EMI filtered co-connected hermetic feedthrough, feedthrough capacitor and leadwire assembly for an active implantable medical device

• US 9,233,253 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2013
• Issued: 01/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Greatbatch Limited (Greatbatch Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Greatbatch Limited (Greatbatch Incorporated)
• Inventors: Stevenson, Robert A., Marzano, Thomas, Seitz, Keith W., Winn, Steven W., Frysz, Christine A., Brendel, Richard L., Woods, Jason, Frustaci, Dominick J., Tang, Xiaohong, Thiebolt, William C.
• Primary Examiner(s): THOMAS, ERIC W
• Application Number:
  US13/743,276
• Publication Number:
  US 20140036409A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: 361/302, 607/5
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/08 Arrangements or circuits for monitoring, protecting, controlling or indicating for external stimulators A61N1/3603; for implantable neurostimulators A61N1/36128; for heart stimulators A61N1/37; for defibrillators A61N1/3925
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/372 Arrangements in connection with the implantation of stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/375 Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37512 Pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3754 Feedthroughs
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 35/3013 Au as the principal constituent
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 29/12 based on oxides
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 2/103 Sealings, e.g. for lead-in wires; Covers
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 4/005 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 4/12 Ceramic dielectrics H01G4/085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 4/30 Stacked capacitors H01G4/33 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 4/35 Feed-through capacitors or anti-noise capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 4/40 Structural combinations of fixed capacitors with other electric elements, the structure mainly consisting of a capacitor, e.g. RC combinations
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors of trolley lines B60M1/28
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/22 Installations of cables or lines through walls, floors or ceilings, e.g. into buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1052 with cutting, punching, tearing or severing

Abstract

A co-connected hermetic feedthrough, feedthrough capacitor, and leadwire assembly includes a dielectric substrate with a via hole disposed through the dielectric substrate from a body fluid side to a device side. A conductive fill is disposed within the via forming a hermetic seal and is electrically conductive between the body fluid side and the device side. A feedthrough capacitor is attached to the dielectric substrate and includes a capacitor dielectric substrate, an unfilled capacitor via hole including an inner metallization, a set of capacitor active electrode plates electrically coupled to the inner metallization, an outer metallization disposed and a set of capacitor ground electrode plates electrically coupled to the outer metallization. A conductive leadwire is disposed within the unfilled capacitor via hole. An electrical joint connects the conductive fill, the capacitor inner metallization along with the capacitor active electrode plates and the conductive leadwire.

Claims

1. A filter feedthrough assembly, comprising:

a) a hermetic feedthrough, comprising;

i) an insulator of electrically non-conductive material defined by an insulator sidewall having an outer insulator surface extending from a first insulator end to a second insulator end, wherein the insulator has at least one insulator via defined by an insulator bore extending there through to the first and second insulator ends;

ii) a ferrule of an electrically conductive material comprising a ferrule opening defined by a surrounding ferrule sidewall having an inner ferrule surface, wherein the insulator is hermetically supported in the ferrule opening; and

iii) a conductive fill disposed within the insulator via, wherein the conductive fill forms both a hermetic seal with the insulator bore and an electrically conductive path extending from first and second fill ends located adjacent to the respective first and second insulator ends;

b) a feedthrough capacitor, comprising;

i) a dielectric body defined by a dielectric sidewall having an outer dielectric surface extending from a first dielectric end to a second dielectric end;

ii) at least one active electrode plate and at least one ground electrode plate supported in the dielectric body in spaced relation with each other;

iii) at least one dielectric via defined by the dielectric bore extending through the dielectric body to the first and second dielectric ends;

iv) an inner metallization disposed on the dielectric bore in electrical contact with the at least one active electrode plate; and

v) an outer metallization disposed on an outer surface of the dielectric body in electrical contact with the at least one ground electrode plate;

c) a conductive leadwire having a length extending from a first leadwire portion having a first leadwire end to second leadwire end, wherein the first leadwire portion is disposed within the dielectric via with the first leadwire end located in contact with or adjacent to the second conductive fill end;

d) an active electrically conductive material at least partially filled in the dielectric via to physically and electrically connect;

i) the first leadwire portion to the inner metallization electrically connected to the at least one active electrode plate; and

ii) the first leadwire end to the second conductive fill end; and

(e) a ground electrically conductive material electrically connecting the outer metallization in electrical contact with the at least one ground plate to the ferrule.

2. The filter feedthrough assembly of claim 1, wherein the active electrically conductive material at least partially filled in the dielectric via is selected from the group consisting of a solder, an epoxy, a low temperature braze, a conductive glass frit, and a weld.

3. The filter feedthrough assembly of claim 1, wherein the hermetic seal formed by the conductive fill contacting the insulator bore has a leak rate no greater than 1×

10<sup>−

7</sup> std cc He/sec.

4. The filter feedthrough assembly of claim 1, wherein the dielectric body comprises at least 96% alumina.

5. The filter feedthrough assembly of claim 1, wherein the dielectric body comprises at least 99% alumina.

6. The filter feedthrough assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductive fill disposed in the insulator via comprises a substantially closed pore and fritless platinum fill.

7. The filter feedthrough assembly of claim 6, wherein the hermetic seal formed by the conductive fill contacting the insulator bore is a tortuous and mutually conformal knitline between the insulator and the platinum fill.

8. The filter feedthrough assembly of claim 7, wherein the knitline comprises a glass that is at least about 60% silica.

9. The filter feedthrough assembly of claim 1, wherein the outer metallization comprises an adhesion metallization disposed on the outer surface of the dielectric body.

10. The filter feedthrough assembly of claim 9, wherein the outer metallization comprises a wetting metallization disposed on the adhesion metallization.

11. The filter feedthrough assembly of claim 1, including a gold braze hermetically sealing the outer insulator surface to the ferrule.

12. The filter feedthrough assembly of claim 11, wherein the gold braze hermetically sealing the outer insulator surface to the ferrule has a leak rate no greater than 1×

10<sup>−

7</sup> std cc He/sec.

13. The filter feedthrough assembly of claim 1, wherein an insulative washer is disposed between the insulator of the hermetic feedthrough and the dielectric body of the feedthrough capacitor.

14. The filter feedthrough assembly of claim 1, wherein the dielectric bore extending through the dielectric body to the first and second dielectric ends is staggered.

15. The filter feedthrough assembly of claim 1, wherein the insulator comprises an elevated insulator portion extending outwardly from the ferrule opposite the feedthrough, capacitor, and wherein a leadwire connection feature comprises a proximal connection portion extending to a distal connection portion, the proximal connection portion being physically and electrically coupled to the first fill end with the distal connection portion contacting the elevated insulator portion, but spaced from the ferrule, the distal connection portion being configured for direct electrical connection to a leadwire.

16. The filter feedthrough assembly of claim 15, wherein the leadwire connection feature comprises a wire bond pad.

17. The filter feedthrough assembly of claim 16, wherein the wire bond pad is substantially L-shaped.

18. The filter feedthrough assembly of claim 15, wherein the proximal connection portion of the leadwire connection feature is characterized as having been co-fired within the conductive fill.

19. The filter feedthrough assembly of claim 15, including a braze preform physically and electrically coupling the leadwire connection feature to the conductive fill.

20. The filter feedthrough assembly of claim 15, including a laser weld physically and electrically coupling the leadwire connection feature to the conductive fill.

21. The filter feedthrough assembly of claim 15, wherein the distal connection portion of the leadwire connection feature comprises a leadwire insertion hole and the proximal connection portion comprises a laser weld access hole and wherein the laser weld access hole is physically and electrically connected to the conductive fill.

22. The filter feedthrough assembly of claim 15, wherein the distal connection portion of the leadwire connection feature comprises a leadwire insertion hole and a threaded set screw hole in open communication with the leadwire insertion hole.

23. The filter feedthrough assembly of claim 1, wherein the outer metallization comprises an adhesion metallization disposed on the outer surface of the dielectric body and a wetting metallization disposed on the adhesion metallization.

24. A filter feedthrough assembly, comprising:

a) a hermetic feedthrough, comprising;

i) an insulator of electrically non-conductive material defined by an insulator sidewall having an outer insulator surface extending from a first insulator end to a second insulator end;

ii) at least one active insulator via defined by an active insulator bore extending there through to the first and second insulator ends;

iii) at least one ground electrode plate supported by the insulator;

iv) at least one ground insulator via defined by a ground insulator bore extending there through to the first and second insulator ends;

v) a ferrule of an electrically conductive material comprising a ferrule opening defined by a surrounding ferrule sidewall having an inner ferrule surface, wherein the insulator is hermetically supported in the ferrule opening;

vi) an active conductive fill, disposed within the active insulator via, wherein the active conductive fill forms both a hermetic seal with the active insulator bore and an electrically conductive path extending from first and second active fill ends located adjacent to the respective first and second insulator ends; and

viii) a ground conductive fill disposed within the ground insulator via, wherein the ground conductive fill forms both a hermetic seal with the ground insulator bore and an electrically conductive path extending from first and second ground fill ends located adjacent to the respective first and second insulator ends, wherein the ground insulator electrode plate electrically couples from the outer insulator surface in electrical contact with the outer metallization to the ground conductive fill, but in a non-conductive relation with the active conductive fill;

b) a feedthrough capacitor, comprising;

i) a dielectric body defined by an dielectric sidewall having an outer dielectric surface extending from a first dielectric end to a second dielectric end;

ii) at least one active electrode plate and at least one ground electrode plate supported in the dielectric body in spaced relation with each other;

iii) at least one active dielectric via defined by an active dielectric bore extending through the dielectric body to the first and second dielectric ends;

iv) at least one ground dielectric via defined by a ground dielectric bore extending through the dielectric body to the first and second dielectric ends;

v) an active inner metallization disposed on the active dielectric bore in electrical, contact with the at least one active electrode plate; and

vi) a ground inner metallization disposed on the ground dielectric bore via in electrical contact with the at least one ground electrode plate;

c) an active conductive leadwire having a length extending from a first active leadwire portion having a first active leadwire end to a second active leadwire end, wherein the first active leadwire portion is disposed within the active dielectric via with the first active leadwire end located in contact with or adjacent to the second active conductive fill end;

d) an active electrically conductive material at least partially filled in the active dielectric via to physically and electrically connect;

i) the first active leadwire portion to the active inner metallization electrically connected to the at least one active electrode plate; and

ii) the first active leadwire end to the second active conductive fill end; and

e) a ground conductive leadwire having a length extending from a first ground leadwire portion having a first ground leadwire end to a second ground leadwire end, wherein the first ground leadwire portion is disposed within the ground dielectric via with the first ground leadwire end located in contact with or adjacent to the second ground conductive fill end; and

f) a ground electrically conductive material at least partially filled in the ground dielectric via to physically and electrically connect;

i) the first ground leadwire portion to the ground inner metallization electrically connected to the at least one ground electrode plate in the dielectric body; and

ii) the first ground leadwire end to the second ground conductive fill end; and

g) an outer ground electrically conductive material electrically and hermetically connecting the outer metallization in electrical contact with the at least one ground insulator electrode plate at the outer insulator surface to the ferrule.

25. The filter feedthrough assembly of claim 24, wherein the active and ground electrically conductive materials at least partially filled in the respective active and ground dielectric vias are selected from the group consisting of a solder, an epoxy, a low temperature braze, a conductive glass frit, and a weld.

26. The filter feedthrough assembly of claim 24, wherein the hermetic seals formed by the active and ground conductive fills contacting the respective active and ground insulator bores each have a leak rate no greater than 1×

10<sup>−

7</sup> std cc He/sec.

27. The filter feedthrough assembly of claim 24, wherein the dielectric body comprises at least 96% alumina.

28. The filter feedthrough assembly of claim 24, wherein the dielectric body comprises at least 99% alumina.

29. The filter feedthrough assembly of claim 24, wherein the active and ground conductive fills disposed in the respective active and ground insulator vias comprise a substantially closed pore and fritless platinum fill.

30. The filter feedthrough assembly of claim 29, wherein the hermetic seals formed by the active and ground conductive fills contacting the respective active and ground insulator bores form tortuous and mutually conformal knitlines between the insulator and the active and ground platinum fills.

31. The filter feedthrough assembly of claim 30, wherein the respective knitlines each comprise a glass that is at least about 60% silica.

32. The filter feedthrough assembly of claim 24, wherein the outer metallization comprises an adhesion metallization disposed on the outer insulator surface and a wetting metallization disposed on the adhesion metallization with the outer ground electrically conductive material contacting the ferrule and the wetting metallization supported on the adhesive metallization contacting the insulator.

33. The filter feedthrough assembly of claim 24, wherein the outer ground electrically conductive material is a gold braze hermetically sealing the outer insulator surface to the ferrule and having a leak rate no greater than 1×

10<sup>−

7</sup> cc He/sec.

34. The filter feedthrough assembly of claim 24, wherein the insulator comprises an elevated insulator portion extending outwardly from the ferrule opposite the feedthrough capacitor, and wherein a leadwire connection feature comprises a proximal connection portion extending to a distal connection portion, the proximal connection portion being physically and electrically coupled to the first active fill end of the active conductive fill with the distal connection portion contacting the elevated insulator portion, but spaced from the ferrule, the distal connection portion being configured for direct electrical connection to a leadwire.

35. The filter feedthrough assembly of claim 34, wherein the leadwire connection feature comprises a wire bond pad.

36. The filter feedthrough assembly of claim 34, wherein the proximal connection portion of the leadwire connection feature is characterized as having been co-fired within the active conductive fill.

37. The filter feedthrough assembly of claim 34, including a braze preform physically and electrically coupling the leadwire connection feature to the active conductive fill.

38. The filter feedthrough assembly of claim 34, including a laser weld physically and electrically coupling the leadwire connection feature to the active conductive fill.

39. The filter feedthrough assembly of claim 34, wherein the distal connection portion of the leadwire connection feature comprises a leadwire insertion hole and the proximal connection portion comprises a laser weld access hole and wherein the laser weld access hole is physically and electrically connected to the active conductive fill.

40. The filter feedthrough assembly of claim 34, wherein the distal connection portion of the leadwire connection feature comprises a leadwire insertion hole and a threaded set screw hole in open communication with the leadwire insertion hole.

41. A filter feedthrough assembly, comprising:

a) a hermetic feedthrough, comprising;

i) an insulator of electrically non-conductive material defined by an insulator sidewall having an outer insulator surface extending from a first insulator end to a second insulator end;

ii) at least one active insulator via defined by an active insulator bore extending there through to the first and second insulator ends;

iii) at least one ground electrode plate supported by the insulator;

iv) at least one ground insulator via defined by a ground insulator bore extending there through to the first and second insulator ends;

v) an outer metallization disposed on the outer insulator surface in electrical contact with the at least one ground electrode plate supported by the insulator;

vi) a ferrule of an electrically conductive material comprising a ferrule opening defined by a surrounding ferrule sidewall having an inner ferrule surface, wherein the insulator is supported in the ferrule opening;

vii) an active conductive fill disposed within the active insulator via, wherein the active conductive fill forms both a hermetic seal with the active insulator bore and an electrically conductive path extending from the first and second active fill ends located adjacent to the respective first and second insulator ends; and

viii) a ground conductive fill disposed within the ground insulator via, wherein the ground conductive fill forms both a hermetic seal with the ground insulator bore and an electrically conductive path extending from the first and second ground fill ends located adjacent to the respective first and second insulator ends, wherein the ground insulator electrode plate electrically couples from the outer insulator surface in electrical contact with the outer metallization to the ground conductive fill, but in a non-conductive relation with the active conductive fill;

b) a feedthrough capacitor, comprising;

i) a dielectric body defined by an dielectric sidewall having an outer dielectric surface extending from a first dielectric end to a second dielectric end;

ii) at least one active electrode plate and at least one ground electrode plate supported in the dielectric body in spaced relation with each other;

iii) at least one active dielectric via defined by an active dielectric bore extending through the dielectric body to the first and second dielectric ends;

iv) at least one ground dielectric via defined by a ground dielectric bore extending through the dielectric body to the first and second dielectric ends;

v) an active inner metallization disposed on the active dielectric bore in electrical contact with the at least one active electrode plate; and

vi) a ground inner metallization disposed on the ground dielectric bore in electrical contact with the at least one ground electrode plate;

c) an active conductive leadwire having a length extending from a first active leadwire portion having a first active leadwire end to a second active leadwire end, wherein the first active leadwire portion is disposed within the active dielectric via with the first active leadwire end located in contact with or adjacent to the second active conductive fill end;

d) an active electrically conductive material at least partially filled in the active dielectric via to physically and electrically connect;

i) the first active leadwire portion to the active inner metallization electrically connected to the at least one active electrode plate; and

ii) the first active leadwire end to the second active conductive fill end; and

e) a ground conductive leadwire having a length extending from a first ground leadwire portion having a first ground leadwire end to a second ground leadwire end, wherein the first ground leadwire portion is disposed within the ground dielectric via with the first ground leadwire end located in contact with or adjacent to the second ground conductive fill end;

f) a ground electrically conductive material at least partially filled in the ground dielectric via to physically and electrically connect;

i) the first ground leadwire portion to the ground inner metallization electrically connected to the at least one ground electrode plate; and

ii) the first ground leadwire end to the second ground conductive fill end; and

g) a gold braze electrically and hermetically connecting the outer metallization in electrical contact with the at least one ground insulator electrode plate to the ferrule.

42. The filter feedthrough assembly of claim 41, wherein the outer metallization comprises an adhesion metallization disposed on the outer insulator surface of the and a wetting metallization disposed on the adhesion metallization with the outer ground electrically conductive material contacting the ferrule and the wetting metallization supported on the adhesive metallization contacting the insulator.

43. The filter feedthrough assembly of claim 41, wherein the gold braze hermetically sealing the outer insulator surface to the ferrule with a leak rate that is no greater than 1×

10<sup>−

7</sup> std cc He/sec.