Claims
- 1. An electrical connecting system comprising:
a first connector having an electrically conductive element and an electrically conductive surface; a second connector comprising:
a connector body defining an inner cavity with a first end and a second end, wherein said inner cavity is open at said first end, said inner cavity configured to receive said first connector; a first electrically conductive tension member within said inner cavity, said first conductive tension member configured to engage said conductive element to form a first electrical channel; and a second electrically conductive tension member within said inner cavity, said second conductive tension member configured to engage said conductive surface to form a second electrical channel.
- 2. The system of claim 1, wherein said second connector has an insertion force of no greater than fourteen Newtons with respect to said first connector.
- 3. The system of claim 1, wherein said second connector has a retention force of at least five Newtons with respect to said first connector.
- 4. The system of claim 1, wherein said first connector and said second connector are configured for unidirectional mechanical engagement.
- 5. The system of claim 1, wherein:
the first connector further comprises an insulating member configured to electrically insulate the conductive element from said conductive surface; and the second connector further comprises a first seal within said inner cavity, said first seal configured to engage said insulating member to isolate said first electrical channel from said second electrical channel.
- 6. The system of claim 5, wherein:
said first seal comprises an umbrella-shaped ridge; and said insulating member comprises a seal catch configured to engage said umbrella-shaped ridge.
- 7. The system of claim 6, wherein said first seal and said seal catch form a tactile feedback mechanism.
- 8. The system of claim 5, wherein said second connector further comprises a second seal configured to engage said first connector to isolate said inner cavity.
- 9. The system of claim 8, wherein said second seal comprises an annular ring of flexible material, said annular ring having a plurality of annular ridges that contact said first connector while said first connector is within said inner cavity.
- 10. The system of claim 9, wherein said flexible material is molded rubber.
- 11. The system of claim 8, wherein said second seal is located within a first annular groove substantially adjacent to said first end of said inner cavity.
- 12. The system of claim 5, wherein said connector body comprises:
a first conductive body member defining said first end of said inner cavity; a second conductive body member defining said second end of said inner cavity; and a middle insulator coupled between said first conductive body member and said second conductive body member.
- 13. The system of claim 12, wherein said first conductive body member is comprised of steel.
- 14. The system of claim 12, wherein said second conductive body member is comprised of steel.
- 15. The system of claim 12, wherein said middle insulator is comprised of a resilient, nonconductive material.
- 16. The system of claim 15, wherein said resilient, nonconductive material is polysulfone.
- 17. The system of claim 12, wherein the interior of said first conductive body member comprises an annular groove wherein said first conductive tension member is located.
- 18. The system of claim 17, wherein said second connector further comprises a wear-resistant member fitted into said annular groove between said first conductive tension member and said middle insulator.
- 19. The system of claim 18, wherein said wear resistant member comprises a washer.
- 20. The system of claim 17, wherein said first conductive tension member comprises a toroidal spring.
- 21. The system of claim 12, wherein said middle insulator comprises an annular groove in which said first seal is seated.
- 22. The system of claim 12, wherein the interior of said second conductive body member comprises an annular groove wherein said second conductive tension member is located.
- 23. The system of claim 22, wherein said second connector further comprises a wear-resistant member fitted into said annular groove between said second conductive tension member and said middle insulator.
- 24. The system of claim 23, wherein said wear resistant member comprises a washer.
- 25. The system of claim 24, wherein said second conductive tension member comprises a toroidal spring.
- 26. The system of claim 1, further comprising a two-conductor electrical cable coupled to said first connector.
- 27. The system of claim 26, wherein said cable is coupled to said first connector through a braided tube adjacent to said first connector.
- 28. The system of claim 27, wherein said braided tube is infused with a flexible insulating material.
- 29. The system of claim 28, wherein said braided tube is overmolded with said flexible insulating material to have about the same diameter as said cable.
- 30. The system of claim 29, wherein said first connector has a diameter less than or about equal to the diameter of said cable.
- 31. The system of claim 27, wherein said braided tube comprises a steel mesh.
- 32. The system of claim 26, wherein said cable comprises:
an outer coil comprising a first helical ribbon conductor; an inner coil within said outer coil, said inner coil comprising a second helical ribbon conductor; an inner insulating tube between said inner coil and said outer coil; and an outer insulating tube encompassing said outer coil.
- 33. The system of claim 32, wherein said first helical ribbon conductor comprises a plurality of adjacent conductive wires configured in a ribbon strip that is twisted about a central axis to form a helix.
- 34. The system of claim 33, wherein each of said conductive wires comprises a silver core surrounded by a cobalt alloy layer.
- 35. The system of claim 33, wherein said ribbon strip is configured to have a maximum distance by which any one of said plurality of adjacent wires may be offset from said ribbon strip.
- 36. The system of claim 32, wherein said inner coil is coupled to said conductive pin and said outer coil is coupled to said conductive surface.
- 37. The system of claim 12, further comprising a two-conductor electrical cable coupled to said second connector.
- 38. The system of claim 37, wherein said cable comprises:
an outer coil comprising a first helical ribbon conductor; an inner coil within said outer coil, said inner coil comprising a second helical ribbon conductor; an inner insulating tube between said inner coil and said outer coil; and an outer insulating tube encompassing said outer coil.
- 39. The system of claim 38, wherein said first helical ribbon conductor comprises a plurality of adjacent conductive wires configured in a ribbon strip that is twisted about a central axis to form a helix.
- 40. The system of claim 39, wherein each of said conductive wires comprises a silver core surrounded by a cobalt alloy layer.
- 41. The system of claim 39, wherein said ribbon strip is configured to have a maximum distance by which any one of said plurality of adjacent wires may be offset from said ribbon strip.
- 42. The system of claim 38, wherein:
said inner coil is coupled to said first conductive body member; and said outer coil wraps around an exterior surface of said connector body; and said outer coil is electrically coupled to an external surface of said second conductive body member.
- 43. The system of claim 42, further comprising an electrically insulating layer around said exterior surface of said connector body and said outer coil.
- 44. The system of claim 43 applied to an implant patient, wherein said insulating layer comprises means for suturing said second connector within said implant patient.
- 45. A method for forming an electrical connector, comprising:
providing a first conductive body member, a second conductive body member and an insulating body member, wherein each of said first conductive body member, said second conductive body member and said insulating body member have a first end and a second end and define an interior cavity; disposing a first conductive tension member in a first annular groove within said interior cavity of said first conductive body member; disposing said first end of said insulating body member in said second end of said first conductive body member; disposing a second conductive tension member in a second annular groove within said interior cavity of said second conductive body member; and disposing said second end of said insulating body member in said first end of said second conductive body member.
- 46. The method of claim 45, further comprising disposing an annular seal in a third annular groove within said interior cavity of said second conductive body member adjacent to said second end of said second conductive body member.
- 47. The method of claim 45, further comprising providing a nonconductive surface over the exterior of said first conductive body member.
- 48. The method of claim 45, further comprising:
coupling a first conductive coil to an electrically conductive stem on said first end of said first conductive body member, wherein said first conductive coil forms a first electrical channel with said first conductive body member and said first conductive tension member; and pulling a second conductive coil around the exterior of said first conductive body member and the exterior of said insulating body member; and coupling said second conductive coil to the exterior of said second conductive body member, wherein said second conductive coil forms a second electrical channel with said second conductive body member and said second conductive tension member.
- 49. The method of claim 48, further comprising forming a nonconductive layer around the exterior of said second conductive coil.
- 50. The method of claim 45, further comprising forming an annular seal in a third annular groove within said interior cavity of said insulating body member.
- 51. The method of claim 50, wherein said step of forming an annular seal comprises forming an umbrella-shaped ridge configured to provide tactile feedback when engaged.
- 52. The method of claim 45, further comprising:
fitting a first wear-resistant member between said first conductive tension member and said insulating body member; and fitting a second wear-resistant member between said second conductive tension member and said insulating body member.
- 53. A method of forming an electrical connector, comprising:
coupling a first end of a flexible braided cylinder to an outer insulating cylindrical member surrounding a first conductive coil and a second conductive coil. coupling said first conductive coil to a conductive element that projects out from a first end of a conductive cylindrical member; coupling said flexible braided cylinder to a second end of said conductive cylindrical member; coupling a second conductive coil to said first end of said conductive cylindrical member; molding an insulating member between said conductive cylinder and said conductive element; and infusing said flexible braided cylinder with a flexible insulating material.
- 54. The method of claim 53, wherein said step of infusing said flexible braided cylinder comprises:
molding said flexible insulating material around said flexible braided cylinder until said flexible braided cylinder is of substantially the same diameter as said outer insulating cylindrical member.
- 55. The method of claim 54, wherein said step of molding said flexible insulating material comprises:
molding a ridge pattern on said flexible braided cylinder; and molding over said ridge pattern to meet the diameter of said outer insulating member.
- 56. The method of claim 53, wherein said step of molding said insulating member comprises forming an umbrella-shaped seal ridge on a portion of said insulating member that projects beyond said first end of said conductive cylindrical member.
- 57. A coaxial cable having a first end and a second end, comprising:
an outer coil comprising a first helical ribbon conductor; an inner coil within said outer coil, said inner coil comprising a second helical ribbon conductor; an inner insulating tube between said inner coil and said outer coil; and an outer insulating tube encompassing said outer coil.
- 58. The cable of claim 57, wherein said first helical ribbon conductor comprises a plurality of adjacent conductive wires configured in a ribbon strip that is twisted about a central axis to form a helix.
- 59. The cable of claim 58, wherein each of said conductive wires comprises a silver core surrounded by a cobalt alloy layer.
- 60. The cable of claim 58, wherein said ribbon strip is configured to have a maximum distance by which any one of said plurality of adjacent wires may be offset from said ribbon strip.
- 61. The cable of claim 57, further comprising a flexible, cylindrical strengthening member adjoining said outer insulating tube at said first end, said strengthening member encompassing said outer coil.
- 62. The cable of claim 61, wherein said flexible, cylindrical strengthening member comprises a braided cylinder.
- 63. The cable of claim 62, wherein said braided cylinder is infused with rubber.
- 64. An insertion apparatus for a lead having a connector, comprising:
a rigid elongated member having a hollow bore, a first end and a second end; a bullet-shaped member detachably coupled to said first end of said rigid elongated member; a rod configured to slide within said hollow bore, a length of said rod being greater than a length of said rigid elongated member; and a connector member on a first end of said rod, said connector member configured to engage said connector of said lead.
- 65. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein said first end of said rigid elongated member is threaded to enable said bullet-shaped member to be screwed on and off.
- 66. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein a handle is attached to a second end of said rod.
- 67. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein said rigid elongated member is curved.
- 68. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein said rigid elongated member is straight.
- 69. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the exterior of said rigid elongated member is composed of surgical material.
- 70. A method for inserting a lead into a patient, comprising:
inserting a rigid elongated member into a first incision; guiding said rigid elongated member through fatty tissue of said patient until a first end of said rigid elongated member protrudes from a second incision; removing a bullet-shaped member from said first end of said rigid elongated member to expose a hollow bore in said rigid elongated member; passing a rod through said hollow bore until a connector member at a first end of said rod is exposed; engaging a first connector of a lead with said connector member; pulling said rod through said hollow bore until said first connector and a second connector of said lead are exposed on respective ends of said rigid elongated member; and extracting said rigid elongated member from said patient with said lead remaining in said patient.
- 71. The method of claim 70, further comprising suturing in place at least one of said first connector and second connector.
- 72. The method of claim 70, further comprising:
connecting said first connector of said lead to a first implanted device; and connecting said second connector of said lead to a second implanted device.
- 73. A female connector for receiving a male connector having an electrically conductive element and an electrically conductive surface, comprising:
a connector body defining an inner cavity with a first end and a second end, wherein said inner cavity is open at said first end, said inner cavity configured to receive said male connector; a first electrically conductive tension member within said inner cavity, said first conductive tension member configured to engage said conductive element to form a first electrical channel; and a second electrically conductive tension member within said inner cavity, said second conductive tension member configured to engage said conductive surface to form a second electrical channel.
- 74. The female connector of claim 73 having an insertion force of no greater than fourteen Newtons with respect to said male connector.
- 75. The female connector of claim 73 having a retention force of at least five Newtons with respect to said male connector.
- 76. The female connector of claim 73 being mechanically unidirectional with respect to said male connector.
- 77. The female connector of claim 73, further comprising:
a first seal within said inner cavity, said first seal configured to engage said male connector to isolate said first electrical channel from said second electrical channel.
- 78. The female connector of claim 77, wherein said first seal comprises an umbrella-shaped ridge.
- 79. The female connector of claim 78, wherein said umbrella-shaped ridge has a forward angle and a rearward angle.
- 80. The female connector of claim 78, wherein said first seal is a tactile feedback mechanism.
- 81. The female connector of claim 77, further comprising a second seal configured to engage said male connector to isolate said inner cavity.
- 82. The female connector of claim 81, wherein said second seal comprises an annular ring of flexible material, said annular ring having a plurality of annular ridges.
- 83. The female connector of claim 82, wherein said flexible material is molded rubber.
- 84. The female connector of claim 83, wherein said second seal is located within a first annular groove substantially adjacent to said first end of said inner cavity.
- 85. The female connector of claim 77, wherein said connector body comprises:
a first conductive body member defining said first end of said inner cavity; a second conductive body member defining said second end of said inner cavity; and a middle insulator coupled between said first conductive body member and said second conductive body member.
- 86. The female connector of claim 85, wherein said first conductive body member is comprised of steel.
- 87. The female connector of claim 85, wherein said second conductive body member is comprised of steel.
- 88. The female connector of claim 85, wherein said middle insulator is comprised of a resilient, nonconductive material.
- 89. The female connector of claim 88, wherein said resilient, nonconductive material is polysulfone.
- 90. The female connector of claim 89, wherein the interior of said first conductive body member comprises an annular groove wherein said first conductive tension member is located.
- 91. The female connector of claim 90, further comprising a wear-resistant member fitted into said annular groove between said first conductive tension member and said middle insulator.
- 92. The female connector of claim 91, wherein said wear resistant member comprises a washer.
- 93. The female connector of claim 90, wherein said first conductive tension member comprises a toroidal spring.
- 94. The female connector of claim 85, wherein said middle insulator comprises an annular groove in which said first seal is seated.
- 95. The female connector of claim 85, wherein the interior of said second conductive body member comprises an annular groove wherein said second conductive tension member is located.
- 96. The female connector of claim 95, wherein said second connector further comprises a wear-resistant member fitted into said annular groove between said second conductive tension member and said middle insulator.
- 97. The female connector of claim 96, wherein said wear resistant member comprises a washer.
- 98. The female connector of claim 97, wherein said second conductive tension member comprises a toroidal spring.
- 99. The female connector of claim 85, further comprising a two-conductor electrical cable coupled to said second connector.
- 100. The female connector of claim 99, wherein said cable comprises:
an outer coil comprising a first helical ribbon conductor; an inner coil within said outer coil, said inner coil comprising a second helical ribbon conductor; an inner insulating tube between said inner coil and said outer coil; and an outer insulating tube encompassing said outer coil.
- 101. The female connector of claim 100, wherein said first helical ribbon conductor comprises a plurality of adjacent conductive wires configured in a ribbon strip that is twisted about a central axis to form a helix.
- 102. The female connector of claim 101, wherein each of said conductive wires comprises a silver core surrounded by a cobalt alloy layer.
- 103. The female connector of claim 100, wherein said ribbon strip is configured to have a maximum distance by which any one of said plurality of adjacent wires may be offset from said ribbon strip.
- 104. The female connector of claim 100, wherein:
said inner coil is coupled to said first conductive body member; and said outer coil wraps around an exterior surface of said connector body; and said outer coil is electrically coupled to an external surface of said second conductive body member.
- 105. The female connector of claim 104, further comprising an electrically insulating layer around said exterior surface of said connector body and said outer coil.
- 106. The female connector of claim 105 applied to an implant patient, wherein said insulating layer comprises means for suturing said second connector within said implant patient.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Embodiments of the present invention claim priority from a U.S. Provisional Application entitled “Electronic Lead for a Medical Implant Device, Method of Making Same, and Method and Apparatus for Inserting Same,” U.S. Serial No. 60/317,870, filed Sep. 7, 2001, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60317870 |
Sep 2001 |
US |