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A screwless quick connection system for connecting a lead connector to a generator of an active implantable medical device. The connector head includes a housing (16, 18) receiving a plug (22) of a lead connector. A mechanism for locking the plug into the housing is provided by a U-folded leaf sprin

A screwless quick connection system for connecting a lead connector to a generator of an active implantable medical device. The connector head includes a housing (16, 18) receiving a plug (22) of a lead connector. A mechanism for locking the plug into the housing is provided by a U-folded leaf spring (30). Each branch of the U is provided with a respective hole sized so that the plug (22) passes through the holes on both branches when it is inserted into the housing. The blade is deformable between a free state, in the absence of plug, and a deformed state, with the plug inserted therein. In the free state, both holes are misaligned, while in the deformed state they are aligned. In this way, an edge of both holes exerts by reaction a radial stress force against the smooth outer surface of the plug inserted therein. A pushbutton flange (40) unlocks the system by a support maneuver on only one side of the connector head.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An active medical device, comprising a generator and a connector head, the connector head comprising: at least one female housing having an electrical connection terminal for receiving a plug end of a lead along an axis of insertion;locking means for mechanical immobilization of the plug in the h

1. An active medical device, comprising a generator and a connector head, the connector head comprising: at least one female housing having an electrical connection terminal for receiving a plug end of a lead along an axis of insertion;locking means for mechanical immobilization of the plug in the housing, said locking means comprising an elastic element having a free state and a deformed state, the deformed state having said elastic element under elastic tension during insertion of the plug into the electrical connection terminal and after insertion, the deformation of the elastic element being such that along the axis of insertion the elastic element exerts a retaining force against extraction of the plug in a direction opposite to the insertion, the retaining force being greater than the force of insertion of the plug into the housing, and that, in the radial direction, exerts a contact pressure against the plug,means for releasing the locking means by an external force on the elastic element, to neutralize said retaining force and thereby permit a removal of the plug from the housing, andan internal cavity isolated from the external environment,wherein said elastic element is a U-shaped leaf spring having a first branch and a second branch and a central region, the first and second branches of the U being elastically connected to the central region of the U-shape with the first branch of the U extending from the central region in a direction forming a first angle to the axis of insertion, and the second branch extending from the central region forming a second angle to the axis of insertion, wherein the end of one of the first and second branches is a free end having a flange extending into the internal cavity, the first and second branches having respective first and second holes, the first and second holes having respective dimensions that allow the plug to be inserted through the first and second holes in the housing, said elastic element being deformable between: the free state, in the absence of an inserted plug, in which the projections of the first and second holes in a plane perpendicular to the axis of insertion are overlapping but misaligned, andthe deformed state, in the presence of an inserted plug, in which the projections of the first and second holes in the plane perpendicular to the axis of insertion are aligned so that an edge of each of the first and second holes contact the plug inserted therein and exert through a reaction effect of the deformed leaf spring, a radial stress force against the plug, producing said contact pressure. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the flange comprises a flattened pushbutton extending in a plane substantially parallel to the axis of insertion. 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the flange comprises an element causing a tactile response to the change of state between the free and deformed states. 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the end of the other of the first and second branches is a stationary end relative to the connector head. 5. The device of claim 4, wherein a resilient elastic auxiliary member is interposed between the connector head and the central region. 6. The device of claim 1, wherein: the end of the other of the first and second branches is a moving end for pivoting, relative to the connector head, around an axis perpendicular to the axis of insertion, anda resilient elastic member is interposed between the connector head and the central region of the U. 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the first branch extends along a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of insertion. 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the second branch extends along a plane that is substantially oblique to, forming an angle in a range selected from between 45° and 75° from, the axis of insertion. 9. An active medical device, comprising a generator and a connector head, the connector head comprising: at least one female housing having an electrical connection terminal for receiving a plug end of a lead along an axis of insertion;locking means for mechanical immobilization of the plug in the housing, said locking means comprising an elastic element having a free state and a deformed state, the deformed state having said elastic element under elastic tension during insertion of the plug into the electrical connection terminal and after insertion, the deformation of the elastic element being such that along the axis of insertion the elastic element exerts a retaining force against extraction of the plug in a direction opposite to the insertion, the retaining force being greater than the force of insertion of the plug into the housing, and that, in the radial direction, exerts a contact pressure against the plug, andmeans for releasing the locking means by an external force on the elastic element, to neutralize said retaining force and thereby permit a removal of the plug from the housing,wherein said elastic element is a U-shaped leaf spring having a first branch and a second branch and a central region, the first and second branches of the U being elastically connected to the central region of the U-shape with the first branch of the U extending from the central region in a direction forming a first angle to the axis of insertion, and the second branch extending from the central region forming a second angle to the axis of insertion, wherein the end of one of the first and second branches is a free end having a flange, the first and second branches having respective first and second holes, the first and second holes having respective dimensions that allow the plug to be inserted through the first and second holes in the housing, said elastic element being deformable between: the free state, in the absence of an inserted plug, in which the projections of the first and second holes in a plane perpendicular to the axis of insertion are overlapping but misaligned, andthe deformed state, in the presence of an inserted plug, in which the projections of the first and second holes in the plane perpendicular to the axis of insertion are aligned so that an edge of each of the first and second holes contact the plug inserted therein and exert through a reaction effect of the deformed leaf spring, a radial stress force against the plug, producing said contact pressure, andwherein the generator comprises an electrical connection terminal and the leaf spring comprises a metal blade connected to the electrical connection terminal, so as to simultaneously achieve the mechanical immobilization of the plug in the housing and the electrical connection of the plug to the electrical connection terminal. 10. The device of claim 9, wherein the flange comprises a flattened pushbutton extending in a plane substantially parallel to the axis of insertion. 11. The device of claim 9, wherein the connector head further comprises an internal cavity isolated from the external environment and the flange extends into the internal cavity. 12. The device of claim 9, wherein the flange comprises an element causing a tactile response to the change of state between the free and deformed states. 13. The device of claim 9, wherein the end of the other of the first and second branches is a stationary end relative to the connector head. 14. The device of claim 13, wherein a resilient elastic auxiliary member is interposed between the connector head and the central region. 15. The device of claim 9, wherein: the end of the other of the first and second branches is a moving end for pivoting, relative to the connector head, around an axis perpendicular to the axis of insertion, anda resilient elastic member is interposed between the connector head and the central region of the U. 16. The device of claim 9, wherein the first branch extends along a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of insertion. 17. The device of claim 9, wherein the second branch extends along a plane that is substantially oblique to, forming an angle in a range selected from between 45° and 75° from, the axis of insertion.