IP Library Granted Patent US 8,290,592
Granted Patent B2
US 8,290,592 · App. 11/533,948 · Granted Oct 16, 2012

Implantable medical device header with optical interface

Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,290,592
App. No.
11/533,948
Granted
Oct 16, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed herein, among other things, is an implantable medical device header assembly with an optical interface. The header assembly can include a housing defining a cavity; an electrical contact disposed along the cavity; an electrical conductor configured to electrically couple the electrical contact with the implantable medical device; and an optical conductor. The header assembly can include a housing defining a first cavity for receiving a proximal end of an electrical lead; and a second cavity for receiving a proximal end of an optical lead. The header assembly can include a housing configured to be coupled to the implantable medical device, the housing defining a lead port for receiving a proximal end of a lead, the port configured to be in electrical and optical communication with the lead; a transducer disposed within the housing, and an electrical conductor disposed within the housing. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.

Claims (16)

1. An assembly configured for an implantable medical device comprising: a hermetically sealed pulse generator; and a header assembly configured to couple a lead with the hermetically sealed pulse generator, the header assembly comprising; a housing defining a cavity configured for receiving a proximal end of the lead, the cavity bounded by a side wall and an end wall, the housing attached to the outside of the hermetically sealed pulse generator; an electrical contact disposed in the side wall of the cavity; an electrical conductor configured to electrically couple the electrical contact with the implantable medical device; and an optical conductor configured to optically couple the end wall of the cavity with the implantable medical device.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , the end wall of the cavity comprising peripheral edges and a center point equidistant from the peripheral edges, the optical conductor disposed on the center point of the end wall of the cavity.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , the electrical contact disposed in the side wall of the cavity.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , the optical conductor comprising a waveguide.

5. The assembly of claim 4 , the waveguide comprising an optical fiber.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , the optical conductor comprising an optical lens.

7. The assembly of claim 6 , the optical lens comprising a GRIN lens.

8. The assembly of claim 1 , the optical conductor comprising a mirror.

9. The assembly of claim 1 , the optical conductor comprising a prism.

10. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a second electrical contact disposed along the cavity and a second electrical conductor configured to electrically couple the second electrical contact with the implantable medical device.

11. The assembly of claim 1 , the electrical conductor welded to the electrical contact.

12. The assembly of claim 1 , the optical conductor configured to redirect light passing through the header assembly by about 0 degrees to about 180 degrees.

13. The assembly of claim 1 , the optical conductor configured to redirect light passing through the header assembly by about 90 degrees.

14. The assembly of claim 1 , the housing comprising a translucent polymer.

15. An implantable medical device comprising: a hermetically sealed pulse generator; and a header assembly configured to couple a lead with the hermetically sealed pulse generator, the header assembly comprising a housing defining a cavity configured for receiving a proximal end of a lead, the cavity bounded by a side wall and an end wall, the housing attached to the outside of the hermetically sealed pulse generator; an electrical contact disposed in the side wall of the cavity; an electrical conductor configured to electrically couple the electrical contact with the implantable medical device; and an optical conductor configured to optically couple the end wall of the cavity with the implantable medical device, the optical conductor configure to redirect light passing through the header assembly by an angle from 60 degrees to about 120 degrees and further configured to optically couple the end wall of the cavity with the implantable medical device.

16. The implantable medical device of claim 15 , the end wall of the cavity comprising peripheral edges and a center point equidistant from the peripheral edges, the optical conductor disposed on the center point of the end wall of the cavity.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 21, 2006
From: KANE, MICHAEL JOHN; CARPENTER, GREG PAUL; KUBAS, AMY CHRISTINE; PAVLOVIC, JENNIFER LYNN
To: CARDIAC PACEMAKERS, INC.
Reel/Frame 018285/0241 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20080077190A1 · Mar 27, 2008