Feedthrough filter capacitor assembly with internally grounded hermetic insulator

Abstract

A feedthrough filter capacitor assembly includes a conductive terminal pin which extends through a first passageway of a capacitor in conductive relation with a first set of electrode plates, and through a conductive ferrule and an insulator in non-conductive relation. The insulator includes ground plates conductively coupled to the ferrule. A second set of electrode plates of the capacitor are conductively coupled to the insulator ground plates, such as by a ground pin extending through the capacitor in relation with the second set of electrode plates, and at least partially extending through a second passageway of the insulator in conductive relation with the ground plates. In this manner, the exterior electrical/mechanical connection between the capacitor and ferrule or other ground member is eliminated.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A feedthrough filter capacitor assembly, comprising:
 a conductive terminal pin;   a feedthrough filter capacitor having first and second sets of electrode plates, a first passageway through which the terminal pin extends in conductive relation with the first set of electrode plates;   a conductive ferrule through which the terminal pin extends in non-conductive relation;   an insulator having a first passageway through which the terminal pin extends in non-conductive relation, and a ground plate conductively coupled to the ferrule; and   means for conductively coupling the capacitor second set of electrode plates and the insulator ground plate.   
     
     
       2. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the insulator ground plate comprises a set of ground plates. 
     
     
       3. The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the coupling means includes a conductive material pin at least partially extending through a second passageway of the capacitor in conductive relation with the second set of electrode plates, and at least partially extending through a second passageway of the insulator in conductive relation with the set of ground plates. 
     
     
       4. The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the conductive material comprises a ground pin, a ground wire, a solder material, a conductive thermal setting material, a weld, a braze, a conductive glass, or a conductive spring coil. 
     
     
       5. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the ferrule is conductively coupled to a housing for an active implantable medical device. 
     
     
       6. The assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the active implantable medical device is a cardiac pacemaker, an implantable defibrillator, a congestive heart failure device, a hearing implant, a cochlear implant, a neurostimulator, a drug pump, a ventricular assist device, an insulin pump, a spinal cord stimulator, an implantable sensing system, a deep brain stimulator, an artificial heart, an incontinence device, a vagus nerve stimulator, a bone growth stimulator, a gastric pacemaker, or a prosthetic device. 
     
     
       7. The assembly of  claim 1 , including an inductor through which the terminal pin extends in non-conductive relation. 
     
     
       8. The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the inductor comprises a ferrite inductor slab. 
     
     
       9. The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the inductor is disposed adjacent to the capacitor. 
     
     
       10. The assembly of claim  9  49, wherein the inductor is disposed between the capacitor and the hermetic insulator. 
     
     
       11. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein an outer peripheral surface of the capacitor is non-conductive. 
     
     
       12. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the insulator comprises an alumina insulator. 
     
     
       13. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the insulator ground plate extends to a conductive outer peripheral surface of the insulator. 
     
     
       14. The assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the conductive outer peripheral surface of the insulator is conductively coupled to the ferrule. 
     
     
       15. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the capacitor and insulator are disposed adjacent to each other and separated by a non-conductive material. 
     
     
       16. A feedthrough filter capacitor assembly, comprising:
 a conductive terminal pin;   a feedthrough filter capacitor having first and second sets of electrode plates, a first passageway through which the terminal pin extends in conductive relation with the first set of electrode plates;   a conductive ferrule through which the terminal pin extends in non-conductive relation;   an insulator having a first passageway through which the terminal pin extends in non-conductive relation, and a ground plate conductively coupled to the ferrule; and   a conductive material at least partially extending through a second passageway of the capacitor in conductive relation with the second set of electrode plates and at least partially extending through a second passageway of the insulator in conductive relation with the ground plate, for conductively coupling the capacitor second set of electrode plates and the ground plate.   
     
     
       17. The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the conductive material comprises a ground pin, a ground wire, a solder material, a conductive thermal setting material, a weld, a braze, a conductive glass, or a conductive spring coil. 
     
     
       18. The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the ferrule is conductively coupled to a housing for an active implantable medical device. 
     
     
       19. The assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the active implantable medical device is a cardiac pacemaker, an implantable defibrillator, a congestive heart failure device, a hearing implant, a cochlear implant, a neurostimulator, a drug pump, a ventricular assist device, an insulin pump, a spinal cord stimulator, an implantable sensing system, a deep brain stimulator, an artificial heart, an incontinence device, a vagus nerve stimulator, a bone growth stimulator, a gastric pacemaker, or a prosthetic device. 
     
     
       20. The assembly of  claim 16 , including an inductor through which the terminal pin extends in non-conductive relation. 
     
     
       21. The assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the inductor comprises a ferrite inductor slab. 
     
     
       22. The assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the inductor is disposed adjacent to the capacitor. 
     
     
       23. The assembly of claim  22  61, wherein the inductor is disposed between the capacitor and the hermetic insulator. 
     
     
       24. The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein an outer peripheral surface of the capacitor is non-conductive. 
     
     
       25. The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the insulator comprises an alumina insulator. 
     
     
       26. The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the insulator ground plate extends to a conductive outer peripheral surface of the insulator which is conductively coupled to the ferrule. 
     
     
       27. The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the capacitor and insulator are disposed adjacent to each other and separated by a non-conductive material. 
     
     
       28. The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the insulator ground plate comprises a set of ground plates. 
     
     
       29. A feedthrough filter capacitor assembly, comprising:
 a conductive terminal pin;   a feedthrough filter capacitor having first and second sets of electrode plates, and a first passageway through which the terminal pin extends in conductive relation with the first set of electrode plates;   a conductive ferrule conductively coupled to a housing for an active implantable medical device and through which the terminal pin extends in non-conductive relation;   an insulator having a first passageway through which the terminal pin extends in non-conductive relation, and a ground plate extending to a conductive outer peripheral surface of the insulator that is conductively coupled to the ferrule; and   a conductive material at least partially extending through a second passageway of the capacitor in conductive relation with the second set of electrode plates, and at least partially extending through a second passageway of the insulator in conductive relation with the ground plate for conductively coupling the second set of electrode plates and the ferrule.   
     
     
       30. The assembly of  claim 29 , wherein the conductive material comprises a ground pin, a ground wire, a solder material, a conductive thermal setting material, a weld, a braze, a conductive glass, or a conductive spring coil. 
     
     
       31. The assembly of  claim 29 , wherein the active implantable medical device is a cardiac pacemaker, an implantable defibrillator, a congestive heart failure device, a hearing implant, a neurostimulator, a drug pump, a ventricular assist device, an insulin pump, a spinal cord stimulator, an implantable sensing system, a deep brain stimulator, an artificial heart, an incontinence device, a vagus nerve stimulator, a bone growth stimulator, a gastric pacemaker, or a prosthetic device. 
     
     
       32. The assembly of  claim 29 , including an inductor through which the terminal pin extends in non-conductive relation. 
     
     
       33. The assembly of  claim 32 , wherein the inductor comprises a ferrite inductor slab. 
     
     
       34. The assembly of  claim 32 , wherein the inductor is disposed adjacent to the capacitor. 
     
     
       35. The assembly of claim  34  74, wherein the inductor is disposed between the capacitor and the hermetic insulator. 
     
     
       36. The assembly of  claim 29 , wherein an outer peripheral surface of the capacitor is non-conductive. 
     
     
       37. The assembly of  claim 29 , wherein the insulator comprises an alumina insulator. 
     
     
       38. The assembly of  claim 29 , wherein the capacitor and insulator are disposed adjacent to each other and separated by a non-conductive material. 
     
     
       39. A feedthrough filter capacitor assembly, comprising:
 a) at least two conductive terminal pins;   b) an internally grounded feedthrough filter capacitor having interleaved active and ground electrode plates, at least two capacitor first passageways through which respective ones of the terminal pins extend in conductive relation with the capacitor active electrode plates;   c) a conductive ferrule through which the at least two terminal pins extend in non-conductive relation;   d) a hermetic insulator connected to the ferrule, the hermetic insulator having at least two insulator first passageways through which respective ones of the at least two terminal pins extend in non-conductive relation with the ferrule, and   e) at least one insulator ground plate embedded in the hermetic insulator, the embedded insulator ground plate being electrically connected to the ferrule, wherein the embedded insulator ground plate surrounds but is spaced from each of the at least two insulator first passageways through which respective ones of the terminal pins extend in conductive relation with the capacitor active electrode plates extend; and   f) means for electrically connecting the capacitor ground electrode plates and the at least one embedded insulator ground plate.    
     
     
       40. The assembly of claim 39, wherein the means for electrically connecting resides between the at least two terminal pins.  
     
     
       41. The assembly of claim 39, wherein the capacitor ground electrode plates do not extend to an outer perimeter of the feedthrough filter capacitor.  
     
     
       42. The assembly of claim 39, wherein the at least one embedded insulator ground plate comprises a set of embedded insulator ground plates.  
     
     
       43. The assembly of claim 39, wherein the means for electrically connecting includes a conductive material pin at least partially extending through a second passageway of the capacitor in conductive relation with the capacitor ground electrode plates, and at least partially extending through a second passageway of the hermetic insulator in conductive relation with the at least one embedded insulator ground plate.  
     
     
       44. The assembly of claim 43, wherein the conductive material pin comprises a ground pin, a ground wire, a solder material, a conductive thermal setting material, a weld, a braze, a conductive glass, or a conductive spring coil.  
     
     
       45. The assembly of claim 39, wherein the ferrule is electrically connected to a housing for an active implantable medical device.  
     
     
       46. The assembly of claim 45, wherein the active implantable medical device is a cardiac pacemaker, an implantable defibrillator, a congestive heart failure device, a hearing implant, a cochlear implant, a neurostimulator, a drug pump, a ventricular assist device, an insulin pump, a spinal cord stimulator, an implantable sensing system, a deep brain stimulator, an artificial heart, an incontinence device, a Vagus nerve stimulator, a bone growth stimulator, a gastric pacemaker, or a prosthetic device.  
     
     
       47. The assembly of claim 39, including an inductor through which the at least two terminal pins extend in non-conductive relation.  
     
     
       48. The assembly of claim 47, wherein the inductor comprises a ferrite inductor slab.  
     
     
       49. The assembly of claim 47, wherein the inductor is disposed adjacent to the capacitor.  
     
     
       50. The assembly of claim 39, wherein the capacitor has an outer periphery surface, and wherein the outer peripheral surface of the capacitor is non-conductive.  
     
     
       51. The assembly of claim 39, wherein the hermetic insulator comprises an alumina insulator.  
     
     
       52. The assembly of claim 39, wherein the at least one embedded insulator ground plate extends to a conductive outer peripheral surface of the hermetic insulator.  
     
     
       53. The assembly of claim 52, wherein the conductive outer peripheral surface of the insulator comprises a metallization layer and a solder or braze electrically connecting the metallization layer to the ferrule.  
     
     
       54. The assembly of claim 39, wherein the capacitor and hermetic insulator are disposed adjacent to each other and separated by a washer of non-conductive material.  
     
     
       55. The assembly of claim 39, wherein there are at least two means for electrically connecting, and wherein the at least two terminal pins reside between the at least two means for electrically connecting.  
     
     
       56. A feedthrough filter capacitor assembly, comprising:
 a) at least two conductive terminal pins;   b) a feedthrough filter capacitor having interleaved active and ground electrode plates, and at least two capacitor first passageways through which respective ones of the at least two terminal pins extend in conductive relation with the capacitor active electrode plates;   c) a conductive ferrule through which the at least two terminal pins extend in non-conductive relation;   d) a hermetic insulator connected to the ferrule, the hermetic insulator having at least two insulator first passageways through which respective ones of the at least two terminal pins extend in non-conductive relation with the ferrule;   e) an insulator ground plate embedded in the hermetic insulator, the embedded insulator ground plate being electrically connected to the ferrule, wherein the embedded insulator ground plate surrounds but is spaced from each of the at least two insulator first passageways through which respective ones of the terminal pins in conductive relation with the capacitor active electrode plates extend; and   f) a ground pin at least partially extending through a second passageway of the capacitor in conductive relation with the capacitor ground electrode plates and at least partially extending through a second passageway of the hermetic insulator in conductive relation with the embedded insulator ground plate, the ground pin electrically connecting the capacitor ground electrode plates and the embedded insulator ground late.    
     
     
       57. The assembly of claim 55, wherein the ferrule is electrically connected to a housing for an active implantable medical device.  
     
     
       58. The assembly of claim 57, wherein the active implantable medical device is a cardiac pacemaker, an implantable defibrillator, a congestive heart failure device, a hearing implant, a cochlear implant, a neurostimulator, a drug pump, a ventricular assist device, an insulin pump, a spinal cord stimulator, an implantable sensing system, a deep brain stimulator, an artificial heart, an incontinence device, a Vagus nerve stimulator, a bone growth stimulator, a gastric pacemaker, or a prosthetic device.  
     
     
       59. The assembly of claim 55, including an inductor through which the at least two terminal pins extend in non-conductive relation.  
     
     
       60. The assembly of claim 59, wherein the inductor comprises a ferrite inductor slab.  
     
     
       61. The assembly of claim 59, wherein the inductor is disposed adjacent to the capacitor.  
     
     
       62. The assembly of claim 55, wherein the capacitor has an outer periphery surface, and wherein the outer peripheral surface of the capacitor is non-conductive.  
     
     
       63. The assembly of claim 55, wherein the hermetic insulator comprises an alumina insulator.  
     
     
       64. The assembly of claim 55, wherein the embedded insulator ground plate extends to a conductive outer peripheral surface of the hermetic insulator, the conductive outer peripheral surface comprising a metallization layer contacting the embedded insulator ground plate at the outer peripheral surface of the hermetic insulator, and a solder or braze electrically connecting the metallization layer to the ferrule.  
     
     
       65. The assembly of claim 55, wherein the capacitor and hermetic insulator are disposed adjacent to each other and separated by washer a non-conductive material.  
     
     
       66. The assembly of claim 55, wherein the embedded insulator ground plate comprises a set of insulator ground plates.  
     
     
       67. The assembly of claim 55, wherein the ground pin connecting the capacitor ground electrode plates and the embedded insulator ground plate resides between the at least two terminal pins.  
     
     
       68. The assembly of claim 55, wherein the capacitor ground electrode plates do not extend to an outer perimeter of the feedthrough filter capacitor.  
     
     
       69. The assembly of claim 55, wherein there are at least two ground pins, and wherein the at least two terminal pins reside between the at least two ground pins.  
     
     
       70. An active implantable medical device (AIMD), comprising:
 a) a housing for the AIMD; and   b) a feedthrough filter capacitor assembly, comprising:
 i) at least two conductive terminal pins; 
 ii) a feedthrough filter capacitor having interleaved active and ground electrode plates, and at least two capacitor first passageways through which respective ones of the at least two terminal pins extend in conductive relation with the capacitor active electrode plates; 
 iii) a conductive ferrule electrically connected to the AIMD housing, wherein the at least two terminal pins extend through the ferrule in non-conductive relation; 
 iv) a hermetic insulator connected to the ferrule, the hermetic insulator having at least two insulator first passageways through which respective ones of the at least two terminal pins extend in non-conductive relation with the ferrule; 
 v) an insulator ground plate embedded in the insulator and extending to a conductive outer peripheral surface of the insulator, the embedded insulator ground plate being electrically connected to the ferrule, wherein the embedded insulator ground plate surrounds but is spaced from each of the at least two insulator first passageways through which respective ones of the terminal pins in conductive relation with the capacitor active electrode plates extend; and 
 vi) a ground pin at least partially extending through a second passageway of the capacitor in conductive relation with the capacitor ground electrode plates and at least partially extending through a second passageway of the hermetic insulator in conductive relation with the embedded insulator ground plate, the ground pin electrically connecting the capacitor ground electrode plates to the ferrule.  
   
     
     
       71. The AIMD of claim 70, wherein the active implantable medical device is a cardiac pacemaker, an implantable defibrillator, a congestive heart failure device, a hearing implant, a neurostimulator, a drug pump, a ventricular assist device, an insulin pump, a spinal cord stimulator, an implantable sensing system, a deep brain stimulator, an artificial heart, an incontinence device, a Vagus nerve stimulator, a bone growth stimulator, a gastric pacemaker, or a prosthetic device.  
     
     
       72. The AIMD of claim 70, including an inductor through which the at least two terminal pins extend in non-conductive relation.  
     
     
       73. The AIMD of claim 72, wherein the inductor comprises a ferrite inductor slab.  
     
     
       74. The AIMD of claim 72, wherein the inductor is disposed adjacent to the capacitor.  
     
     
       75. The AIMD of claim 70, wherein an outer peripheral surface of the capacitor is non-conductive.  
     
     
       76. The AIMD of claim 70, wherein the hermetic insulator comprises an alumina insulator.  
     
     
       77. The AIMD of claim 70, wherein the capacitor and hermetic insulator are disposed adjacent to each other and separated by a washer of non-conductive material.  
     
     
       78. The AIMD of claim 70, wherein the ground pin electrically connecting the capacitor ground electrode plates and the embedded insulator ground plate resides between the at least two terminal pins.  
     
     
       79. The AIMD of claim 70, wherein the capacitor ground electrode plates do not extend to an outer perimeter of the feedthrough filter capacitor.  
     
     
       80. The AIMD of claim 70, wherein the conductive outer peripheral surface of the insulator comprises a metallization layer contacting the embedded insulator ground plate at the outer peripheral surface, and wherein a solder or braze electrically connects the metallization layer to the ferrule.  
     
     
       81. The assembly of claim 70, wherein there are at least two ground pins, and wherein the at least two terminal pins reside between the at least two ground pins.