HEAD PART OF AN IMPLANTABLE DEVICE, METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE HEAD PART AS WELL AS A PLUG ASSEMBLY WHICH CAN BE FITTED INTO THE HEAD PART

Abstract

The invention pertains to a head part of an implantable device, its method of production and a plug assembly which can be fitted into the head part. The head part comprises a head part housing which has at least one blind hole plug contact socket with a socket opening and a socket base axially opposite the socket opening, along which at least one electrically conductive contact ring element and an electrically insulating, elastically deformable seal ring is positioned and which are enclosed by a solidified casting compound, are joined together in a coaxial arrangement and in an axially serial sequence.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. A part for use in an implantable medical device, comprising: a head including a housing with at least one blind hole plug contact socket with a socket opening, a socket base axially opposite the socket opening including at least one electrically conductive contact ring element and an electrically insulated elastically deformable sealing ring which are enclosed by a solidified casting compound, the at least one electrically conductive contact ring and the electrically insulated elastically deformable sealing ring are joined coaxially in a serial sequence; each socket base is delimited by a connection at least partially enclosed by the solidified casting compound and attached to at least one media channel opening into the blind hole plug contact socket and comprises a channel end facing away from the connection which is connected to a media source; and the at least one media channel is a fluid line.

15. A part according to claim 14, wherein: the media source is a fluid pump connected to a fluid reservoir or is a media sink.

16. A part according to claim 14, wherein each media channel projects outwardly through and outside of the housing and is connected to the media source.

17. A part according to claim 15, the media channel projects outwardly through and outside of the housing and is connected to the media source.

18. A part according to claim 14, comprising: at least one sensor positioned for recording information sensed from a medium present within the media channel and the at least one media channel is at least partially enclosed by the solidified casting compound.

19. A part according to claim 15, comprising: at least one sensor positioned for recording information sensed from a medium present within the media channel and the at least one media channel is at least partially enclosed by the solidified casting compound.

20. A part according to claim 16, comprising: at least one sensor positioned for recording information sensed from a medium present within the media channel and the at least one media channel is at least partially enclosed by the solidified casting compound.

21. A part according to claim 18, wherein: the at least one sensor is an electrical sensor and is mechanically connected to the at least one electrically conducting contact ring.

22. A part according to claim 18, wherein: the at least one sensor is one of an ultrasonic, an optical, a pressure, a Hall sensor, or a flow sensor.

23. A part according to claim 21, wherein: the at least one sensor is one of an ultrasonic, an optical, a pressure, a Hall sensor, or a flow sensor.

24. A part according to claim 18, wherein: the at least one sensor is one of an evaluation unit and a control unit connected to at least one of a memory and a media source.

25. A part according to claim 19, wherein: the at least one sensor is one of an evaluation and control unit connected to at least one of a memory and a media source.

26. A part according to claim 20, wherein: the at least one sensor is one of an evaluation unit and a control unit connected to at least one of a memory and a media source.

27. A part according to claim 14, wherein: the connection comprises a contour encompassing the media channel which opens into the blind hole plug socket including a second media channel within the plug contact socket which is connectable to the media channel opening into the blind hole plug contact socket.

28. A part according claim 14, wherein: the housing is mechanically and electrically connected to an implantable pulse generator.

29. A part according to claim 28, wherein: the media source is integrated into the implantable medical device.

30. An implantable plug assembly for insertion into the blind hole plug contact socket within the part in accordance to claim 14, wherein: the plug assembly comprises a body having at least one interior hollow channel which has an opening at an end of a body of a distal plug; and the body of the plug assembly has an end including a connection with a contour which, when the plug assembly is within the blind hole plug contact socket, is a flush connection of the hollow channel to the media channel opening into a blind hole plug contact socket.

31. A plug assembly according to claim 30, wherein: the hollow channel includes a media channel opening into the blind hole plug contact socket.

32. A method of producing an implantable medical device comprising a head including a housing with at least one blind hole plug contact socket with a socket opening, a socket base axially opposite the socket opening including at least one electrically conductive contact ring element and at least one of an electrically insulated elastically deformable sealing ring which are enclosed by a solidified casting compound, the at least one electrically conductive contact ring and the electrically insulated elastically deformable sealing ring are joined coaxially in a serial sequence, each socket base is delimited by a connection at least partially enclosed by the solidified casting compound and attached to at least one media channel opening into the blind hole plug contact socket and comprises a channel end facing away from the connection which is connected to a media source, and the at least one media channel is a fluid line, the method comprising: arranging the at least one electrically conductive contact ring and the at least one electrically insulated elastically deformable sealing ring along a rod-shaped assembly tool; applying a force to connect the at least one contact ring and the at least one electrically insulated elastically deformable sealing ring to connect the at least one contact ring and the at least one deformable sealing ring; enclosing at least partially the connection of at least one electrically conductive contact ring and the at least one electrically insulated elastically deformable sealing ring with a flowable casting compound that solidifies; and releasing the rod-shaped assembly tool from the connection while retaining an axial connection resulting from an applied force to form at least one part of the head.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0026] The invention will be described below without restricting the general inventive concept by way of examples in the drawing.

[0027] The drawing Illustrates a head part of an implantable pulse generator combined with an additional media channel with an appropriately configured plug assembly.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] The drawing shows a schematic view of a head part 1 combined with an implantable, medical device 2 which is a pulse generator forming a component. Arranged in an axially serial sequence in the head part 1 made of a hardenable casting compound are alternating electrically insulating, electrically deformable sealing rings 3 and electrically conducting contact ring elements 4. The sealing rings 3 and the electrical contact ring elements 4 enclose a blind hole plug contact socket 5 which has a socket opening 6 that is accessible on the outer wall of the head part 1. The socket base 7 opposite the socket opening 6, is delimited by a connection 8 that, for the production of the head part 1 and in particular for axially lining up the sealing rings 3 as well as electrical contact ring elements 4, serves as a mechanical abutment for an assembly tool used for assembly. For this, the connection 8 has an opening 9, along which, at least in parts, an internal thread 10 is incorporated.

[0029] Fitted to or in the connection 8 in the area of the opening 9 is a media channel 11, which opens into the blind hole plug contact socket 5. The media channel 11 extends, within the head part 1 and is thus enclosed by the solidified casting compound of the head part 1. The media channel 11 is a hollow channel, projecting laterally from the head part 1 and at the end is connected with a media source 12. The media source 12 is, for example, a media reservoir, from which the medium, for example gas or a liquid, is conveyed in a controlled manner by a conveying unit along the medial channel 11. In this case the media channel 11 has a hollow channel through which the gaseous or liquid medium is conveyed in the direction of the head part 1 in as loss-free a manner as possible.

[0030] The media source 12 can also be a light source. In this case, a fluid that is as transparent to light as possible, is to be conveyed through the media channels 11, which also constitutes a type of light guide, along which fluid and light from the combined media source 12 of fluid and light is conveyed in the direction of the head part 1 which is largely free of loss.

[0031] Fitted into the blind hole plug contact socket 5 is also a plug assembly 13 finished in accordance with the invention which comprises a plug body 14, having dimensions and the shape of the plug contact socket 5, on the outer perimeter on which corresponding counter contact elements 15 are arranged corresponding to the arrangement of the electrical contact ring elements 4. Between the counter contact elements 15, electrically insulating plug body areas 16 are provided. With regard to the electrical contact of the plug contact assembly 13 within the blind hole plug contact socket 5 of the head part 1, the device illustrated does not differ from comparable plug assemblies of the type in question.

[0032] According to the invention, the plug contact assembly 13 has a second media channel 17 that centrally projects through the plug body 14 and in an area of the socket base 7 flushly adjoins the medial channel 11 opening into the blind hole plug contact socket 5 as an abutment. Depending on the type and design of the media channel 11, 17, the media channel 11 on the head side and the second media channel 17 on the plug side should be connected for low-loss or loss-free connection and transmission of the respective medium. For this, at least one of an additional sealing and joint contour 18 is optionally introduced within the connection means 8 to ensure a seamless transition between the media channels 11 and 17.

[0033] Along at least one of the media channel 11 and 17, a sensor 19 is optionally arranged within the head part 1 for at least one of detecting and monitoring the medium being conveyed along the media channel 11, 17. Depending on the type and design of the sensor 19, it is directly arranged along, or integrated into, the medial channel 11, on the connection 8, on at least one of the sealing rings 3 or on at least one of the electrical contact ring elements 4. The type and application of the at least one sensor 19 is determined from the medium being transmitted along the media channel 11, 17, which for example may be gas, liquid and possibly light. The sensor 19 an be suitably selected from the following sensor types: Hall effect, optical, flow, ultrasonic, temperature, pressure sensor etc.

[0034] The plug contact assembly 13 is connected to a discharging line 20, and in addition to at least one of an electrical line, comprising the discharging media channel 17. Via the discharging media channel 17, the medium can be applied in a controlled manner for dosed therapeutic purposes at selected intracorporeal areas.

[0035] The illustrated example shows a media channel 11 leading from the head part, which separately to the IPG 2, is connected to a media source 12. It is also possible to guide the media channel 11 within the head part 1 as well as the IPG 2 and connected it to a media source arranged within the IPG, as shown by the dashed line.

[0036] Within the implantable medical device 2 designed as a pulse generator, in addition to the components 21 required for pulse generation, is an evaluation and control unit 22 connected to the at least one sensor 19 has at least one sensor signal generates a control or regulating signal to influence the media source 12. In this way, at least one of the flow and intensity of the material directed through the media channel 11, 17 can be influenced.

[0037] List of reference numbers [0038] 1 Head part [0039] 2 Implantable medical device designed as a pulse generator IPG [0040] 3 Sealing ring [0041] 4 Electrical contact ring element [0042] 5 Blind hole plug contact socket [0043] 6 Socket opening [0044] 7 Socket base [0045] 8 Connection means [0046] 9 Opening [0047] 10 Inner thread [0048] 11 Media channel [0049] 12 Media source [0050] 13 Plug contact assembly [0051] 14 Plug body [0052] 15 Counter contact element [0053] 16 Insulating intermediate area [0054] 17 Second media channel [0055] 18 Sealing joint contour [0056] 19 Sensor [0057] 20 Discharge line [0058] 21 Electrical components of the IPG [0059] 22 Evaluation and control unit