Method of assembling a medical electrical lead

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9027241-B2
Application number	US-2540308-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 4, 2008
Priority date	Dec 29, 2005
Publication date	May 12, 2015
Grant date	May 12, 2015

Abstract

A method of assembling a medical electrical lead. The method comprises providing a modular connector assembly including three contacts coupled to three contact conductors, selecting a lead body assembly from a group of different lead body assemblies which includes a first lead body assembly having only two conductors for and a second lead body assembly having three conductors; and coupling each of the conductors of the selected lead body assembly with a corresponding contact conductor of the modular connector assembly.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for assembling a medical electrical lead, the method comprising:
providing a modular connector assembly, the connector assembly including three contacts and three contact conductors, each of the three contact conductors coupled to a corresponding contact of the three contacts;
selecting only one lead body assembly from a group of different lead body assemblies, the group including:
a first lead body assembly having only two conductors for coupling with the contact conductors, and
a second lead body assembly having three conductors for coupling with the contact conductors; and
coupling each of the conductors of the selected lead body assembly with a corresponding contact conductor of the modular connector assembly; and
wherein the selecting step comprises selecting only the first lead body assembly having only two conductors for coupling with the contact conductors.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the group of different lead body assemblies further includes a third lead body assembly having only one conductor for coupling with the contact conductors, wherein the selecting step comprises selecting the third lead body assembly having only one conductor for coupling with the contact conductors.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the modular connector assembly further includes dimensions conforming to an industry standard.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the connector assembly and the selected lead body assembly each include a longitudinal axis;
the contact conductors extend out from the connector body in a generally longitudinal direction; and
the conductors of the selected lead body assembly extend out from the lead body in a generally longitudinal direction; and
further comprising, aligning an end of each of the conductors of the selected lead body assembly with an end of each of the corresponding contact conductors for coupling.

5. A method for assembling a medical electrical lead, the method comprising:
providing a modular connector assembly, the connector assembly including three contacts and three contact conductors, each of the three contact conductors coupled to a corresponding contact of the three contacts;
selecting a lead body assembly from a group of different lead body assemblies, the group including:
a first lead body assembly having only two conductors for coupling with the contact conductors, and
a second lead body assembly having three conductors for coupling with the contact conductors; and
coupling each of the conductors of the selected lead body assembly with a corresponding contact conductor of the modular connector assembly;
the connector assembly and the selected lead body assembly each include a longitudinal axis;
the contact conductors extend out from the connector assembly in a generally longitudinal direction; and
the conductors of the selected lead body assembly extend out from the lead body assembly in a generally longitudinal direction; and
further comprising, positioning an end of each of the conductors of the selected lead body assembly in close proximity to an end of each of the corresponding contact conductors for coupling; and
wherein the selecting step comprises selecting only the first lead body assembly having only two conductors for coupling with the contact conductors.

6. A method for assembling a medical electrical lead, the method comprising:
providing a modular connector assembly, the connector assembly including three contacts and three contact conductors, each of the three contact conductors coupled to a corresponding contact of the three contacts;
selecting a lead body assembly from a group of different lead body assemblies, the group including:
a first lead body assembly having only two conductors for coupling with the contact conductors, and
a second lead body assembly having three conductors for coupling with the contact conductors; and
coupling each of the conductors of the selected lead body assembly with a corresponding contact conductor of the modular connector assembly; wherein:
the connector assembly and the selected lead body assembly each include a longitudinal axis;
the contact conductors extend out from the connector assembly in a generally longitudinal direction; and
the conductors of the selected lead body assembly extend out from the lead body assembly in a generally longitudinal direction; and
further comprising, aligning an end of each of the conductors of the selected lead body assembly with an end of each of the corresponding contact conductors for coupling; and
wherein the selecting step comprises selecting only the first lead body assembly having only two conductors for coupling with the contact conductors.

7. A method for assembling a medical electrical lead, the method comprising:
providing a modular connector assembly, the connector assembly including three contacts and three contact conductors within an insulative connector body, each of the three contact conductors coupled to a corresponding contact of the three contacts;
selecting only one lead body assembly from a group of different lead body assemblies, the group including:
a first lead body assembly having only two conductors extending longitudinally within an insulative lead body for coupling with the contact conductors, and
a second lead body assembly having three conductors extending longitudinally within an insulative lead body for coupling with the contact conductors; and

coupling each of the conductors of the selected lead body assembly with a corresponding contact conductor of the modular connector assembly; and
wherein the selecting step comprises selecting only the first lead body assembly having only two conductors for coupling with the contact conductors.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the group of different lead body assemblies further includes a third lead body assembly having only one conductor extending longitudinally within an insulative lead body for coupling with the contact conductors, wherein the selecting step comprises selecting the third lead body assembly having only one conductor for coupling with the contact conductors.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein:
the connector assembly and the selected lead body assembly each include a longitudinal axis;
the contact conductors extend out from the connector body in a generally longitudinal direction; and
the conductors of the selected lead body assembly extend out from the lead body in a generally longitudinal direction; and
further comprising, aligning an end of each of the conductors of the selected lead body assembly with an end of each of the corresponding contact conductors for coupling.

Assignees

• Mehdizadeh Bruce R
• Bischoff Thomas C
• Robinson Scott J
• Stetz Eric M
• Millin James W
• Medtronic Inc

Inventors

• Mehdizadeh Bruce R
• Bischoff Thomas C
• Robinson Scott J
• Stetz Eric M
• Millin James W

Classifications

• Y10T29/4922

  with molding of insulation · CPC title

• Y10T29/49222

  forming array of contacts or terminals · CPC title

• Y10T29/49176

  with molding of electrically insulating material · CPC title

• H01R2105/00

  Three poles · CPC title

• H01R24/58 Primary

  Contacts spaced along longitudinal axis of engagement · CPC title