Patent ID: 8682439

Claim:
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 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; and a plurality of axially-spaced-apart connector couplers disposed along the lumen such that the connector couplers are each exposed within the lumen, the connector couplers configured and arranged for coupling to a proximal end of a lead or lead extension when the proximal end of the lead or lead extension is inserted into the lumen, wherein each of the connector couplers comprises a plurality of circumferentially-spaced-apart coupling members each having an inner surface, an outer surface, a first end portion, and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion, wherein the plurality of coupling members comprises a first coupling member, wherein the inner surfaces of the coupling members are configured and arranged to couple to the proximal end of the lead or lead extension when the proximal end of the lead or lead extension is inserted into the lumen, and a plurality of elastic members coupling the coupling members to one another such that a distance between the coupling members is expandable from a relaxed state to an expanded state, the plurality of elastic members comprising a first elastic member and a second elastic member; wherein the first elastic member expandably attaches the first end portion of the first coupling member to a another coupling member of the plurality of coupling members; wherein the second elastic member expandably attaches the second end portion of the first coupling member to another coupling member of the plurality of coupling members.