Electrical feed-through assembly suitable for electronic devices implantable in a human body

• US 3,920,888 A
• Filed: 06/04/1974
• Issued: 11/18/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harold N. Barr
• Original Assignee: Harold N. Barr
• Inventors: Barr, Harold N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Askin, Laramie E.
• Application Number:
  US05/476,299
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 174/50.56,50.61,50.63,151,152GM 29/473.1 128/405,419R,419P 52/759 403/179
• US Class Current: 174/152.0GM
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0001 Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3754 Feedthroughs
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 17/305 by embedding in glass or ceramic material

Abstract

An electrical feed-through assembly suitable for electronic devices to be implanted in a human body consisting of a titanium coupler provided with a flange into which is fitted an the alumina sleeve. A titanium coupler is fitted over the other end of alumina sleeve and compression joints are formed between the alumina sleeve and the two titanium parts. A platinum wire is sealed in the titanium coupler and extends through the sleeve and titanium coupler. A nickel coating is sputtered onto the inner surface of the titanium coupler to provide a solderable surface. The flange is used to weld the feed-through assembly onto a housing containing such an electronic device.

Claims

1. A TITANIUM COUPLER INCLUDING AN ANNULAR SKIRT PORTION OPEN AT ONE END, AN ANNULUS INTEGRALLY FORMED WITH THE OTHER END OF SAID ANNULAR SKIRT HAVING AN INNER DIAMETER LESS THAN THE INNER DIAMETER OF SAID ANNULAR SKIRT, AND AN ANNULAR FLANGE INTEGRALLY FORMED WITH SAID ANNULUS HAVING A LARGER OUTER DIAMETER THAN THAT OF SAID ANNULUS AND HAVING AN INNER DIAMETER FOR ITS OPENING THAT IS GREATER THAN THE INNER DIAMETER OF SAID ANNULUS TO DEFINE THEREBETWEEN A SHOULDER.

2. an alumina sleeve having an outer diameter equal to the inner diameter of said annular flange and having one end thereof received within the opening of said annular flange and bearing against said shoulder,

3. LIQUID-TIGHT AND GAS-TIGHT COMPRESSION JOINT MEANS FORMED BETWEEN SAID ANNULAR FLANGE AND THE END OF SAID ALUMINA SLEEVE RECEIVED THEREIN AND INCLUDING THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID ANNULAR FLANGE, THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID ALUMINA SLEEVE RECEIVED WITHIN SAID ANNULAR FLANGE, AND A BRAZE MATERIAL, A. SAID BRAZE MATERIAL BEING SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF GOLD, GOLD-NICKEL ALLOYS AND GOLD-PALLADIUM ALLOYS,

4. a titanium cap having a central opening received on the other end of said alumina sleeve with a skirt portion of said cap engaging the outer surface of said alumina sleeve in the vicinity of said other end, said skirt portion terminating spaced from said annular flange,

5. A NICKEL FILM ON THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID ANNULAR SKIRT PORTION, AND

6. a liquid-tight, gas-tight joint means formed between said wire and said alumina sleeve and including the surface of said wire, the inner surface of said alumina sleeve, and a braze material, a. said braze material being selected from the group consisting of gold, gold-nickel alloys, and gold-palladium alloys.

7. second liquid-tight and gas-tight compression joint means formed between the other end of said alumina sleeve and said cap received thereon and including the outer surface of said alumina sleeve in the vicinity of said other end, the inner surface of the skirt portion of said cap, and a braze material, a. said braze material being selected from the group consisting of gold, gold-nickel alloys and gold-palladium alloys,

8. said first and second compression joint means being spaced apart to be physically and electrically isolated, and

9. liquid-tight and gas-tight means sealing said platinum wire in said opening to said cap.