Electrode connector structure and cable assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12176644-B2
Application number	US-202318365652-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 4, 2023
Priority date	Sep 29, 2021
Publication date	Dec 24, 2024
Grant date	Dec 24, 2024

Abstract

A connector assembly for coupling with one or more electrodes includes one or more cables with wires. A plug is electrically coupled with an end or ends of the cables. An electrode connector structure is electrically coupled with the cables and includes a body that is configured for forming an internal space. A cantilevered first arm has an end that cantilevers toward the internal space. The cantilevered first arm has a rest position and a flexed position. A stationary second arm and arm end extend into the internal space opposite the first arm. At least one of the ends of the cantilevered first arm and stationary second arm include an electrical contact. In the rest position, the end of the cantilevered first arm is positioned opposite the stationary second arm a first distance. In the flexed position, the cantilevered arm, moves away from the stationary second arm to separate the ends to a greater distance to receive the electrode and returns to the rest position to grip the electrode.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A connector for coupling with an electrode, the connector comprising:
a body, the body configured for forming an internal space;
a cantilevered arm having a hinge point and an end, the cantilevered arm extending from the hinge point toward the internal space, the cantilevered arm having a rest position and a flexed position;
a stationary arm having a base on the body proximate to the hinge point of the cantilevered arm and an end, the stationary arm extending from the base into the internal space;
the cantilevered arm extending in the internal space around a portion of the stationary arm and positioning the end of the cantilevered arm proximate the end of the stationary arm;
in the rest position, the end of the cantilevered arm positioned from the end of the stationary arm a first distance in the internal space;
in the flexed position, the cantilevered arm flexing at the hinge point and moving the end thereof away from the end of the stationary arm to separate the ends to a second distance for receiving an electrode in the internal space;
the cantilevered arm configured for flexing at the hinge point back toward the rest position to grip the electrode.

2. The connector of claim 1 wherein the cantilevered arm and stationary arm are configured for positioning the respective arm end of the cantilevered arm to move to separate the ends to the second distance.

3. The connector of claim 1 wherein at least one of the ends of the cantilevered arm and stationary arm includes an electrical contact, the electrical contact gripping the electrode when the cantilevered arm flexes back toward the rest position.

4. The connector of claim 3 wherein at least another one of the ends of the cantilevered arm and stationary arm includes teeth, the teeth gripping the electrode against the electrical contact when the cantilevered arm moves flexes back toward the rest position.

5. The connector of claim 3 wherein the stationary arm includes the electrical contact.

6. The connector of claim 1 wherein the cantilevered arm is configured to extend in a spiral path around the portion of the stationary arm for positioning the end of the cantilevered arm opposite the end of the stationary arm in the internal space.

7. The connector of claim 1 , the connector further comprising gripping portions positioned proximate opposing sides of the body, at least one of the gripping portions positioned proximate the cantilevered arm so that a gripping force applied to the gripping portions hinges the cantilevered arm at the hinge point from the rest position to the flexed position.

8. The connector of claim 1 wherein the cantilevered arm and stationary arm are integrally formed with the body.

9. The connector of claim 7 further comprising an overmold structure molded over the body, the gripping portions formed by the overmold structure.

10. A connector assembly for coupling with at least one electrode, the connector assembly comprising:
at least one cable having at least one wire;
a plug electrically coupled with an end of the at least one cable;
at least one connector structure electrically coupled with the at least one cable, the connector structure comprising:
a body, the body configured for forming an internal space;
a cantilevered arm having a hinge point and an end, the cantilevered arm extending from the hinge point toward the internal space, the cantilevered arm having a rest position and a flexed position;
a stationary arm having a base on the body proximate to the hinge point of the cantilevered arm and an end, the stationary arm extending from the base into the internal space;
the cantilevered arm extending in the internal space around a portion of the stationary arm and positioning the end of the cantilevered arm proximate the end of the stationary arm;
at least one of the ends of the cantilevered first arm and stationary second arm including an electrical contact coupled to a wire of the cable;
in the rest position, the end of the cantilevered arm positioned from the end of the stationary arm a first distance in the internal space;
in the flexed position, the cantilevered arm flexing at the hinge point and moving the end thereof away from the end of the stationary arm to separate the ends to a second distance for receiving an electrode in the internal space;
the cantilevered arm configured for flexing at the hinge point back toward the rest position to grip the electrode against the electrical contact.

11. The connector assembly of claim 10 wherein the cantilevered arm and stationary arm are configured for positioning the respective arm end of the cantilevered arm to move to separate the ends to the second distance.

12. The connector assembly of claim 10 wherein at least another one of the ends of the cantilevered arm and stationary arm includes teeth, the teeth gripping the electrode against the electrical contact when the cantilevered arm flexes back toward the rest position.

13. The connector assembly of claim 10 wherein the stationary arm includes the electrical contact.

14. The connector assembly of claim 10 wherein the cantilevered arm is configured to extend in a spiral path around the portion of the stationary arm for positioning the end of the cantilevered arm opposite the end of the stationary arm in the internal space.

15. The connector assembly of claim 10 further comprising a plurality of cables, the plug electrically coupled with an end of each of the plurality of cables, a connector structure terminating each of the plurality of cables and coupled with a wire of a respective terminated cable.

16. The connector assembly of claim 10 further comprising a cable having a plurality of wires, the plug electrically coupled with an end of the cable, a plurality of connector structures positioned successively along the length of the cable, a wire of the cable coupled with a first respective connector structure along the length of the cable and additional wires of the cable passing through the first respective connector structure to couple with other respective connector structures positioned successively further along the cable.

17. The connector assembly of claim 10 , the connector further comprising gripping portions positioned proximate opposing sides of the body, at least one of the gripping portions positioned proximate the cantilevered arm so that a gripping force applied to the gripping portions hinges the cantilevered arm at the hinge point from the rest position to the flexed position.

18. The connector assembly of claim 10 wherein the cantilevered arm and stationary arm of the connector structure are integrally formed with the body.

19. The connector assembly of claim 17 wherein the connector structure further comprises an overmold structure molded over the body, the gripping portions formed by the overmold structure.

20. A connector assembly for coupling with at least one electrode, the connector assembly comprising:
a plurality of cables, each having at least one wire;
a plug electrically coupled with respective ends of the plurality of cables;
a connector structure electrically coupled with and terminating a respective one of the plurality of cables, the connector structure coupled with a wire of a respective terminated cable, at least one of the connector structures comprising:
a body, the body configured for forming an internal space;
a cantilevered arm having a hinge point and an end, the cantilevered arm extending form the hinge point toward the internal space, the canti

Assignees

• Carlisle Interconnect Tech Inc

Inventors

• Yeargers Christopher
• Zhou Yongjie

Classifications

• H01R2201/12

  for medicine and surgery · CPC title

• H01R43/24

  Assembling by moulding on contact members · CPC title

• H01R13/6273

  comprising two latching arms · CPC title

• A61B5/28

  for electrocardiography [ECG] · CPC title

• H01R13/2442 Primary

  with a single cantilevered beam · CPC title