Ferrule for implantable medical device
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for providing electrical communication through a housing that is metallic and hermetically sealed, the apparatus comprising:
- a one-piece ferrule that is biocompatible, the ferrule configured to be located at least partially within a passage into an implantable medical device housing, the ferrule including;
an exterior flange configured to abut an exterior surface of the metallic housing, the exterior flange defining an exit opening;
a tunnel extending from the exterior flange, the tunnel defining a tunnel interior extending away from the exit opening and terminating at inlet opening of the ferrule;
at least one interior tab extending away from an interior of the tunnel in a direction generally aligned with the exterior flange such that a first surface of the at least one interior tab faces the exterior flange and a second, opposite surface of the at least one interior tab faces away from the exterior flange, the at least one interior tab configured to exert a spring bias with the first surface directly against an interior surface of the metallic housing and toward the exterior flange while the exterior flange abuts the exterior surface of the metallic housing to draw the exterior flange toward the exterior surface of the metallic housing;
an electrically insulative insert disposed at least partially inside the tunnel; and
a hermetic seal disposed between the electrically insulative insert and the tunnel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A ferrule for an implantable medical device (IMD) can employ stamped metal portion including an electrically-conductive ferrule portion. The stamped ferrule portion can be affixed to a wall of a housing of the IMD. The resulting ferrule can provide cost savings or higher production throughput over a ferrule employing machined ferrule portion.
113 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for providing electrical communication through a housing that is metallic and hermetically sealed, the apparatus comprising:
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a one-piece ferrule that is biocompatible, the ferrule configured to be located at least partially within a passage into an implantable medical device housing, the ferrule including; an exterior flange configured to abut an exterior surface of the metallic housing, the exterior flange defining an exit opening; a tunnel extending from the exterior flange, the tunnel defining a tunnel interior extending away from the exit opening and terminating at inlet opening of the ferrule; at least one interior tab extending away from an interior of the tunnel in a direction generally aligned with the exterior flange such that a first surface of the at least one interior tab faces the exterior flange and a second, opposite surface of the at least one interior tab faces away from the exterior flange, the at least one interior tab configured to exert a spring bias with the first surface directly against an interior surface of the metallic housing and toward the exterior flange while the exterior flange abuts the exterior surface of the metallic housing to draw the exterior flange toward the exterior surface of the metallic housing; an electrically insulative insert disposed at least partially inside the tunnel; and a hermetic seal disposed between the electrically insulative insert and the tunnel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system, comprising:
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an implantable medical device housing defining an interior and a passage extending from an exterior of the implantable medical device housing to the interior; a one-piece ferrule that is biocompatible, the ferrule conformed to and joined to the passage, the ferrule extending from the exterior to the interior of the implantable medical device housing, the ferrule including; an exterior flange configured to abut an exterior surface of the housing, the exterior flange defining an exit opening; a tunnel extending from the exterior flange, the tunnel defining a tunnel interior extending away from the exit opening and terminating at an inlet opening of the ferrule; at least one interior tab extending away from an interior of the tunnel in a direction generally aligned with the exterior flange such that a first surface of the at least one interior tab faces the exterior flange and a second opposite surface of the at least one interior tab faces away from the exterior flange, the at least one interior tab configured to exert a spring bias with the first surface directly against an interior surface of the housing and toward the exterior flange while the exterior flange abuts the exterior surface of the housing to draw the exterior flange toward the exterior surface of the housing; an electrically insulative insert disposed at least partially inside the tunnel; and a hermetic seal disposed between the electrically insulative insert and the tunnel. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An implantable medical device, including:
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a housing, including an interior portion, an exterior portion, and a first passage between the interior and exterior portions of the housing, the housing configured to carry and hermetically enclose an electronic circuit; and a capacitive filter ferrule, configured to be located at least partially within the first passage between the interior and exterior portions of the housing to allow capacitively-filtered passage of an electrical connection there between, the capacitive filter ferrule including; an electrically-conductive outer ferrule portion, configured to be located toward the exterior portion of the housing; an inner ferrule portion, configured to be located toward the interior portion of the housing, the inner ferrule portion non-integrally formed with the outer ferrule portion but attached to the outer ferrule portion; the electrical connection; and a dielectric plug, electrically isolating the electrical connection from the electrically-conductive outer ferrule portion; wherein the inner ferrule portion includes a flexing spring flange extending laterally outward in a direction generally aligned with the outer ferrule portion such that a first surface of the flexing spring flange faces the outer ferrule portion and a second, opposite surface of the flexing spring flange faces away from the outer ferrule portion and with the first surface of the flexing spring flange biasing directly against the interior portion of the housing and also extending toward and biasing against a portion of an interior wall of the housing adjacent to the first passage between the interior and exterior portions of the housing to draw the outer ferrule portion toward the exterior portion of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification