Patent ID: 9731111
Date: 2017-08-15
CPC Classifications: A61B,A61N,H01R

Claim:
1. A connector for an implantable medical device, the connector comprising: an elongated connector housing having a first end, a second end, and a length, the connector housing defining a port at the second end of the connector housing, the port configured and arranged for receiving a proximal end portion of a lead or lead extension; a lumen that extends from the port along at least a portion of the length of the connector housing; a plurality of axially spaced-apart, substantially-cylindrical connector-contact housings disposed along the lumen, the plurality of connector-contact housings each having an inner diameter and an outer diameter and comprising a first housing element and a second housing element axially coupled to the first housing element, wherein for each connector-contact housing the inner diameter of that connector-contact housing forms a portion of a wall of the lumen, wherein each of the plurality of connector-contact housings defines a plurality of pockets arranged around a circumference of the connector-contact housing, wherein each of the pockets is defined, at least in part, by an axial indentation in at least one of the first housing element or the second housing element; and a plurality of spherically-shaped connector contacts disposed in each of the plurality of connector-contact housings with at least a portion of each of the plurality of connector contacts extending into the lumen, wherein at least one of the connector contacts is disposed in each of the plurality of pockets with a portion of the connector contact extending out of the pocket and a remainder of the connector contact is retained within the pocket, wherein the pocket is configured and arranged to hinder release of the connector contact from the pocket, wherein for each connector-contact housing each of the plurality of connector contacts disposed on or in that connector-contact housing is configured and arranged for coupling to a different single terminal disposed on a proximal end portion of a lead or lead extension when the proximal end portion of the lead or lead extension is inserted into the lumen.