Multielectrode quick connect cardiac pacing lead connector assembly

Claim 2

A cardiac pacing system including: a multiconductor, multielectrode pacing lead having a distal end and a proximal end, and a cardiac pacer comprising a metal case with a plurality of insulated conductor feedthroughs in a top side thereof and a neck mounted to said top side of said metal case, said neck being made of a soft pliable material, flexible means within said neck material for connecting each insulated conductor feedthrough to a specific electrode of a multielectrode pacing lead, said flexible connecting means comprising a plurality of U-shaped electrical contacts, each having a bight and two upstanding legs for contacting ring contacts at the proximal end of the pacing lead, said neck having a lumen with a closed proximal end and an open distal end which receives said multiconductor pacing lead, said upstanding legs of each U-shaped electrical contact straddling the lumen in position to flexibly engage and grip a respective ring contact on the pacing lead, and said neck having a slit on its top side extending along the length of the neck and inwardly to a position above said lumen and between upper ends of said two upstanding legs of each U-shaped contact.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1 wherein said neck has a skirt or is flared at the distal end of said lumen for retarding fluid entry into said lumen and for providing a point of anchorage for said neck.

Claim 4

The system of claim 1 wherein a distal end portion of said neck is elongate, receives the proximal end of said pacing lead therein and therethrough and serves to relieve possible strain on the lead by preventing sharp bends in the lead portion within said elongate end portion.

Claim 5

The system of claim 3 wherein said elongate end portion is a generally curved tubular end portion.

Claim 6

The system of claim 1 including means in said neck for reinforcing said neck along its length.

Claim 7

The system of claim 1 wherein said soft pliable neck is made of an elastomeric material.

Claim 8

The system of claim 1 wherein said legs of said electrical contacts are flexible spring contacts.

Claim 9

The system of claim 1 further including a T-in-cross-section elongate tool which is adapted to be inserted in said slit for spreading said legs of said contacts apart to facilitate insertion and removal of said proximal end of said pacing lead into said lumen and between the legs of said contacts.

Claim 10

The system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of electrical contacts is eight in number.

Claim 11

The system of claim 1 including a second plurality of contacts mounted to the top side of said case and said neck having a second lumen and a second slit above said second lumen with said second plurality of contacts extending into said second lumen.

Claim 12

The system of claim 10 wherein the axis of said second lumen is above the axis of said first lumen in said neck such that said lumens and contacts therein are staggered, the second being above the first.

Claim 13

The system of claim 10 wherein the contacts extending into one lumen are staggered along that lumen relative to the contacts extending into the other lumen so that the contacts in the respective lumens are not adjacent each other but are staggered.

Claim 14

A cardiac pacing system including a multiconductor, multielectrode pacing lead having a distal end and a proximal end, and a cardiac pacer comprising a metal case with a plurality of insulated conductor feedthroughs in a top side thereof and a neck mounted to said top side of said metal case, said neck being made of a soft pliable material, flexible means within said neck material for connecting each insulated conductor feedthrough to a specific electrode of a multielectrode pacing lead, said flexible connecting means comprising a plurality of U-shaped electrical contacts, each having a bight and two upstanding legs for contacting ring contacted at the proximal end of the pacing lead, said neck having a lumen with a closed proximal end and an open distal end which receives said multiconductor pacing lead, said upstanding legs of each U-shaped electrical contact straddling said lumen in position to flexibly engage a respective ring contact on the pacing lead, means in said neck for reinforcing said neck for reinforcing said neck along its length, and said reinforcing means comprising two parallel reinforcing bars each one of which extends from approximately said closed end to approximately said open end of said neck and to one side of said lumen.

Claim 15

A cardiac pacing system including a multiconductor, multielectrode pacing lead having a distal end and a proximal end, and a cardiac pacer comprising a metal case with a plurality of insulated conductor feedthroughs in a top side thereof and a neck mounted to said top side of said metal case, said neck being made of a soft pliable material, flexible means within said neck material for connecting each insulated conductor feedthrough to a specific electrode of a multielectrode pacing lead, said flexible connecting means comprising a plurality of U-shaped electrical contacts, each having a bight and two upstanding legs for contacting ring contacted at the proximal end of the pacing lead, said neck having a lumen with a closed proximal end and an open distal end which receives said multiconductor pacing lead, said upstanding legs of each U-shaped electrical contact straddling said lumen in position to flexibly engage a respective ring contact on the pacing lead, means in said neck for reinforcing said neck for reinforcing said neck along its length, and said reinforcing means comprising two parallel reinforcing bars each one of which extends from approximately said closed end to approximately said open end of said neck and to one side of said lumen.

Claim 16

The system of claim 13 wherein said reinforcing bars have a plurality of holes therethrough which facilitate molding of said pliable neck material to said reinforcing bars.

Claim 17

The system of claim 14 wherein said reinforcing bars are made of titanium.

Claim 18

The system of claim 13 wherein said neck has a skirt or is flared at the distal end of said lumen for retarding fluid entry into said lumen and for providing a point of anchorage for said neck.

Claim 19

The system of claim 8 wherein a distal end portion of said neck is elongate, receives the proximal end of said pacing lead therein and therethrough and serves to relieve possible strain on the lead by preventing sharp bends in the lead portion within said elongate end portion.

Claim 20

The system of claim 13 wherein said soft pliable neck is made of an elastomeric material.

Claim 21

A cardiac pacing system including a multiconductor, multielectrode pacing lead having a distal end and a proximal end and a cardiac pacer comprising a metal case with a plurality of insulated conductor feedthroughs in a top side thereof and a neck mounted to said top side of said metal case, said neck being made of a soft pliable material, flexible means within said neck material for connecting each insulated conductor feedthrough to a specific electrode of a multielectrode pacing lead, said flexible connecting means comprising a plurality of U-shaped electrical contacts each having a bight and two upstanding legs for contacting ring contacts on said proximal end of said pacing lead, said neck having a lumen with a closed proximal end and an open distal end which receives said multiconductor pacing lead, said upstanding legs of each U-shaped electrical contact straddling said lumen and flexibly engaging a respective ring contact on said pacing lead, and said neck having a plurality of radial projections protruding into said lumen of said neck for sealing said neck against said pacing lead at various points along said pacing lead between ring contacts thereof.

Claim 22

A cardiac pacing system including a multiconductor, multielectrode pacing lead having a distal end and a proximal end and a cardiac pacer comprising a metal case with a plurality of insulated conductor feedthroughs in a top side thereof and a neck mounted to said top side of said metal case, said neck being made of a soft pliable material, flexible means within said neck material for connecting each insulated conductor feedthrough to a specific electrode of a multielectrode pacing lead, said flexible connecting means comprising a plurality of U-shaped electrical contacts each having a bight and two upstanding legs for contacting ring contacts on said proximal end of said pacing lead, said neck having a lumen with a closed proximal end and an open distal end which receives said multiconductor pacing lead, said upstanding legs of each U-shaped electrical contact straddling said lumen and flexibly engaging a respective ring contact on said pacing lead, and said neck having a plurality of radial projections protruding into said lumen of said neck for sealing said neck against said pacing lead at various points along said pacing lead between ring contacts thereof.

Claim 23

The system of claim 19 wherein said neck has a skirt or is flared at the distal end of said lumen for retarding fluid entry into said lumen and for providing a point of anchorage for said neck.

Claim 24

The system of claim 19 wherein a distal end portion of said neck is elongate, receives the proximal end of said pacing lead therein and therethrough and serves to relieve possible strain on the lead by preventing sharp bends in the lead portion within said elongate end portion.

Claim 25

The system of claim 19 wherein said soft pliable neck is made of an elastomeric material.

Claim 26

The system of claim 19 wherein said legs of said electrical contacts are flexible spring contacts.