Attachment apparatus and method for an implantable medical device
First Claim
1. A method of making an implantable medical device, comprising the steps of:
- providing an hermetically sealed enclosure having an enclosure attachment surface disposed thereon;
providing a pre-formed module having a module attachment surface disposed thereon;
forming a retention structure extending away from the enclosure attachment surface into proximity with a portion of the pre-formed header module when the enclosure attachment surface and the module attachment surface of the pre-formed header module are aligned with respect to one another, the retention structure comprising a bendable member that may be bent from an initial position to allow the pre-formed header module to be seated with respect to the hermetically sealed enclosure in a retention position;
forming a bend engaging portion of the pre-formed header module;
aligning and firmly seating the module attachment surface against the enclosure attachment surface such that bendable member of the retention structure extending away from the enclosure surface is brought into proximity with the bend engaging portion of the pre-formed header module; and
applying a bending force to the bendable member to bend it into engagement with the bend engaging portion of the pre-formed header module to attach the pre-formed header module attachment surface to the enclosure attachment surface.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable medical device of the type formed of a hermetically sealed enclosure attached on a enclosure attachment surface thereof to a module attachment surface of a pre-formed header module is disclosed. The pre-formed header module is attached to the enclosure attachment surface through use of a retention structure extending away from the enclosure surface into proximity with a portion of the pre-formed header module when the enclosure and module attachment surfaces are aligned with respect to one another. The retention structure comprises a bendable member that is bent from an initial position allowing the pre-formed header module to be seated with respect to the hermetically sealed enclosure to a retention position making an attachment against a bend engaging portion of the pre-formed header module. The bendable member is the free end portion of an attachment tab having a tab base attached at a predetermined location of the hermetically sealed enclosure such that the upstanding attachment tab extends in a predetermined direction away from the enclosure surface and the free end of the attachment tab is bendable laterally with respect to the predetermined direction against the bend engaging portion. Adhesive is then applied to the retention mechanism and the space between the enclosure attachment surface and the module attachment surface.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of making an implantable medical device, comprising the steps of:
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providing an hermetically sealed enclosure having an enclosure attachment surface disposed thereon; providing a pre-formed module having a module attachment surface disposed thereon; forming a retention structure extending away from the enclosure attachment surface into proximity with a portion of the pre-formed header module when the enclosure attachment surface and the module attachment surface of the pre-formed header module are aligned with respect to one another, the retention structure comprising a bendable member that may be bent from an initial position to allow the pre-formed header module to be seated with respect to the hermetically sealed enclosure in a retention position; forming a bend engaging portion of the pre-formed header module; aligning and firmly seating the module attachment surface against the enclosure attachment surface such that bendable member of the retention structure extending away from the enclosure surface is brought into proximity with the bend engaging portion of the pre-formed header module; and applying a bending force to the bendable member to bend it into engagement with the bend engaging portion of the pre-formed header module to attach the pre-formed header module attachment surface to the enclosure attachment surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An implantable medical device having an hermetically sealed enclosure attached to a pre-formed header module, the device comprising:
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a retention structure extending away from the enclosure attachment surface into proximity with a portion of the pre-formed header module when the enclosure attachment surface and a module attachment surface of the pre-formed header module are aligned with respect to one another, the retention structure comprising a bendable member that may be bent from an initial position allowing the pre-formed header module to be seated with respect to the hermetically sealed enclosure to a retention position; a bend engaging portion of the pre-formed header module over which the bendable member may be bent upon alignment and firmly seating of the module attachment surface against the enclosure attachment surface whereby the bendable member of the retention structure extending away from the enclosure surface is brought into proximity with the bend engaging portion of the pre-formed header module; and a bend formed in the bendable member bending it into engagement with the bend engaging portion of the pre-formed header module to attach the pre-formed header module attachment surface to the enclosure attachment surface. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An implantable medical device comprising an hermetically sealed enclosure having an enclosure attachment surface disposed thereon, a pre-formed header module formed of an insulating material and having a module attachment surface disposed thereon, the device comprising:
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attachment tab means for extending an upstanding attachment tab in a predetermined direction away from the enclosure attachment surface; means for defining a tab channel in the pre-formed header module extending away from the module attachment surface and oriented to receive an upstanding attachment tab therein when the enclosure attachment surface and the module attachment surface are seated and aligned with respect to one another; means for defining an access window extending laterally across the tab channel from a further surface of the pre-formed header module that defines an intersecting edge of the tab channel and exposes a free end portion of the attachment tab within the window extending across the tab channel when the enclosure attachment surface and the module attachment surface are seated and aligned with respect to one another; wherein the free end portion of the attachment tab is formed with a laterally extending bend thereof over the intersecting edge and into the laterally extending access window so that the attachment tab resists being withdrawn from the tab channel when a separation force is applied to separate the pre-formed header module from the hermetically sealed enclosure.
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Specification