United States Patent m
Thompson et al.
[54] FILTERED FEEDTHROUGH ASSEMBLY FOR IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE
[75] Inventors: David L. Thompson, Fridley, Minn.;
Robert T. Sawchuk, Phoenix, Ariz.;
Lynn M. Seifried. Minneapolis, Minn.
[73] Assignee: Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, Minn.
[21] Appl. No.: 317,512
[22] Filed: Oct 4,1994
[51] Int CI.6 A61N 1/375
[52] U.S. CI. 607/36
[58] Held of Search 607/1. 36, 37
[56] References Cited
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HIIIIIII1II11I
US005735884A
[li] Patent Number: 5,735,884 [45] Date of Patent: Apr. 7, 1998
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OTHER PUBLICATIONS U.S. application, No. 8038373 date pending, Seifried et al.
Primary Examiner—William E. Kamm
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Thomas F. Woods; Harold R.
Patton
[57] ABSTRACT
A feedthrough configuration for a hermetically sealed implantable medical device which includes a metal case having an aperture and a feedthrough in the aperture which includes an electrically conductive pin, an insulating material supporting the pin, a block spaced from the case and in electrical continuity with the pin and a device for electrical protection connected to the block and to the case. The device for electrical protection preferably includes two zener diodes, a first diode connected at the block and a second diode connected to the case with an electrical conductor connecting the two diodes in a back-to-back configuration.
10 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
