Feedthrough assembly including a lead frame assembly

• US 8,849,404 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2011
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Iyer, Rajesh V., Goldman, Simon E., Miltich, Thomas P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schaetzle, Kennedy
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, ERICA SHENGKAI
• Application Number:
  US13/308,144
• Publication Number:
  US 20130060312A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 607/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3754 Feedthroughs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3968 Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings A61N1/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 2001/0042 Wound, ring or feed-through type capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/0138 Electrical filters or coupling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or adjusting assemblages of electric components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/43 Electric condenser making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/435 Solid dielectric type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49165 by forming conductive walled aperture in base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49171 with encapsulating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49208 by assembling plural parts

Abstract

A feedthrough assembly may include a ferrule defining a ferrule opening, a feedthrough at least partially disposed within the ferrule opening, a capacitive filter array at least partially disposed within the ferrule opening, and a lead frame assembly. The feedthrough may include at least one feedthrough conductive pathway and the capacitive filter array may include at least one filter array conductive pathway. The lead frame assembly may include an electrically conductive lead electrically connecting the at least one feedthrough conductive pathway and the at least one filter array conductive pathway.

Claims

1. A feedthrough assembly comprising:

a ferrule defining a ferrule opening;

a feedthrough at least partially disposed within the ferrule opening, wherein the feedthrough includes at least one feedthrough conductive pathway;

a capacitive filter array at least partially disposed within the ferrule opening, wherein the capacitive filter array includes at least one filter array conductive pathway; and

a lead frame assembly, wherein the lead frame assembly comprises an electrically conductive lead electrically connecting the at least one feedthrough conductive pathway and the at least one filter array conductive pathway,

wherein the at least one feedthrough conductive pathway comprises an externally-facing feedthrough conductive pad positioned on an externally-facing side of the feedthrough, an internally-facing feedthrough conductive pad positioned on an internally-facing side of the feedthrough, and a feedthrough conductive via extending between the externally-facing feedthrough conductive pad and the internally-facing feedthrough conductive pad;

wherein the at least one filter array conductive pathway comprises an externally-facing filter conductive pad positioned on an externally-facing side of the capacitive filter array, an internally-facing filter conductive pad positioned on an internally-facing side of the capacitive filter array, and a filter conductive via extending between the externally-facing filter conductive pad and the internally-facing filter conductive pad;

wherein the electrically conductive lead electrically connects the internally-facing feedthrough conductive pad and the externally facing filter conductive pad.

2. The feedthrough assembly of claim 1, wherein the capacitive filter array further comprise a capacitive filter electrically coupled to the at least one filter array conductive pathway and a perimeter conductive contact electrically coupled to the capacitive filter.

3. The feedthrough assembly of claim 2, wherein the electrically conductive lead comprises a first electrically conductive lead, and wherein the lead frame assembly further comprises a second electrically conductive lead that electrically connects the perimeter conductive contact to the ferrule.

4. The feedthrough assembly of claim 1, wherein the capacitive filter array comprises a plurality of filter array conductive pathways, wherein the feedthrough comprises a plurality of feedthrough conductive pathways, wherein the lead frame assembly comprises a plurality of electrically conductive leads, and wherein respective ones of the plurality of electrically conductive leads electrically connect respective ones of filter array conductive pathways with respective ones of feedthrough conductive pathways.

5. The feedthrough assembly of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive lead is fired to the at least one filter array conductive pathway.

6. The feedthrough assembly of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive lead is soldered to the at least one feedthrough conductive pathway.

7. The feedthrough assembly of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive lead is configured to maintain separation between the internally-facing side of the feedthrough and the externally-facing side of the capacitive filter array when the capacitive filter array is positioned in a desired position relative to the ferrule and the feedthrough.

8. The feedthrough assembly of claim 7, further comprising an electrically insulating material between the internally-facing side of the feedthrough and the externally-facing side of the capacitive filter array.

9. The feedthrough assembly of claim 8, wherein the electrically insulating material extends substantially continuously between the internally-facing side of the feedthrough and the externally-facing side of the capacitive filter array.

10. The feedthrough assembly of claim 8, further comprising an underfill access port defined by at least one of the ferrule, the capacitive filter array, or the feedthrough.

11. An implantable medical device comprising:

a housing defining an opening; and

a feedthrough assembly disposed in the opening and attached to the housing, wherein the feedthrough assembly comprises;

a ferrule defining a ferrule opening;

a feedthrough at least partially disposed within the ferrule opening, wherein the feedthrough includes at least one feedthrough conductive pathway,

a capacitive filter array at least partially disposed within the ferrule opening, wherein the capacitive filter array includes at least one filter array conductive pathway, and

a lead frame assembly, wherein the lead frame assembly comprise a electrically conductive lead electrically connecting the at least one feedthrough conductive pathway and the at least one filter array conductive pathway,

wherein the at least one feedthrough conductive pathway comprises an externally-facing feedthrough conductive pad positioned on an externally-facing side of the feedthrough, an internally-facing feedthrough conductive pad positioned on an internally-facing side of the feedthrough, and a feedthrough conductive via extending between the externally-facing feedthrough conductive pad and the internally-facing feedthrough conductive pad;

wherein the at least one filter array conductive pathway comprises an externally-facing filter conductive pad positioned on an externally-facing side of the capacitive filter array, an internally-facing filter conductive pad positioned on an internally-facing side of the capacitive filter array, and a filter conductive via extending between the externally-facing filter conductive pad and the internally-facing filter conductive pad;

wherein the electrically conductive lead electrically connects the internally-facing feedthrough conductive pad and the externally facing filter conductive pad.

12. The implantable medical device of claim 11, wherein the capacitive filter array further comprise a capacitive filter electrically coupled to the at least one filter array conductive pathway and a perimeter conductive contact electrically coupled to the capacitive filter.

13. The implantable medical device of claim 12, wherein the electrically conductive lead comprises a first electrically conductive lead, and wherein the lead frame assembly further comprises a second electrically conductive lead that electrically connects the perimeter conductive contact to the ferrule.

14. The implantable medical device of claim 11, wherein the capacitive filter array comprises a plurality of filter array conductive pathways, wherein the feedthrough comprises a plurality of feedthrough conductive pathways, wherein the lead frame assembly comprises a plurality of electrically conductive leads, and wherein respective ones of the plurality of electrically conductive leads electrically connect respective ones of filter array conductive pathways with respective ones of feedthrough conductive pathways.

15. The implantable medical device of claim 11, wherein the electrically conductive lead is fired to the at least one filter array conductive pathway.

16. The implantable medical device of claim 11, wherein the electrically conductive lead is soldered to the at least one feedthrough conductive pathway.

17. The implantable medical device of claim 11, wherein the electrically conductive lead is configured to maintain separation between the internally-facing side of the feedthrough and the externally-facing side of the capacitive filter array when the capacitive filter array is positioned in a desired position relative to the ferrule and the feedthrough.

18. The implantable medical device of claim 17, further comprising an electrically insulating material between the internally-facing side of the feedthrough and the externally-facing side of the capacitive filter array.

19. The implantable medical device of claim 18, wherein the electrically insulating material extends substantially continuously between the internally-facing side of the feedthrough and the externally-facing side of the capacitive filter array.

20. The implantable medical device of claim 18, further comprising an underfill access port defined by at least one of the ferrule, the capacitive filter array, or the feedthrough.