Patent Application
20230017792
n/a.
The present technology is generally related to implantable medical devices and transcutaneous energy transfer systems (TETS).
Current ventricular assist device (VAD) systems utilize single multi-pin connectors that are designed for pacing and defibrillation leads/systems. Known connectors are not fully implantable within a living organism and are not configured to handle higher continuous energies in a wet environment.
The techniques of this disclosure generally relate to a connector for an implantable medical device.
In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a connector for a medical device, comprising an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end, and a strut disposed within the elongate body. The strut defining a plurality of channels each having a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end. The elongate body further includes a plurality of conductors disposed within the elongate body. The plurality of conductors being sized and configured to be received within the plurality of channels and extend between the proximal end and the distal end of the elongate body. The elongate body further includes a plurality of electrical contacts coupled to an outer surface of the elongate body. The plurality of electrical contacts being in communication with the plurality of conductors.
In another aspect, the elongate body further defines a plurality of grooves, each of the plurality of electrical contacts are aligned and retained within a respective groove of the plurality of grooves.
In another aspect, the plurality of electrical contacts each have an inner portion and an outer portion opposite the inner portion, the inner portion defines an aperture sized to receive a distal end of one of the plurality of channels.
In another aspect, each channel of the plurality of channels progressively decreases in length between a longest channel of the plurality of channels and a shortest channel of the plurality of channels.
In another aspect, each of the plurality of electrical contacts are ring contacts.
In another aspect, the strut is made out of a first electrically insulative material.
In another aspect, the connector further includes a non-conductive sealing surface disposed within the elongate body between the proximal end and the distal end.
In another aspect, the plurality of electrical contacts includes a first set of electrical contacts and a second set of electrical contacts, the non-conductive sealing surface being positioned between the first and second sets of electrical contacts to electrically isolate each respective set from one another.
In another aspect, the elongate body has an outer diameter between the range of 0.160 to 0.250 inches.
In another aspect, the elongate body defines a longitudinal axis between the proximal end and the distal end, each of the plurality of electrical contacts are spaced apart from an adjacent electrical contact along the longitudinal axis.
In another aspect, the elongate body is made up of a second electrically insulative material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyethylene, urethane, and polyether ether ketone (PEEK).
In yet another aspect, a connector for a medical device includes a first elongate body and a second elongate body parallel to the first elongate body. The first elongate body and the second elongate body each have a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end. The connector further includes a first plurality of conductors disposed within the first elongate body, a second plurality of conductors disposed within the second elongate body, a first plurality of electrical contacts extending around an outer surface of the first elongate body, and a second plurality of electrical contacts extending around an outer surface of the second elongate body. The first plurality of conductors are in communication with the first plurality of electrical contacts. The second plurality of conductors are in communication with the second plurality of electrical contacts.
In another aspect, the first plurality of conductors includes more conductors than the second plurality of conductors.
In another aspect, the first and second plurality of conductors each include at least two conductors.
In another aspect, the first and second plurality of electrical contacts each include at least two electrical contacts.
In another aspect, each electrical contact of the first and second plurality of electrical contacts is a ring contact.
In another aspect, the first elongate body and the second elongate body each define a longitudinal axis between the proximal end and the distal end, each ring contact is spaced apart from an adjacent ring contact along the longitudinal axis of the first elongate body and the second elongate body respectively.
In another aspect, the connector further includes a non-conductive sealing surface disposed within at least one selected from the group consisting of the first elongate body and the second elongate body.
In another aspect, the first elongate body and the second elongate body are each made up of an electrically insulative material.
In yet another aspect, a connector for a medical device includes an electrically insulative elongate body having an outer diameter between the range of 0.160 to 0.250 inches. The electrically insulative elongate body includes a proximal end, a distal end opposite the proximal end, a longitudinal axis defined between the proximal end and the distal end, and a plurality of grooves defined by an outer surface of the electrically insulative elongate body along the longitudinal axis. The connector further includes a strut disposed within the electrically insulative elongate body. The strut defines a plurality of channels each having a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end. Each channel of the plurality of channels progressively decreases in length between a longest channel of the plurality of channels and a shortest channel of the plurality of channels. The connector further includes a plurality of conductors sized and configured to be received within the plurality of channels. The plurality of conductors include a first set of conductors and a second set of conductors. The connector further includes a plurality of electrical ring contacts extending around the outer surface of the electrically insulative elongate body. Each of the plurality of electrical ring contacts is aligned and retained within a respective groove of the plurality of grooves and has an inner portion and an outer portion opposite the inner portion. The inner portion defines an aperture sized to receive a distal end of one conductor of the plurality of conductors. The connector further includes a non-conductive sealing surface disposed between the proximal end and the distal end of the elongate body. The non-conductive sealing surface being configured to electrically isolate the first set of conductors from the second set of conductors.
The details of one or more aspects of the disclosure are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the techniques described in this disclosure will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.
A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
It should be understood that various aspects disclosed herein may be combined in different combinations than the combinations specifically presented in the description and accompanying drawings. It should also be understood that, depending on the example, certain acts or events of any of the processes or methods described herein may be performed in a different sequence, may be added, merged, or left out altogether (e.g., all described acts or events may not be necessary to carry out the techniques). In addition, while certain aspects of this disclosure are described as being performed by a single module or unit for purposes of clarity, it should be understood that the techniques of this disclosure may be performed by a combination of units or modules associated with, for example, a medical device.
Referring now to
Continuing to refer to
Referring now to
The connector 10 includes a plurality of electrical contacts 32, a strut 34 having a plurality of channels 36, and a plurality of electrical conductors 38 configured to be received within a respective channel 36 of the strut 34. The conductors 38 are partially disposed within the cables 20 extending between the connector 10 and the pump 16. As discussed in more detail below, the elongate body 24 is formed such that it defines intermediate portions between each of the contacts 32 to allow for physical and electrical separation of the contacts 32. The elongate body 24 is formed between each electrical contact 32 so that the electrical contacts 32 may engage a corresponding header such as, for example, the header 37 shown in
As shown in more detail in
Continuing to refer to
In an exemplary embodiment, each electrical contact 32 may be a “ring” shaped contact. However, the electrical contacts 32 may have any other shape or configuration deemed appropriate to correspond to a respective header such as, but not limited to: linear, curved, zig-zag, or round. Each electrical contact 32 may be spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal axis of the elongate body 24 such that there is sufficient distance between each adjacent electrical contact 32 to reduce the risk of electrical interference between contacts. Although, each electrical contact 32 may be equally spaced apart from its adjacent electrical contact, the electrical contacts 32 may also be unequally spaced apart such that a distance between a first pair of electrical contacts is greater than or less than the distance between a second pair of electrical contacts.
As shown in more detail in
In one embodiment, the connector 10 may include six electrical contacts 32 spaced apart on the elongate body 24 and six corresponding conductors 38 in communication with a respective electrical contact 32 via the channels 36 of the strut 34, thus providing six poles or contacts on a single connector. The connector 10 is not limited to having only six electrical contacts 32 and corresponding conductors 38, and thus may also include more than or fewer than six electrical contacts 32 and six conductors 38. For example, in one embodiment, the connector 10 may have at least two contacts 32 that are in communication with at least two conductors 38.
In one embodiment, the connector 10 also includes an insertion marker and a strain relief (not shown). The insertion marker may be a band, marker, or other type of visual indicator that is incorporated into or disposed on the outer surface 30 of the proximal end 26 of the connector 10. The insertion marker may be used to help a clinician identify the connection between the connector 10 and a corresponding header, and indicate full insertion when implanting the connector 10 in a patient during a surgical procedure. The band or marker may be color coded and/or marked to improve clinician visibility and/or usability. Further, the strain relief, may be disposed within the connector 10 at a position proximate to the proximal end 26 of the elongate body 24 and reduces stiffness within the transition regions of the connector 10. The strain relief may have a spiral, coil, helical, or any other configuration deemed appropriate to relieve tension within the connector 10.
In one embodiment, the elongate body 24 also includes an electrically insulative seal (not shown) disposed within the elongate body 24 between the proximal end 26 and the distal end 28 that allows for the electrical isolation of particular groupings of the conductors 38. For example, in an embodiment with six electrical contacts 32 extending between the proximal end 26 and distal end 28, the insulative seal may be disposed between the third and fourth electrical contacts 32 so that six contacts 32 are electrically separated into two isolated sets of contacts 32 that control different parts of the pump 16. As a non-limiting example, the two isolated sets of contacts 32 may include a first set of contacts 32, which may be the three contacts 32 nearest to the proximal end 26, and a second set of contacts 32, which may be the three contacts nearest to the distal end 28. The electrical isolation of the two sets of contacts 32 allows for the first and second sets of contacts 32 to each provide power from the controller 12 to different components or portions of the same pump 16. Additionally, the electrical contacts 32 may be grouped together in any other fashion desired. For example, the contacts 32 may be grouped in a manner so that the first set of contacts 32 includes the first, third, and fifth contacts 32 extending along the elongate body 24, and the second set of contacts 32 includes the second, fourth, and sixth contacts 32. Further, the contacts 32 may also be isolated into more than two groups. For example, the contacts 32 may be separated into sets of two so that there are three total sets of contacts 32 to provide power to three different portions of the pump 16. Although the seal allows for isolation and grouping of particular conductors 38 and contacts 32, the connector 10 may also be “keyed” or configured to allow for partial operation of the VAD if less than all of the conductors and contacts 32 are in use, regardless of whether the seal is present within the elongate body 24.
Now referring to
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, which is limited only by the following claims.
