Patent · US Expired

Feedthrough connector for implantable medical device

US4934366A · kind A · utility

183Cited by
7References
32Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 19, 1989
Grant dateJun 19, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 19, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61N1/3752
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A feedthrough connector for an implantable medical device, combines the connector function with the feedthrough function and eliminates the need for the cast epoxy connector previously used on such devices. The feedthrough connector includes a barrel assembly having open and closed ends. The open end of the assembly has an opening for receiving a slidably inserted electrical lead. The barrel assembly includes cylindrical metal conductive portions separated by cylindrical ceramic insulating portions. Spring contacts are mounted on the inside of the metal portions and are adapted to make electrical contact with the appropriate contacts of an electrical lead when the lead is inserted into the connector. The outer side of the metal portions are electrically connected to the appropriate electrical circuit within the housing, and the open end of the barrel assembly is bonded (welded) to the device housing so that the inside of the device can be hermetically sealed. Releasable lead gripping means are included as part of the barrel assembly to detachably lock and seal the electrical lead in its inserted position inside of the connector.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.