Abstract: An improved spacer in an apparatus comprising a MEMS device that is packaged between a substrate and cover plate, where the improved spacer protects traces running on the substrate and under the spacer. The improved spacer reduces the amount of force or pressure on the traces or wires, which reduces line out damage when an array of packaged MEMS devices are separated by pressure or force into one packaged MEMS device. In one embodiment, the improved spacer comprises a softer, deformable, elastic, or malleable material that does not crush the traces. This softer material can be an elastic polymeric spacer. In another embodiment, the improved spacer can protect these traces by having a shape with a smaller contact surface which minimizes the amount of traces being affected. This surface can be a sphere or a ball.