Method and apparatus for connecting various implantable medical treatment system component devices

• US 20030176906A1
• Filed: 03/15/2002
• Published: 09/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Lee, David Warren
• Granted Patent: US 7,010,355 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37512 Pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3752 Details of casing-lead connections

Abstract

Disclosed is a universal connector for connecting component devices of an implantable medical treatment system. The universal connector includes a male and a female interface adapted to connectively mate two devices of the implantable medical treatment system. A locking flange and recess are provided, as well as a locking shoulder and ridge combination, to securely connect the mated male and female interfaces. When mated and securely joined, the universal connector of the present invention allows a device of the implantable medical treatment system to interface with any other device of the implantable medical treatment system for simplified handling and bi-directional communications.

Claims

1. A connector for connecting component devices of an implantable medical treatment system, comprising in combination:

a male connector shaft;

at least one flange located on the male connector shaft;

a female connector interface;

at least one recess located on the female connector interface adapted to couple with the flange of the male connector shaft;

wherein the male connector shaft is located on a first component device of an implantable medical treatment system; and

wherein the female connector interface is located on a second component device of an implantable medical treatment system to be connected to the first component device.

2. The connector of claim 1 wherein the flange is located on the distal end of the male connector shaft.

3. The connector of claim 1 further including a bearing surface located on the distal end of the male connector shaft.

4. The connector of claim 1 wherein the first component device is an electrical neural stimulator.

5. The connector of claim 1 wherein the first component device is a patient charger.

6. The connector of claim 1 wherein the first component device is a patient programmer.

7. The connector of claim 1 wherein the first component device is a magnet housing.

8. The connector of claim 1 wherein the second component device is a physician programmer telemetry module.

9. A connector for connecting component devices of an implantable medical treatment system, comprising in combination:

a male connector interface including a shaft;

at least one flange located on the male connector interface shaft;

at least one locking shoulder located on the flange;

a female connector interface;

at least one recess located on the female connector interface adapted to couple with the the male connector interface shaft;

a locking ridge located in the recess adapted to engage the locking shoulder of the flange of the male connector interface;

wherein the male connector interface is located on a first component device of an implantable medical treatment system; and

wherein the female connector interface is located on a second component device of an implantable medical treatment system adapted to be connected to the first component device.

10. The connector of claim 9 wherein the flange is located on the distal end of the male connector shaft.

11. The connector of claim 9 further including a bearing surface located on the distal end of the male connector shaft.

12. The connector of claim 9 wherein the first component device is an electrical neural stimulator.

13. The connector of claim 9 wherein the first component device is a patient charger.

14. The connector of claim 9 wherein the first component device is a patient programmer.

15. The connector of claim 9 wherein the first component device is a magnet housing.

16. The connector of claim 9 wherein the second component device is a physician programmer telemetry module.

17. A method of connecting component devices of an implantable medical treatment system, the method comprising in combination the steps of:

providing a first device of an implantable medical treatment system with a male connector interface having at least one flange;

providing a second device of an implantable medical treatment system with a female connector interface having at least one recess;

inserting the male connector interface of the first device into the female connector interface of the second device; and

rotating the male and female connector interfaces in relation to one another to connectively engage the flange of the male connector interface with the recess of the female connector interface.

18. The method of claim 17 further including the step of rotating the male connector interface between 1 and 179 degrees in relation to the female interface.

19. The method of claim 17 further including the step of rotating the female connector interface between 1 and 179 degrees in relation to the male interface.