Ceramic bushing for an implantable medical device

Abstract

An electrical bushing for use in a housing of an implantable medical device is proposed. The electrical bushing includes at least one electrically insulating base body and at least one electrical conducting element. The conducting element establishes, through the base body, at least one electrically conductive connection between an internal space of the housing and an external space. The conducting element is hermetically sealed with respect to the base body, at least in part. The at least one conducting element includes at least one cermet. The electrical bushing further includes at least one metallic frame element, which fixes the base body in at least one housing opening of the housing.

1 . An electrical bushing for use in a housing of an implantable medical device;
 whereby the electrical bushing comprises at least one electrically insulating base body and at least one electrical conducting element;   whereby the conducting element establishes, through the base body, at least one electrically conductive connection between an internal space of the housing and an external space;   whereby the conducting element is hermetically sealed with respect to the base body, at least in part;   whereby the at least one conducting element comprises at least one cermet; and   characterized in that the electrical bushing comprises at least one metallic frame element, whereby the frame element fixes the base body in at least one housing opening of the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The electrical bushing according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the frame element comprises at least one metallic material selected from the group consisting of: titanium; a titanium alloy; niobium; a niobium alloy; platinum; a platinum alloy; iridium; molybdenum; tantalum; a tantalum alloy; tungsten; a tungsten alloy; stainless steel; and a cobalt-chromium alloy. 
     
     
         3 . The electrical bushing according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the frame element comprises at least one frame opening, whereby the frame element is connected to the base body in a manner such that the base body and the conducting element close the frame opening in a hermetically sealed manner. 
     
     
         4 . The electrical bushing according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the base body projects into the frame opening, at least in part, and fills the frame opening, at least in part. 
     
     
         5 . The electrical bushing according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the frame element and the base body are shaped to be acting in concert such that the base body can be unambiguously positioned, and can be centered, with respect to the frame element when the base body is being connected to the frame element, in that the frame element surrounds at least a part of the base body in a ring-shaped manner. 
     
     
         6 . The electrical bushing according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the frame element is connected to the base body through at least one firmly bonded connection, through at least one soldered connection and/or at least one welded connection. 
     
     
         7 . The electrical bushing according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the base body comprises at least one metallization at least in a region that faces the firmly bonded connection. 
     
     
         8 . The electrical bushing according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the frame element, at least parts thereof, is provided as an annular disc as an annular disc with a round, oval or polygonal cross-section. 
     
     
         9 . The electrical bushing according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the frame element comprises, on at least one side that faces the housing, at least one fastening profile and is provided as flange. 
     
     
         10 . The electrical bushing according to  claim 9 , characterized in that the fastening profile has a cross-section selected from the group consisting of: a U-shaped profile; an L-shaped profile; an H-shaped profile; a T-shaped profile. 
     
     
         11 . An implantable medical device comprising:
 at least one housing having at least one housing opening, at least one internal space; and   an electrical bushing comprising at least one electrically insulating base body and at least one electrical conducting element, the conducting element comprising at least one cermet and, at least in part, is hermetically sealed with respect to the base body;   wherein the electrical bushing is connected to the housing by means of the at least one frame element; and   wherein the electrical bushing establishes at least one electrical connection between the at least one internal space of the housing and at least one external space.   
     
     
         12 . The implantable medical device according to  claim 11 , wherein the housing opening is closed through the electrical bushing in a hermetically sealed manner. 
     
     
         13 . The implantable medical device according to  claim 11 , wherein the frame element is connected to the housing in a firmly bonded manner through at least one soldered connection and/or one welded connection. 
     
     
         14 . A method for the manufacture of an electrical bushing comprising at least one electrically insulating base body and at least one electrical conducting element, the conducting element comprising at least one cermet and, at least in part, is hermetically sealed with respect to the base body,
 characterized in that the method comprises the following steps:
 a. manufacturing the at least one base body and introducing the at least one conducting element into the base body in non-sintered or pre-sintered condition; 
 b. joint sintering of the base body and conducting element; 
 c. connecting the base body to at least one frame element. 
   
     
     
         15 . A method for the manufacture of an implantable medical device comprising at least one housing having at least one housing opening and an electrical bushing comprising at least one electrically insulating base body and at least one electrical conducting element,
 characterized in that the method comprises the following steps:
 i. manufacturing the at least one electrically insulating base body and the at least one electrical conducting element, whereby the conducting element is hermetically sealed, at least in part, with respect to the base body, whereby the conducting element establishes, through the base body, at least one electrically conductive connection between an internal space of the housing and an external space, and whereby the at least one conducting element comprises at least one cermet; 
 ii. connecting at least one metallic frame element to the base body, whereby the frame element fixes the base body in at least one housing opening of the housing; 
 iii. connecting the frame element to the housing.