Patent ID: 7835795

Claim:
A lead retention assembly comprising: a first part including (i) a first retention member defining a first opening configured to receive a lead body, (ii) a second retention member longitudinally spaced apart from the first retention member, the second retention member defining a second opening configured to receive the lead body, (iii) a deformable first outer member substantially concentric with the first retention member, (iv) a deformable second outer member substantially concentric with the second retention member, and (v) an alignment element operably coupled to the first and second outer members, wherein the alignment element is configured to maintain axial alignment of the first and second openings alone a first axis, wherein the first part is formed of conductive material and is configured to be electrically coupled to a conductor of a device of which the assembly forms a part; and a second part including (i) a third retention member defining a third opening configured to receive the lead body, the third retention member being disposed between the first and second retention members (ii) member substantially concentric with the third retention member, and (iii) an extension element operably coupled to the third outer member and configured to engage at least a portion of the first and second outer members in use, wherein the first, second and third outer members bias the third retention member such that the third opening is centered on a second axis wherein application of a compressive force to the assembly causes the first, second and third outer members to deform, allowing the third retention member to move to a position such that the first, second and third openings are aligned along a common axis, allowing the lead body to be inserted within the first, second and third openings.