Couplings for implanted leads and external stimulators, and associated systems and methods

• US 9,789,321 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2015
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nevro Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nevro Corporation
• Inventors: Dixit, Apratim N., Sharma, Vivek, Walker, Andre B.
• Primary Examiner(s): MAHMOOD, NADIA AHMAD
• Application Number:
  US14/678,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20160287881A1
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 607 2, 607 46, 607117
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3752 Details of casing-lead connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/62905 comprising a camming member H01R13/62933 and H01R13/641 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/12 for medicine and surgery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/58 Contacts spaced along longitudinal axis of engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 35/04 Turnable line connectors with limited rotation angle with frictional contact members

Abstract

Couplings for implanted leads and external stimulators, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A connector in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion pivotably connected to each other. The first housing portion has an elongated fixed stop opening. The second housing portion has a stop element and a plurality of connector contacts positioned to electrically contact a plurality of connection contacts of a spinal cord stimulation lead. The first and second housing portions are pivotably connected to each other to move between a partially-opened position in which the stop element is in a first location in the elongated fixed stop opening, and a closed position in which the stop element has a second location in the elongated fixed stop opening.

Claims

1. A cable assembly for a spinal cord stimulation system, the cable assembly comprising:

an electrical cable having a proximal end and a distal end;

a first connector attached to the proximal end of the cable, the first connector having a plurality of first connector contacts positioned to connect to a spinal cord stimulator; and

a second connector attached to the distal end of the cable, the second connector including;

a first housing portion having a stop opening extending therethrough, and a longitudinally extending slot that is configured to slidably receive a portion of a spinal cord stimulation lead; and

a second housing portion having a stop element received in the stop opening and moveable within the stop opening, a plurality of second connector contacts positioned to electrically contact a plurality of connection contacts of the lead, and a plurality of snap-fit latches to securely carry a surface having second connector contacts,

wherein the first and second housing portions are pivotably connected to each other to move between a partially-opened position, in which the stop element is in a first location within the stop opening, and a closed position in which the stop element is in a second location within the stop opening.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein in the partially-opened position, the connection contacts of the lead disengage from the second connector contacts.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein in the closed position, the connection contacts of the lead engage with the second connector contacts.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein in the partially-opened position, a maximum opening angle between the first and second housing portions of the second connector is between 3°

and 15°

, inclusive.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein in the partially-opened position, a maximum opening angle between the first and second housing portions of the second connector is between 5°

and 8°

, inclusive.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein in the partially-opened position, a maximum opening angle between the first and second housing portions of the second connector is between 6.5°

and 7°

, inclusive.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the stop opening has a dumbbell-shape.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the stop opening has an hourglass-shape.

9. A connector attached to an electrical cable in a patient treatment system for delivering therapy to a patient, the connector comprising:

a first housing portion having a stop opening extending therethrough, and a longtiduinally extending slot that is configured to slidably receive a portion of a spinal cord stimulation lead; and

a second housing portion having a stop element received in the stop opening and moveable within the stop opening, and a plurality of connector contacts positioned to electrically contact a plurality of connection contacts of the lead, and a plurality of snap-fit latches to securely carry a surface having the second connector contacts,

wherein the first and second housing portions are pivotably connected to each other to move between a partially-opened position, in which the stop element is in a first location within the stop opening, and a closed position in which the stop element is in a second location within the stop opening.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein in the partially-opened position, the connection contacts of the lead are disengaged from the connector contacts.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein in the closed position, the connection contacts of the lead are engaged with the connector contacts.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein in the partially-opened position, a maximum opening angle between the first and second housing portions of the connector is between 3°

and 15°

, inclusive.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein in the partially-opened position, a maximum opening angle between the first and second housing portions of the connector is between 5°

and 8°

, inclusive.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein in the partially-opened position, a maximum opening angle between the first and second housing portions of the connector is between 6.5°

and 7°

, inclusive.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the stop opening has a dumbbell-shape.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the stop opening has an hourglass-shape.

17. A connector for an electrical cable in a spinal cord stimulation system, the connector comprising:

a first housing having an elongated stop opening extending therethrough; and

a second housing having

a stop element received in the elongated stop opening and moveable within the stop opening,

a plurality of connector contacts positioned to electrically contact connection contacts of a lead, and

a plurality of snap-fit latches positioned to secure a support member carrying the connector contacts;

wherein the first and second housings are movable relative to each other between a partially-opened position, in which the stop element is in a first location within the elongated stop opening, and a closed position in which the stop element is in a second location within the elongated stop opening.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein in the partially-opened position, the connection contacts of the lead are disengaged from the connector contacts.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein in the closed position, the connection contacts of the lead are engaged with the connector contacts.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein in the partially-opened position, a maximum opening angle between the first and second housing portions of the connector is between 3°

and 15°

, inclusive.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein in the partially-opened position, a maximum opening angle between the first and second housing portions of the connector is between 5°

and 8°

, inclusive.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein in the partially-opened position, a maximum opening angle between the first and second housing portions of the connector is between 6.5°

and 7°

, inclusive.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the elongated stop opening has a dumbbell-shape.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein the elongated stop opening has an hourglass-shape.