Adaptor

• US 9,968,772 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2014
• Issued: 05/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Kockx, Franciscus Nicolaas, Hendrikx, Johan Anton, Harvey, Severin Luc Ramses
• Primary Examiner(s): Leon, Edwin A.
• Application Number:
  US14/894,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20160121098A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,454 Days
• Field of Search: 439 38- 39, 439909, 607115
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/274 using snap or button fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/506 assembled by snap action of the parts

Abstract

There is provided an adaptor for forming an electrical connection between a medical device having a first type of connector and an electrode having a second type of connector. The adaptor has a first connecting part shaped to cooperate with a corresponding connecting part on one of the medical device and the electrode so as to form a mechanical and electrical connection therebetween. The adaptor further has a second connecting part having a portion of magnetic or ferromagnetic material arranged to be magnetically attracted to a corresponding magnet or portion of ferromagnetic material included in a magnetic connector part on the other of the medical device and the electrode, so as to form a magnetic and electrical connection therebetween. The first connecting part is electrically connected to the second connecting part.

Claims

1. An adaptor for forming an electrical connection between a medical device having a first type of connector and an electrode having a second type of connector, the adaptor comprising:

a first connecting part shaped to cooperate with a corresponding connecting part on one of the medical device and the electrode so as to form a mechanical and electrical connection therebetween; and

a second connecting part comprising a portion of magnetic or ferromagnetic material arranged to be magnetically attracted to a corresponding magnet or portion of ferromagnetic material comprised in a magnetic connector part on the other of the medical device and the electrode, so as to form a magnetic and electrical connection therebetween;

wherein the first connecting part is electrically connected to the second connecting part.

2. An adaptor according to claim 1, wherein the first connecting part is shaped so as to form a snap connection with the corresponding connecting part.

3. An adaptor according to claim 2, wherein the first connecting part comprises a surface having a recess, wherein the recess is shaped to resist the removal from the recess of a protrusion, on the corresponding connecting part.

4. An adaptor according to claim 2, wherein the recess is circular and comprises a spiral spring disposed on its circumference, wherein the spiral spring is biased into a configuration in which the circumference of the spiral spring is less than the maximum circumference of the recess.

5. An adaptor according to claim 1, wherein the second connecting part comprises a target having a connection surface configured to about a corresponding connection surface on the magnetic connector part.

6. An adaptor according to claim 5, wherein the target is at least partially formed from a ferromagnetic material.

7. An adaptor according to claim 5, wherein the connection surface comprises a protrusion extending from the connection surface, the protrusion being configured to be received within a recess on the corresponding connection surface on the magnetic connector part.

8. An adapter according to claim 1, wherein the first connecting part is formed integrally with the second connecting part.

9. An electrode assembly comprising:

an electrode configured to form a mechanical connection with a medical device; and

an adaptor including

a first connecting part shaped to cooperate with corresponding connecting part on one of the medical device and the electrode so as to form a mechanical and electrical connection therebetween, and

a second connecting part comprising a portion of magnetic or ferromagnetic material arrange to be magnetically attracted to a corresponding magnet or portion of ferromagnetic material comprised in a magnetic connector part on the other of the medical device and the electrode, so as to form a magnetic and electrical connection therebetween,

wherein the first connecting part is electrically connected to the second connecting part.

10. A connector assembly for forming an electrical connection between a medical device and an electrode, the connector assembly comprising:

an adaptor including a first connecting part and a second connecting part,

wherein the first connecting part is electrically connected to the second connecting part;

wherein the medical device includes one of

i. a magnetic connector part arranged to be magnetically attracted to the portion of magnetic or ferromagnetic material in the second connecting part of the adaptor, or

ii. a mechanical connector part shaped to cooperate with the first connecting part of the adaptor; and

wherein the electrode includes the corresponding other of

i. the mechanical connector part shaped to cooperate with the first connecting part of the adaptor, or

ii. the magnetic connector part arranged to be magnetically attracted to the portion of magnetic or ferromagnetic material in the second connecting part of the adaptor.

11. A connector assembly according to claim 10, wherein the magnetic connector part comprises a magnet and the second connecting part comprises a portion of ferromagnetic material.

12. A connector assembly according to claim 10, wherein the mechanical connector part comprises a female pin connector and the first connecting part comprises a male pin connector.

13. A connector assembly according to claim 10, wherein the first connecting part comprises a lead wire electrically connected at one end to the second connecting part and at the other end to a connecting means.

14. A connector assembly according to claim 12, wherein the electrode comprises a lead wire electrically connected at one end to a portion for attachment to a user and at the other end to the female pin connector.