Method of forming a tubular feed-through hermetic seal for an implantable medical device
First Claim
1. A method of forming a hermetic seal for device to be implanted in living tissue, the device having a sealed casing, the method comprising the steps of:
- inserting a tube into the device such that one end of a tube is disposed within the casing and the other end extends out from the casing;
hermetically sealing the tube to the casing;
venting any volatile gases within the casing through the tube;
vacuum baking the device to drive out any moisture from the casing through the tube; and
sealing the end of the tube extending out from the casing.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for hermetically sealing implantable devices, such as a microstimulator, moicrotransducer, microtelemeter, or the like, prevents entrapment of water vapors and other volatile gases, and allows hermeticity testing at all manufacturing levels. The venting of water vapors and other volatile gases is accomplished with a tubular feedthrough that allows such gases trapped within the sealed device to vent during the manufacturing process. The tubular feedthrough also establishes a conduit through which leakage tests or other hermeticity tests can be conducted prior to and after sealing the feedthrough. The tubular feedthrough, when made from conductive materials, also provides for electrical connections between electronic circuits sealed within the device and electrodes and other electrical terminals on the outside of the capsule.
193 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of forming a hermetic seal for device to be implanted in living tissue, the device having a sealed casing, the method comprising the steps of:
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inserting a tube into the device such that one end of a tube is disposed within the casing and the other end extends out from the casing; hermetically sealing the tube to the casing; venting any volatile gases within the casing through the tube; vacuum baking the device to drive out any moisture from the casing through the tube; and sealing the end of the tube extending out from the casing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of hermetically sealing an electronic assembly within a capsule so that moisture and other unwanted gases are effectively vented from the capsule prior to sealing, the method comprising the steps of:
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attaching one end of a tube to the electronic assembly; encasing the electronic assembly within the capsule such that one end of the tube resides in the interior of the capsule while the other end extends out from the capsule; hermetically sealing the tube to the capsule; driving unwanted gases, including moisture if present, out of the capsule through the tube; and sealing the end of the tube extending out from the capsule. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification