Image guide wire connection

Abstract

An electrical connector and assembly having a body arranged and disposed to receive an interconnector of a guide wire at a first end and an interface cable at a second end, and a contact module in the body, the contact module comprising a contact housing and a plurality of contacts, disposed in the contact housing, the plurality of contacts being configured for electrical connection with the interface cable and the guide wire, is disclosed.

1 . An electrical connector comprising:
 a body arranged and disposed to receive an interconnector of a guide wire at a first end and an interface cable at a second end; and   a contact module in the body, the contact module comprising a contact housing and a plurality of contacts, disposed in the contact housing, the plurality of contacts being configured for electrical connection with the interface cable and the guide wire; and   wherein the interconnector comprises a plurality of axial conductive portions separated by a plurality of axial dielectric portions, the number of the axial conductive portions corresponding to the number of the contacts in the contact module, and   wherein the interface cable is arranged and disposed for electrically connecting with a monitoring and control device.   
     
     
         2 . The electrical connector of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical connector is arranged and disposed for releasably receiving the guide wire. 
     
     
         3  The electrical connector of  claim 1 , further comprising a cam actuator and a cam in the body, the cam actuator arranged and disposed for partially rotating the cam, the cam being arranged and disposed for engaging the contacts upon being partially rotated, thereby permitting the interconnector to be inserted into the contact module. 
     
     
         4 . The electrical connector of  claim 3 , wherein the cam includes a fulcrum configured to rest in a receiving slot of the body, the receiving slot arranged and disposed for receiving the fulcrum thereby permitting the cam to partially rotate upon the cam actuator being engaged. 
     
     
         5 . The electrical connector of  claim 3 , wherein the cam actuator is arranged and disposed to be manually engaged by depressing it, thereby permitting the interconnector to be inserted into the body, the cam actuator further arranged and disposed for adjusting the cam upon being depressed, the cam including a fulcrum configured to rest in a receiving slot of the body, the receiving slot arranged and disposed for receiving the fulcrum thereby permitting the cam to partially rotate upon the cam actuator being engaged. 
     
     
         6 . The electrical connector of  claim 3 , wherein the cam actuator is arranged and disposed to be manually engaged by depressing it, thereby permitting the interconnector to be inserted into the body, the cam actuator being a protruding portion of the cam, the cam actuator arranged and disposed for adjusting the cam upon being depressed, the cam including a fulcrum configured to rest in a receiving slot of the body, the receiving slot arranged and disposed for receiving the fulcrum, thereby permitting the cam to partially rotate upon the cam actuator being engaged. 
     
     
         7 . The electrical connector of  claim 3 , wherein the cam further comprises a latch catch arranged and disposed for releasably engaging a latching member, the latching member being arranged and disposed for releasing the latch catch upon full insertion of the interconnector into the contact module. 
     
     
         8 . The electrical connector of  claim 1 , wherein the contact housing comprises:
 grooves arranged and disposed for the contacts to slide into the grooves; and   recessed portions arranged and disposed to receive an upper portion of the contacts, the contacts comprising terminals providing a conductive surface for electrical connection, the upper portion arranged and disposed to flex upon being engaged by a cam, thereby permitting the interconnector to be inserted into the contact module.   
     
     
         9 . The electrical connector of  claim 1 , wherein the contact further comprises:
 a single integrated conductive band with a flexible upper portion; and   a lower portion affixed to the contact housing.   
     
     
         10 . The electrical connector of  claim 1 , wherein the contact housing is arranged and disposed to slidably receive the contacts, and wherein the contacts include a single integrated conductive band with an upper portion and a lower portion affixed to the contact housing. 
     
     
         11 . The electrical connector of  claim 1 , wherein the contact housing is:
 arranged and disposed for receiving the contacts by a contiguous dielectric shell, and   arranged and disposed for securely receiving contacts and substantially preventing the contacts from unintentionally being removed.   
     
     
         12 . An electrical connector assembly comprising:
 a guide wire having an interconnector, the interconnector comprising a plurality of axial conductive portions separated by a plurality of axial dielectric portions, the number of the axial conductive portions corresponding to the number of the contacts in the contact module, the guide wire further comprising a sensor at a distal end of the guide wire, the sensor arranged and disposed for measuring internal conditions of a human;   an interface cable, the interface cable arranged and disposed for electrically connecting with a monitoring and control device; and   an electrical connector connecting the guide wire to the interface cable, the connector comprising:
 a body; and 
 a contact module, the contact module comprising a contact housing and a plurality of contacts disposed in the contact housing for electrical connection with the interface cable and the guide wire; and 
 wherein the body is arranged and disposed for protecting internal components of the electrical connector. 
   
     
     
         13 . The electrical connector assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the electrical connector is arranged and disposed for releasably receiving the guide wire. 
     
     
         14 . The electrical connector assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the guide wire is arranged and disposed for a catheter to be inserted onto it. 
     
     
         15 . The electrical connector assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the body further comprises a cam actuator and a cam, the cam being arranged and disposed for engaging the contacts thereby permitting insertion of the interconnector into the contact module, thereby permitting an electrical communication signal to be transmitted from the guide wire to the interface cable. 
     
     
         16 . The electrical connector assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the cam includes a fulcrum configured to rest in a receiving slot of the body, the receiving slot arranged and disposed for receiving the fulcrum thereby permitting the cam to partially rotate upon the cam actuator being engaged. 
     
     
         17 . The electrical connector assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the cam actuator is arranged and disposed to be manually engaged by depressing it permitting the interconnector to be inserted into the contact module, the cam actuator further arranged and disposed for adjusting the cam upon being depressed, the cam including a fulcrum configured to rest in a receiving slot of the body, the receiving slot arranged and disposed for receiving the fulcrum thereby permitting the cam to partially rotate upon being activated by the interconnector. 
     
     
         18 . The electrical connector assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the cam actuator is arranged and disposed to be manually engaged by depressing it permitting the interconnector to be inserted into the contact module, the cam actuator being a protruding portion of the cam, the cam actuator arranged and disposed for adjusting the cam upon being depressed, the cam including a fulcrum configured to rest in a receiving slot of the body, the receiving slot arranged and disposed for receiving the fulcrum thereby permitting the cam to partially rotate upon being activated by the interconnector. 
     
     
         19 . The electrical connector assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the contact housing comprises:
 grooves arranged and disposed for the contacts to slide into the grooves; and   recessed portions arranged and disposed to receive an upper portion of the contacts, the contacts comprising terminals providing a conductive surface for electrical connection, the upper portion arranged and disposed to flex upon being engaged by the cam, thereby permitting the interconnector to be inserted into the contact module.   
     
     
         20 . The electrical connector assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the contact further comprises:
 a single integrated conductive band with a flexible upper portion; and   a lower portion affixed to the contact housing.   
     
     
         21 . The electrical connector assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the contact housing is arranged and disposed for the contacts to slide into it, and wherein the contacts include a single integrated conductive band with a flexible portion upper portion and a lower portion affixed to the contact housing. 
     
     
         22 . The electrical connector assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the contact housing is:
 arranged and disposed for receiving the contacts by a contiguous dielectric shell, and   arranged and disposed for securely receiving contacts and substantially preventing the contacts from unintentionally being removed.   
     
     
         23 . The electrical connector assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the cam further comprises a latch catch arranged and disposed for releasably engaging a latching member, the latching member being arranged and disposed for releasing the latch catch upon full insertion of the interconnector into the contact module. 
     
     
         24 . An electrical connector comprising:
 a body arranged and disposed to receive a contact module and arranged and disposed to receive a hypo tube of a guide wire at a first end and an interface cable at a second end;   the contact module comprising a contact housing and a plurality of contacts, the contact housing arranged and disposed for receiving the plurality of contacts, the plurality of contacts being configured for electrical connection with the interface cable and the guide wire;   a cam actuator and a cam, the cam actuator arranged and disposed for partially rotating the cam, the cam arranged and disposed for engaging the contacts upon being partially rotated, thereby permitting the interconnector to be inserted into the contact module; and   wherein the hypo tube comprises a plurality of axial conductive portions and a plurality of axial dielectric portions, and   wherein the interface cable is arranged and disposed for electrically connecting with a monitoring and control device.