Implantable medical device with flexible interconnect

Abstract

An implantable medical device includes at least one receptacle configured for receiving at least one electrical lead, a printed wiring board including a processor, a flexible interconnect coupled between the at least one receptacle and the printed wiring board, and a housing forming a substantially sealed enclosure for the printed wiring board and the flexible interconnect.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tissue stimulation system, comprising:
 at least one implantable neurostimulation lead; and   an implantable neurostimulator comprising a header having at least one connector assembly configured for respectively receiving the at least one neurostimulation lead, a circuit board having programming circuitry, a flex circuit coupled between the at least one connector assembly and the circuit board, and a case to which the header is coupled, the case including a hermetically sealed compartment enclosing the circuit board and the flex circuit.   
     
     
         2 . The tissue stimulation system of  claim 1 , wherein the flex circuit is coupled to the circuit board by soldering. 
     
     
         3 . The tissue stimulation system of  claim 1 , further comprising a feedthrough assembly coupled between the flex circuit and the at least one connector assembly, the feedthrough assembly comprising a plurality of pins coupled to the flex circuit that electrically couple the flex circuit to the at least one connector assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The tissue stimulation system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one connector assembly comprises a plurality of connector contacts for electrically coupling with the neurostimulation lead, and the pins are electrically coupled to the connector contacts. 
     
     
         5 . The tissue stimulation system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one connector assembly comprises a plurality of connector contacts. 
     
     
         6 . An implantable neurostimulator, comprising:
 at least one connector assembly configured for receiving at least one neurostimulation lead;   a circuit board having programming circuitry;   a flex circuit coupled between the at least one connector assembly and the circuit board; and   a case including a hermetically sealed compartment containing the circuit board and the flex circuit.   
     
     
         7 . The neurostimulator  claim 6 , wherein the flex circuit is coupled to the circuit board by soldering. 
     
     
         8 . The neurostimulator of  claim 6 , further comprising a feedthrough assembly coupled between the flex circuit and the at least one connector assembly, the feedthrough assembly comprising a plurality of pins coupled to the flex circuit that electrically couple the flex circuit to the at least one connector assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The neurostimulator of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one connector assembly comprises a plurality of connector contacts, and the pins are electrically coupled to the connector contacts. 
     
     
         10 . The neurostimulator of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one connector assembly comprises a plurality of connector contacts. 
     
     
         11 . The neurostimulator of  claim 6 , further comprising a shell containing the at least one connector assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The neurostimulator of  claim 6 , further comprising a header containing the at least one connector assembly, wherein the header is coupled to the case.