Systems and methods for making and using connector assemblies for implantable medical device systems

Abstract

A lead extension for an electrical stimulation system includes a lead-extension body, terminals, and a connector. The connector includes a contact housing and a gasket housing. Multiple connector contacts are disposed in the contact housing and are coupled to the terminals. A retention member is disposed along one end of the contact housing and is receivable by a retention socket defined in the gasket housing. A deformable gasket is disposed in the retention socket. A lumen extends through the connector and is suitable for receiving an electrical stimulation lead. The received lead is retained in the lumen by using the retention member to compress the gasket along a longitudinal length of the connector. The longitudinal compression of the gasket causes a corresponding radial expansion of the gasket, which retains the electrical stimulation lead within the lumen.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
         1 . A control module for an electrical stimulation system, the control module comprising:
 an electronics housing;   an electronic subassembly disposed in the electronics housing; and   a connector coupled to the electronics housing, the connector configured and arranged for receiving an electrical stimulation lead, the connector comprising
 a contact housing having a first end portion, an opposing second end portion, and an exterior surface, the contact housing defining a contact-housing lumen and comprising a plurality of connector contacts disposed in the contact housing and exposed to the contact-housing lumen, the plurality of connector contacts electrically coupled to the electronic subassembly, 
 a retention member disposed along the second end portion of the contact housing, the retention member defining a retention-member lumen extending along an entire length of the retention member, 
 a gasket housing coupled to the second end portion of the contact housing, the gasket housing having a first end, an opposing second end, and an exterior surface, 
 a retention socket defined along the first end of the gasket housing, the retention socket comprising a rear wall and a side wall, the retention socket configured and arranged for receiving the retention member, 
 a gasket-housing lumen extending between the exterior surface of the gasket housing and the rear wall of the retention socket, and 
 a deformable gasket disposed in the retention socket and defining a gasket lumen, 
 wherein the retention-member lumen, the contact-housing lumen, the gasket-housing lumen, and the gasket lumen collectively form a lead lumen configured and arranged for receiving a portion of an electrical stimulation lead, 
 wherein the gasket housing is configured and arranged to tighten toward the contact housing by advancing the retention member into the retention socket and compressing the deformable gasket along the longitudinal length of the connector, the longitudinal compression of the gasket causing a corresponding radial expansion of the gasket into the lead lumen, the radial expansion of the gasket retaining a portion of the electrical stimulation lead within the lead lumen when the electrical stimulation lead is received by the lead lumen. 
   
     
     
         2 . The control module of  claim 1 , wherein the side wall of the retention socket comprises a threaded portion. 
     
     
         3 . The control module of  claim 2 , wherein at least one thread is disposed along an exterior surface of the retention member, the at least one thread configured and arranged to mate with the threaded portion of the side wall of the retention socket. 
     
     
         4 . The control module of  claim 1 , wherein the gasket is configured to form a watertight seal against the electrical stimulation lead when the gasket is radially expanded toward a portion of the electrical stimulation lead. 
     
     
         5 . The control module of  claim 1 , wherein the gasket is disposed in a pocket defined in the retention socket. 
     
     
         6 . The control module of  claim 1 , wherein the connector further comprises a biasing member disposed in the retention socket. 
     
     
         7 . The control module of  claim 1 , wherein the retention member comprises a protrusion extending from an exterior surface of the retention member. 
     
     
         8 . The control module of  claim 7 , wherein the side wall of the retention socket defines a passageway configured and arranged for receiving the protrusion. 
     
     
         9 . The control module of  claim 1 , wherein the lead lumen is a first lead lumen configured and arranged for receiving a portion of the electrical stimulation lead, and wherein the connector defines a second lead lumen configured and arranged for receiving a portion of a second electrical stimulation lead. 
     
     
         10 . A lead anchor for an implantable electrical stimulation system, the lead anchor comprising:
 an anchor body having a longitudinal length and an exterior surface, the anchor body comprising a retention-member housing and a gasket housing, the retention-member housing having a first end portion, an opposing second end portion, and an exterior surface, the retention-member housing defining an retention-member-housing lumen, the gasket housing coupled to the second end portion of the retention-member housing, the gasket housing having a first end, an opposing second end, and an exterior surface;   at least one anchoring unit disposed along the exterior surface of the anchor body;   a retention member disposed along the second end portion of the retention-member housing, the retention member defining a retention-member lumen extending along an entire length of the retention member;   a retention socket defined along the first end of the gasket housing, the retention socket configured and arranged for receiving the retention member, the gasket housing comprising a rear wall and a side wall,   a gasket-housing lumen extending between the exterior surface of the gasket housing and the rear wall of the retention socket,   a deformable gasket disposed in the gasket housing and defining a gasket lumen;   wherein the retention-member-housing lumen, the retention-member lumen, the gasket-housing lumen, and the gasket lumen collectively form a lead lumen configured and arranged for receiving a portion of an electrical stimulation lead;   wherein the gasket housing is configured and arranged to tighten toward the retention-member housing by advancing the retention member into the retention socket and compressing the deformable gasket along the longitudinal length of the anchor body, the longitudinal compression of the gasket causing a corresponding radial expansion of the gasket into the lead lumen, the radial expansion of the gasket retaining a portion of the electrical stimulation lead within the lead lumen when the electrical stimulation lead is received by the lead lumen.   
     
     
         11 . The lead anchor of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one anchoring unit is disposed along the exterior surface of the retention-member housing. 
     
     
         12 . The lead anchor of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one anchoring unit is disposed along the exterior surface of the gasket housing. 
     
     
         13 . The lead anchor of  claim 10 , wherein the side wall of the retention socket comprises a threaded portion. 
     
     
         14 . The lead anchor of  claim 13 , wherein at least one thread is disposed along an exterior surface of the retention member, the at least one thread configured and arranged to mate with the threaded portion of the side wall of the retention socket. 
     
     
         15 . The lead anchor of  claim 10 , wherein the gasket is configured to form a watertight seal against the electrical stimulation lead when the gasket is radially expanded toward a portion of the electrical stimulation lead. 
     
     
         16 . The lead anchor of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one anchoring unit comprises an anchoring aperture defined in an anchor tab extending outwardly from the anchor body. 
     
     
         17 . The lead anchor of  claim 10 , wherein the gasket is disposed in a pocket defined in the retention socket. 
     
     
         18 . The lead anchor of  claim 10 , wherein the anchor body further comprises a biasing member disposed in the retention socket. 
     
     
         19 . The lead anchor of  claim 10 , wherein the retention member comprises a protrusion extending from an exterior surface of the retention member and the side wall of the retention socket defines a passageway configured and arranged for receiving the protrusion. 
     
     
         20 . The lead anchor of  claim 10 , wherein the lead lumen is a first lead lumen configured and arranged for receiving a portion of the electrical stimulation lead, and wherein the anchor body defines a second lead lumen configured and arranged for receiving a portion of a second electrical stimulation lead.