Ultrasonically welded, staked or swaged components in an implantable medical device

• US 7,187,974 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2002
• Issued: 03/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Kelley, James F., Haeg, Daniel C., Wiklund, Craig L.
• Primary Examiner(s): EVANISKO, GEORGE ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US10/199,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20030040780A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,691 Days
• Field of Search: 607 36- 38, 607/1, 607/2
• US Class Current: 607/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/375 Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37512 Pacemakers

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to an improved implantable medical device (IMD) and more particularly to an ultrasonically weld perforated lid for an IMD to form a hermetic seal between the IMD and the perforated lid. Appropriately configured perforated lids retain one or more components within a cavity or port formed in a part of an IMD. Such lids preferably secure a pierceable resilient grommet, septum or other resilient member in a cavity or port. When an adjustment instrument, a pull tool or a syringe is temporarily inserted therethrough and later extracted, the resilient member heals (i.e., seals and/or reseals). Preferably, the resilient member abuts a mechanical stop and is compressed slightly during assembly and ultrasonic welding of the lid. The resilient member preferably has a lateral dimension like the cavity or port so that when the lid compresses the resilient member it expands slightly and contacts the interior cavity surfaces thus improving the seal.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a thermoplastic connector module configured to couple to an implantable medical device;

a first cavity formed in the thermoplastic connector module of an implantable medical device, said first cavity defining a surface opening in the thermoplastic connector module and said surface opening having a geometric periphery;

a pierceable resilient member disposed in the first cavity; and

a perforated thermoplastic lid ultrasonically welded to the geometric periphery of the surface opening and abutting the pierceable resilient member so that said pierceable resilient member is compressed; and

one of a flash-reducing feature and an energy director structure located intermediate a portion of the lid and an opposing portion of the surface opening and further comprising a header module having a major connector port formed therein;

wherein the first cavity comprises a minor port formed in the header module and said first cavity is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the major connector port and wherein the major connector port is configured to receive a proximal end of a medical electrical lead.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the perforated lid has a substantially continuous ultrasonic weld formed between the surface opening and the lid.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the perforated lid is a washer member.

4. A device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a connector fastening member disposed within the first cavity.

5. A device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an interior annular shoulder member disposed within the first cavity and wherein a portion of the resilient member abuts the interior annular shoulder member of the first cavity so that said resilient member is retained at a predetermined elevation relative to the surface opening.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein an energy director member is disposed between the periphery of the perforated lid and the periphery of the opening.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the connector module comprises a header unit for an implantable medical device and the implantable medical device consists of one of the group:

an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), a pacemaker, a defibrillator, an implantable nerve stimulator, an implantable muscle stimulator, a data logger.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the geometric shape of the perforated lid is:

a round shape, a square shape;

an oval shape;

a polygon shape or a rhomboid shape.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein the resilient member is adapted to temporarily receive a thin elongated pull tool adapted to engage the proximal end of the medical electrical lead.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein the resilient member is a substantially disk-shaped member and wherein the resilient member further comprises:

a pair of abutting parts having a part interface therebetween; and

a band surrounding the pair of abutting parts to retain the pair of abutting parts in mutual sealing contact so that an adjustment instrument temporarily inserted into the part interface does not permanently disrupt the mutual sealing contact between the pair of abutting parts.

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein the pair of abutting parts has a central portion of reduced thickness relative to a non-central portion of the pair of abutting parts.