Feedthrough filter terminal assemblies with breathable components to facilitate leak testing
First Claim
1. A feedthrough terminal assembly for an active implantable medical device (AIMD), comprising:
- a conductive terminal pin or lead wire extending through a conductive ground plane of the AIMD in non-conductive relation;
a feedthrough capacitor associated with the conductive terminal pin or lead wire, the capacitor having first and second sets of electrode plates;
a hermetic insulator disposed adjacent to a face of the capacitor and disposed between the terminal pin or lead wire and the conductive ground plane;
a breathable washer disposed between facing surfaces of the hermetic insulator and the feedthrough capacitor, the breathable washer comprising a breathable material which allows a leak detection gas to pass therethrough during a standard pressurized or vacuum pull leak detection test and yet excludes movement of liquids, dissolved solids or solid contaminants therethrough;
means for conductively coupling the first set of electrode plates to the terminal pin or lead wire; and
means for conductively coupling the second set of electrode plates to the ground plane.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A feedthrough terminal assembly for an active implantable medical device (AIMD) includes a conductive terminal pin or lead wire which extends through a conductive ground plane of the AIMD in non-conductive relation. A feedthrough capacitor associated with the terminal pin or lead wire has first and second sets of electrode plates coupled, respectively, to the conductive pin or lead wire and to the ground plane. A breathable electromechanical connection material conductively couples the capacitor'"'"'s electrode plates to respective components of the AIMD, which allows helium gas to pass freely therethrough during a standard pressurized or vacuum pull helium leak detection test. A breathable washer may be disposed between an alumina insulator and a surface of the capacitor. An additional further breathable coating or conformal coating may be placed over a surface of the feedthrough capacitor disposed toward the interior of the AIMD.
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Citations
51 Claims
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1. A feedthrough terminal assembly for an active implantable medical device (AIMD), comprising:
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a conductive terminal pin or lead wire extending through a conductive ground plane of the AIMD in non-conductive relation; a feedthrough capacitor associated with the conductive terminal pin or lead wire, the capacitor having first and second sets of electrode plates; a hermetic insulator disposed adjacent to a face of the capacitor and disposed between the terminal pin or lead wire and the conductive ground plane; a breathable washer disposed between facing surfaces of the hermetic insulator and the feedthrough capacitor, the breathable washer comprising a breathable material which allows a leak detection gas to pass therethrough during a standard pressurized or vacuum pull leak detection test and yet excludes movement of liquids, dissolved solids or solid contaminants therethrough; means for conductively coupling the first set of electrode plates to the terminal pin or lead wire; and means for conductively coupling the second set of electrode plates to the ground plane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A feedthrough terminal assembly for an active implantable medical device (AIMD), comprising:
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a conductive terminal pin or lead wire extending through a conductive ground plane of the AIMD in non-conductive relation; a feedthrough capacitor associated with the conductive terminal pin or lead wire, having first and second sets of electrode plates; means for conductively coupling the first set of electrode plates to the terminal pin or lead wire; and means for conductively coupling the second set of electrode plates to the ground plane; wherein at least one of the conductive coupling means comprises a breathable electromechanical connection material which allows a leak detection gas to pass therethrough during a standard pressurized or vacuum pull leak detection test and yet excludes movement of liquids, dissolved solids or solid contaminants therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A process for assembling a feedthrough terminal assembly for an active implantable medical device (AIMD), comprising the steps of:
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providing a feedthrough capacitor having first and second sets of electrode plates; conductively coupling the first set of electrode plates to a conductive terminal pin or lead wire extending through the feedthrough capacitor; conductively coupling the second set of electrode plates to a ground plane for the AIMD; and during at least one of the coupling steps, electromechanically joining the associated components with a breathable material which allows leak detection gas to pass through said coupling during a standard pressurized or vacuum pull leak detection test while simultaneously excluding movement of liquids, dissolved solids or solid contaminants therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A process for assembling a feedthrough terminal assembly for an active implantable medical device (AIMD), comprising the steps of:
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providing a feedthrough capacitor having first and second sets of electrode plates; conductively coupling the first set of electrode plates to a conductive terminal pin or lead wire extending through the feedthrough capacitor; conductively coupling the second set of electrode plates to a ground plane for the AIMD; and positioning a washer adjacent to a surface of the capacitor, the washer comprising a breathable material which allows leak detection gas to pass through said washer during a standard pressurized or vacuum pull leak detection test while simultaneously excluding movement of liquids, dissolved solids or solid contaminants therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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Specification