Patent ID: 8162684
Filing Date: 2012-04-24
Classification: A61N,H01R,Y10S

Abstract:
1. An implantable electrical connector assembly for separably connecting at least one implantable multi-conductor lead to an implantable device having electronic circuitry contained inside a hermetically sealed case, comprising: (a) a hermetic electrical feedthrough comprising a housing having inside walls which have undercuts; at least one dielectric substrate having an exterior side and an interior side, and a plurality of conductive feedthrough pins hermetically sealed in the dielectric substrate; the hermetic feedthrough having at least one exterior cavity formed by the inside walls of the feedthrough housing and the exterior side of the dielectric substrate; the feedthrough pins providing pass-through connections from the exterior cavity to the electronic circuitry in the interior of the implantable device, each feedthrough pin being adapted to accommodate a compressible contact; (b) at least one implantable lead comprising a proximal contact terminal having a plurality of lead contacts, each lead contact connected to at least one conductor of the multi-conductor lead, the lead contacts disposed in a pattern mapped directly to the plurality of the feedthrough pins; (c) a plurality of compressible contacts, each compressible contact electrically connected to a respective feedthrough pin and integrated with the feedthrough pin to form a compressible contact assembly which protectively accommodates the compressible contact, the compressible contact having an outer end adapted to making a separable electrical connection to the corresponding lead contact when the connector is pressurized; (d) a sealing means adapted to provide electrical isolation of each separable electrical connection when the connector is pressurized; and (e) a clamping cover comprising a bottom plate, a top plate, and at least one cam rotatably captivated between the top and bottom plates, the top and bottom plates joined together and generally fitting within the corresponding inside walls of the feedthrough housing, wherein after the cover is placed over at least one lead terminal in the feedthrough external cavity, the cams are aligned with the undercuts on the feedthrough housing inside walls and the cover can be engaged to and disengaged from the feedthrough housing by rotating the cams with a simple tool, whereby when the cover is engaged to the feedthrough housing, the lead contacts are forcibly mated with the compressible contacts and the sealing means is activated by being compressed against the exterior side of the dielectric substrate.