Implantable connector cleaning system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10112041-B2
Application number	US-201313921920-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 19, 2013
Priority date	Jun 19, 2013
Publication date	Oct 30, 2018
Grant date	Oct 30, 2018

Abstract

A system for cleaning mating parts of an implantable connector includes an implantable connector and a cleaning structure. The implantable connector includes first and second detachable mating parts configured: to be implantable in living tissue; to terminate at least a first segment of a cable; and to have with first and second interfacing surfaces, respectively. The clean structure includes: a cleaning structure configured to clean the first and second interfacing surfaces as the first and second mating parts are being engaged.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
an implantable connector including first and second detachable mating parts configured:
to be implantable in living tissue;
to terminate at least a first segment of a cable; and
to have first and second interfacing surfaces, respectively; and

a cleaning structure configured to clean the first and second interfacing surfaces as the first and second mating parts are being engaged.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the cleaning structure is further configured to be compressed between the first and second interfacing surfaces of the engaging first and second mating parts.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein:
the cleaning structure is further configured to be withdrawn from between the first and second interfacing surfaces while being compressed by the same.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein:
the second mating part is further configured with a through-hole;
the connector further includes:
a frictional engaging member;

the first mating part is further configured with a frictional engaging recess corresponding to, and complementarily-shaped with respect to, the frictional engaging member; and
the member is insertable into the recess;
cleaning structure is further configured with a hole through which passes the member when the member extends from the second mating part into the first mating part.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein:
the member is a screw; and
the recess is a threaded hole.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein:
the cleaning structure is further configured to facilitate being cleaved, at least in part, by the member as the cleaning structure is being withdrawn from between the first and second interfacing surfaces.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein:
the cleaning structure includes one or more tabs that overhang one or more corresponding edges of the first and second mating parts;
each tab being configured to be grasped and thereby used to transfer a withdrawal force to the cleaning structure by which to withdraw at least a corresponding part thereof from between the first and second interfacing surfaces.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein:
the cleaning structure is further configured with one or more sets of tear perforations corresponding to the one or more tabs, each set of tear perforations being located substantially along a radius extending from the hole along at least one of the following directions:
a direction substantially opposite to the corresponding tab; and
a direction substantially perpendicular to the corresponding tab.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the cleaning structure is further configured to facilitate being cleaved, at least in part, by a force applied to the cleaning structure for withdrawing the same from between the first and second interfacing surfaces.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein:
the cleaning structure is further configured with one or more sets of tear perforations to facilitate the at least cleaving of the cleaning structure.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the cleaning structure is a dry wipe.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein:
the wipe includes a nonwoven fabric.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein:
the cleaning structure is a wet wipe the liquid of which includes at least one cleaning additive.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the cleaning structure is a removable layer of material disposed in contact with one of the first and second interfacing surfaces so as to seal the same from the ambient environment.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the second mating part is further configured with a centrally located through-hole; and
the cleaning structure is further configured to be withdrawn through the through-hole.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the cleaning structure is a layer of foam or viscous material temporarily adhered to at least one of the first and second mating parts.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the second mating part is further configured with a through-hole;
the cleaning structure includes:
a fluid-delivery arrangement configured to provide pressurized fluid into the through-hole so as to deliver the pressurized fluid between the first and second interfacing surfaces and thereby wash the same.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein:
the fluid is one of a gas and a bioresorbable liquid.

19. The system of claim 17 the wherein the fluid-delivery arrangement includes:
a source of the pressurized fluid; and
a nozzle configured to direct the pressurized fluid from the source into the through-hole.

20. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the cleaning structure is a removable layer of material disposed in contact with one of the first and second interfacing surfaces so as to seal the same from the ambient environment.

21. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the cleaning structure is further configured to be withdrawn from between the first and second interfacing surfaces while being located between the surfaces.

22. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the cleaning structure is further configured to be withdrawn in parts from the implantable connector, a first part of the parts being withdrawn in one direction, a second part of the parts being withdrawn in a direction at least substantially opposite of the first direction.

23. A system, comprising:
a first implantable mating part of a connector terminating a first segment of a first cable;
a second implantable mating part of a connector terminating a second segment of a cable, wherein the first and second detachable mating parts are configured:
to be implantable in living tissue; and
to have first and second interfacing surfaces, respectively; and

a cleaning structure configured to clean the first and second interfacing surfaces as the first and second mating parts are being engaged, the cleaning structure being interposed between the first and second interfacing surfaces and being removable when a compression force is applied to the cleaning structure via the first implantable mating part and the second implantable mating part such that upon removal of the cleaning structure when the compression force is applied, the first and second surfaces are cleaned.

24. A system for cleaning mating parts of an implantable connector comprising:
an implantable connector including first and second detachable mating parts configured:
to be implantable in living tissue;
to terminate at least a first segment of a cable; and
to have first and second interfacing surfaces, respectively; and

a cleaning structure configured to clean the first and second interfacing surfaces as the first and second mating parts are being engaged.

25. The system of claim 24 , wherein:
the first mating part includes a through hole extending from a first face of the first mating part to a second face of the mating part, the second face of the mating part including the first interfacing surface, the first face and the second face being opposite one another; and
the cleaning structure includes a component that extends from the location between the first and second mating parts, through the hole to a location above the first face.

26. The system of claim 24 , wherein:
the cleaning structure is further configured to be compressed between the first and second interfacing surfaces of the engaging first and second mating parts.

27. The system of clai

Assignees

• Cochlear Ltd

Inventors

• Powell Anthony
• Leigh C Roger
• Dalton James

Classifications

• H01R13/621

  Bolt, set screw or screw clamp · CPC title

• A61N1/05 Primary

  for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode (A61N1/06 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B2018/00178

  Electrical connectors · CPC title

• H01R2201/12

  for medicine and surgery · CPC title

• A61B2562/227

  Sensors with electrical connectors · CPC title