Optical window for implantable medical devices
First Claim
1. An optical window assembly for a chronically implantable medical device comprising:
- a housing having a window opening therein;
a ferrule mounted in the window opening, the ferrule comprising a ferrule body forming a lens opening, the ferrule body having a generally U-shaped cross-section with an inner leg, an outer leg, and a strain relief channel in the ferrule body between the inner leg and the outer leg, wherein outer leg of the ferrule body is proximate the window opening of the housing; and
a lens mounted in the lens opening of the ferrule, wherein the lens is proximate the inner leg of the ferrule body.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical window assembly for use in implantable medical devices includes a generally U-shaped ferrule having a strain relief channel to accommodate residual stresses remaining in the ferrule after welding the ferrule to the housing of an implantable medical device. The assembly may be used to transmit optical energy and/or electrically insulate a feedthrough. The assembly can be mounted in a window opening in a housing. The ferrule can include a ferrule body forming a lens opening, the ferrule body having a generally U-shaped cross-section with an inner leg, an outer leg, and a strain relief channel in the ferrule body between the inner leg and the outer leg. A lens is mounted in the lens opening of the ferrule. The ferrule can also include a lens flange on the inner leg of the ferrule body, a support flange on the outer leg of the ferrule body, and/or a braze stop to control flow of the braze. The ferrule and housing can be constructed of titanium. Also disclosed are methods of manufacturing the optical window assemblies and implantable medical devices including the optical window assemblies.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. An optical window assembly for a chronically implantable medical device comprising:
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a housing having a window opening therein; a ferrule mounted in the window opening, the ferrule comprising a ferrule body forming a lens opening, the ferrule body having a generally U-shaped cross-section with an inner leg, an outer leg, and a strain relief channel in the ferrule body between the inner leg and the outer leg, wherein outer leg of the ferrule body is proximate the window opening of the housing; and a lens mounted in the lens opening of the ferrule, wherein the lens is proximate the inner leg of the ferrule body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of manufacturing an optical window for a chronically implantable medical device comprising:
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providing a ferrule comprising a ferrule body forming a lens opening, the ferrule body having a generally U-shaped cross-section with an inner leg, an outer leg, and a strain relief channel in the ferrule body between the inner leg and the outer leg, wherein outer leg of the ferrule body is proximate the window opening of the housing; mounting a lens in the lens opening of the ferrule, wherein the lens is proximate the inner leg of the ferrule body; and mounting the ferrule and lens in a window opening in a housing of the medical device, wherein the outer leg of the ferrule body is proximate the window opening in the housing. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An implantable medical device including an optical window assembly comprising:
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a housing having a window opening therein; a ferrule mounted in the window opening, the ferrule comprising a ferrule body forming a lens opening, the ferrule body having a generally U-shaped cross-section with an inner leg, an outer leg, and a strain relief channel in the ferrule body between the inner leg and the outer leg, wherein outer leg of the ferrule body is proximate the window opening of the housing; and a lens mounted in the lens opening of the ferrule, wherein the lens is proximate the inner leg of the ferrule body. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification