Medical lead connector

• US 20030045912A1
• Filed: 09/05/2001
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Sommer, John L., Williams, Terrell M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,799,991 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems

Abstract

An electrical connector has a compressible portion that expands to accept an inserted lead and then contracts around the lead to provide both an electrical and a spring-like mechanical connection to the lead. The connector may have a fluted pin that collapses around the lead body when a set screw of the connector port is tightened. Alternatively, a middle segment of a pin may have indentations or slots that collapse around an inserted lead body. The connector can be attached to the lead body after the lead body is implanted in the body of the patient. In lead systems in which the lead body is implanted using a guide catheter, attaching the connector to the lead body after implantation makes removal of the guide catheter much less difficult.

Claims

1. An electrical connector comprising:

a first portion defining a channel to receive a medical lead; and

an electrically conductive collapsible portion operatively coupled to the first portion and arranged to collapse around a portion of the medical lead upon receipt of the medical lead in the channel.

2. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the collapsible portion comprises a proximal portion of the electrical connector, the proximal portion having a plurality of longitudinal slots that cause the proximal portion to collapse around the portion of the medical lead when a set screw of a connector port is tightened.

3. The electrical connector of claim 2, wherein the longitudinal slots extend across less than an entire length of the proximal portion.

4. The electrical connector of claim 2, wherein the set screw is structured to cause the collapsible portion to breach an insulative portion of the medical lead in conjunction with positioning of the set screw.

5. The electrical connector of claim 1, further comprising an electrically conductive sleeve crimped on the medical lead, the electrically conductive sleeve having an outer diameter larger than an inner diameter of the collapsible portion, wherein the collapsible portion has a slot formed thereon to cause the collapsible portion to collapse around the electrically conductive sleeve upon receipt of the medical lead in the channel.

6. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector is structured to be interchangeably used with medical devices provided by various manufacturers.

7. The electrical connector of claim 6, wherein the electrical connector is compatible with the IS-1 standard.

8. A lead system comprising:

a lead; and

an electrical connector comprising a first portion defining a channel to receive the lead and an electrically conductive collapsible portion operatively coupled to the first portion and arranged to collapse around a portion of the lead upon receipt of the lead in the channel.

9. The lead system of claim 8, wherein the collapsible portion comprises a proximal portion of the electrical connector, the proximal portion having a plurality of longitudinal slots that cause the proximal portion to collapse around the portion of the lead when a set screw of a connector port is tightened, thereby applying a force to the proximal portion.

10. The lead system of claim 9, wherein the longitudinal slots extend across less than an entire length of the proximal portion.

11. The lead system of claim 9, wherein the set screw is arranged to cause the collapsible portion to breach an insulative portion of the lead when the set screw is tightened.

12. The lead system of claim 8, further comprising an electrically conductive sleeve crimped on the lead, the electrically conductive sleeve having an outer diameter larger than an inner diameter of the collapsible portion, wherein the collapsible portion has a slot formed thereon to cause the collapsible portion to collapse around the electrically conductive sleeve upon receipt of the lead in the channel.

13. The lead system of claim 8, wherein the electrical connector is structured to be interchangeably used with medical devices provided by various manufacturers.

14. The lead system of claim 13, wherein the electrical connector is compatible with the IS-1 standard.

15. A method of attaching an electrical connector to a medical lead, the method comprising:

implanting the medical lead;

threading a portion of the medical lead through a distal portion of an electrical connector; and

causing an electrically conductive collapsible portion of the electrical connector to collapse around the portion of the medical lead.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising causing the collapsible portion to collapse by tightening a set screw of a connector port to apply a force to the collapsible portion.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the collapsible portion comprises a proximal portion of the electrical connector, the proximal portion having a plurality of longitudinal slots that cause the proximal portion to collapse around the portion of the medical lead upon application of the force by the set screw.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the longitudinal slots extend across less than an entire length of the proximal portion.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the set screw is arranged to cause the collapsible portion to breach an insulative portion of the medical lead when the set screw is tightened.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising crimping an electrically conductive sleeve on the medical lead, the electrically conductive sleeve having an outer diameter larger than an inner diameter of the collapsible portion, wherein the collapsible portion has a slot formed thereon to cause the collapsible portion to collapse around the electrically conductive sleeve upon threading the medical lead through the distal portion of the electrical connector.