Surgically implantable disconnect device

Abstract

A surgically implantable connector for a transcutaneous driving system comprised of a case having a base and a lid which are shaped to provide a cavity between them with a first elastomeric pad for supporting a first set of electrical contacts in the cavity which contacts mate with a second set of electrical contacts carried by the lid, a second elastomeric pad for supporting a third set of electrical contacts inbetween the lid and the first pad and which mate with the first or the second set of electrical contacts, means for electrically connecting the firs set of electrical contacts to an implantable electrode, means for electrically connecting the second set of electrical contacts to the driving system and means for electrically connecting the third set of electrical contacts to a percutaneous plug.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A connector comprising a case, including a base member and a lid, the base member and lid being shaped to provide a cavity between them, a first contact pad of elastomeric material, a first set of electrical contacts embedded in the first contact pad, the contact pad being dimensioned to fit within the cavity, the contact pad being interposed between the lid and the base member, a second set of electrical contacts .[.carried by the lid.]. within the cavity, means for providing separate electrical connections through the case to the first and second sets of electrical contacts, and means for pressing the lid against the base member and the contact pad to exert a predetermined pressure on the pad, causing it to form a fluid tight seal around the first and second sets of electrical contacts, some of which are thereby placed in electrical contact with each other.Iadd., one of the first and second sets of electrical contacts being comprised of partially flattened metallic spheres.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       2. A connector as recited in claim 1 wherein the case is cylindrical and the first and second sets of electrical contact are each arranged in corresponding radial patterns. 
     
     
       3. A connector as recited in claim 1 wherein the first contact pad is comprised of silicone rubber reinforced with a mesh. 
     
     
       4. A connector as recited in claim 1 further comprising a second contact pad having a third set of electrical contacts arranged in a pattern to mate with the first set of electrical contacts, the second contact pad being made of an elastomeric material which is dimensioned to fit within the cavity, means for providing separate electrical connections through the case to the third set of electrical contacts, and wherein the second contact pad is interposed between the lid and the first contact pad. 
     
     
       5. A connector as recited in claim 4 wherein the second contact pad includes a fourth set of electrical contacts arranged in a pattern to mate with the second set of electrical contacts and means for providing separate electrical connections through the case to the fourth set of electrical contacts. .[.6. A connector as recited in claims 1, 4 or 5 wherein one of the sets of electrical contacts are comprised of partially 
     
     
        flattened metallic spheres..]. 7. A connector as recited in claims 4 or 5 wherein the second contact pad is made of silicone rubber reinforced by 
     
     
        mesh. 8. A connector as recited in claims 1 or 4 wherein the case is made 
     
     
        of titanium. 9. In combination, a connector comprising a case, including a base member and a lid, the base member and lid being shaped to provide a cavity between them, a first contact pad of elastomeric material, a first set of electrical contacts embedded in the first contact pad, the contact pad being dimensioned to fit within the cavity, the contact pad being interposed between the lid and the base member, a second set of electrical contacts .[.carried by the lid.]. within the cavity, means for providing separate electrical connections through the case to the first and second sets of electrical contacts, means for pressing the lid against the base member and the contact pad to exert a predetermined pressure on the pad, causing it to form a fluid tight seal around the first and second sets of electrical contacts, some of which are thereby placed in electrical contact with each other, a second contact pad having a third set of electrical contacts arranged in a pattern to mate with the first set of electrical contacts, the second contact pad being made of an elastomeric material which is dimensioned to fit within the cavity, means for providing separate electrical connections through the case to the third set of electrical conacts, wherein the second contact pad is interposed between the lid and the first contact pad, a transcutaneous driving circuit receiver for a cochlear stimulating protheses, a cochlear stimulating electrode, a percutaneous plug, and wherein the driving circuit receiver is housed in the lid, and further including means for electrically connecting the second set of electrical contacts to the driving circuit receiver, means for electrically connecting the first set of electrical contacts to the cochlear stimulating electrode, and means for electrically connecting the percutaneous plug to the third set of 
     
     
        electrical contacts. 10. The combination as recited in claim 9 wherein the second contact pad includes a fourth set of electrical contacts arranged in a pattern to mate with the second set of electrical contacts and further comprising means for electrically connecting the percutaneous plug to the fourth set of electrical contacts and means for providing separate electrical connections through the case to the fourth set of electrical 
     
     
        contacts. 11. A connector as recited in claim 1 wherein the means for providing separate electrical connections through the case comprises electrical feedthroughs which pass through bores in the lid, bushings of elastomeric material surrounding the feedthroughs in the bores, and wherein the bushings, when the lid and base member are pressed together, are placed under pressure to form fluid tight seals around the 
     
     
        feedthroughs. 12. A connector as recited in claim 1 or claim 11 wherein the base member is provided with a circumferential ridge, the lid is provided with a corresponding circumferential groove to mate with the base member ridge, an antennae coil disposed within the groove, an elastomeric material which pots the antennae coil in the groove, and further wherein the lid is provided with a second cavity for housing electronic circuitry, feedthrough means for electrically connecting the antennae to the electronic circuitry, and elastomeric bushings surrounding the feedthrough means, whereby, when the lid and base member are pressed together, a predetermined pressure is exerted on the elastomeric bushings through the elastomeric potting material in the groove to form a liquid tight seal 
     
     
        around the feedthroughs. .Iadd.13.  In a cochlear implant prosthesis including an implantable disconnect means for transmitting an electrical signal to at least one electrode implantable in the cochlea of a human ear, said disconnect means comprising a base member,   a lid,   means for pressing said lid against said base member under a predetermined pressure to form a closed casing,   first electrical contact means mounted in said casing for transmitting said electrical signal to said electrode,   second electrical contact means mounted in said casing for receiving said electrical signal and transmitting it to said first electrical contact means,   elastomeric gasket means mounted in said casing for electrically isolating and forming a fluid tight seal around said first and second electrical contact means when said lid is pressed against said base member under said predetermined pressure, and   means mounted in said casing for receiving an external signal and for communicating said electrical signal to said second contact means in   
     
     
        response to said external signal. .Iaddend. .Iadd.14.  The cochlear implant prosthesis of claim 13 wherein said base member and said lid are shaped to provide a cavity therebetween, said gasket means disposed in said cavity. .Iaddend. .Iadd.15. The cochlear implant prosthesis of claim 13 wherein said first electrical contact means is mounted on an inner side of said base and said second electrical contact means is mounted in said gasket means and is maintained in direct contact with said first electrical contact means by said predetermined pressure. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. The cochlear implant prosthesis of claim 15 further comprising third electrical contact means mounted on an inner side of said lid and maintained in direct contact with said second electrical contact means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. The cochlear implant prosthesis of claim 16 further comprising cable means for connecting said first electrical contact means to said electrode, said cable means extending through said case. .Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd.18.  The cochlear implant prosthesis of claim 13 wherein said first and second electrical contact means comprise a plurality of circumferentially spaced first and second sets of contacts, respectively, and wherein the contacts of said first set of contacts are each maintained in electrical contact with a respective one of the contacts of said second set of contacts under said predetermined pressure. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. The cochlear implant prosthesis of claim 18 wherein each of said first and second sets of contacts comprises radially spaced inner and outer sets of contacts. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. The cochlear implant prosthesis of claim 18 wherein said gasket means comprises an elastomeric first gasket mounted on an inner side of said base, said first set of contacts embedded in said first gasket. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. The cochlear implant prosthesis of claim 20 wherein said gasket means further comprises an elastomeric second gasket mounted between said first gasket and said lid, said second set of contacts embedded in said second gasket. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. The cochlear implant prosthesis of claim 18 further comprising a plurality of electrodes embedded in an elastomeric material to form an electrode array adapted to be implantable in the cochlea of a human ear and cable means for connecting said electrodes to said first set of contacts, said cable 
     
     
        means extending through said case. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23.  A connector comprising a case, including a base member and a lid, the base member and lid being shaped to provide a cavity between them, a first contact pad of elastomeric material, a first set of electrical contacts embedded in the first contact pad, the contact pad being interposed between the lid and the base member, a second set of electrical contacts within the cavity, means for providing separate electrical connections through the case to the first and second sets of electrical contacts, means for pressing the lid against the base member and the contact pad to exert a predetermined pressure on the pad, causing it to form a fluid tight seal around the first and second sets of electrical contacts, some of which are thereby placed in electrical contact with each other, a second contact pad having a third set of electrical contacts arranged in a pattern to mate with the first set of electrical contacts, the second contact pad being made of elastomeric material which is dimensioned to fit within the cavity, and means for providing separate electrical connections through the case to the third set of electrical contacts, and wherein the second contact paid is interposed between the lid and the first contact pad. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. In a cochlear implant prosthesis including an implantable disconnect means for transmitting an electrical signal to at least one electrode implantable in the cochlea of a human ear, said disconnect means comprising a base member,   a lid,   means for pressing said lid against said base member under a predetermined pressure to form a closed casing,   first electrical contact means mounted in said casing for transmitting said electrical signal to said electrode,   second electrical contact means mounted in said casing for receiving said electrical signal and transmitting it to said first electrical contact means,   elastomeric gasket means mounted in said casing for electrically isolating and forming a fluid tight seal around said first and second electrical contact means when said lid is pressed against said base member under said predetermined pressure, said first and second electrical contact means comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced first and second sets of contacts, respectively, and wherein the contacts of said first set of contacts are each maintained in electrical contact with a respective one of the contacts of said second set of contacts under said predetermined pressure. .Iaddend.