Dual stage EMI filter and offset highly efficient multi-polar active capacitor electrodes for an active implantable medical device

• US 9,251,960 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2012
• Issued: 02/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Greatbatch Limited (Greatbatch Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Greatbatch Limited (Greatbatch Incorporated)
• Inventors: Brendel, Richard L., Stevenson, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavert, Nicole F
• Application Number:
  US13/547,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20130070387A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,300 Days
• Field of Search: 607/37, 361/302
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 4/35 Feed-through capacitors or anti-noise capacitors

Abstract

A multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor assembly for an active implantable medical device includes a feedthrough filter capacitor including a first active electrode plate, a second active electrode plate and a plurality of ground electrode plates. The plates are in spaced parallel relation disposed within a monolithic dielectric substrate where the first and second active electrode plates are disposed between the plurality of ground electrode plates. A first conductive terminal pin is disposed through the feedthrough filter capacitor electrically coupled to the first active electrode plate and in non-conductive relation to both the second active electrode plate and ground electrode plate. A second conductive terminal pin may be disposed through the feedthrough filter capacitor electrically coupled to the second active electrode plate and in non-conductive relation to both the first active electrode plate and ground electrode plate.

Claims

1. A multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly for an active implantable medical device, the multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly comprising:

a) a ferrule of an electrically conductive material comprising a ferrule opening defined by a surrounding ferrule sidewall;

b) a feedthrough filter capacitor, comprising;

i) an insulator 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 first active electrode plate, at least one second active electrode plate, and at least one ground electrode plate supported in the insulator in an interleaved spaced relation with each other;

iii) at least two insulator passages extending through the insulator to the first and second insulator ends;

iv) a first terminal pin disposed in a first one of the at least two insulator passageways, and a second terminal pin disposed in a second one of the at least two insulator passageways;

v) a first hermetic seal electrically connecting the first active electrode plate to the first terminal pin and physically sealing the first terminal pin to the insulator at the first insulator passageway, wherein the first hermetic seal does not physically contact the second active electrode plate and the ground plate; and

vi) a second hermetic seal electrically connecting the second active electrode plate to the second terminal pin and physically sealing the second terminal pin to the insulator at the second insulator passageway, wherein the second hermetic seal does not physically contact the first active electrode plate and the ground plate; and

c) wherein with the insulator at least partially disposed in the ferrule opening, a third hermetic seal electrically connects the at least one ground electrode plate at the outer insulator surface to the ferrule and physically seals the insulator to the ferrule.

2. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second conductive terminal pins are in non-conductive relation to the conductive ferrule.

3. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductive ferrule is circumferentially disposed about the feedthrough filter capacitor.

4. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 3, wherein the feedthrough filter capacitor is disposed entirely within the ferrule opening.

5. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one ground electrode plate comprises a plurality of ground electrode plates.

6. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 5, wherein there is at least one ground electrode plate disposed intermediate the respective first and second insulator ends and the interleaved first and second active electrode plates.

7. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the insulator comprises a monolithic insulator substrate.

8. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the insulator comprises alumina.

9. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the insulator has a dielectric constant below 10.

10. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 1, including a secondary capacitor electrically coupled between the conductive ferrule and either the first or second conductive terminal pin.

11. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 10, wherein the secondary capacitor comprises a secondary dielectric material having a dielectric constant above 10.

12. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 10, wherein the secondary capacitor comprises a secondary dielectric material having a dielectric constant above 100.

13. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 10, wherein the secondary capacitor comprises a secondary dielectric material having a dielectric constant above 1000.

14. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 10, wherein the secondary capacitor comprises a dielectric substrate comprising barium titanate.

15. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 10, wherein the secondary capacitor comprises a monolithic chip capacitor.

16. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 10, wherein the secondary capacitor is directly attached to the conductive ferrule.

17. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 10, wherein the secondary capacitor is configured for electrical connection to a circuit board.

18. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 10, wherein the secondary capacitor is not directly attached to the conductive ferrule.

19. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the feedthrough filter capacitor is defined as comprising a body fluid side and a device side, and wherein both the body fluid side and the device side are biocompatible.

20. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 1 wherein the first, second and third hermetic seals comprise an adhesive layer contacting the insulator, a braze material contacting the respective first and second terminal pins and the ferrule, and an intermediate wetting layer contacting the adhesive layer and the braze material.

21. A multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly for an active implantable medical device, the multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly comprising:

a) a ferrule of an electrically conductive material comprising a ferrule opening defined by a surrounding ferrule sidewall having an inner ferrule surface;

b) a feedthrough filter capacitor, comprising;

i) an insulator 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 a dielectric constant below 10;

ii) at least one first active electrode plate, at least one second active electrode plate, and at least one ground electrode plate supported in the insulator in an interleaved spaced relation with each other;

iii) at least one first insulator passageway extending through the insulator to the first and second insulator ends, and at least one second insulator passageway extending through the insulator to the first and second insulator ends;

iv) a first terminal pin disposed in the at least one first insulator passageway, and a second terminal pin disposed in the at least one second insulator passageway;

v) a first hermetic seal electrically connecting the first active electrode plate to the first terminal pin and physically sealing the first terminal pin to the insulator at the first insulator passageway, wherein the first hermetic seal does not physically contact the second active electrode plate and the ground plate; and

vi) a second hermetic seal electrically connecting the second active electrode plate to the second terminal pin and physically sealing the second terminal pin to the insulator at the second insulator passageway, wherein the second hermetic seal does not physically contact the first active electrode plate and the ground plate; and

c) wherein with the insulator at least partially disposed in the ferrule opening, a third hermetic seal electrically connects the at least one ground electrode plate at the outer insulator surface to the ferrule and physically seals the insulator to the ferrule; and

d) a secondary capacitor electrically coupled between the conductive ferrule and either the first or second conductive terminal pin.

22. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 21, wherein the first and second conductive terminal pins are in non-conductive relation to the conductive ferrule.

23. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 21, wherein the conductive ferrule is circumferentially disposed about the feedthrough filter capacitor.

24. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 23, wherein the feedthrough filter capacitor is disposed entirely within the ferrule opening.

25. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 21, wherein the at least one ground electrode plate comprises a plurality of ground electrode plates.

26. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 25, wherein there is at least one ground electrode plate disposed intermediate the respective first and second insulator ends and the interleaved first and second active electrode plates.

27. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 21, wherein the insulator comprises a monolithic dielectric substrate.

28. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 27, wherein the insulator comprises alumina.

29. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 21, wherein the secondary capacitor comprises a secondary dielectric material having a dielectric constant above 1000.

30. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 21, wherein the secondary capacitor comprises a dielectric substrate comprising barium titanate.

31. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 21, wherein the secondary capacitor comprises a monolithic chip capacitor.

32. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 21, wherein the secondary capacitor is directly attached to the conductive ferrule.

33. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 21, wherein the secondary capacitor is configured for electrical connection to a circuit board.

34. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 21, wherein the secondary capacitor is not directly attached to the conductive ferrule.

35. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 21, wherein the feedthrough filter capacitor is defined as comprising a body fluid side and a device side, and wherein both the body fluid side and the device side are biocompatible.

36. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 21 wherein the first, second and third hermetic seals comprise an adhesive layer contacting the insulator, a braze material contacting the respective first and second terminal pins and the ferrule, and an intermediate wetting layer contacting the adhesive layer and the braze material.

37. A multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly for an active implantable medical device, the multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly comprising:

a) a ferrule of an electrically conductive material comprising a ferrule opening defined by a surrounding ferrule sidewall;

b) a feedthrough filter capacitor, comprising;

i) an insulator 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 first active electrode plate, at least one second active electrode plate, and a plurality of ground electrode plates supported in the insulator in an interleaved spaced relation with each other, wherein there is at least one ground electrode plate disposed intermediate the respective first and second insulator ends and the interleaved first and second active electrode plates;

iii) at least one first, second and third insulator passageways, wherein at least the first and second passageways extend through the insulator to the first and second insulator ends;

iv) a first terminal pin disposed in the first insulator passageway, a second terminal pin disposed in the second insulator passageway, and a third ground pin disposed in the third insulator passageway, wherein the first and second terminal pins are intermediate the third ground pin and the ferrule;

v) a first hermetic seal electrically connecting the first active electrode plate to the first terminal pin and physically sealing the first terminal pin to the insulator at the first insulator passageway, wherein the first hermetic seal does not physically contact the second active electrode plate and the ground plate; and

vi) a second hermetic seal electrically connecting the second active electrode plate to the second terminal pin and physically sealing the second terminal pin to the insulator at the second insulator passageway, wherein the second hermetic seal does not physically contact the first active electrode plate and the ground plate; and

c) wherein with the insulator at least partially disposed in the ferrule opening, a third hermetic seal electrically connects the at least one ground electrode plate at the outer insulator surface to the ferrule and physically seals the insulator to the ferrule.

38. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 37, wherein the third insulator passageway extends through the insulator to the first and second insulator ends and wherein a fourth hermetic seal electrically connects the at least one ground electrode plate to the third ground pin and physically seals the third ground pin to the insulator at the third insulator passageway, wherein the fourth hermetic seal does not physically contact the first and second active electrode plates.

39. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 37, wherein the conductive ferrule is circumferentially disposed about the feedthrough filter capacitor.

40. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 39, wherein the feedthrough filter capacitor is disposed entirely within the ferrule opening.

41. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 37, wherein the first and second conductive terminal pins are in non-conductive relation to the ferrule.

42. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly claim 37, wherein the insulator comprises alumina.

43. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 37, wherein the insulator has a dielectric constant below 10.

44. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 37, including a secondary capacitor electrically coupled between the conductive ferrule and either the first or second conductive terminal pin.

45. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 44, wherein the secondary capacitor comprises a dielectric substrate comprising barium titanate.

46. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 44, wherein the secondary capacitor comprises a monolithic chip capacitor.

47. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 44, wherein the secondary capacitor is directly attached to the conductive ferrule.

48. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 44, wherein the secondary capacitor is configured for electrical connection to a circuit board.

49. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 44, wherein the secondary capacitor is not directly attached to the conductive ferrule.

50. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 37, wherein the feedthrough filter capacitor is defined as comprising a body fluid side and a device side, and wherein both the body fluid side and the device side are biocompatible.

51. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 38 wherein the first, second, third and fourth hermetic seals comprise an adhesive layer contacting the insulator, a braze material contacting the respective first and second terminal pins, the ferrule, and the ground pin, and an intermediate wetting layer contacting the adhesive layer and the braze material.

52. A multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly for an active implantable medical device, the multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly comprising:

a) a ferrule of an electrically conductive material comprising a ferrule opening defined by a surrounding ferrule sidewall;

b) a feedthrough filter capacitor, comprising;

i) an insulator 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 first active electrode plate, at least one second active electrode plate, and at least one ground electrode plate supported in the insulator in an interleaved spaced relation with each other;

iii) at least one first, second and third insulator passageways, each of the first, second and third insulator passageways extending through the insulator to the first and second insulator ends;

iv) a first terminal pin disposed in the first insulator passageway, a second terminal pin disposed in the second insulator passageway, and a ground pin disposed in the third insulator passageway;

v) a first hermetic seal electrically connecting the first active electrode plate to the first terminal pin and physically sealing the first terminal pin to the insulator at the first insulator passageway, wherein the first hermetic seal does not physically contact the second active electrode plate and the ground plate;

vi) a second hermetic seal electrically connecting the second active electrode plate to the second terminal pin and physically sealing the second terminal pin to the insulator at the second insulator passageway, wherein the second hermetic seal does not physically contact the first active electrode plate and the ground plate; and

vii) a third hermetic seal electrically connecting the ground electrode plate to the third ground pin and physically sealing the third ground pin to the insulator at the third insulator passageway, wherein the third hermetic seal does not physically contact the first and second active electrode plates; and

c) wherein with the insulator at least partially disposed in the ferrule opening, a fourth hermetic seal electrically connects the at least one ground electrode plate at the outer insulator surface to the ferrule and physically seals the insulator to the ferrule.

53. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 52, wherein the insulator comprises alumina.

54. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 52, wherein the insulator has a dielectric constant below 10.

55. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 52, including a secondary capacitor electrically coupled between the conductive ferrule and either the first or second conductive terminal pin.

56. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 55, wherein the secondary capacitor comprises a secondary dielectric material having a dielectric constant above 1000.

57. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 55, wherein the secondary capacitor comprises a dielectric substrate comprising barium titanate.

58. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 52, wherein the feedthrough filter capacitor is defined as comprising a body fluid side and a device side, and wherein both the body fluid side and the device side are biocompatible.

59. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 52 wherein the first, second, third and fourth hermetic seals comprise an adhesive layer contacting the insulator, a braze material contacting the respective first and second terminal pins, the ground pin, and the ferrule, and an intermediate wetting layer contacting the adhesive layer and the braze material.

60. A multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly for an active implantable medical device, the multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly comprising:

a) a ferrule of an electrically conductive material comprising a ferrule opening defined by a surrounding ferrule sidewall;

b) a feedthrough filter capacitor, comprising;

i) an insulator 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 first active electrode plate, at least one second active electrode plate, and a plurality of ground electrode plates supported in the insulator in an interleaved spaced relation with each other, wherein there is at least one ground electrode plate disposed intermediate the respective first and second insulator ends and the interleaved first and second active electrode plates;

iii) at least two insulator passageways extending through the insulator to the first and second insulator ends;

iv) a first terminal pin disposed in a first one of the insulator passageways, and a second terminal pin disposed in a second one of the insulator passageways;

v) a first hermetic seal electrically connecting the first active electrode plate to the first terminal pin and physically sealing the first terminal pin to the insulator at the first insulator passageway, wherein the first hermetic seal does not physically contact the second active electrode plate and the ground plate;

vi) a second hermetic seal electrically connecting the second active electrode plate to the second terminal pin and physically sealing the second terminal pin to the insulator at the second insulator passageway, wherein the second hermetic seal does not physically contact the first active electrode plate and the ground plate; and

c) wherein with the insulator at least partially disposed in the ferrule opening, a third hermetic seal electrically connects the plurality of ground electrode plates at the outer insulator surface to the ferrule and physically seals the insulator to the ferrule.

61. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 60, wherein the insulator comprises alumina.

62. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 60, wherein the insulator has a dielectric constant below 10.

63. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 60, including a secondary capacitor electrically coupled between the conductive ferrule and either the first or second conductive terminal pin.

64. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 63, wherein the secondary capacitor comprises a secondary dielectric material having a dielectric constant above 1000.

65. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 64, wherein the secondary capacitor comprises a dielectric substrate comprising barium titanate.

66. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 60 defined as comprising a body fluid side and a device side, and wherein both the body fluid side and the device side are biocompatible.

67. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 60 wherein the first, second and third hermetic seals comprise an adhesive layer contacting the insulator, a braze material contacting the respective first and second terminal pins and the ferrule, and an intermediate wetting layer contacting the adhesive layer and the braze material.

68. A multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly for an active implantable medical device, the multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly comprising:

a) a ferrule of an electrically conductive material comprising a ferrule opening defined by a surrounding ferrule sidewall;

b) a feedthrough filter capacitor, comprising;

i) an insulator 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 first active electrode plate, at least one second active electrode plate, at least one third active electrode plate, at least one fourth active electrode plate, and a plurality of ground electrode plates supported in the insulator, wherein the first and second active electrode plates are disposed substantially within a first plane in non-conductive relation with each other, and wherein the third and fourth active electrode plates are disposed substantially within a second plane in non-conductive relation with each other, and wherein at least one of the ground electrode plates is disposed between the first and second planes in the insulator;

iii) at least one first insulator passageway, at least one second insulator passageway, at least one third insulator passageway, and at least one fourth insulator passageway, each of the first, second, third and fourth insulator passageways extending through the insulator to the first and second insulator ends;

iv) a first terminal pin disposed in the first insulator passageway, a second terminal pin disposed in the second insulator passageway, a third terminal pin disposed in the third insulator passageway, and a fourth terminal pin disposed in the fourth insulator passageway;

v) a first hermetic seal electrically connecting the first active electrode plate to the first terminal pin and physically sealing the first terminal pin to the insulator at the first insulator passageway, wherein the first hermetic seal does not physically contact the second, third and fourth active electrode plates and the ground electrode plates;

vi) a second hermetic seal electrically connecting the second active electrode plate to the third terminal pin and physically sealing the third terminal pin to the insulator at the second insulator passageway, wherein the second hermetic seal does not physically contact the first, third and fourth active electrode plates and the ground electrode plates;

vii) a third hermetic seal electrically connecting the third active electrode plate to the second terminal pin and physically sealing the second terminal pin to the insulator at the third insulator passageway, wherein the third hermetic seal does not physically contact the first, second and fourth active electrode plates and the ground electrode plates; and

viii) a fourth hermetic seal electrically connecting the fourth active electrode plate to the fourth terminal pin and physically sealing the fourth terminal pin to the insulator at the fourth insulator passageway, wherein the fourth hermetic seal does not physically contact the first, second and third active electrode plates and the ground electrode plates; and

c) wherein with the insulator at least partially disposed in the ferrule opening, a fifth electrically conductive material connects the at least one ground electrode plate at the outer insulator surface to the ferrule, and wherein in addition to electrically connecting the at least one ground electrode plate to the ferrule, the fifth electrically conductive material provides a fifth hermetic seal from the insulator to the ferrule.

69. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 68, wherein the first, second, third and fourth terminal pins extends along a longitudinal axis of the insulator, the longitudinal axis being substantially perpendicular to the first, second, third and fourth passageways.

70. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 68, wherein the first, second, third and fourth conductive terminal pins are in non-conductive relation to the conductive ferrule.

71. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 68, wherein the insulator comprises alumina.

72. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 68, including a secondary capacitor electrically coupled between the conductive ferrule and either the first, second, third or fourth conductive terminal pin.

73. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 72, wherein the secondary capacitor comprises a secondary dielectric material having a dielectric constant above 1000.

74. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 73, wherein the secondary capacitor is directly attached to the conductive ferrule.

75. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 73, wherein the secondary capacitor is configured for connection to a circuit board.

76. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 68, wherein the feedthrough filter capacitor is defined as comprising a body fluid side and a device side, and wherein both the body fluid side and the device side are biocompatible.

77. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor hermetic seal assembly of claim 68 wherein the first, second, third, fourth and fifth hermetic seals comprise an adhesive layer contacting the insulator, a braze material contacting the respective first, third, second, and fourth terminal pins and the ferrule, and an intermediate wetting layer contacting the adhesive layer and the braze material.

78. A multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor, comprising:

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

b) at least one first active electrode plate, at least one second active electrode plate, and at least one ground electrode plate supported in the insulator in an interleaved spaced relation with each other;

c) at least one first insulator passageway extending through the insulator to the first and second insulator ends, and at least one second insulator passageway extending through the insulator to the first and second insulator ends;

d) a first terminal pin disposed in the at least one first insulator passageway, and a second terminal pin disposed in the at least one second insulator passageway;

e) a first hermetic seal electrically connecting the first active electrode plate to the first terminal pin and physically sealing the first terminal pin to the first insulator passageway through the insulator, wherein the first hermetic seal does not physically contact the second active electrode plate and the ground plate; and

f) a second hermetic seal electrically connecting the second active electrode plate to the second terminal pin and physically sealing the second terminal pin to the second insulator passageway through the insulator, wherein the second hermetic seal does not physically contact the first active electrode plate and the ground plate,

g) wherein the at least one ground electrode plate extends to the outer insulator surface.

79. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor of claim 78, wherein the at least one ground electrode plate comprises a plurality of ground electrode plates.

80. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor of claim 78, wherein the at least one first and second active electrode plates are disposed between the plurality of ground electrode plates.

81. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor of claim 78, wherein the insulator comprises a monolithic dielectric substrate.

82. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor of claim 78, wherein the insulator comprises alumina.

83. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor of claim 78, wherein the insulator has a dielectric constant below 10.

84. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor of claim 78, wherein the feedthrough filter capacitor is defined as comprising a body fluid side and a device side, and wherein both the body fluid side and the device side are biocompatible.

85. The multipolar feedthrough filter capacitor of claim 78, wherein the first and second hermetic seals comprise an adhesive layer contacting the insulator, a braze material contacting the respective first and second terminal pins, and an intermediate wetting layer contacting the adhesive layer and the braze material.