Surgically implantable disconnect device
First Claim
1. A connector comprising a case, including a base member and a lid, the base member and lid being shaped to provide a cavity between them, a first contact pad of elastomeric material, a first set of electrical contacts embedded in the first contact pad, the contact pad being dimensioned to fit within the cavity, the contact pad being interposed between the lid and the base member, a second set of electrical contacts .[.carried by the lid.]. within the cavity, means for providing separate electrical connections through the case to the first and second sets of electrical contacts, and means for pressing the lid against the base member and the contact pad to exert a predetermined pressure on the pad, causing it to form a fluid tight seal around the first and second sets of electrical contacts, some of which are thereby placed in electrical contact with each other.Iadd., one of the first and second sets of electrical contacts being comprised of partially flattened metallic spheres.Iaddend..
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Abstract
A surgically implantable connector for a transcutaneous driving system comprised of a case having a base and a lid which are shaped to provide a cavity between them with a first elastomeric pad for supporting a first set of electrical contacts in the cavity which contacts mate with a second set of electrical contacts carried by the lid, a second elastomeric pad for supporting a third set of electrical contacts inbetween the lid and the first pad and which mate with the first or the second set of electrical contacts, means for electrically connecting the firs set of electrical contacts to an implantable electrode, means for electrically connecting the second set of electrical contacts to the driving system and means for electrically connecting the third set of electrical contacts to a percutaneous plug.
67 Citations
15 Claims
- 1. A connector comprising a case, including a base member and a lid, the base member and lid being shaped to provide a cavity between them, a first contact pad of elastomeric material, a first set of electrical contacts embedded in the first contact pad, the contact pad being dimensioned to fit within the cavity, the contact pad being interposed between the lid and the base member, a second set of electrical contacts .[.carried by the lid.]. within the cavity, means for providing separate electrical connections through the case to the first and second sets of electrical contacts, and means for pressing the lid against the base member and the contact pad to exert a predetermined pressure on the pad, causing it to form a fluid tight seal around the first and second sets of electrical contacts, some of which are thereby placed in electrical contact with each other.Iadd., one of the first and second sets of electrical contacts being comprised of partially flattened metallic spheres.Iaddend..
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8. of titanium. 9. In combination, a connector comprising a case, including a base member and a lid, the base member and lid being shaped to provide a cavity between them, a first contact pad of elastomeric material, a first set of electrical contacts embedded in the first contact pad, the contact pad being dimensioned to fit within the cavity, the contact pad being interposed between the lid and the base member, a second set of electrical contacts .[.carried by the lid.]. within the cavity, means for providing separate electrical connections through the case to the first and second sets of electrical contacts, means for pressing the lid against the base member and the contact pad to exert a predetermined pressure on the pad, causing it to form a fluid tight seal around the first and second sets of electrical contacts, some of which are thereby placed in electrical contact with each other, a second contact pad having a third set of electrical contacts arranged in a pattern to mate with the first set of electrical contacts, the second contact pad being made of an elastomeric material which is dimensioned to fit within the cavity, means for providing separate electrical connections through the case to the third set of electrical conacts, wherein the second contact pad is interposed between the lid and the first contact pad, a transcutaneous driving circuit receiver for a cochlear stimulating protheses, a cochlear stimulating electrode, a percutaneous plug, and wherein the driving circuit receiver is housed in the lid, and further including means for electrically connecting the second set of electrical contacts to the driving circuit receiver, means for electrically connecting the first set of electrical contacts to the cochlear stimulating electrode, and means for electrically connecting the percutaneous plug to the third set of
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9. electrical contacts. 10. The combination as recited in claim 9 wherein the second contact pad includes a fourth set of electrical contacts arranged in a pattern to mate with the second set of electrical contacts and further comprising means for electrically connecting the percutaneous plug to the fourth set of electrical contacts and means for providing separate electrical connections through the case to the fourth set of electrical
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12. around the feedthroughs. .Iadd.13. In a cochlear implant prosthesis including an implantable disconnect means for transmitting an electrical signal to at least one electrode implantable in the cochlea of a human ear, said disconnect means comprising
a base member, a lid, means for pressing said lid against said base member under a predetermined pressure to form a closed casing, first electrical contact means mounted in said casing for transmitting said electrical signal to said electrode, second electrical contact means mounted in said casing for receiving said electrical signal and transmitting it to said first electrical contact means, elastomeric gasket means mounted in said casing for electrically isolating and forming a fluid tight seal around said first and second electrical contact means when said lid is pressed against said base member under said predetermined pressure, and means mounted in said casing for receiving an external signal and for communicating said electrical signal to said second contact means in
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15. means extending through said case. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. A connector comprising a case, including a base member and a lid, the base member and lid being shaped to provide a cavity between them, a first contact pad of elastomeric material, a first set of electrical contacts embedded in the first contact pad, the contact pad being interposed between the lid and the base member, a second set of electrical contacts within the cavity, means for providing separate electrical connections through the case to the first and second sets of electrical contacts, means for pressing the lid against the base member and the contact pad to exert a predetermined pressure on the pad, causing it to form a fluid tight seal around the first and second sets of electrical contacts, some of which are thereby placed in electrical contact with each other, a second contact pad having a third set of electrical contacts arranged in a pattern to mate with the first set of electrical contacts, the second contact pad being made of elastomeric material which is dimensioned to fit within the cavity, and means for providing separate electrical connections through the case to the third set of electrical contacts, and wherein the second contact paid is interposed between the lid and the first contact pad. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. In a cochlear implant prosthesis including an implantable disconnect means for transmitting an electrical signal to at least one electrode implantable in the cochlea of a human ear, said disconnect means comprising
a base member, a lid, means for pressing said lid against said base member under a predetermined pressure to form a closed casing, first electrical contact means mounted in said casing for transmitting said electrical signal to said electrode, second electrical contact means mounted in said casing for receiving said electrical signal and transmitting it to said first electrical contact means, elastomeric gasket means mounted in said casing for electrically isolating and forming a fluid tight seal around said first and second electrical contact means when said lid is pressed against said base member under said predetermined pressure, said first and second electrical contact means comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced first and second sets of contacts, respectively, and wherein the contacts of said first set of contacts are each maintained in electrical contact with a respective one of the contacts of said second set of contacts under said predetermined pressure. .Iaddend.
Specification