Contact for a medical connector assembly

Abstract

A connector device for a medical device includes a cylindrical core of a non-conductive material, a bundle of a conductive material, and a sleeve of a conductive material. The cylindrical core includes an outer surface, an inner surface, a hollow center having a cross-sectional area, and a slot opening in the cylindrical core extending from the outer surface to the inner surface. The bundle is placed in the slot opening in the cylindrical core, wherein the bundle reduces the cross-sectional area of the hollow center of the cylindrical core. The sleeve of the conductive material is placed over the outer surface of the cylindrical core.

Description

[0001] Cross-application of related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 976,731, filed February 14, 2020, under 35 USC § 119(e), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This patent application relates to implantable medical devices, and more particularly to device connectors for implantable leads. Background Technology

[0004] Implantable or partially implantable medical devices may include a hermetically sealed metal housing that encloses electronic circuitry. In some implantable or partially implantable rhythm management devices, conductive implantable leads are used to sense electrical signals within the patient's body and deliver these signals as part of an electrotherapy treatment. Typically, the leads are implanted and subsequently connected to the implantable or partially implantable medical device. For ease of use by physicians, it is desirable for the connectors of the medical device to have low insertion force, while for patient comfort and satisfaction, it is desirable for the connectors to be robust and highly resilient against fretting fatigue. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This document relates to lead connector assemblies for medical devices. An example of a connector device includes a cylindrical core, a bundle of conductive material, and a sleeve of conductive material. The cylindrical core includes an outer surface, an inner surface, a hollow center having a cross-sectional area, and a slot opening extending from the outer surface to the inner surface within the cylindrical core. The bundle is placed within the slot opening in the cylindrical core, wherein the bundle reduces the cross-sectional area of ​​the hollow center of the cylindrical core. The sleeve of conductive material covers the outer surface of the cylindrical core.

[0006] An example of a connector assembly includes at least one modular core connector having a cylindrical shape and being made of a non-conductive material. The modular core connector includes an insertion portion having an outer diameter and including an outer surface, an inner surface, a hollow center having a cross-sectional area, and a slot opening extending from the outer surface to the inner surface; a receiving portion having an outer diameter and an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the insertion portion; a bundle of conductive material disposed in the slot opening of the insertion portion, with at least a portion of the bundle arranged within the cross-sectional area of ​​the hollow center of the insertion portion; and a sleeve of conductive material covering the outer surface of the insertion portion.

[0007] An example of a plug connector assembly includes multiple modular core connectors and a plug body. Each modular core connector has a cylindrical shape and includes an insertion portion having an outer diameter and including an outer surface, an inner surface, a hollow center having a cross-sectional area, and a slot opening extending from the outer surface to the inner surface; a receiving portion having an outer diameter and an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the insertion portion; a bundle of conductive material disposed in the slot opening of the insertion portion, and at least a portion of the bundle being disposed within the cross-sectional area of ​​the hollow center of the insertion portion; and a sleeve of conductive material covering the outer surface of the insertion portion. Multiple modular core connectors are arranged within the plug body, and the plug body includes multiple electrical contacts that contact the sleeve of conductive material of the multiple modular core connectors.

[0008] This summary is intended to provide an overview of the subject matter of this application. It is not intended to provide an exclusive or exhaustive explanation of the invention. The detailed description is included to provide further information regarding the subject matter of this patent application. Attached Figure Description

[0009] Figure 1 This is a partial schematic diagram of a system that uses implantable medical devices.

[0010] Figure 2A and Figure 2B These are two views of an example connector sub-component used in a medical device.

[0011] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of an example connector assembly used in medical devices.

[0012] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of an example of a cylindrical core of a connector subassembly used in a medical device.

[0013] Figures 5A-5B This is a schematic diagram of a portion of another example of a connector assembly used in medical devices.

[0014] Figures 6A-6C This is a schematic diagram of another example of a connector assembly used in medical devices.

[0015] Figures 7A-7B This is a schematic diagram of an example of a modular core connector for a connector assembly used in medical devices. Detailed Implementation

[0016] This document relates to a connector assembly for a portable (ambulatory) medical device. Figure 1This is a partial schematic diagram of a system using an implantable medical device (IMD). Some examples of IMD 110 include pacemakers, defibrillators, cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices, combinations of these devices, or devices used solely for diagnostic purposes. The system typically also includes an IMD programmer or other external device 170 that communicates wirelessly with the IMD 110, for example, using radio frequency (RF) or other telemetry signals 190.

[0017] The IMD110 can be connected to the heart 105 via one or more conductive leads 108A-C. Figure 1 The example cardiac leads 108A-C include a proximal end coupled to IMD 110 and a distal end coupled to one or more portions of heart 105 via electrical contacts or "electrodes". The electrodes typically deliver cardioversion, defibrillation, pacing, or resynchronization therapy, or combinations thereof, to at least one chamber of heart 105. The electrodes may be electrically coupled to a sensing amplifier to sense cardiac electrical signals. The sensed cardiac electrical signals may be sampled to create an electrogram. The electrogram may be analyzed by the IMD and / or may be stored in the IMD and subsequently communicated to an external device where the sampled signals can be displayed for analysis.

[0018] The cardiac leads 108A-C include a right atrium (RA) lead 108A, a right ventricle (RV) lead 108B, and a third cardiac lead 108C for placement in the coronary vein via the coronary vein on the epicardium of the left ventricle (LV).

[0019] IMD 110 includes a hermetically sealed IMD housing or canister 150 that houses electronic circuitry and a plug connector 155. Cardiac leads 108A-C are connected to the IMD via plug connector 155. For implantable cardiac rhythm management devices, electrical signals sensed within the body and transmitted to the body need to pass through the hermetically sealed enclosure. This is achieved via a feedthrough. The feedthrough, consisting of electrical conductors, typically pins, passes through insulating material and provides a connection from the circuitry inside the canister to a point outside the canister, maintaining the hermetically sealed enclosure. Plug connector 155 provides the electrical connection between the conductive leads and the feedthrough. It is desirable that the lead connectors of medical devices (e.g., Figure 1 The plug connector 155 in the middle has low insertion force and provides a robust connection with high elasticity and resistance to fretting fatigue.

[0020] Figure 2A and Figure 2BThese are two views of an example of a connector subassembly 202 for a connector used in a medical device. The connector subassembly 202 provides a mechanical connection for leads inserted into it and provides electrical contact for the leads. The connector subassembly 202 includes a cylindrical core 204. The cylindrical core 204 may be made of a conductive or non-conductive material. The cylindrical core 204 is barrel-shaped and has a hollow center or hole, as well as inner and outer surfaces. Figure 2A The cylindrical core 204 is shown to have one or more slots 206. The slots 206 extend from the outer surface of the core to the inner surface, and have a length extending in a direction oblique to the central axis of the cylindrical core 204. Figure 2A In the example, the cylindrical core 204 has three slots.

[0021] The connector subassembly 202 also includes a bundle 208 disposed in a slot 206 within the cylindrical core. Figure 2A and Figure 2B In the example, there are three bundle elements placed in three slots. From Figure 2A and Figure 2B As can be seen, when the bundle 208 is placed in the slot 206, at least a portion of the bundle is arranged within the cross-sectional area of ​​the hollow center. Figure 2B As can be seen, the three bundles 208 reduce the cross-sectional area of ​​the aperture in the cylindrical core 204. The connector subassembly 202 also includes a conductive sleeve 210 that covers the outer surface of the cylindrical core 204. In some examples, the sleeve 210 is a thiocyanate tube. In other examples, the sleeve 210 is a machined housing, a stamped housing, or a metal injection molding (MIM) additive manufacturing part. The conductive sleeve 210 is in electrical contact with the bundles 208. The sleeve 210 may include a slot that matches a slot in the cylindrical core 204. When the bundle is placed in the slot, the sleeve 210 can be twisted or rotated relative to the cylindrical core 204 to close the slot and hold the bundle in place.

[0022] When the bundled material element is placed in the slot, it is oriented slightly transverse to the central axis of the cylindrical core. The ends of the bundled material element are constrained by the sleeve 210. In some examples, the bundled material element is supported by the slot and the housing, and in other examples, the ends of the bundled material element are fixed, for example, by welding.

[0023] The lead end is inserted into connector subassembly 202 for connection. The lead can be used in a medical device for one or more of pacing, sensing, and defibrillation. The bundle element is flexible and forms a three-point bend structure to provide support to the lead end. In some examples, the bundle element is formed from a single wire fed into a slot opening. If there are three slot openings, the wire may include two or more bends to arrange the wire in the three slot openings. In some examples, the bundle floats freely between the inner retaining wall of the inner slot of the sleeve 210 and the cylindrical core 204. When the lead is inserted, the bundle (e.g., a wire bundle) is raised to contact the conductive sleeve 210.

[0024] The lead ends allow the bundle elements to elastically deform, and the bundle elements remain within their elastic deformation range. The lead ends include electrical contact areas, and the bundle elements are conductive and provide "cross-wire" points that contact the electrical contact areas of the lead ends. The stress on the bundle elements keeps them within their elastic deformation range, ensuring that the contact load remains consistent across multiple lead insertions.

[0025] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of an example connector assembly 312 for a medical device. The assembly includes a cylindrical core 304 and a sleeve 310. The sleeve 310 is shown as transparent, allowing the cylindrical core 304 and its slot to be seen. A lead is inserted into an insertion end 314 of the assembly and extends to an end cap 316 of the assembly. The insertion end 314 and the end cap 316 may be made of plastic. The connector assembly 312 may be included in a plug body, for example... Figure 1 The plug connector 155 is included. A plug body may include multiple connector assemblies.

[0026] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of another example of a cylindrical core 404 in a connector subassembly for a medical device. The connector subassembly provides mechanical connection and electrical contact for leads, wherein three electrical contacts are arranged in series on the leads. The cylindrical core 404 is similar to... Figure 2A and Figure 2B The example is shown, but the cylindrical core 404 is longer and includes three sets of slots 406. Each set of slots is positioned along the length of the cylindrical core to align with the position of the electrical contacts of the leads. The core may be pre-molded with slots 406, into which bundles of material can be pressed.

[0027] Figure 5A yes Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the cylindrical core 404 and a portion of the connector assembly 512 including the core. The bundle 508 is shown placed in a slot 406 of the cylindrical core 404. Figure 5B It shows Figure 5AA side view of connector assembly 512. Three bundle elements are shown extending away from cylindrical core 404. The three bundles 508 provide support for the leads and make electrical contact with the electrical contacts of the leads. Bundles 508 may be wires soldered to jumpers for feedthrough of the medical device. In a variation, one of the bundles 508 may be a longer wire than the others for feedthrough.

[0028] Figures 6A-6C This is a schematic diagram of another example of a connector assembly 612 for a medical device. Connector assembly 612 includes three modular core connectors 620. Each modular core connector includes a cylindrical core 604. Instead of a pre-molded core with three sets of slots for bundle elements, multiple modular core connectors can be built into the desired number of contacts that will be inserted into connector assembly 612.

[0029] as Figure 2A and Figure 2B Example 204 shows a cylindrical core 604 of a modular core connector, which is made of a non-conductive material. The cylindrical core 604 has a hollow center or hole, as well as inner and outer surfaces. However, the cylindrical core 604 of the modular core connector has two inner diameters and two outer diameters. The inner diameter of the receiving portion of the cylindrical core is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the receiving portion of the cylindrical core to allow the insertion end of one modular core connector to be inserted into the receiving end of another modular core connector. The modular core connectors 620 can be pressed together (e.g., on a pin tool) to form a complete hole for receiving leads.

[0030] Figure 6B It shows Figure 6A A cross-sectional view of an example connector assembly. It can be seen that the insertion end of the modular core connector 620 includes one or more slots extending from the outer surface of the insertion portion to the inner surface, and a bundle element 608 can be placed in the slot openings to contact the leads. A sleeve of conductive material covers the outer surface of the insertion end, and when the modular core connectors are joined together, a portion of the conductive sleeve 610 of one modular core connector is located within the receiving portion of another modular core connector.

[0031] Figure 6C yes Figure 6AAnother cross-sectional view of an example of connector assembly 612. In this example, the receiving portion of the modular core connector includes a first inner diameter and a second inner diameter larger than the first inner diameter to form an interference fit 622 in the receiving portion. An insertion end and conductive sleeve 610 of one modular core connector are inserted to interference fit with the receiving portion of another modular core connector. Each modular core connector 620 includes a seal 624 located within the receiving portion. The seal 624 may be electrically insulating to provide electrical insulation between the modular core connectors 620.

[0032] Figure 6C The diagram shows the rightmost modular core connector being inserted into the first cylindrical connector end 626 of the connector assembly. The first cylindrical connector end 626 also includes an interference fit 628 to receive the insertion end of the modular core connector and a seal 624. The connector assembly also includes a second cylindrical connector end 614, which is inserted into the leftmost modular core connector 620.

[0033] Back Figure 6B A first cylindrical connector end 626 is included in an end cap assembly 616, which includes an end cap 630 and a conductive sleeve 632. The end cap 630 may be made of plastic, and the conductive sleeve 632 may be made of metal. The inner diameters of the first cylindrical connector end 626, the conductive sleeve 632, and the end cap 630 are sized to receive one end of a lead. The end of the lead may be conductive, and the conductive sleeve provides an electrical contact with the end of the lead. The connector assembly 612 may be included in the plug body of a medical device, for example in… Figure 1 The plug connector 155 is included. For example... Figure 6A As shown, the conductive sleeve 632 may include an opening to receive a retaining screw 634, which can help secure the lead wire to the plug connector assembly.

[0034] Figures 6A-6C The connector assembly 612 is modular and can be assembled by first attaching the end cap 630 and the conductive sleeve 632, pressing the first cylindrical connector end 626 into the conductive sleeve 632, pressing the desired number of modular core connectors 620 into the first cylindrical connector end 626 and pressing them into each other, and then pressing the second cylindrical connector end 614 into the last modular core connector. If only one modular core connector 620 is used, the connector assembly 612 is similar to Figure 3 Connector assembly 312. Multiple connector assemblies may be included in the plug connector assembly to receive multiple leads.

[0035] Figures 7A-7BThis is a schematic diagram of another example of a modular core connector 720 for a connector assembly used in a medical device. Multiple modular core connectors 720 can be pressed together to form a... Figures 6A-6C The connector assembly in the example is shown, but in the modular core connector 720, a continuous wire 736 replaces three bundle elements to form the electrical contact and support for the inserted lead. Instead of a slot, the modular core connector 720 includes a tab 740, and the continuous wire 736 is fed through a aperture 738 and wound around the tab 740 to form a bend in the wire that provides electrical contact and support for the inserted lead. In a variant, the modular core connector 720 includes, as shown in the example connector assembly 720. Figure 2A and Figure 2B The slots shown (e.g., three slots) are used, and the wire is wound through the slots. The modular core connector 720 can be pre-molded, and a molded section is combined with the wire and inner seal, and then pressed into an adjacent similar connector to build a connector assembly.

[0036] The device described herein provides a connector with low insertion force for connecting electrical leads to a medical device. Some examples provide a three-point contact configuration that provides high contact pressure mating to maintain a secure connection with the leads, while still providing low lead insertion force for easy connector insertion.

[0037] Additional descriptions and examples

[0038] Example 1 includes a subject (such as a connector device for a medical device to provide electrical contact with conductive leads) comprising a cylindrical core including an outer surface, an inner surface, a hollow center having a cross-sectional area, and a slot opening extending from the outer surface to the inner surface in the cylindrical core; a bundle of conductive material disposed in the slot opening of the cylindrical core, wherein the bundle reduces the cross-sectional area of ​​the hollow center of the cylindrical core; and a sleeve of conductive material covering the outer surface of the cylindrical core.

[0039] In Example 2, the subject of Example 1 may optionally include a slot opening in the cylindrical core having a length extending along the cylindrical core in a direction oblique to the central axis of the cylindrical core.

[0040] In Example 3, the subject of one or both of Examples 1 and 2 may optionally include a cylindrical core comprising a plurality of slot openings, each slot opening having a length extending along the cylindrical core in a direction oblique to the central axis of the cylindrical core, and wherein the device includes a plurality of bundles disposed in the slot openings.

[0041] In Example 4, the subject of one or both of Examples 1 and 2 may optionally include a cylindrical core comprising a plurality of slot openings, and the bundle of conductive material is a wire having a plurality of bends and the wire is arranged in the plurality of slot openings.

[0042] In Example 5, the subject of Example 4 may optionally include a cylindrical core comprising three slot openings, each slot opening having a length extending along the cylindrical core in a direction oblique to the central axis of the cylindrical core, and the wire including two bends.

[0043] In Example 6, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 1-5 may optionally include flexible bundles.

[0044] Example 7 includes a subject matter (such as a connector assembly for a medical device) or may be optionally included in one or any combination of Examples 1-6 to include the subject matter, which includes a modular core connector having a cylindrical shape and being made of a non-conductive material. The modular core includes an insertion portion having an outer diameter and including an outer surface, an inner surface, a hollow center having a cross-sectional area, and a slot opening extending from the outer surface to the inner surface; a receiving portion having an outer diameter and an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the insertion portion; a bundle of conductive material disposed in the slot opening of the insertion portion, and at least a portion of the bundle being arranged within the cross-sectional area of ​​the hollow center of the insertion portion; and a sleeve of conductive material covering the outer surface of the insertion portion.

[0045] In Example 8, the subject of Example 7 may optionally include a conductive sleeve that includes a slot opening that matches the slot opening of the modular core and rotates relative to the slot opening of the insertion portion to secure the bundle in place.

[0046] In Example 9, the subject matter of one or both of Examples 7 and 8 may optionally include a first cylindrical connector end having a first inner diameter and a second inner diameter greater than the first inner diameter to form an interference fit, wherein an insertion end of a modular core connector is inserted into the first cylindrical connector end; and a second cylindrical connector end being inserted into a receiving end of a modular core connector.

[0047] In Example 10, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 7-9 may optionally include a plurality of modular core connectors, the plurality of modular core connectors including a first modular core connector and a second modular core connector, wherein the insertion portion of the second modular core connector is inserted into the receiving portion of the first modular core connector.

[0048] In Example 11, the subject matter of Example 10 may optionally include an electrically insulating seal disposed within the receiving portion of the first modular core connector and contacting the insertion portion of the second modular core connector.

[0049] In Example 12, the subject matter of one or both of Examples 10 and 11 may optionally include a first cylindrical connector end having a first inner diameter and a second inner diameter greater than the first inner diameter to form an interference fit, wherein an insertion portion of a first modular core connector of a plurality of modular cores is inserted into the first cylindrical connector end; and a second cylindrical connector end being inserted into a receiving portion of another modular core connector of a plurality of modular core connectors.

[0050] In Example 13, the subject matter of Example 12 may optionally include a first cylindrical connector end, the first cylindrical connector end including a first inner diameter and a second inner diameter, the first inner diameter being sized to receive a lead end inserted into a connector assembly, the second inner diameter being sized to receive an insertion portion of a first modular core connector, and wherein the first cylindrical connector end is coupled to an electrical contact.

[0051] In Example 14, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 7-13 may optionally include an insertion portion of a modular core connector, the insertion portion including a plurality of slot openings, each slot opening having a length extending along the insertion portion in a direction oblique to the central axis of the insertion portion, and wherein the device includes a plurality of flexible bundles disposed in the slot openings.

[0052] In Example 15, the subject matter of one or any combination of Examples 7-13 may optionally include an insertion portion of a modular core connector, the insertion portion including a plurality of slot openings, and a bundle of conductive material consisting of wires having a plurality of bends, the wires being arranged in the plurality of slot openings.

[0053] Example 16 may include a subject matter (such as a plug connector assembly for a medical device) or may optionally be combined with one or any combination of Examples 1-15 to include such a subject matter, which includes a plurality of modular core connectors and a plug body. Each modular core connector has a cylindrical shape and includes an insertion portion having an outer diameter and including an outer surface, an inner surface, a hollow center having a cross-sectional area, and a slot opening extending from the outer surface to the inner surface; a receiving portion having an outer diameter and an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the insertion portion; a bundle of conductive material disposed in the slot opening of the insertion portion, and at least a portion of the bundle being disposed within the cross-sectional area of ​​the hollow center of the insertion portion; and a sleeve of conductive material covering the outer surface of the insertion portion. The plurality of modular core connectors are disposed within the plug body, and the plug body includes a plurality of electrical contacts that contact the sleeve of conductive material of the plurality of modular core connectors.

[0054] In Example 17, the subject matter of Example 16 may optionally include a plurality of modular core connectors, the plurality of modular core connectors including a first modular core connector and a second modular core connector, wherein an insertion portion of the second modular core connector is inserted into a receiving portion of the first modular core connector.

[0055] In Example 18, the subject matter of Example 17 may optionally include an electrically insulating seal disposed within the receiving portion of the first modular core connector and contacting the insertion portion of the second modular core connector.

[0056] In Example 19, the subject matter of one or both of Examples 17 and 18 may optionally include a first cylindrical connector end disposed within the plug body and including a first inner diameter and a second inner diameter greater than the first inner diameter to form an interference fit, wherein the insertion portion of a first modular core connector of a plurality of modular cores is inserted into the first cylindrical connector end; and a second cylindrical connector end disposed within the plug body and inserted into the receiving portion of another modular core connector of a plurality of modular core connectors.

[0057] In Example 20, the subject matter of Example 19 may optionally include a first cylindrical connector end, the first cylindrical connector end including a first inner diameter and a second inner diameter, the first inner diameter being sized to receive a conductive lead end inserted into a connector assembly, the second inner diameter being sized to receive an insertion end of a first modular core connector, and wherein the first cylindrical connector end includes an electrical contact positioned to contact the conductive lead end.

[0058] Non-limiting examples can be combined in any arrangement or combination. The detailed description above includes reference to the accompanying drawings, which form part of the detailed description. The drawings illustrate, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. These embodiments are also referred to herein as “examples.” All publications, patents, and patent documents mentioned in this invention are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, as if separately incorporated herein by reference. If there is any inconsistency between the usage of this invention and those inventions incorporated by reference, the usage in the incorporated reference shall be considered supplementary to this invention; in the case of irreconcilable inconsistencies, the usage in this invention shall prevail.

[0059] In this invention, as is common in patent documents, the terms “a” or “an” are used to include one or more, independent of any other example or use of “at least one” or “one or more.” Hereinafter, the term “or” is used to mean non-exclusive or, therefore “A or B” includes “A but not B,” “B but not A,” and “A and B,” unless expressly stated otherwise. In the appended claims, the terms “comprising” and “therein” are used as concise English equivalents to the corresponding terms “including” and “wherein.” Furthermore, in the following claims, the terms “comprising” and “including” are open-ended, meaning that a system, apparatus, article, or process that includes elements other than those listed after the term in a claim is still considered to fall within the scope of that claim. Additionally, in the following claims, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc., are used merely as labels and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects.

[0060] The methods described herein can be implemented, at least in part, by a machine or computer. Some examples may include a computer-readable or machine-readable medium encoded with instructions operable to configure an electronic device to perform the methods described in the examples above. Implementation of these methods may include code, such as microcode, assembly language code, high-level language code, etc. Such code may include computer-readable instructions for performing various methods. This code may form part of a computer program product. Furthermore, the code may be tangibly stored on one or more volatile or non-volatile computer-readable media during execution or at other times. These computer-readable media may include, but are not limited to, hard disks, removable disks, removable optical discs (e.g., optical discs and digital video discs), magnetic tape cassettes, memory cards or memory sticks, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), etc. In some examples, a carrier medium may carry the code implementing these methods. The term "carrier medium" can be used to refer to a carrier wave carrying the code.

[0061] The foregoing description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. For example, the foregoing examples (or one or more aspects) may be used in combination with each other. Other embodiments may be used by one of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The summary is provided to comply with the requirements of 37 C.FR 1.72(b) to allow the reader to quickly determine the nature of the technical disclosure. The summary is provided on the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Furthermore, in the foregoing detailed description, various features may be combined to simplify this disclosure. This should not be construed as implying that any unclaimed disclosed feature is necessary for any claim. Rather, the inventive subject matter may be present in fewer than all features of a particular disclosed embodiment. Therefore, the following claims are thus incorporated into the detailed description, each claim existing independently as a separate embodiment. The scope of the invention should be determined by reference to the appended claims and the full scope of their equivalents.

Claims

1. A connector device for a medical device for providing electrical contact to conductive leads, the device comprising: A cylindrical core, the cylindrical core including an outer surface, an inner surface, a hollow center having a cross-sectional area, and a slot opening in the cylindrical core extending from the outer surface to the inner surface; A bundle of conductive material is placed in a slot opening of the cylindrical core, wherein the bundle reduces the cross-sectional area of ​​the hollow center of the cylindrical core; as well as A conductive material sleeve is placed on the outer surface of the cylindrical core. The conductive material sleeve includes a slot opening that matches the slot opening of the cylindrical core and rotates relative to the slot opening of the cylindrical core to fix the bundle in place.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein, The slot opening in the cylindrical core has a length extending along the cylindrical core in a direction oblique to the central axis of the cylindrical core.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein, The cylindrical core includes a plurality of slot openings, each slot opening having a length extending along the cylindrical core in a direction oblique to the central axis of the cylindrical core, and wherein the device includes a plurality of bundles disposed in the slot openings.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein, The cylindrical core includes multiple slot openings, and the bundle of conductive material is a wire with multiple bends, and the wire is arranged in the multiple slot openings.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein, The cylindrical core includes three slot openings, each slot opening having a length extending along the cylindrical core in a direction oblique to the central axis of the cylindrical core, and the wire includes two bends.

6. The device according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein the bundle material is flexible.

7. A connector assembly for a medical device, the connector assembly comprising: A modular core connector, the modular core connector having a cylindrical shape and being made of a non-conductive material, the modular core connector comprising: An insertion portion having an outer diameter and including an outer surface, an inner surface, a hollow center having a cross-sectional area, and a slot opening extending from the outer surface to the inner surface; The receiving portion has an outer diameter and an inner diameter that are larger than the outer diameter of the insertion portion; A bundle of conductive material, the bundle of conductive material being placed in the slot opening of the insertion portion, and at least a portion of the bundle being arranged within the cross-sectional area of ​​the hollow center of the insertion portion; and A conductive material sleeve is placed on the outer surface of the insertion portion, wherein the conductive material sleeve includes a slot opening that matches a slot opening of the modular core connector and rotates relative to the slot opening of the insertion portion to secure the bundle in place.

8. The connector assembly of claim 7, comprising: The first cylindrical connector end includes a first inner diameter and a second inner diameter larger than the first inner diameter to form an interference fit, wherein the insertion end of the modular core connector is inserted into the first cylindrical connector end; and The second cylindrical connector end is inserted into the receiving end of the modular core connector.

9. The connector assembly of claim 7, comprising a plurality of modular core connectors, the plurality of modular core connectors including a first modular core connector and a second modular core connector, wherein an insertion portion of the second modular core connector is inserted into a receiving portion of the first modular core connector.

10. The connector assembly of claim 9, further comprising an electrically insulating seal disposed within a receiving portion of the first modular core connector and contacting an insertion portion of the second modular core connector.

11. The connector assembly of claim 9, comprising: The first cylindrical connector end includes a first inner diameter and a second inner diameter larger than the first inner diameter to form an interference fit, wherein the insertion portion of the first modular core connector of a plurality of modular core connectors is inserted into the first cylindrical connector end; as well as The second cylindrical connector end is inserted into the receiving portion of another modular core connector among the plurality of modular core connectors.

12. The connector assembly of claim 11, wherein, The first cylindrical connector end includes a first inner diameter and a second inner diameter, the first inner diameter being sized to receive a lead end inserted into the connector assembly, the second inner diameter being sized to receive an insertion portion of the first modular core connector, and wherein the first cylindrical connector end is coupled to an electrical contact.

13. The connector assembly of claim 7, wherein, The insertion portion of the modular core connector includes a plurality of slot openings, each slot opening having a length extending along the insertion portion in a direction oblique to the central axis of the insertion portion, and wherein the connector assembly includes a plurality of flexible bundles disposed in the slot openings.

14. The connector assembly according to any one of claims 7-13, wherein, The insertion portion of the modular core connector includes multiple slot openings, and the bundle of conductive material is a wire with multiple bends, and the wire is arranged in the multiple slot openings.

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