Two-pole electric contact connector for implantable medical device components

Abstract

A connector arrangement ( 3 ) for establishing a two-pole electric contact between components of an implantable medical device ( 4 ) includes: a first connector portion ( 1 ) including a first contact element ( 11 ) and a pin receptacle ( 12 ); and a second connector portion ( 2 ) including a second contact element ( 21 ) and a contact pin ( 22 ). The connector arrangement ( 3 ) is configured to assume a connected state wherein the first contact element ( 11 ) is in contact with the second contact element ( 21 ) and the contact pin ( 22 ) is received in the pin receptacle ( 12 ). At least a part of the first connector portion ( 1 ) and/or at least a part of the second connector portion ( 2 ) is mounted on a printed circuit board ( 41 ).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A connector arrangement ( 3 ) for establishing a two-pole electric contact between components of an implantable medical device ( 4 ), the connector arrangement ( 3 ) including:
 A. a first connector portion ( 1 ) including a first contact element ( 11 ) and a pin receptacle ( 12 ), and   B. a second connector portion ( 2 ) including a second contact element ( 21 ) and a contact pin ( 22 ),   wherein:   a. at least a part of the first connector portion ( 1 ) and/or at least a part of the second connector portion ( 2 ) is mounted on a printed circuit board ( 41 ),   b. the connector arrangement ( 3 ) is configured to assume a connected state in which:
 (1) the first contact element ( 11 ) is in contact with the second contact element ( 21 ), and 
   (2) the contact pin ( 22 ) is received in the pin receptacle ( 12 ).   
     
     
         2 . The connector arrangement ( 3 ) of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first connector portion ( 1 ) and the second connector portion ( 2 ) defines at least a part of a surface-mount device (SMD) mounted on the printed circuit board ( 41 ). 
     
     
         3 . The connector arrangement ( 3 ) of  claim 1  wherein:
 a. the pin receptacle ( 12 ) is situated on a first side ( 41 - 1 ) of the printed circuit board ( 41 ), and 
 b. the first contact element ( 11 ) is situated on an opposing second side ( 41 - 2 ) of the printed circuit board ( 41 ). 
 
     
     
         4 . The connector arrangement ( 3 ) of  claim 1  wherein:
 a. the connector arrangement ( 3 ) is in the connected state, and 
 b. the contact pin ( 22 ) is materially bonded with the pin receptacle ( 12 ). 
 
     
     
         5 . The connector arrangement ( 3 ) of  claim 4  wherein the contact pin ( 22 ) is bonded with the pin receptacle ( 12 ) by means of at least one of:
 a. a welded joint, 
 b. a soldered joint, and 
 c. a brazed joint. 
 
     
     
         6 . The connector arrangement ( 3 ) of  claim 1  wherein:
 a. the connector arrangement ( 3 ) is in the connected state, and 
 b. the contact pin ( 22 ) is form-fittingly and/or force-fittingly connected to the pin receptacle ( 12 ). 
 
     
     
         7 . The connector arrangement ( 3 ) of  claim 1  wherein the first connector portion ( 1 ) includes a first spring element ( 13 ) configured to establish a form-fitting and/or force-fitting connection between the pin receptacle ( 12 ) and the contact pin ( 22 ) when the connector arrangement ( 3 ) is in the connected state. 
     
     
         8 . The connector arrangement ( 3 ) of  claim 1  wherein the first contact element ( 11 ) and the second contact element ( 21 ) are configured to be connected with each other in the connected state of the connector arrangement ( 3 ) by means of a spring connection and/or by means of a snap-in connection. 
     
     
         9 . The connector arrangement ( 3 ) of  claim 8  wherein:
 a. one of the first contact element ( 11 ) and the second contact element ( 21 ) includes a second spring element ( 14 ), and 
 b. the other of the first contact element ( 11 ) and the second contact element ( 21 ) includes a groove ( 24 ), 
 c. the second spring element ( 14 ) engages with the groove ( 24 ) in the connected state of the connector arrangement ( 3 ). 
 
     
     
         10 . The connector arrangement ( 3 ) of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first contact element ( 11 ) and the second contact element ( 21 ) has an annular shape. 
     
     
         11 . The connector arrangement ( 3 ) of  claim 1  wherein each of the first contact element ( 11 ), the second contact element ( 21 ), the contact pin ( 22 ), and the pin receptacle ( 12 ) are coaxially situated when in the connected state of the connector arrangement ( 3 ). 
     
     
         12 . The connector arrangement ( 3 ) of  claim 1  wherein the first connector portion ( 1 ) includes a contact pad ( 15 ). 
     
     
         13 . The connector arrangement ( 3 ) of  claim 12  wherein the first connector portion ( 1 ) includes a guidance element ( 16 ) configured to align the first contact element ( 11 ) and the contact pad ( 15 ). 
     
     
         14 . The connector arrangement ( 3 ) of  claim 1  further including an implantable medical device, wherein at least one of the first connector portion ( 1 ) and the second connector portion ( 2 ) is mounted on a printed circuit board ( 41 ) defining a portion of an electronics module of the implantable medical device ( 4 ). 
     
     
         15 . The connector arrangement ( 3 ) of  claim 14  wherein:
 a. the first connector portion ( 1 ) is mounted on the printed circuit hoard ( 41 ), and 
 b. the second connector portion ( 2 ) is situated on a battery ( 42 ) or on a capacitor of the implantable medical device ( 4 ). 
 
     
     
         16 . The connector arrangement ( 3 ) of  claim 1  wherein:
 a. the printed circuit board ( 41 ) has a first side ( 41 - 1 ) and an opposing second side ( 41 - 2 ) with a bore extending therebetween, 
 b. the first contact element ( 11 ) is situated adjacent the second side ( 41 - 2 ) of the printed circuit board ( 41 ), 
 c. the first connector portion ( 1 ) further includes a conductive contact pad ( 15 ) situated adjacent a first side ( 41 - 1 ) of the printed circuit hoard ( 41 ), wherein:
 (1) the contact pad ( 15 ) has the pin receptacle ( 12 ) thereon, and 
 (2) the pin receptacle ( 12 ) is aligned with the bore, 
 
 d. the second contact element ( 21 ) is spaced from the circumference of the contact pin ( 22 ), 
 wherein the connector arrangement ( 3 ), when in the connected state, has: 
 A. the first contact element ( 11 ) electrically connected to the second contact element ( 21 ), and 
 B. the contact pin ( 22 ) extending through the bore and into the pin receptacle ( 12 ) in electrical connection with the contact pad ( 15 ). 
 
     
     
         17 . The connector arrangement ( 3 ) of  claim 16  wherein:
 a. the first contact element ( 11 ) extends along a path orbiting at least a major portion of the circumference of the bore, and 
 b. the second contact element ( 21 ) extends along a path orbiting at least a major portion of the circumference of the contact pin ( 22 ). 
 
     
     
         18 . The connector arrangement ( 3 ) of  claim 17  wherein one of the first contact element ( 11 ) and the second contact element ( 21 ) is complementarily engaged with the other of the first contact element ( 11 ) and the second contact element ( 21 ) when the connector arrangement ( 3 ) is in the connected state. 
     
     
         19 . The connector arrangement ( 3 ) of  claim 17  wherein the first contact element ( 11 ) includes an insulating guidance element:
 a. extending therefrom through the printed circuit board ( 41 ), and in abutment with the contact pad ( 15 ). 
 
     
     
         20 . A connector arrangement ( 3 ) for establishing a two-pole electric contact between components of an implantable medical device ( 4 ), the connector arrangement ( 3 ) including:
 a. a printed circuit board ( 41 ) having a bore defined therein;   b. a first connector portion ( 1 ) including:
 (1) a conductive contact pad ( 15 ) situated adjacent a first side ( 41 - 1 ) of the printed circuit board ( 41 ), the contact pad ( 15 ) having a pin receptacle ( 12 ) thereon, the pin receptacle ( 12 ) being aligned with the bore, 
 (2) a conductive first contact element ( 11 ) situated adjacent an opposing second side ( 41 - 2 ) of the printed circuit board ( 41 ), the first contact element ( 11 ) extending along a path orbiting at least a major portion of the circumference of the bore; 
   c. a second connector portion ( 2 ) including:
 (1) an elongated conductive contact pin ( 22 ):
 (a) extending through the bore and into the pin receptacle ( 12 ), and 
 (b) being electrically connected to the contact pad ( 15 ); 
 
 (2) a conductive second contact element ( 21 ):
 (a) spaced from the circumference of the contact pin ( 22 ), 
 (b) extending along a path orbiting at least a major portion of the circumference of the contact pin ( 22 ), and 
 (c) being electrically connected to the first contact element ( 11 ).