ECG electrode connector

• US 9,737,226 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2016
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kpr U.S., LLC (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Zhou, David, Yu, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TRUC T
• Application Number:
  US15/230,935
• Publication Number:
  US 20160338610A1
• Time in Patent Office: 379 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0406 specially shaped apparatus housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0412 Low-profile patch shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/12 Manufacturing methods specially adapted for producing sensors for in-vivo measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/17 Comprising radiolucent components
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/227 Sensors with electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/274 using snap or button fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers

Abstract

Disclosed is an ECG electrode lead wire connector which provides improved electrical and mechanical coupling of the ECG electrode press stud to the lead wire and is suitable for use during imaging procedures such as, without limitation, CT scans or MRI. The connector assembly includes a housing having. An engagement member is pivotably disposed within the housing to retain the connector on an ECG electrode fixed to a patient'"'"'s body, an arcuate stiffener is deposed between the engagement member and a pivot member and a radiolucent resilient member configured to bias the engagement member.

Claims

1. A electrocardiogram (ECG) connector, comprising:

a housing defining an opening and a cavity;

an electrode that is disposed on a surface of the opening;

a conductor configured to establish an electrical connection between the electrode and an ECG monitor;

a saddle member that is positioned within the cavity and is offset from a surface of the opening;

a resilient member that is positioned within the cavity and against a surface of the saddle member; and

an engagement member that is positioned within the cavity and configured to rotate about a pivot under force imparted by the resilient member on the engagement member from interaction between the resilient member and the surface of the saddle member to electrically couple the electrode to a patient electrode and secure the patient electrode within the opening when positioned thereto, the pivot being offset from the saddle member within the cavity.

2. The ECG connector of claim 1, wherein the electrode is disposed along a surface of the cavity and in continuity with the surface of the opening.

3. The ECG connector of claim 2, wherein the electrode is fused to a surface of the cavity.

4. The ECG connector of claim 1, wherein the engagement member extends through a slot in the housing.

5. The ECG connector of claim 1, wherein the engagement member comprises a contoured pushbutton.

6. The ECG connector of claim 1, wherein the surface of the saddle member is configured to interact with the resilient member to mechanically load the resilient member to impart the force on the engagement member.

7. An electrocardiogram (ECG) connector assembly, comprising:

a housing defining an opening and a cavity;

a saddle member that is positioned within and is offset from a surface of the cavity; and

an engagement member that is positioned within the cavity and configured to rotate about a pivot under force imparted by a resilient member on the engagement member from interaction between the resilient member and a surface of the saddle member to electrically couple an electrode within the housing to a patient electrode and secure the patient electrode within the opening when the patient electrode is positioned within the opening, the pivot being offset from the saddle member within the cavity.

8. The ECG connector assembly of claim 7, wherein the housing is formed of a non-conductive material.

9. The ECG connector assembly of claim 7, wherein the saddle member is distinct from the engagement member and the resilient member and is formed of a radiolucent non-conductive material.

10. The ECG connector assembly of claim 7, wherein the engagement member is distinct from the saddle member and the resilient member and is formed of a non-conductive material.

11. The ECG connector assembly of claim 7, wherein the resilient member is distinct from the saddle member and the engagement member and is formed of the radiolucent non-conductive material.

12. The ECG connector assembly of claim 7, further comprising:

a conductor configured to establish an electrical connection between the electrode and an ECG monitor, wherein the electrode is disposed along a surface of the opening.

13. The ECG connector assembly of claim 12, wherein the electrode is formed of a radiolucent conductive material.

14. The ECG connector assembly of claim 12, wherein the electrode is formed from a conductive material comprising conductive powder, conductive ink, or conductive fiber wire.

15. The ECG connector assembly of claim 12, wherein the electrode is disposed along a surface of the cavity and in continuity with the surface of the opening.

16. The ECG connector assembly of claim 12, wherein the conductor is formed of a radiolucent conductive material.

17. The ECG connector assembly of claim 12, wherein the conductor is formed of at least one carbon fiber.

18. The ECG connector assembly of claim 12, further comprising a strain relief member that surrounds and engages an insulator coaxially disposed about the conductor.

19. The ECG connector assembly of claim 7, wherein the surface of the saddle member defines an arcuate shape.

20. The ECG connector assembly of claim 7, wherein the resilient member defines a circle shape, a square shape, a triangle shape, a clover shape, or a lobed shape.