Claims
- 1. A header assembly for connecting an implantable medical device to a conductor lead terminating at a body organ intended to be assisted by the medical device comprising a housing containing control circuitry, at least one electrical energy storage device, and at least one feedthrough wire extending from the control circuitry and through a wall of the housing, the header assembly comprising:
a) a body mounted on the housing for the medical device; b) at least one terminal supported by the polymeric body, wherein the terminal is directly connectable to the conductor lead; and c) a unitary intermediate conductor supported by the body, the intermediate conductor having a distal end connected to the terminal and a proximal end directly connected to the feedthrough wire.
- 2. The header assembly of claim 1 wherein the proximal end of the intermediate conductor wire comprises a step that is securable to the feedthrough wire in a lap joint construction.
- 3. The header assembly of claim 1 wherein the proximal end of the intermediate conductor wire comprises an enlarged head having a bore into which the feedthrough wire is receivable and connectable.
- 4. The header assembly of claim 3 wherein the enlarged head comprises a bore and a groove in communication with the bore, and wherein a spring is nested in the groove so that when the feedthrough wire is received in the bore, the spring contacts the feedthrough wire.
- 5. The header assembly of claim 4 wherein the groove is an annular groove supporting an annular spring that surrounds the feedthrough wire.
- 6. The header assembly of claim 4 wherein the spring is a leaf spring.
- 7. The header assembly of claim 1 wherein the body is of a polymeric material.
- 8. The header assembly of claim 1 wherein the body includes a first inlet that receives a bracket secured to the housing and a second inlet and wherein with the bracket received in the first inlet, a wedge is receivable in the second inlet and a bracket inlet to secure the header assembly to the medical device.
- 9. The header assembly of claim 8 wherein the bracket is either L-shaped or U-shaped.
- 10. The header assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing for the medical device comprises mating first and second clam shells.
- 11. The header assembly of claim 1 wherein the medical device is selected from the group consisting of a hearing assist device, neurostimulator, cardiac pacemaker, drug pump and cardiac defibrillator.
- 12. A header assembly for connecting an implantable medical device to a conductor lead terminating at a body organ intended to be assisted by the medical device comprising a housing containing control circuitry, at least one electrical energy storage device, and at least one feedthrough wire extending from the control circuitry and through a wall of the housing, the header assembly comprising:
a) a body mounted on the housing for the medical device; b) at least one terminal supported by the polymeric body, wherein the terminal is directly connectable to the conductor lead; and c) an intermediate conductor supported by the body, the intermediate conductor having a distal end connected to the terminal and a proximal end directly connected to the feedthrough wire.
- 13. The header assembly of claim 12 wherein the proximal end of the intermediate conductor wire connects to an enlarged head comprising a bore and a groove in communication with the bore, and wherein a spring is nested in the groove so that when the feedthrough wire is received in the bore, the spring contacts the feedthrough wire.
- 14. The header assembly of claim 12 wherein the groove is an annular groove supporting an annular spring that surround the feedthrough wire.
- 15. The header assembly of claim 12 wherein the spring is a leaf spring.
- 16. A method for connecting an implantable medical device to a conductor terminating at a body organ intended to be assisted by the medical device, comprising the steps of:
a) providing the medical device having a housing containing control circuitry, at least one electrical energy storage device and at least one feedthrough wire extending from the control circuitry through a wall of the housing to a distal end located outside the housing; b) providing a body supporting at least one terminal and at least one unitary intermediate conductor, wherein the intermediate conductor has a distal end connected to the terminal and a proximal end; c) mounting the body on the medical device with the proximal end of the feedthrough wire disposed in an overlapping relationship with at least a portion of the intermediate conductor; and d) securing the proximal end of the feedthrough wire to the intermediate conductor.
- 17. The method of claim 16 wherein the proximal end of the intermediate conductor wire comprises a step and including the step of securing the feedthrough wire to the conductor wire in a lap joint construction.
- 18. The method of claim 16 wherein the proximal end of the intermediate conductor wire comprises an enlarged head having a bore into which the feedthrough wire is receivable and connectable.
- 19. The method of claim 18 wherein the bore in the enlarged head comprises a groove supporting a spring, and including the step of mounting the header assembly on the medical device with the feedthrough wire received in the bore and the spring contacting the feedthrough wire.
- 20. The method of claim 19 wherein the groove is an annular groove supporting an annular spring surrounding the feedthrough wire.
- 21. The method of claim 19 wherein the spring is a leaf spring.
- 22. The method of claim 16 including providing the body of a polymeric material.
- 23. The method of claim 16 including providing the body comprising a first inlet that receives a bracket secured to the housing and a second inlet and including the step of mounting the header assembly on the medical device with the bracket received in the first inlet and moving a wedge into the second inlet and a bracket inlet thereby securing the header assembly to the medical device.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority based on provisional applications Serial No. 60/423,787, filed Nov. 5, 2002.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60423787 |
Nov 2002 |
US |