Connector Standards

The Connector Standards Committee is working to address the issue of standardizing implanted connector designs for neuromodulation devices, as has been done successfully for implanted cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators. Besides improving patient care, establishing connector standards will facilitate independent growth of expertise in the development of leads, implanted generators, power sources and user interfaces.

Project Members

Richard North, MD (co-chair)
Peter Konrad, MD, PhD (co-chair)
Konstantin Slavin, MD
Ashwini Sharan, MD
Parag Patil, MD, PhD
Chris Schade, MD, PhD
Ben Pless
Jack Judy, PhD
Joe Pancrazio, PhD

Publications

Following a face-to-face meeting with representatives from industry, regulatory bodies, and standards organizations in DC in 2018, we polled NANS membership and confirmed that there is wide support for standardization.

North, R.B., Konrad, P.E., Judy, J.W., Ries, A.J., Steverson, R. Examining the Need to Standardize Implanted Stimulator Connectors: NANS Survey Results – Neuromodulation 2020 Aug 11. doi: 10.1111/ner.13231

Upcoming Events

A subgroup have been meeting on line to address MRI compatibility issues, in anticipation of a follow-up meeting to pursue next steps in standards development.