Greatbatch Ltd.

Thomas Marzano

Keith W Seitz

Robert A Stevenson

Christine A Frysz

Jason Woods

Richard L Brendel

Xiaohong Tang

William C Thiebolt

Dominick J Frustaci

Marc Gregory Martino

Steven W Winn

Brian P Hohl

Warren S Dabney

Robert Shawn Johnson

Christopher Michael Williams

John E Roberts

Holly Noelle Moschiano

Jonathan Calamel

Dallas J Rensel

Buehl E Truex

Robert S Rubino

Gary Freitag

Ho-Chul Yun

Afsar Ali

Haytham Hussein

Michael F Scalise

David Dianetti

Todd C Sutay

Donald H Hickel, Jr

Biswa P Das

Scott W Kelley

Luis Daniel Villamil

James Coffed

Ricahrd L Brendel

Sourabh Biswas

Dominck J Frustaci

William Thiebolt, Iii

Thomas Shi

Bruehl E Truex

Sachin Thanawala

Donald Hickel

Waren S Dabney

An inductive charging antenna for charging the power source of an active implantable medical device (AIMD) is described. The charging antenna is supported on the body fluid side of the feedthrough insulator, on the device side of the insulator or it is embedded inside the insulator. The charging antenna is connected to electronic circuits housed inside the medical device to charge the power source so that the device can deliver electrical stimulation to a patient and receive sensed biological signals from body tissue, among other functionalities. If the charging antenna is supported on the insulator body fluid side, it is made from a biocompatible material such as platinum. However, if the charging antenna is embedded inside the feedthrough insulator or is supported on the device side of the insulator, it can be made from a less expensive material that is not biocompatible, for example, copper.

Feedthrough with an integrated charging antenna for an active implantable medical device

A self-centering ceramic washer is positioned between a feedthrough and a filter circuit board. The washer has openings through which first and second terminal pins extend. A first opening has an inner arcuate portion contacting the first terminal pin and an outer perimeter portion exposing the braze sealing the terminal pin to the insulator. A second opening has an inner arcuate portion contacting the second terminal pin and an outer perimeter portion exposing the braze sealing the terminal pin to the insulator. In an imaginary configuration with the first and second washer openings superimposed one on top of the other, the cumulative arcuate distance of the inner arcuate portions about one of the terminal pins, subtracting overlap, results in a gap between the superimposed washer openings that is less than a diameter of the first and second terminal pins so that the washer is prevented from lateral movement.

Self-centering ceramic washer

A feedthrough terminal pin connector assembly for an active implantable medical device (AIMD) includes first and second terminal pin connectors, each comprising a sidewall having an exterior surface spaced from an interior surface defining a connector opening extending along a longitudinal axis. At least a first portion of the sidewall is electrically conductive. An electrically conductive compliant structure is supported by the electrically conductive portion of the sidewall in each of the first and second connector openings. A common housing contains the first and second terminal pin connectors with an insulative material electrically isolating the first and second electrically conductive sidewall portions from each other. The common housing is configured to be supported on a circuit board having at least a first and a second electrical circuits with the first and second electrically conductive portions being electrically connected to the respective first and second electrical circuits.

Common housing for a plurality of terminal pin connectors for use in an implantable medical device

Self-centering ceramic washer that prevents misalignment when positioned between a feedthrough and an EMI filter capacitor or a circuit board supporting EMI filter capacitors for a medical device

A self-centering washer is positioned between a feedthrough and a filter circuit board. The washer has openings through which first and second terminal pins extend. A first opening has an inner arcuate portion contacting the first terminal pin and an outer perimeter portion exposing the braze sealing the terminal pin to the insulator. A second opening has an inner arcuate portion contacting the second terminal pin and an outer perimeter portion exposing the braze sealing the terminal pin to the insulator. In an imaginary configuration with the first and second washer openings superimposed one on top of the other, the cumulative arcuate distance of the inner arcuate portions about one of the terminal pins, subtracting overlap, results in a gap between the superimposed washer openings that is less than a diameter of the first and second terminal pins so that the washer is prevented from lateral movement.

Self-centering polymeric washer that prevents misalignment when positioned between a feedthrough and a circuit board supporting EMI filter capacitors for a medical device

A circuit board for an active implantable medical device (AIMD) has a circuit board land connected to at least one electrical circuit. A hermetic feedthrough terminal pin connector for the AIMD includes an electrical insulator hermetically sealed to an opening of an electrically conductive ferrule. A terminal pin of the feedthrough extends outwardly beyond the insulator. A terminal pin connector has an electrically conductive connector housing that is connected to the circuit board land by an electrical connection material. At least one electrically conductive prong supported by the connector housing contacts and compresses against the feedthrough terminal pin to thereby make a removable electrical connection between the circuit board and the terminal pin. An insulative material loaded with electrically insulative nanoparticles coats at least a portion of the sidewall of the connector housing and the electrical connection material connecting the connector housing to the circuit board land.

High-voltage electrical insulation for use in active implantable medical devices circuit board connectors

A hermetic feedthrough terminal pin connector for an active implantable medical device (AIMD) includes an electrical insulator hermetically sealed to an opening of an electrically conductive ferrule. A feedthrough terminal pin is hermetically sealed to and disposed through the insulator, the feedthrough terminal pin extending outwardly beyond the insulator on the inside of the casing of the AIMD. A circuit board is disposed on the inside of the casing of the AIMD. A terminal pin connector includes: an electrically conductive connector housing disposed on the circuit board, wherein the connector housing is electrically connected to at least one electrical circuit disposed on the circuit board; and at least one electrically conductive prong supported by the connector housing, the at least one prong contacting and compressed against the feedthrough terminal pin, the at least one prong making a removable electrical connection.

Removable terminal pin connector for an active electronics circuit board for use in an implantable medical device

A self-centering washer is positioned between the feedthrough and filter capacitor of a filtered feedthrough. The washer has openings through which first and second terminal pins extend. A first opening has an inner arcuate portion contacting the first terminal pin and an outer perimeter portion exposing the braze sealing the terminal pin to the insulator. A second opening has an inner arcuate portion contacting the second terminal pin and an outer perimeter portion exposing the braze sealing the terminal pin to the insulator. In an imaginary configuration with the first and second washer openings superimposed one on top of the other, the cumulative arcuate distance of the inner arcuate portions about one of the terminal pins, subtracting overlap, results in a gap between the superimposed washer openings that is less than a diameter of the first and second terminal pins so that the washer is prevented from lateral movement.

Shaped insulating washer that prevents misalignment when positioned between a filter capacitor and a feedthrough

A miniature electrochemical cell having a total volume that is less than 0.5 cc is described. The cell casing is formed by joining two ceramic casing halves together. One or both casing halves are machined from ceramic to provide a recess that is sized and shaped to contain the electrode assembly. The opposite polarity terminals are metal feedthroughs, such as of gold, and are formed by brazing gold into openings machined into one or both of ceramic casing halves. A thin film metallization, such as of titanium, contacts an edge periphery of each ceramic casing half. The first ceramic casing half is moved into registry with the second ceramic casing half so that the first and second ring-shaped metallizations contact each other. Then, a laser welds through one of the casing halves being a substantially transparent ceramic, for example sapphire, to braze the first and second ring-shaped metallizations to each other to thereby join the first and second casing halves together to form a casing housing the electrode assembly. A solid electrolyte (LiPON) activates the electrode assembly.

Hermetic weld for a thin film electrochemical cell activated with a solid electrolyte and housed in a ceramic casing

A filtered feedthrough assembly includes a ferrule configured to be installed in an AIMD housing. An insulator is disposed within a ferrule opening. A conductive pathway is disposed within a passageway through the insulator. A filter capacitor is disposed on a device side having active and ground electrode plates disposed within a capacitor dielectric k greater than 0 and less than 1,000. A capacitor active metallization is electrically connected to the active electrode plates. A ground capacitor metallization is electrically connected to the ground electrode plates. The filter capacitor is the first filter capacitor electrically connected to the conductive pathway coming from a body fluid side into the device side. An active electrical connection electrically connects the conductive pathway to the capacitor active metallization. A ground electrical connection electrically connects the ground capacitor metallization to the ferrule. The filter capacitor is a flat-through or an X2Y attenuator filter capacitor.

Low equivalent series resistance RF filter circuit board for an active implantable medical device

A method for manufacturing a singulated feedthrough insulator for a hermetic seal of an active implantable medical device (AIMD) is described. The method begins with forming a green-state ceramic bar with a via hole filled with a conductive paste. The green-state ceramic bar is dried to convert the paste to an electrically conductive material filling via hole and then subjected to a pressing step. Following pressing, a green-state insulator is singulated from the green-state ceramic bar. The singulated green-state insulator in next sintered to form an insulator that is sized and shaped for hermetically sealing to close a ferrule opening. The thusly produced feedthrough is suitable installation in an opening in the housing of an active implantable medical device.

Method of manufacturing a singulated feedthrough insulator for a hermetic seal of an active implantable medical device incorporating a post conductive paste filled pressing step

A hermetically sealed filtered feedthrough assembly attachable to an AIMD includes an insulator hermetically sealing the opening of a ferrule with a gold braze. The ferrule includes a peninsula extending into the ferrule opening and the insulator has a cutout matching the peninsula. A sintered platinum-containing paste hermetically seals at least one via hole extending through the insulator. At least one capacitor is disposed on the device side. An active electrical connection electrically connects the capacitor active metallization to the sintered paste. A ground electrical connection electrically connects the capacitor ground metallization disposed within a capacitor ground passageway to the portion of the gold braze along the ferrule peninsula. The dielectric of the capacitor may be less than 1,000 k.

Filtered feedthrough assembly having a capacitor ground metallization electrically connected to the gold braze portion sealing a ferrule peninsula to a matching insulator cutout

A hermetically sealed filtered feedthrough for an active implantable medical device includes a first conductive leadwire extending from a first end to a second end, the first leadwire second end extending outwardly beyond the device side of an insulator hermetically sealed to a ferrule for the feedthrough. A circuit board supporting a chip capacitor is disposed adjacent to a device side of the insulator and has a circuit board passageway. The first leadwire first end resides in the circuit board passageway. A second conductive leadwire on the device side has a second leadwire first end disposed in the circuit board passageway with a second leadwire second end extending outwardly beyond the circuit board to be connectable to AIMD internal electronics. The second leadwire first end is connected to the first leadwire first end and a capacitor internal metallization in the circuit board passageway. The circuit board further comprises a ground electrode plate that is connected to the ground termination of the chip capacitor and to the ferrule.

Hermetic terminal for an AIMD having a pin joint in a feedthrough capacitor or circuit board

A hermetically sealed filtered feedthrough assembly attachable to an AIMD includes an insulator hermetically sealing a ferrule opening of an electrically conductive ferrule with a gold braze. A co-fired and electrically conductive sintered paste is disposed within and hermetically seals at least one via hole extending in the insulator. At least one capacitor is disposed on the device side. An active electrical connection electrically connects a capacitor active metallization and the sintered paste. A ground electrical connection electrically connects the gold braze to a capacitor ground metallization, wherein at least a portion of the ground electrical connection physically contacts the gold braze. The dielectric of the capacitor may be less than 1000 k. The ferrule may include an integrally formed peninsula portion extending into the ferrule opening spatially aligned with a ground passageway and metallization of an internally grounded feedthrough capacitor. The sintered paste may be of substantially pure platinum.

Hermetically sealed filtered feedthrough assembly having a capacitor with an oxide resistant electrical connection to an active implantable medical device housing

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East Amherst, NY, United States of America

Thomas Marzano