Abstract: One aspect provides a feedthrough device for an implantable medical device. The feedthrough includes a ferrule having a metal that is configured to be welded to a case of the implantable device. An insulator is substantially surrounded by the ferrule and shares an interface therewith, the insulator being a glass or ceramic material. Conductive elements are formed through the insulator providing an electrically conductive path through the insulator.

Abstract: One aspect is a method of coupling an insulator to a surrounding ferrule in an implantable medical device. An insulator is provided having a plurality of conducting elements extending therethrough. The insulator is placed with conducting elements within a ferrule having a frame-like shape surrounding the insulator along an interface. The insulator is heated with a first laser until raising the temperature of insulator to a first temperature level. The ferrule is welded to the insulator along the interface with a second laser once the insulator has reached the first temperature.

Abstract: One aspect is a method of coupling a feedthrough assembly to a surrounding case of an implantable medical device. An insulator having a plurality of conducting elements extending therethrough is provided. The insulator is placed with conducting elements within an opening of a case, thereby defining a narrow space between the insulator and the case. A braze preform is placed adjacent the insulator and case in the narrow space. The insulator is heated with a laser until raising the temperature of the adjacent preform above its melting point such that it fills the space between the insulator and the case.

Abstract: One aspect provides a method of forming a feedthrough device for an implantable medical device. The method includes providing a bulk insulator having a longitudinal length extending between first and second end faces, and including one or more conducting elements extending therethrough between the first and second end faces, the bulk insulator having a perimeter surface along the longitudinal length, and depositing one of a metal, metal alloy, or cermet on the perimeter surface to form a ferrule directly thereon, wherein the ferrule can be joined to other components of the implantable medical device.

Abstract: One aspect is a feedthrough for a medical implantable device including a ferrule having a metal that is configured to be welded to a case of the implantable device. The ferrule substantially surrounds an insulator and shares an interface therewith, the insulator having a glass or ceramic material. Conductive elements are formed through the insulator providing an electrically conductive path through the insulator. There is no braze or solder at the interface between the ferrule and the insulator and that there is no braze or solder adjacent the conductive elements.

Abstract: One aspect is an implantable medical device with a feedthrough assembly having an insulator and a plurality of conducting elements extending therethrough. The feedthrough assembly is placed in a case with an opening defining a narrow space therebetween. A braze material fills the narrow space, thereby hermetically sealing the feedthrough assembly to the case. One of the feedthrough assembly and the case include a feature configured to securely hold the braze and in that the implantable medical device does not include a ferrule.

Abstract: One aspect is a method for the production of a three-dimensional structure of successive layers producing a multitude of successive layers wherein, with the exception of a first layer, each of the successive layers is arranged on a preceding layer. Each of the successive layers includes at least two materials wherein one material is a sacrificial material and one material is a structure material. Each of the successive layers defines a successive cross-section through the three-dimensional structure. Producing each of the layers includes depositing the sacrificial material by means of an electrochemical process and depositing the structure material by means of physical gas phase deposition. After a multitude of successive layers has been produced, the three-dimensional structure is uncovered by removing at least a part of the sacrificial material. The sacrificial material is at least one of a group consisting of nickel, silver, palladium, and gold.

Abstract: One aspect provides a method of attaching a feedthrough to a titanium housing of an implantable medical device. The method includes applying a sinter paste onto a surface of the housing about a perimeter of an opening through the housing, the sinter paste including a biocompatible bonding material, and placing an insulator of the feedthrough onto the sinter paste so as to cover the opening. The sinter paste is then heated to a temperature less than a beta-transus temperature the titanium of the housing and to a temperature less than a melting point of the biocompatible bonding material for a desired duration to form, from the sinter paste, a sinter joint which bonds the feedthrough to the housing and hermetically seals the opening.

Abstract: One aspect provides a method of securing a feedthrough to a metal housing for an implantable medical device. The feedthrough is provided comprising an insulating section and at least one conductive section extending through the insulating section. At least a portion of the insulating section is metalized and the metalized feedthrough is placed within an opening in the metal housing of the implantable medical device. The feedthrough and metal housing are positioning within an ultrasonic welding system and the ultrasonic welding system is energized such that sonic energy welds the feedthrough directly to the metal housing. The temperature of the metal housing is not raised above the ?-transus temperature of the metal housing during the ultrasonic welding.

Abstract: 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 ?-transus temperature of the titanium of the housing. The preform is melted at a temperature less than the ?-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.

Abstract: One aspect provides a method of forming a feedthrough device for an implantable medical device. The method includes providing a bulk insulator having a longitudinal length extending between first and second end faces, and including one or more conducting elements extending therethrough between the first and second end faces, the bulk insulator having a perimeter surface along the longitudinal length, and depositing one of a metal, metal alloy, or cermet on the perimeter surface to form a ferrule directly thereon, wherein the ferrule can be joined to other components of the implantable medical device.

Abstract: One aspect is a method of coupling a feedthrough assembly to a surrounding case of an implantable medical device. An insulator having a plurality of conducting elements extending therethrough is provided. The insulator is placed with conducting elements within an opening of a case, thereby defining a narrow space between the insulator and the case. A braze preform is placed adjacent the insulator and case in the narrow space. The insulator is heated with a laser until raising the temperature of the adjacent preform above its melting point such that it fills the space between the insulator and the case.

Abstract: One aspect is a capacitor, having a multitude of parallel insulator layers in one stack direction, made of an electrically non-conducting material, a multitude of conductor layers alternatingly stacked with the insulator layers in the direction of the stack made from a conductive material and at least one contact body. A least some of the conductor layers are connected to one another in a conductive manner via the contact body. The contact body extends through breaks form several insulator layers, where at least the insulator layers are made of a sintered material. The contact body to be manufactured at least partially from a sintered material, which is introduced into the breaks in the insulator layers in an unsintered, malleable state.

Abstract: One aspect is a method of coupling an insulator to a surrounding ferrule in an implantable medical device. An insulator is provided having a plurality of conducting elements extending therethrough. The insulator is placed with conducting elements within a ferrule having a frame-like shape surrounding the insulator along an interface. The insulator is heated with a first laser until raising the temperature of insulator to a first temperature level. The ferrule is welded to the insulator along the interface with a second laser once the insulator has reached the first temperature.

Abstract: One aspect relates to a stimulation electrode including an electrically conducting base body. The base body encompasses tantalum and is at least partially covered with a porous tantalum oxide layer, which is anodically applied by means of high voltage pulses. Provision is made according to an embodiment for a metallic protective layer to cover the porous tantalum oxide layer so as to prevent a hydrogen embrittlement.

Abstract: One aspect is a method for the production of a three-dimensional structure of successive layers producing a multitude of successive layers wherein, with the exception of a first layer, each of the successive layers is arranged on a preceding layer. Each of the successive layers includes at least two materials wherein one material is a sacrificial material and one material is a structure material. Each of the successive layers defines a successive cross-section through the three-dimensional structure. Producing each of the layers includes depositing the sacrificial material by means of an electrochemical process and depositing the structure material by means of physical gas phase deposition. After a multitude of successive layers has been produced, the three-dimensional structure is uncovered by removing at least a part of the sacrificial material. The sacrificial material is at least one of a group consisting of nickel, silver, palladium, and gold.

Abstract: One aspect relates to a stimulation electrode including an electrically conducting base body. The base body encompasses tantalum and is at least partially covered with a porous tantalum oxide layer, which is anodically applied by means of high voltage pulses. Provision is made according to an embodiment for a metallic protective layer to cover the porous tantalum oxide layer so as to prevent a hydrogen embrittlement.