Direct integration of feedthrough to implantable medical device housing with ultrasonic welding

• US 9,855,008 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2016
• Issued: 01/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Heraeus Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG (Heraeus Holding GMBH)
• Original Assignee: Heraeus Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG (Heraeus Holding GMBH)
• Inventors: Markham, Jacob, Hausch, Ulrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Alter, Alyssa M
• Application Number:
  US15/363,886
• Publication Number:
  US 20170071542A1
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6847 mounted on an invasive device
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3754 Feedthroughs
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 1/0016 Brazing of electronic components
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 20/002 specially adapted for particular articles or work B23K20/129 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 20/10 making use of vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic welding
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 20/16 with interposition of special material to facilitate connection of the parts, e.g. material for absorbing or producing gas
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 20/233 without ferrous layer
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2101/36 Electric or electronic devices
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2101/42 Printed circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2103/14 Titanium or alloys thereof

Abstract

One aspect is an implantable medical device including a metal housing configured for implantation in a human and including a biocompatible metal and defining an opening. A feedthrough device is configured within the opening of the metal housing and includes an insulating section and a conducting section, the insulating section electrically isolating the conducting section from the metal housing. An ultrasonic joint is configured between the feedthrough device and metal housing that hermetically and mechanically bonds the feedthrough device and metal housing. The biocompatible metal of the housing is a microstructure primarily having α-phase grains.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device comprising:

a metal housing configured for implantation in a human and comprising a biocompatible metal and defining an opening;

a feedthrough device configured within the opening of the metal housing and comprising an insulating section and a conducting section, the insulating section electrically isolating the conducting section from the metal housing; and

an ultrasonic joint between the feedthrough device and metal housing that hermetically and mechanically bonds the feedthrough device directly to the metal housing without any intervening ferrule;

characterized in that the biocompatible metal of the housing comprises a microstructure primarily having α

-phase grains.

2. The implantable medical device of claim 1, further characterized in that the biocompatible metal of the housing comprises a microstructure having substantially no β

-phase grains.

3. The implantable medical device of claim 1, further comprising a biocompatible bonding material between the feedthrough device and metal housing.

4. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the biocompatible metal of the housing comprises titanium, niobium or a combination thereof.

5. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the biocompatible metal of the housing has an average grain size less than 425 μ

m.

6. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the biocompatible metal of the housing has an average grain size less than 300 μ

m.

7. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the biocompatible metal of the housing has an average grain size less than 100 μ

m.

8. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the biocompatible metal of the housing has an average grain size in the range of 10-40 μ

m.

9. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein an interface between the feedthrough and metal housing is substantially angled relative an exterior surface of the metal housing.

10. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein a width on the opening of the housing is smaller than a width of the feedthrough device at its widest distance between two opposing sides.

11. An implantable medical device comprising:

a housing having an opening with an opening width;

a feedthrough including an insulator having a bottom surface and side surfaces and having an insulator width between opposing side surfaces that is greater than the opening width; and

a ultrasonic joint between at least one of the bottom surface, top surface, and side surfaces of the insulator and the housing which hermetically seals the insulator directly to the housing without any intervening ferrule.

12. The implantable medical device of claim 11, wherein the insulator width between opposing side surfaces is two times greater than the opening width.

13. The implantable medical device of claim 11, characterized in that the housing comprises a biocompatible metal comprising a microstructure primarily having α

-phase grains.

14. The implantable medical device of claim 13, characterized in that the biocompatible metal of the housing comprises a microstructure having substantially no β

-phase grains.

15. The implantable medical device of claim 11, wherein the housing comprises a metal having an average grain size less than 300 μ

m.

16. The implantable medical device of claim 11, wherein the biocompatible metal of the housing has an average grain size less than 100 μ

m.

17. The implantable medical device of claim 11, wherein the biocompatible metal of the housing has an average grain size in the range of 10-40 μ

m.