Patent ID: 6498952
Filing Date: 2002-12-24
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
A feedthrough connector for an implantable medical device including a hermetically sealed housing and an electrical circuit within the housing, the feedthrough connector comprising:a tubular barrel having an open end, a closed end, an outer peripheral surface, a longitudinally extending tubular barrel axis passing through the open end and the closed end, the tubular barrel defining a tubular channel that is adapted to protrude into the sealed housing while maintaining the seal of the housing, the inside of the tubular channel being open to the outside of the sealed housing through the open end, the tubular barrel also having a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings extending between the outer peripheral surface and the tubular channel; and an electrical contact assembly on the tubular barrel that is adapted to be electrically in common with the electrical circuit within the housing for making electrical contact with an electrical lead axially inserted into the open end of the tubular channel, the electrical contact assembly including a plurality of contact members received in and projecting radially through the plurality of circumferentially spaced openings and a sleeve member of shape memory alloy freely overlying the contact members when in a first deformed-shape configuration and in engagement with the contact; members and with the outer peripheral surface of the tubular barrel when in a second memory-shaped configuration and adapted to urge the contact members into mechanical, electrical, and hermetically sealed engagement with the electrical lead.