Direct integration of feedthrough to implantable medical device housing using a gold alloy

摘要

One aspect provides a method of attaching a feedthrough to a titanium housing of an implantable medical device. The method includes providing the housing with a flange forming a recess about an opening through the housing, the opening disposed within the recess. A feedthrough is positioned within the recess so as to form a gap between the flange and an insulator of the feedthrough. A braze preform is then positioned within the recess about the insulator, the braze preform comprising a biocompatible braze material having a melting point less than a β-transus temperature of the titanium of the housing. The preform is melted at a temperature less than the β-transus temperature of the titanium of the housing such that the melted braze material fills at least the gap, and then cooled to form a braze joint which bonds the insulator to the housing and hermetically seals the opening.

主权项

1. A method of attaching a feedthrough directly to a titanium housing of an implantable medical device, the method comprising:
providing the housing with a flange forming a recess about an opening through the housing, the opening disposed within the recess; positioning the feedthrough directly within the recess so as to form a gap between the flange and an insulator of the feedthrough; providing a metalized layer on a surface of the insulator of the feedthrough; positioning a braze preform within the recess about the insulator and at least partially outside the gap, the braze preform comprising a biocompatible braze material having a melting point less than a β-transus temperature of the titanium of the housing; melting the braze preform at a temperature less than the β-transus temperature of the titanium of the housing such that the melted braze material is drawn into and fills the gap via capillary action; cooling the braze material to form a braze joint which bonds the insulator directly to the housing without an intervening ferrule or other structure and hermetically seals the opening; wherein positioning the feedthrough within the recess to form the gap comprises positioning such that the gap has a distance in the range of 10-50 μm in order to optimize the capillary action of the braze.