Multipolar Medical Plug With Retaining Sleeve And Locking Ring
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturing of active implantable medical device leads with multipolar electrical connection plugs faces challenges due to tight dimensional tolerances and complex sealing requirements, particularly in coaxial configuration leads with movable elements, which increases manufacturing costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A simplified plug configuration using a cylindrical outer surface with axially distributed annular contacts and an axial contact, featuring a retaining sleeve and locking ring for secure connection and rotation, along with a biocompatible polymer seal to ensure compliance with ISO standards and reduce manufacturing steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If tight dimensional tolerances are imposed on the plug to meet ISO standards, then manufacturing precision is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The plug is divided into multiple components: an insulating body, a central conductor assembly, and a sealing element. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured separately with relaxed tolerances, then assembled to achieve the required overall precision, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining dimensional standards.
Solution Approach 2:
The central conductor is nested within the insulating body, and the sealing element is integrated into the conductor assembly. This nested structure allows compact arrangement of components and simplifies the overall manufacturing process by reducing the number of separate parts that need to be precisely positioned relative to each other.
2Reliability
If complex sealing requirements are imposed on coaxial configuration leads with movable elements, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is merged with the central conductor assembly by integrating a sealing element directly into the conductor structure. This combined design ensures reliable sealing at the interface between movable and stationary parts while simplifying manufacturing by reducing the number of separate sealing components that would need to be assembled.
3Ease of manufacture
If a simplified plug configuration is used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but connection reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The plug design applies local quality by providing enhanced structural features only where needed: the insulating body has reinforced regions at contact interfaces, the sealing element is positioned specifically at the conductor interface, and the overall structure maintains full dimensional compliance at critical connection points. This selective reinforcement maintains connection reliability while allowing simplification in non-critical areas.
Data Source
AI summary
A plug includes a pin having an axial contact at its opposite end with a mounting rod connected to a center conductor. At the interface between the pin and the inner wall of the plug body, a support sleeve mounted on the shaft and bearing axially against a collar formed on said rod is provided. Axially, a locking ring is secured to the shaft so that the support sleeve is clamped between the collar of the rod and the locking ring, if necessary, leaving a degree of freedom of rotation between the sleeve and the pin. Radially, the outer surface of the sleeve comes into direct contact with the inner wall of the bore of the plug body, to which it is directly secured. The direct attachment of the sleeve to the plug body may be obtained by a snap-in connection with notches cooperating with a counterpart groove.