Surgery: light – thermal – and electrical application – Light – thermal – and electrical application – Electrical therapeutic systems
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-17
2001-02-20
Getzow, Scott M. (Department: 3737)
Surgery: light, thermal, and electrical application
Light, thermal, and electrical application
Electrical therapeutic systems
C607S037000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06192276
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to pacer housings and more particularly to those parts of the housing intended for connection to the electrode leads.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Implantable pacers normally comprise a pacer housing (also called can) containing electronic circuitry and a unit for electric power as well as different electrodes which are connected to the interior parts in the pacer housing and which are to be implanted in or in the vicinity of the heart. The electrodes are connected to the pacer by means of leads. The internal parts of the pacers have to be well protected against the internal environment, especially the body fluids in the body for a long period of time, which places strict requirements on all entries into the interior of the can and especially on the connections of the leads to the housing. At the same time it should be possible to disconnect the pacer from the implanted leads for replacement or servicing of the pacer. The connective parts of the pacer and the leads have largely been standardized so as to encompass a relatively deep female socket comprising a number of contact surfaces whereas the leads are provided with a male part comprising one or several corresponding peripheral, generally circular contact surfaces.
When a pacemaker is being implanted, it is important that the physician is able to ascertain that the proximal ends of the electrode leads are fully inserted so as to ensure that respective contact surfaces fully are in engagement. It furthermore is important that the male part of the leads can be securely locked in the female part socket in the pacer housing when all connections have been made.
At present these problems in most cases are addressed by making the connective part of the pacer housing containing the female socket of a transparent material, normally epoxy resin, which is molded onto the housing and onto contacts extending outwardly from the housing. The male part of the leads is normally locked by means of set screws, although other fastening means are known. By these means the physician is able to determine visually whether the male contact part of the lead has been fully inserted into the female socket before tightening the set screws. The positioning and alignment of the different contact surfaces and of the fastening means or metallic threads for the set screws prior to the moulding of the connective part is however very complicated and the delay in the manufacturing process incurred by the curing of the epoxy resin is considerable.
It would thus be desirable if the molding procedure could be dispensed with.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a pacemaker housing and a lead therefore which avoid the need to have a molded-on header composed of transparent material.
This object is achieved in accordance with the principles of the present invention in a pacemaker housing having a socket adapted to receive a proximal end of an electrode lead, the lead having an electrode disposed at the distal end thereof, and wherein the socket is located in an opaque part of the housing with the socket having an opening at a side of the housing, and wherein the housing has exterior markings indicating an appropriate insertion depth for the plug into the socket.
These markings can indicate the direction of the socket and/or the location of the socket, and the markings can correspond to (represent) the shape of a longitudinal section of the socket.
The plug of the electrode lead can be provided with scale marks at an exterior thereof for facilitating a determination of the insertion depth of the plug. As the plug is inserted into the aforementioned socket, the scale marks successively move toward the side of the housing having the socket opening, and the plug is pushed into the socket until a scale mark corresponding to the depth of the socket coincides with the edge of the socket opening.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5683433 (1997-11-01), Carson
patent: 6112121 (2000-08-01), Paul et al.
patent: 0 339 877 (1989-11-01), None
patent: 0 587 379 (1994-03-01), None
Getzow Scott M.
Pacesetter AB
Schiff & Hardin & Waite
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