Electrical connectors – Adapted to cooperate with duplicate connector – Engaged by lateral movement
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-16
2001-10-23
Luebke, Renee (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Adapted to cooperate with duplicate connector
Engaged by lateral movement
C439S451000, C439S027000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305962
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an electrical connector and, more particularly, to an inline electrical connector useful in space-confined conditions.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Inline electrical connectors are used to connect two cables containing multiple wires. They are used in numerous applications that vary from blood pump systems to airplane cockpits to data transmission lines. In many of the applications, the connector must fit within a space-limited area. In an airplane cockpit, for example, the inline electrical connector may connect a cable carrying signals from numerous instruments to a cable connected to display gauges and may be required to fit within a space already crowded with wires, cables, and connectors.
In other applications, the connector may be subject to harsh environmental and use factors such as fluids, bends, compressive forces, rotational forces, and stress forces. One application in which the connector may be subject to harsh environmental and use factors is in oil well drilling where a connector may be used to connect a cable from a measuring or sensing device deep in a narrow oil well shaft to a cable from display gauges at the well surface.
Connectors also may be used in applications where failure of the connector is catastrophic, such as in blood pumps and airplane controls. Implantable blood pumps present challenges to connectors. A number of implantable blood pumps presently are under development for application as either artificial hearts or cardiac assist devices. An axial-flow blood pump, for example, typically includes a pump housing that defines a blood flow channel, an impeller mechanism mounted within the blood flow channel, an electric motor rotor coupled to actuate the impeller mechanism for blood pumping action, and an electric motor stator for actuating the rotor by electromagnetic force.
The energy delivered to drive the rotor is carried in an electrical cable connected to a controller/power module. The controller/power module may be implanted in the abdomen or may remain outside the body, in which case the electrical cable passes through a percutaneous port in the skin. The electrical cable has an inline electrical connector to permit the exchange of controller/power modules.
The connector is subject to harsh environmental and use factors and a limitation of space. For example, the connector may be subject to bodily fluids, bending forces, stresses, and strains, all of which challenge the integrity of the connector. Failure of the connector due to any one of these challenges is catastrophic to the patient dependent on the blood pump for cardiac support. Therefore, the design and construction of the connector must be robust enough to withstand these challenges.
SUMMARY
In one general aspect, an inline electrical connector includes a first housing shell and a second housing shell. The first housing shell has a first cable entrance and a substantially planar first mating section that includes a first plurality of electrical connectors. The second housing shell has a second cable entrance section and a substantially planar second mating section that includes a second plurality of electrical connectors. The second housing shell is configured to mate with the first housing shell with an overlapping engagement of the first mating section and the second mating section. The first and second connectors are oriented to extend substantially perpendicular to the first and second mating sections. The second electrical connectors are configured to mate with the first electrical connectors upon overlapping engagement of the first and second mating sections. The mated shells may define a substantially cylindrical connector assembly.
Embodiments may include one or more of the following features. For example, the inline electrical connector may further comprise an outer shell configured to be placed around the mated first and second housing shells to prevent the separation of the mated first and second housing shells. The first housing shell also may include a first fluid barrier section and the second housing shell may include a second fluid barrier section. Each one of the housing shells may include a snap ring and at least one o-ring associated with each of the fluid barrier sections. The snap rings and o-rings are configured to form an interference fit with a portion of the outer shell. The outer shell may include a pair of channels on its inside surface configured to receive and form an interference fit with the snap rings. At least a portion of the inner diameter of the outer shell may be configured to form an interference fit with the o-rings of the first housing shell and second housing shell to prevent fluid from passing between the o-rings and the outer shell.
The first mating section and the second mating section may have a semicircular shape. The first mating section may include a pair of interlocking fingers and the second mating section may include a pair of notched regions configured to receive the pair of interlocking fingers.
The inline electrical connector also may include a first electrical cable positioned in the cable entrance of the first housing shell and a second electrical cable positioned in the cable entrance section of the second housing shell. A first outer tube may surround the first electrical cable and cable entrance of the first housing shell and a second outer tube may surround the second electrical cable and cable entrance of the second housing shell. The tubes can be crimped, molded, or otherwise constructed to secure the cable and provide bend relief.
The electrical connector may include a first chamber adjacent to the first cable entrance, a lip between the first chamber and the first cable entrance, and a ball disposed within the chamber. The diameter of the ball may be larger than the diameter of the lip. The first electrical cable may include a plurality of conducting wires that pass around the outer surface of the ball. The ball also may include a channel and the first electrical cable also may include a fiber, and the fiber may pass through the channel. The ball forms part of a cable strain relief mechanism.
The first electrical connectors may be oriented to extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first mating section and the second electrical connectors may be oriented to extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the second mating section. The first electrical connectors may comprise conductive sockets and the plurality of second electrical connectors may comprise conductive pins configured to be placed in the conductive sockets. Alternatively, the first electrical connectors may comprise pairs of spring-biased conductive blades and the second electrical connectors may comprise conductive blades configured to be placed between the spring-biased conductive blades.
The inline electrical connector also may include a plurality of lips surrounding at least a portion of each one of the first electrical connectors and a plurality of grooves surrounding at least a portion of each one of the second electrical connectors. Each groove is configured to receive one lip to form an interference fit connection. The interference fit may be fluid resistant and resist axial and lateral separation of the first planar connector surface from the second planar connector surface.
In another general aspect, the inline electrical connector may be incorporated in a cardiac assist device system. Such a system may include a cardiac assist device, a controller, an outer shell, a first electrical cable, and a second electrical cable. The first electrical cable is connected to the cardiac assist device at a first end and to a first connector structure at a second end. The second electrical cable is connected to the controller at a first end and a second connector structure at a second end.
The first connector structure defines a first substantially planar connector surface in which a plurality of first electrical connectors are disposed and extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the
Maher Timothy R.
Rintoul Thomas C.
Fish & Richardson P.C. P.A.
Hammond Briggitte R.
Luebke Renee
Nimbus, Incorporated
LandOfFree
Inline cable connector does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Inline cable connector, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Inline cable connector will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2555005