Implantable medical device headers that facilitate device and lead configuration variants

摘要

Implantable medical devices include headers having various features such as a modular design whereby the header is constructed from a series of stacked contact modules. Additional features include a feedthrough where pins exiting a housing of the implantable medical device extend into the header to make direct electrical connection to electrical contacts present within the header where those electrical contacts directly engage electrical connectors of leads inserted into the header. Other features include electrical contacts that are relatively thin conductors on the order of 0.040 inches or less and may include radial protrusions where the radial protrusions establish contact with the electrical connectors of the lead. Furthermore, electrical contacts may be mounted within the header in a floating manner so that radial movement of the electrical contact may occur during lead insertion.

主权项

1. An implantable medical device, comprising:
a housing; circuitry within the housing; a feedthrough electrically connected to the circuitry and providing pins externally of the housing; and a header mounted to the housing, the header defining at least one lead passageway in a longitudinal direction and comprising a plurality of electrical contacts, each of the electrical contacts defining an opening that is lateral to the longitudinal direction of the lead passageway and including a longitudinal extension that is present within one axial channel of a set of axial channels of the header that are separated from the lead passageway, with each pin of the feedthrough extending through one feedthrough channel of a set of feedthrough channels of the header that intersect with corresponding axial channels to contact a corresponding extension of the electrical contacts.