Neurological Screening Connector Cable Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical lead screening systems face challenges in managing and retaining conductor cables efficiently, which can lead to complications during the trial period of neurostimulation therapy, affecting the efficacy and convenience of patient assessment.
Innovation Solution
A medical lead screening connector with a housing, lead receptor channels, and a rotating base element that reels in the conductor cable, featuring a groove for cable retention and an elliptical cross-sectional design for improved cable management and secure connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional screening cable is used without cable management features, then the device structure remains simple, but the conductor cable becomes difficult to manage and retain during patient movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into the connector housing: cable retention through grooves, cable reeling through a rotatable base element, and lead connection through receptor channels. This integration of cable management features directly into the connector eliminates the need for separate cable management devices, resolving the contradiction by improving ease of operation while minimizing additional structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable base element with groove allows the cable to be reeled in and stored automatically within the connector housing itself. The structure serves its own cable management needs through the self-contained reeling mechanism, eliminating the need for external cable management systems and improving ease of operation without proportionally increasing device complexity.
2Ease of operation
If the conductor cable is made longer to allow patient movement during trial period, then patient mobility is improved, but the cable becomes more prone to tangling and disconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable base element provides a dynamic cable management solution that adapts to patient movement. As the patient moves, the cable can be reeled in or paid out by rotating the base element, maintaining an organized cable path. This dynamic mechanism prevents tangling and disconnection while allowing patient mobility, resolving the contradiction between mobility and connection stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable is nested within the connector housing when not in use, with the groove providing a designated path for cable storage. This nesting arrangement keeps the cable organized and secure during patient movement, preventing tangling and disconnection while maintaining the ability to extend cable length for mobility when needed.
3Reliability
If the screening connector is designed with basic lead reception only, then the device structure remains simple, but cable management and retention during trial period are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies cable management features (grooves, rotatable base element) specifically where needed - at the connector housing - rather than throughout the entire system. This localized approach to cable retention improves reliability at the critical connection point while minimizing the overall increase in device complexity by keeping the rest of the system simple.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical lead screening connector includes a housing, a plurality of lead receptor channels disposed within the housing, a cover hingedly attached to the housing, and a base element rotationally attached to the housing. Each lead receptor channel includes at least two lead receptor contacts. A conductor cable is attached to and extends away from the housing. The base element is configured to reel in the conductor cable upon rotation of the base element.