mounted to a distal portion of the elongate body, each of the of the plurality of electrodes being coupled to a corresponding conductor of the plurality of peripheral conductors, and the method comprising:
- coupling each of a plurality of conductive sleeves to the proximal portion of the corresponding conductor of the plurality of peripheral conductors such that each conductive sleeve is in conductive contact with the corresponding peripheral conductor and a first length exists between the coupled conductive sleeve of a first conductor of the plurality of peripheral conductors and the proximal end of the elongate body of the lead, and a second length exists between the coupled conductive sleeve of a second conductor of the plurality of peripheral conductors and the proximal end of the elongate body, the second length being greater than the first length;
mounting a plurality of contact members and a corresponding plurality of insulator members onto a strut member such that each insulator member is positioned adjacent to a corresponding contact member of the plurality of contact members, the strut member including a lumen that defines a central longitudinal axis of the in-line connector;
forming a junction between the coupled conductive sleeve of each conductor and the corresponding mounted contact member such that the proximal portion of each conductor extends along the strut member and across a gap between the proximal end of the elongate body of the lead and a distal end of the strut member;
positioning the proximal portion of each of the conductors in a helical path between the proximal end of the elongate body and the distal end of the strut member; and
forming a grip zone around the proximal portions of the conductors, between the proximal end of the elongate body and the distal end of the strut member.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable medical electrical lead includes a plurality of conductors that extend continuously, without any intermediary junctions, between a plurality of electrodes and a corresponding plurality of contact members of an in-line connector terminal. A junction between each conductor and the corresponding contact member is preferably formed by first fitting a conductive sleeve, which is coupled to a proximal portion of the conductor, into an eyelet feature of the contact member, which is mounted on a strut member, and then welding the sleeve to the contact member at a pre-formed slot of the contact member, which extends along an external recessed surface thereof. The assembly of the connector terminal preferably completes the construction of the lead, wherein the proximal portion of each conductor is positioned in a helical path, which extends between an elongate body of the lead and the connector terminal, and along which a grip zone is formed.
23 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method for assembling an in-line connector terminal to complete construction of an implantable medical electrical lead, the lead including an elongate insulative body, a plurality of elongate peripheral conductors, and a plurality of electrodes, each conductor extending within the body and having a proximal portion extending out from a proximal end of the body, each electrode being mounted to a distal portion of the elongate body, each of the of the plurality of electrodes being coupled to a corresponding conductor of the plurality of peripheral conductors, and the method comprising:
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coupling each of a plurality of conductive sleeves to the proximal portion of the corresponding conductor of the plurality of peripheral conductors such that each conductive sleeve is in conductive contact with the corresponding peripheral conductor and a first length exists between the coupled conductive sleeve of a first conductor of the plurality of peripheral conductors and the proximal end of the elongate body of the lead, and a second length exists between the coupled conductive sleeve of a second conductor of the plurality of peripheral conductors and the proximal end of the elongate body, the second length being greater than the first length; mounting a plurality of contact members and a corresponding plurality of insulator members onto a strut member such that each insulator member is positioned adjacent to a corresponding contact member of the plurality of contact members, the strut member including a lumen that defines a central longitudinal axis of the in-line connector; forming a junction between the coupled conductive sleeve of each conductor and the corresponding mounted contact member such that the proximal portion of each conductor extends along the strut member and across a gap between the proximal end of the elongate body of the lead and a distal end of the strut member; positioning the proximal portion of each of the conductors in a helical path between the proximal end of the elongate body and the distal end of the strut member; and forming a grip zone around the proximal portions of the conductors, between the proximal end of the elongate body and the distal end of the strut member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10)
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6. A method for assembling an in-line connector terminal to complete construction of an implantable medical electrical lead, the lead including an elongate insulative body, a plurality of elongate peripheral conductors, and a plurality of electrodes, each conductor extending within the body and having a proximal portion extending out from a proximal end of the body, each electrode being mounted to a distal portion of the elongate body, each of the of the plurality of electrodes being coupled to a corresponding conductor of the plurality of peripheral conductors, and the method comprising:
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coupling each of a plurality of conductive sleeves to the proximal portion of the corresponding conductor of the plurality of peripheral conductors such that each conductive sleeve is in conductive contact with the corresponding peripheral conductor and a first length exists between the coupled conductive sleeve of a first conductor of the plurality of peripheral conductors and the proximal end of the elongate body of the lead, and a second length exists between the coupled conductive sleeve of a second conductor of the plurality of peripheral conductors and the proximal end of the elongate body, the second length being greater than the first length; mounting a plurality of contact members and a corresponding plurality of insulator members onto a strut member such that each insulator member is positioned adjacent to a corresponding contact member of the plurality of contact members, the strut member including a lumen that defines a central longitudinal axis of the in-line connector; forming a junction between the coupled conductive sleeve of each conductor and the corresponding mounted contact member such that the proximal portion of each conductor extends along the strut member and across a gap between the proximal end of the elongate body of the lead and a distal end of the strut member; positioning the proximal portion of each of the conductors in a helical path between the proximal end of the elongate body and the distal end of the strut member; and forming a grip zone around the proximal portions of the conductors, between the proximal end of the elongate body and the distal end of the strut member; and wherein positioning the proximal portion of each of the conductors of the plurality of peripheral conductors in the helical path is performed after mounting the plurality of contact members and insulator members onto the strut member and forming the junctions between the coupled conductive sleeves and mounted contact members, and comprises; securing the strut member to a first support member of a fixture, the first support member being mounted to the fixture for rotation thereof about an axis that is substantially aligned with the central longitudinal axis of the in-line connector; securing the lead body to a second support member of the fixture, in proximity to the proximal end thereof; and rotating the first support member a predetermined number of degrees to move the proximal portions of the conductors into the helical path; wherein the second support member is adapted to move, in a linear fashion, toward the first support member, as the first support member is rotated. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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Specification