Feedthru assembly

• US 7,939,762 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2009
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: He, Tom Xiaohai
• Primary Examiner(s): Mayo, III; William H
• Application Number:
  US12/367,080
• Publication Number:
  US 20090139765A1
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 174/74.R, 174/76, 174/77.R, 174/79, 174/84.R, 174/88.R, 174/94.R
• US Class Current: 174/94.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3754 Feedthroughs
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 17/58 Tubes, sleeves, beads, or bobbins through which the conductor passes
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/04 Leading of conductors or axles through casings, e.g. for tap-changing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5224 for medical use
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/12 for medicine and surgery
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/532 Conductor

Abstract

A feedthru assembly configured to provide a conductive path extending between an interior of an enclosure and an exterior of the enclosure includes a flange, at least one conductive pin, and at least one insulative member. The flange is configured to couple to the enclosure and has one or more holes therein. The at least one conductive pin includes a hollow lumen extending therethrough and is configured to extend through the at least one or more holes of the flange such that a proximal end of the at least one pin is in communication with the interior of the enclosure and a distal end of the at least one pin is in communication with the exterior of the enclosure. The at least one insulative member is configured to prevent the at least one pin from making physical contact with the flange.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

an enclosure having an interior and an exterior; and

a feedthru assembly configured to provide a conductive path extending between the interior of the enclosure and the exterior of said enclosure, comprising;

a plurality of pins, each having a distal end and a proximal end such that the proximal end of each pin is in communication with the interior of the enclosure and the distal end of each pin is in communication with the exterior of the enclosure, wherein the pins are configured and arranged for electrically coupling electronic circuitry within the interior of the enclosure to a lead exterior of the enclosure, each pin comprising a hollow lumen for receiving a conductive wire;

an insulative member coupled to the pins to prevent electrical contact between said pins; and

a plurality of conductive wires, each conductive wire passing completely through the hollow lumen of one of the pins.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said pins are made out of a conductive material.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said insulative member is an insulative tube having a proximal end and a distal end.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said insulative member is an insulative plate.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said pins are hermetically coupled to said insulative member.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said hollow lumen extends along the entire length of the pin.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said insulative member is made out of ceramic.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said insulative member is made out of glass.

9. The device of claim 3, wherein the distal and proximal ends of each pin extend beyond the distal and proximal ends of the insulative tube.

10. The device of claim 3, wherein an end of each pin extends beyond an end of the insulative tube.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the lumen has a diameter that is slightly larger than that of the conductive wire that passes therethrough.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of pins are configured to serve as electrodes.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein said device is an implantable pulse generator.

14. The device of claim 1, further comprising a lead configured and arranged for removably coupling to the implantable pulse generator.

15. A method of making a device comprising:

providing an enclosure having an interior and an exterior;

providing a plurality of pins, each having a distal end and a proximal end such that the proximal end of each pin is in communication with the interior of the enclosure and the distal end of each pin is in communication with the exterior of the enclosure, wherein the pins are configured and arranged for electrically coupling electronic circuitry within the interior of the enclosure to electronic circuitry exterior of the enclosure, each pin comprising a hollow lumen for receiving a conductive wire;

coupling an insulative member to the pins to prevent electrical contact between said pins; and

guiding each of a plurality of conductive wires completely through the hollow lumen of a corresponding one of the pins.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein guiding each of a plurality of conductive wires comprises facilitating a passage of the conductive wires through the hollow lumens of the pins using a guiding element.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein coupling an insulative member comprises coupling at least one of the pins to an insulative tube, said insulative tube being configured to surround a portion of an outer surface of said at least one of the pins.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein coupling an insulative member comprises coupling the pins to an insulative plate.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein providing an enclosure comprises providing an enclosure housing electronic circuitry within the enclosure corresponding to an implantable medical device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the electronic circuitry corresponds to an implantable pulse generator.