WO2019185512A1 - Plug for contact-connecting a cable to an implantable device, and cable with a plug, and production method - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a plug (100) for contact-connecting a cable (300) to an, in particular implantable, device (500), wherein the plug (100) has at least two electrical contact regions (171, 172) along a periphery (161) of the plug (100), which contact regions are electrically insulated from one another by an insulation region (180). The invention further relates to a cable (300) comprising a plug (100), and to a production method (600) for a plug (100).

Description

 description

title

 Plug for contacting a cable with an implantable device and cable with plug and manufacturing method

State of the art

From the prior art, the application of four-pin connector standards IS-4 and DF4 according to DIN ISO 27186 for contacting implantable

Pulse generators are known, for example, as proprietary modifications described in US 2014/0107754 Al and US 2014/0135884.

The four poles of such a plug are arranged as rings separated by annular isolation areas around the outside of the cylindrical plug, so that an alternating sequence of contact rings and

Isolation rings is present.

Disclosure of the invention

Advantages of the invention

Against this background, the invention relates to a plug for contacting a cable with a particular implantable device. The plug has along a circumference of the plug at least two electrical

Contact areas, which are electrically isolated from each other by an isolation area.

In particular, the plug can be a plug based on DIN ISO 27186, ie a plug which partially or preferably completely fulfills the requirements of DIN ISO 27186. The plug is preferably connected to a cable to electrically connect the cable to a particular implantable device. In which

implantable device may be a device that is designed to be operated in the body of a living, for example, a part of a cardiac support system, also called ventricular assist device (VAD), or an implantable pulse generator, such as a pacemaker. In this case, the plug has at least one electrical contact area for making electrical contact with the cable

implantable device on.

An electrical contact region may, in particular, be understood as an area on the plug which comprises an electrical contact, also called a pole. In particular, a scope is to be understood as meaning a part of an outer surface of the plug which extends around the plug.

In particular, the circumference may be part of the outer surface, the part being in the form of a self-contained band. This may in particular be an annular circumference. If the outer surface forms a lateral surface of a cylindrical plug, then this band, and thus the annular periphery, is a closed loop. In particular, under an isolation range an area on the plug can be understood which is electrically non-conductive or comprises electrically non-conductive material.

The plug has the advantage that due to the segmentation a large number of electrical contacts relative to the length of the plug can be arranged and thus advantageously a total length of the plug can be shorter for a given number of electrical contacts.

The at least one electrical contact is preferably formed in the form of a part of a ring or in the form of a ring segment. Under a ring segment is to be understood in particular a portion of a ring or an annular band. Preferably, therefore, the plug comprises an annular region on an outer side of the plug, wherein the annular region comprises at least two electrical annular elements, which are separated from each other by at least two insulating ring elements.

An electric ring segment is to be understood as meaning a segment or section of the ring which has an electrical contact. An insulating ring segment is to be understood as meaning a segment or section of the ring which has electrically insulating material and thus corresponds in particular to the insulation region described above. Thus, the electrical contact areas preferably form parts of a ring, wherein the electrical contact areas are separated from each other by isolation regions of the ring.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the plug comprises a sequence of annular circumferences, wherein at least two annular circumferences each alternately electrical and insulating

Ring segments include. Thus, the electrical ring segments of an annular circumference are advantageously electrically insulated from each other.

Preferably, between two such annular segmented circumferences is an annular periphery which has an annularly closed isolation region. This has the advantage that not only electrical ring elements of an annular circumference are electrically insulated from each other, but also an electrical insulation between electrical ring segments adjacent annular circumferences exists. For example, the plug includes four annular segmented circumferences separated by three annular insulating circumferences.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the isolation region comprises a projection, in particular a groove. Such a projection enhances electrical isolation between adjacent electrical ones

Contacts. By virtue of the projection, it is thus advantageously possible to reduce a width or angular range of the insulation area between the electrical contacts and thus to create more space for the electrical contacts. The projection also has the advantage that a rotationally correct insertion of the plug into a corresponding socket and a fixation in a desired rotational position of the plug can be ensured stable and well-defined. By such a blockage of a rotation of the connector, a reverse polarity protection is advantageously realized. In other words, is prevented by a positive connection of the projection with a complementary recess in the socket, that an incorrect electrical contact between the plug and socket takes place by an unwanted rotation of the plug.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one electrical contact region is connected to an isolation region via a positive connection. This has the advantage of having a stable connection between

Contact areas and isolation areas can be realized via the positive connection. Furthermore, the production of a plug can be simplified, since first a ring can be made, which comprises the contact areas and isolation areas connected via positive engagement. Through the interior of the ring electrical lines can be connected to the electrical contacts of the electrical contact areas. Subsequently, a remaining space can be filled with spray material.

The invention also relates to a cable comprising a plug according to the invention. The invention further relates to a method for producing a plug for contacting a cable with a particular implantable device, wherein for a circumference of the plug at least two electrical contact areas are electrically isolated from each other by an isolation region. As described above, the electrical contact areas and the isolation areas can preferably be connected via a positive connection.

With regard to the advantages of the method according to the invention, reference is also made to the above-mentioned advantages of the plug according to the invention.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the method a plurality of annular circumferences are made with electrical contact areas separated by isolation areas, wherein the annular circumferences are connected to each other via annular isolation areas. As stated above, the electrical contact regions can preferably be contacted via a cavity in the peripheries with electrical conductors. A remaining cavity can be filled with filler via injection molding.

Brief description of the drawings

Embodiments of the invention are shown schematically in the drawings and explained in more detail in the following description. The same reference numerals are used for the elements shown in the various figures and similarly acting, wherein a repeated description of the elements is dispensed with.

Show it

Figures 1 to 3 embodiments of the connector according to the invention and the cable according to the invention and

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of the invention

 inventive production process.

Embodiments of the invention Figure la shows schematically a plug 10, as known from the prior art, for example a plug based on DIN ISO 27186. The plug 10 comprises a cylindrical plug body 11, on which electrical contact areas 12 are arranged in the form of metallic rings 12 and are separated from each other by electrically non-conductive insulating regions 13. For example, the contact areas 12 and the

Insulation regions 13 connected to each other via a form fit, for example by encapsulation.

In contrast, FIG. 1b shows an exemplary embodiment of a plug 100 according to the invention, which has at least two electrical contact areas 171, 172 along an annular circumference 161 of the plug 100, which are electrically insulated from one another by an insulation area 180. In this case, the circumference 161 forms part of an outer side 160 of the plug 100. In particular, relative to the plug 10 of FIG. 1 a, instead of annular electrical contact regions 12, contact regions 171, 172 in the form of

Ring segments on the connector 100 of Figure lb arranged. Thus, instead of a solid contact ring 12 segmented contacts 171, 172 are used. In particular, the plug 100 may have a plurality of electrical contacts, which along the periphery 161 of the plug 100 alternately with

Insulation regions 180 are arranged around the plug 100.

Furthermore, the annular circumferences, which comprise the alternating sequence of electrical contact regions 171, 172 and insulation regions 180, can be separated from one another by further, in particular annular, insulation regions 190. For example, the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 1b includes a first circumference 161 with two electrical contact areas 171, 172 separated by an isolation area 181 which is separated from a second circumference 162 by an annular isolation area 191, and wherein the second circumference 162 also has two electrical contact areas 173, 174 separated by an isolation region 182. The second circumference 162 is in turn separated from a third circumference 163 by an annular isolation region 192, wherein the third circumference 163 also comprises two electrical contact regions 175, 176 separated by an isolation region 183. The electrical contact regions 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176 and the annular insulation regions 190, 191, 192 may each have, for example, a width of 0.5 to 3 millimeters, with an exemplary diameter of the plug body 11 between 0.1 and 10 Mm and an exemplary length of the plug between 5 and 50 millimeters, preferably between 10 and 30 millimeters. The contact areas 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176 may have the same or different widths as needed. The electrical contact areas 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176 and the annular

Isolation regions 190, 191, 192 can have different widths. In particular, a width of the electrical contact regions 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176 to a predetermined current carrying capacity and a width of the annular insulating regions 190, 191, 192 to a predetermined

Be adjusted insulation voltage. The plug 100 may be connected to a cable 300 or form part of a cable 300. Thus, FIG. 1b also shows an exemplary embodiment of a cable 300 according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows, on an exemplary embodiment, that a plug 100 according to the invention can be manufactured based on rings, wherein one or more rings 161 can comprise a sequence of electrical contact regions 171, 172, 177, 178 and insulation regions 181, 184, 185, 186. FIG. 2a shows a cross-sectional view and FIG. 2b shows a plan view of such a ring 161. Preferably, the electrical contact regions 171, 172, 177, 178 and the isolation regions 181, 184, 185, 186 are connected to one another via form-fit connections 140, as shown in FIG , For example, an electrical contact region 171 may have a notch 141 in which a projection 142 of an insulation region 181 engages in a form-fitting manner.

For example, such a ring 161 may comprise epoxy-encapsulated electrical contact areas 171, 172, 177, 178, the epoxy forming the isolation areas 181, 184, 185, 186. In an alternative

Embodiment, the ring 161 may have an annular base body as a non-conductive material, on which the electrical contact areas are adhered. The electrical contact areas may be in various embodiments. For example, one or more electrical contact areas with a ceramic material

Surface metallization, wherein the surface metallization is applied to the ceramic, for example, over imprints or dispensations. In particular, the entire ring 161 may be made of ceramic and a contact area made by surface metallization, thereby eliminating the need for inter-area form-fitting. Furthermore, the electrical contact regions may comprise a sintered composite of metal and ceramic. In a further embodiment, the electrical contact areas comprise a ceramic base carrier with glazed metallic ring segments. Furthermore, the electrical contact regions may comprise an injection-molded circuit carrier, also referred to as (3D) molded

Interconnect Device (MID for short) known, or part of such

be injection molded circuit substrate, for example, produced by two-component injection molding, MID hot stamping or laser direct structuring. Alternatively, the plug 100 can also be constructed from metallic rings, contacted in segments, and then separated into segments by subtractive laser structuring.

A cavity 165 located within the ring 161 can be used for receiving electrical conductors and contacting these conductors with the

electrical contact areas 171, 172, 177, 178 serve. A remaining cavity can be filled with injection molding material.

FIG. 3 a shows a further exemplary embodiment of the invention

Plug 100, wherein at least insulating region 181 has a projection 188, in particular a groove 188. Similar to a ceramic high voltage insulator on high voltage pylons is increased by the projection 188, the length of the electrical leakage current path, so that the isolation region 180 requires a smaller angular range of the circumference of the plug 100 , Further, the projection 188 as described above as

Serve reverse polarity protection. FIG. 3b shows a modification of this

Embodiment, wherein each of the two isolation regions 181, 185 has a projection 188, 189. Figure 3c shows a further modification of this embodiment, wherein the projection 188 is not on a

Insulation region 180 between two electrical contact areas 171, 172 along the circumference 161, but at a further isolation region 197th is arranged, in particular as part of a circumference 164 about the plug 100, which has no electrical contact areas.

FIG. 4 shows a flow chart for an embodiment of the invention

inventive manufacturing method 600 of a plug 100 for a

Contacting a cable 300 with a particular implantable device 500. In a first step 601 of the method 600, at least two electrical contact regions 171, 172 are electrically insulated from one another by an insulation region 180 for a circumference of the plug 100. In one

Preferably second step 602, a plurality of annular circumferences are made with electrical contact regions 171, 172 separated by isolation regions, wherein the annular peripheries are connected via annular isolation regions. In a third step 603, the electrical

Contact areas contacted via a cavity 165 in the circumferences with electrical conductors. Preferably, in a fourth step, a remaining cavity can be filled via injection molding.

Claims

claims 1. plug (100) for contacting a cable (300) with a particular  implantable device (500), characterized in that the plug (100) along a circumference (161) of the plug (100) has at least two electrical contact areas (171, 172), which are electrically insulated from each other by an insulating region (180). 2. Plug (100) according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the electrical  Contact areas (171, 172) in the form of a ring segment (171, 172) is formed. 3. Plug (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the isolation region (180, 190) has a projection (188), in particular a groove (188). 4. Plug (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the plug (100) has a plurality of electrical contacts (171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178) which in annular peripheries (161, 162, 163 ) are arranged along an outer side (160) of the plug (100) and wherein the annular peripheries (161, 162, 163) are separated from one another by, in particular, annular isolation regions (190, 191, 192). 5. plug (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrical contact areas (171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178) parts of a ring (161, 162, 163), the electrical contact regions (171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178) being formed by isolation regions (180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186) of the ring (161, 162 , 163) are separated from each other. 6. Plug (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the plug (100) comprises a sequence of annular peripheries (161, 162, 163), wherein at least two annular peripheries (161, 162, 163) each alternately electrical and insulating ring segments (171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186). 7. Plug (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one electrical contact region (171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178) having an isolation region (180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186) is connected via a positive connection (140, 141, 142). 8. Plug (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one electrical contact region (171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178) adhered to an electrically insulating part (180, 190) of the plug (100) is. 9. plug (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one electrical contact element (171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178) comprises a ceramic material with surface metallization. 10. The plug (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one electrical contact element (171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178) comprises a sintered composite material with metal and ceramic. 11. Plug (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one electrical contact element (171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178) comprises a ceramic base support with glazed metallic ring segments. 12. cable (300) comprising a plug (100) according to one of the preceding  Claims. 13. Method (600) for producing a plug (100) for contacting a cable (300) with a device (500) which can be implanted in particular, at least two electrical contact areas (171, 172) being provided for a circumference (161) of the plug (100) ) are electrically isolated from each other by an isolation region (180). The method (600) of claim 13, wherein a plurality of annular circumferences (161, 162, 163) having electrical contact regions (171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178) separated by isolation regions (180, 181, 182 , 183, 184, 185, 186) be, wherein the annular peripheries (161, 162, 163) via annular  Isolation areas (190, 191, 192) are connected. 15. The method (600) of claim 13 or 14, wherein the electrical contact areas (171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178) via a cavity (165) in the circumferences (161, 162, 163) with electrical conductors are contacted and preferably a remaining cavity is filled via injection molding.