Patient connector assembly with vertical detents
11445948 · 2022-09-20
Assignee
Inventors
- Stephen Scruggs (Newport Beach, CA, US)
- Yassir Kamel Abdul-Hafiz (Irvine, CA, US)
- Ammar Al-Ali (San Juan Capistrano, CA)
- Marc Antoine Laidet (Mission Viejo, CA, US)
Cpc classification
A61B5/02416
HUMAN NECESSITIES
H01R24/62
ELECTRICITY
H01R12/72
ELECTRICITY
H01R12/718
ELECTRICITY
A61B2562/166
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A61B5/1455
HUMAN NECESSITIES
International classification
A61B5/1455
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A61M16/08
HUMAN NECESSITIES
Abstract
The present disclosure includes a connector assembly that is a part of a sensor assembly for collecting patient physiological data. The connector assembly can include a first connector tab with catches, a second connector tab with openings, a retainer with pins, and a circuit board coupled to a cable. Each of the pins of the retainer can include a detent that can engage one of the catches of the first connector tab. The pins can extend through the openings of the second connector tab so that the retainer is coupled to the first connector tab by the detents engaging the catches. The first and second connector tabs can thereby be coupled together to support the circuit board and the cable between the first and second connector tabs.
Claims
1. A noninvasive physiological sensor assembly configured to monitor a tissue of a patient, the noninvasive physiological sensor assembly comprising: a noninvasive sensor; a cable assembly comprising a circuit board and conductors, the circuit board being coupled to a proximal end of the conductors, the cable assembly being coupled to the noninvasive sensor at a distal end of the conductors; and a connector assembly comprising: a first connector tab comprising a plurality of catches; a second connector tab comprising a plurality of openings; and a retainer comprising a plurality of pins having a plurality of detents, the plurality of pins extending through the plurality of openings so that the plurality of detents engage the plurality of catches to support the circuit board and the cable assembly between the first connector tab and the second connector tab.
2. The noninvasive physiological sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the retainer comprises a base, the base being positioned in an inset portion of the second connector tab when the plurality of detents engage the plurality of catches.
3. The noninvasive physiological sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the noninvasive sensor comprises a pulse oximeter.
4. The noninvasive physiological sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein a portion of the circuit board and a portion of the conductors are positioned between the first connector tab and the second connector tab.
5. The noninvasive physiological sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the first connector tab comprises a first channel and the second connector tab comprises a second channel, the first channel and the second channel together defining an aperture of the connector assembly.
6. The noninvasive physiological sensor assembly of claim 5, wherein the conductors and the circuit board are positioned between the first connector tab and the second connector tab so that at least a portion of the conductors is positioned within the aperture.
7. The noninvasive physiological sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of openings extend through the second connector tab.
8. The noninvasive physiological sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of catches are disposed on an inner surface of the first connector tab and extend upward and away from the inner surface.
9. The noninvasive physiological sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of openings are associated with the plurality of catches and positioned above the plurality of catches, and the plurality of openings and the plurality of catches are vertically aligned.
10. The noninvasive physiological sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of openings and the plurality of catches are configured to align and couple the first connector tab and the second connector tab.
11. A cable assembly for a noninvasive sensor assembly configured to monitor a tissue of a patient, the cable assembly comprising: conductors; a circuit board coupled to a proximal end of the conductors; and a connector assembly comprising: a first connector tab comprising a plurality of catches; a second connector tab comprising a plurality of openings; and a retainer comprising a plurality of pins having a plurality of detents, the plurality of pins dimensioned to extend through the plurality of openings so that the plurality of detents engage the plurality of catches to support the circuit board and the conductors between the first connector tab and the second connector tab.
12. The cable assembly of claim 11, wherein the retainer comprises a base, the base being positioned in an inset portion of the second connector tab when the plurality of detents engage the plurality of catches.
13. The cable assembly of claim 11, wherein a portion of the circuit board and a portion of the conductors are positioned between the first connector tab and the second connector tab.
14. The cable assembly of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the conductors extends through a first cutout of the first connector tab and at least a portion of the circuit board extends through a second cutout of the first connector tab.
15. The cable assembly of claim 11, wherein the plurality of catches comprise grooves configured to push the detents downwards towards the first connector tab to cause the pins and the retainer to be pushed downwards towards the first connector tab.
16. The cable assembly of claim 11, wherein the pins are aligned with the plurality of catches so that at least a portion of the plurality of detents can engage top portions of the plurality of catches.
17. A method of manufacturing a connector assembly for a noninvasive sensor assembly, the method comprising: placing a circuit board and a portion of conductors on an inner surface of a first connector tab comprising a plurality of catches; placing a second connector tab on top of the first connector tab so that an inner surface of the second connector tab faces the inner surface of the first connector tab, the second connector tab comprising a plurality of openings; and extending a retainer comprising a plurality of pins having a plurality of detents through the plurality of openings so that the plurality of detents engage the plurality of catches.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising applying an adhesive between the circuit board and the inner surface of the first connector tab.
19. The method of claim 17, further comprising aligning the second connector tab with the first connector tab to align the plurality of openings with the plurality of catches.
20. The method of claim 17, wherein said extending the retainer through the plurality of openings comprises: extending the retainer a first distance though the plurality of openings to cause the plurality of pins to bend away from the plurality of catches; and extending the retainer a second distance through the plurality of openings to cause the plurality of pins to snap back towards the plurality of catches and engage with top portions of the plurality of catches.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(11)
(12)
(13)
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(14) A connector assembly is disclosed that can be part of a sensor assembly usable to collect patient physiological data. The connector assembly can include first and second connector tabs, and a circuit board of a cable assembly for the sensor assembly placed between the first connector tab and the second connector tab. The connector assembly can further include a retainer that can extend through the second connector tab and be coupled to the first connector tab to secure the first and second connector tabs together. The sensor assembly can include a noninvasive sensor that may be positioned proximate to a patient's skin for generating the patient physiological data.
(15) The first connector tab can include catches disposed on an inner surface of the first connector tab. The second connector tab can include openings, where the openings correspond to the catches. The retainer can include pins, where each of the pins correspond to the openings and the catches of the second and first connector tabs, respectively.
(16) The pins of the retainer can extend through the openings of the second connector assembly. The detents of the pins can engage the catches of the first connector tab when the retainer is pushed down towards the first connector tab. The engagement between the catches and the detents of the pins of the retainer can cause the first connector tab and the second connector tab to align and mate, thereby securing the circuit board between the first connector tab and the second connector tab.
(17) To facilitate a complete understanding of the disclosure, the remainder of the detailed description references the drawings, wherein like references number are references with numerals throughout.
(18)
(19)
(20)
(21)
(22)
(23) The connector assembly 110 can include electrical contacts 300, which are numbered 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 in
(24)
(25)
(26) The first connector tab 112 can have an outer surface 470 and an inner surface 480. The catches 400, the receptors 402, and the guides 406 can be disposed on the inner surface 480. The catches 400, the receptors 402, and the guides 406 can extend upward and away from the inner surface 480. Additionally or alternatively, the catches 400, the receptors 402, and the guides 406 can extend in a direction that is substantially orthogonal to a plane defined by the inner surface 480.
(27) The guides 406 can form a channel for aligning the cable assembly 150 within the first connector tab 112. The distance between the guides 406 can be greater than or equal to a width of the cable 452 of the cable assembly 150. The guides 406 can have a length that can be greater than or equal to, or less than or equal to the width of the cable 452 of the cable assembly 150.
(28) The cable cutout 408 can be dimensioned to receive the cable 452 of the cable assembly 150. The cable cutout 408 can be characterized by a width and a height, where the width and the height can be sufficient to allow at least a portion of the cable assembly 150 to be placed within the cable cutout 408. The second connector tab 120 can have a cable cutout that is similar to the cable cutout 408. The cable cutout of the second connector tab 120 may allow at least a portion of the cable assembly 150 to be similarly placed within the second connector tab 120. The cable cutout 408 and the cable cutout of the second connector tab 120 can together form an aperture sized to receive the cable 452 of the cable assembly 150.
(29) The protrusions 430 can extend from the inner surface 480. The protrusions 430 can act as a guide for notches 440 (see
(30) The first connector tab 112 can include a cutout dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the circuit board 118. The second connector tab 120 can similarly include a cutout dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the circuit board 118. The circuit board cutouts of the first connector tab 112 and the second connector tab 120 can together form a circuit board aperture sized to receive the circuit board 118. The circuit board aperture can be positioned opposite from the aperture configured to receive the cable 452. The circuit board aperture can be positioned and extend between the protrusions 430.
(31) The connector shield 114 can be adhered to the inner surface 480 of the first connector tab 112. The size and dimension of the connector shield 114 can correspond to the size of the circuit board 118, the size of the first connector tab 108, or the size of the connector assembly 110.
(32)
(33)
(34) As previously described, the circuit board 118 can include notches 440. The notches 440 can be disposed on the side of the circuit board 118 as shown in
(35) The circuit board 118 can be adhered to the inner surface of the first connector tab 112 via the adhesive 116. The adhesive 116 can be applied to a bottom surface of the circuit board 118 so that it does not interfere with transmission of signals via the conductors. The adhesive 116 can additionally or alternatively be placed (i) between the bottom surface of the circuit board 118 and the inner surface 480 of the first connector tab 112 or (ii) between the bottom surface of the circuit board 118 and the platform 401 of the first connector tab 112.
(36)
(37) As shown in
(38) The guides 406 can be located proximate to the cable cutout 408 to prevent the cable 452 of the cable assembly 150 from bending near the cable cutout 408, thereby preventing damage to the cable assembly 150. The guides 406 can prevent the cable assembly 150 from moving along a length or a width of the cable assembly 150.
(39)
(40) When the first connector tab 112 and the second connector tab 120 are aligned, openings 410 of the second connector tab 120 and the catches 400 of the first connector tab 112 can also be aligned. Once the second connector tab 120 is placed on top of the first connector tab 112 and properly aligned, the retainer 122 can couple the first connector tab 112 and the second connector tab 120 to one another so that the inner surface of the second connector tab 120 and the inner surface of the first connector tab 112 face one another. The retainer 122 can prevent longitudinal movement (which can be along the length of the connector assembly 110) or horizontal movement (which can be along the width of the connector assembly 110) of the first connector tab 112 with respect to the second connector tab 120, or longitudinal movement or horizontal movement of the second connector tab 120 with respect to the first connector tab 112. The second connector tab 120 may not cover at least a portion of the platform 401 of the first connector tab 112 and the circuit board 118. The second connector tab 120 may not cover any of the electrical contacts 300 of the circuit board 118.
(41) The second connector tab 120 can include an inset portion 412. The openings 410 can be formed on the inset portion 412. The inset portion 412 can be sufficiently inset to match a thickness of the retainer 122 and so that the retainer fills the inset portion 412 and the outer surface of the second connector tab 120 is substantially flush with an outer surface of the retainer 122 when the retainer 122 is inserted. The inset portion 412 can have a depth that is less than or equal to, or greater than or equal to the thickness of the retainer 122. The outer surface of the second connector tab 120 may not be flush with the outer surface of the retainer 122 in other implementations.
(42) As shown in
(43) During manufacture, the retainer 122 can be moved towards the second connector tab 120 so that the pins 416 extend through the openings 410. The retainer 122 can then further be pushed towards the first connector tab 112 so that the pins 416 extend through the second connector tab 120. The detents 418 can engage the catches 400 to secure the first connector tab 112 to the second connector tab 120. The grooves 420 of the catches 400 can receive the detents 418 to prevent longitudinal movement (which can be along the length of the connector assembly 110), horizontal movement (which can be along the width of the connector assembly 110), or vertical movement (which can be away or toward the connector assembly 110) of the second connector tab 120 with respect to the first connector tab 112. The first connector tab 112 to the second connector tab 120 can together in turn support and secure the connector assembly 110 including the circuit board 118 and a portion of the cable assembly 150.
(44) The pins 416 can generally align with the catches 400. When the retainer 122 is pushed down so that the pins 416 extend through the openings 410, the detents 418 can engage top portions of the catches 400. Pushing the retainer 122 further down towards the first connector tab 112 can cause the pins 416 to bend away from the catches 400 while the detents 418 engage the top portion of the catches 400.
(45) The retainer 122 can be pushed down or extend through the openings 410 a first distance to cause the detents 418 to engage top portions of the catches 400. The retainer 122 can be pushed downward or extend through the openings 410 a second distance to cause the pins 416 to be pushed away from the catches 400. As discussed herein, continued engagement between the detents 418 and the top portions of the catches 400 can cause the pins 416 to bend away from the catches 400. Pushing down the retainer 122 further or extending the retainer 122 further through the openings 410 can cause the detents 418 to disengage from the catches 400. Disengagement between the detents 418 and the catches 400 can cause the pins 416 to snap back towards the catches 400. As the pins 416 snap back towards the catches 400, the detents 418 can engage the grooves 420 of the catches 400.
(46) When the detents 418 no longer engage the top portion of the catches 400, the pins 416 can snap back towards the catches 400 to allow the detents 418 to engage the grooves 420 of the catches 400. The grooves 420 can engage the detents 418 to fix the pins 416 and thereby hold the retainer 122 in place. The engagement between the grooves 420 and the detents 418 can keep the first connector tab 112 and the second connector tab 120 mated. The engagement between the grooves 420 and the detents 418 can keep the first connector tab 112 and the second connector tab 120 aligned or coupled.
(47) While the grooves 420 and the detents 418 are engaged, the grooves 420 can push the detents 418 downward towards the first connector tab 112, which in turn causes the pins 416 and the retainer 122 be pushed downward towards the first connector tab 112. Furthermore, the contact between the base 414 of the retainer 122 and the inset portion 412 of the second connector tab 120 can cause the base 414 to push the second connector tab 120 towards the first connector tab 112.
(48) The retainer 122 can be integrated with the second connector tab 120 rather than separate from the second connector tab 120. The second connector tab 120 can include the pins 416 protruding towards the first connector tab 112 when the second connector tab 120 is placed on top of the first connector tab 112.
(49) The retainer 122 can include one, two, three, four, or more of the pins 416. For example, the second connector tab 120 and the first connector tab 112 can have two openings and two catches, respectively, that correspond to two retainers 122 each with one of the pins 416.
(50) The retainer 122 can be made of the same material as or different material from the second connector tab 120 and the first connector tab 112. The retainer 122 can be made out of plastic. The pins 416 can be made of the same material as or different material from the base 414. The pins 416 can include a flexible portion located between the pins 416 and the base 414. The flexible portion can act as a hinge to facilitate movement of the pins 416 when the pins 416 are pushed towards the grooves 420 of the first connector tab 112.
(51) The second connector tab 120 can include one, two, three, or more sets of the openings 410 for the retainers 122. For example, the second connector tab 120 can include two sets of the openings 410 for two of the retainers 122 (for example, two separate retainers) in an example other than the example illustrated in
(52) Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,” “might,” “may,” “e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements or states. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements or states are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without author input or prompting, whether these features, elements or states are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like are synonymous and are used inclusively, in an open-ended fashion, and do not exclude additional elements, features, acts, operations, and so forth. Also, the term “or” is used in its inclusive sense (and not in its exclusive sense) so that when used, for example, to connect a list of elements, the term “or” means one, some, or all of the elements in the list. Further, the term “each,” as used herein, in addition to having its ordinary meaning, can mean any subset of a set of elements to which the term “each” is applied.
(53) Additionally, other combinations, omissions, substitutions and modifications will be apparent to the skilled artisan in view of the disclosure herein. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited by the reaction of the preferred embodiments, but is to be defined by reference to the appended claims.
(54) Additionally, all publications, patents, and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent, or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.