US5103818A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for completing electrical connections in an implantable medical device
Assignee: Pacesetter Inc
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Filing: 1990-11-13
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Granted: 1992-04-14
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Expires: 2010-11-13
Abstract
Abstract An arrangement is provided which enables the rapid and effective termination of electrical junctions for an implantable medical device such as a heart pacemaker, a defibrillator, or a cardioverter. A circuit board supporting electronic circuitry is receivable in a housing for the medical device and is provided with a plurality of female connectors on its outer surface. The female connectors are positioned and shaped to receive and guide mating male components into abutting engagement therewith. The mating male components include feedthrough wires which extend between the interior and the exterior of the housing and conductive pins from a battery used to power the medical device. When the male components and female connectors are in abutting engagement, they are fusion welded as by a laser or electron beam.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert E. Maston
- 👤 Donald W. Karl
- 👤 Alvin H. Weinberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 10:10
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/36; A61N1/372; A61N1/375; A61N1/3752; A61N1/3754
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
236 words
A system for completing electrical connections in an implantable medical device comprising: a housing including a sidewall; a circuit board supporting electronic circuitry receivable in said housing, said circuit board including a plurality of female connectors thereon, each of said female connectors shaped to receive and guide a mating male component into abutting engagement therewith and each of said female connectors having electrical continuity with said electronic circuitry; a battery including a casing having an end wall, said battery adapted for placement in said housing adjacent said circuit board and including a pair of conductive pins projecting away from said endwall so as to overlie said circuit board, each of said conductive pins being matingly engageable with an associated one of said female connectors as said battery is inserted into said housing for placement therein; at least a pair of feedthrough wires extending through said sidewall from a location external of said housing to a location within said housing and overlying said circuit board, each of said feedthrough wires being matingly engageable with an associated one of said female connectors; said conductive pins being fusion welded to said associated female connectors for mechanical fixation thereto and for electrical continuity between said battery and said electronic circuitry; said feedthrough wires within said housing being fusion welded to said associated female connectors for mechanical fixation thereto and for electrical continuity between said feedthrough wires and said electronic circuitry.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
236 words
A system for completing electrical connections in an implantable medical device comprising: a housing including a sidewall; a circuit board supporting electronic circuitry receivable in said housing, said circuit board including a plurality of female connectors thereon, each of said female connectors shaped to receive and guide a mating male component into abutting engagement therewith and each of said female connectors having electrical continuity with said electronic circuitry; a battery including a casing having an end wall, said battery adapted for placement in said housing adjacent said circuit board and including a pair of conductive pins projecting away from said endwall so as to overlie said circuit board, each of said conductive pins being matingly engageable with an associated one of said female connectors as said battery is inserted into said housing for placement therein; at least a pair of feedthrough wires extending through said sidewall from a location external of said housing to a location within said housing and overlying said circuit board, each of said feedthrough wires being matingly engageable with an associated one of said female connectors; said conductive pins being fusion welded to said associated female connectors for mechanical fixation thereto and for electrical continuity between said battery and said electronic circuitry; said feedthrough wires within said housing being fusion welded to said associated female connectors for mechanical fixation thereto and for electrical continuity between said feedthrough wires and said electronic circuitry.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said implantable medical device is alternatively a heart pacemaker, a defibrillator, or a cardioverter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said female connectors includes a pad member and means for fixing said pad member to said circuit board, said pad member having a longitudinally extending groove facing in a direction away from said circuit board for mating reception therein of said associated mating male component.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
A system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said circuit board includes a substrate composed of a ceramic material; wherein said pad member is composed of an alloy of iron, nickel, and cobalt; and wherein said pad member has one surface bonded to said substrate and has an opposite surface with said longitudinally extending groove therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said female connectors includes: a foot member for mounting on said circuit board; a connector member spaced from said foot member for reception therein of said mating male component; and strain relief means resiliently joining said connector member to said foot member to thereby isolate said connector member and said mating male component when united from abrupt movements imparted to said circuit board.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
A system as set forth in claim 5, wherein said connector member includes a tubular split socket for resiliently receiving and gripping an associated said mating male component; and wherein said strain relief means includes a pylon integral with said foot member and said socket and transverse thereto, said pylon holding said socket spaced from said foot member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said circuit board includes a substrate composed of a ceramic material; and wherein each of said female connectors is composed of nickel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
73 words
A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said circuit board has supported thereon an electrical coil having a pair of male coil leads extending from said electrical coil, said male coil leads being matingly engageable with an associated one of said female connectors, said male coil leads being fusion welded to said associated female connectors for mechanical fixation thereto and for electrical continuity between said electrical coil and said electronic circuitry.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
73 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 including: a reed switch having input and output leads extending therefrom; and wherein said circuit board has supported thereon a pair of female connectors positioned and shaped for guiding reception of said switch leads into abutting engagement therewith, said switch leads being fusion welded to said associated female connectors for mechanical fixation thereto and for electrical continuity between said reed switch and said electronic circuitry.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
124 words
A system for completing electrical connections in an implantable medical device comprising: a housing including a planar bottom wall; a circuit board supporting electronic circuitry thereon receivable in said housing so as to lie in a plane parallel to said bottom wall, said circuit board including a plurality of female connectors thereon, each of said female connectors shaped to receive and guide a mating male component into abutting engagement therewith generally lying within a plane parallel to said bottom wall, each of said female connectors having electrical continuity with said electronic circuitry; each of said mating male components being fusion welded to said associated female connectors for mechanical fixation thereto and for electrical continuity between each of said male components and said electronic circuitry.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
124 words
A system for completing electrical connections in an implantable medical device comprising: a housing including a planar bottom wall; a circuit board supporting electronic circuitry thereon receivable in said housing so as to lie in a plane parallel to said bottom wall, said circuit board including a plurality of female connectors thereon, each of said female connectors shaped to receive and guide a mating male component into abutting engagement therewith generally lying within a plane parallel to said bottom wall, each of said female connectors having electrical continuity with said electronic circuitry; each of said mating male components being fusion welded to said associated female connectors for mechanical fixation thereto and for electrical continuity between each of said male components and said electronic circuitry.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of completing electrical connections within an implantable medical device comprising the steps of: providing a circuit board supporting thereon electronic circuitry and a plurality of female connectors having electrical continuity with said electronic circuitry, each of the female connectors being shaped to receive and guide a mating male component into abutting engagement therewith; assembling the circuit board and a battery for energizing the electronic circuitry, the battery including outwardly projecting conductive pins, in the interior of a housing having at least a pair of feedthrough wires extending to a location within the housing, such that each of the feedthrough wires is matingly engaged with an associated one of the female connectors and such that each of the conductive pins is matingly engaged with an associated one of the female connectors; and fusion welding in a single operation all of the matingly engaged male components and their associated female connectors.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of completing electrical connections within an implantable medical device comprising the steps of: providing a circuit board supporting thereon electronic circuitry and a plurality of female connectors having electrical continuity with said electronic circuitry, each of the female connectors being shaped to receive and guide a mating male component into abutting engagement therewith; assembling the circuit board and a battery for energizing the electronic circuitry, the battery including outwardly projecting conductive pins, in the interior of a housing having at least a pair of feedthrough wires extending to a location within the housing, such that each of the feedthrough wires is matingly engaged with an associated one of the female connectors and such that each of the conductive pins is matingly engaged with an associated one of the female connectors; and fusion welding in a single operation all of the matingly engaged male components and their associated female connectors.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as set forth in claim 11 including the step of isolating the female connectors and their associated united mating male components from abrupt movements imparted to the circuit board.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as set forth in claim 11, wherein the isolating step includes the step of resiliently mounting the female connectors on the circuit board.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-04-14 | 1995-10-14 | 1996-04-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-04-14 | 1999-10-14 | 2000-04-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-04-14 | 2003-10-14 | 2004-04-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |