Two-pole electric contact connector for implantable medical device components

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 pin receptacle ( 12 ) is situated on a first side ( 41 - 1 ) of the printed circuit board ( 41 ),

c. the first contact element ( 11 ) is situated on an opposing second side ( 41 - 2 ) of the printed circuit board ( 41 ), and

d. 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 connector arrangement ( 3 ) is in the connected state, and

b. the contact pin ( 22 ) is materially bonded with the pin receptacle ( 12 ).

4. The connector arrangement ( 3 ) of claim 3 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.

5. 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 ).

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. The connector arrangement ( 3 ) of claim 7 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 ).

9. 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.

10. 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 ).

11. 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 ), a pin receptacle ( 12 ), a contact pad ( 15 ), and a guidance element ( 16 ) configured to align the first contact element ( 11 ) and the contact pad ( 15 ),

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 ).

12. 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 ).

13. The connector arrangement ( 3 ) of claim 12 wherein:

a. the first connector portion ( 1 ) is mounted on the printed circuit board ( 41 ), and

b. the second connector portion ( 2 ) is situated on a battery ( 42 ) or on a capacitor of the implantable medical device ( 4 ).

14. The connector arrangement ( 3 ) of claim 11 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 ).

15. The connector arrangement ( 3 ) of claim 11 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.

16. The connector arrangement ( 3 ) of claim 11 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 ).

17. The connector arrangement ( 3 ) of claim 11 wherein at least one of the first contact element ( 11 ) and the second contact element ( 21 ) has an annular shape.

18. The connector arrangement ( 3 ) of claim 11 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 ).

19. The connector arrangement ( 3 ) of claim 11 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 ).

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 ).