| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
Materials Science & Technology 2011
|
| Symposium
|
Fatigue and Microstructure: A Symposium on Recent Advances
|
| Presentation Title |
Medical Device Feedthrough Fatigue Characterization |
| Author(s) |
Jacob Popp, John Taylor, Joseph Hendrickson |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Jacob Popp |
| Abstract Scope |
Implantable neurological stimulators provide an electrical therapy which results in the elimination of debilitating pain. At the core of their design, the implant must isolate the internal components from the external environment while retaining the ability to provide therapy via an electrical signal. This is achieved by feedthroughs composed of a metal ferrule, a glass insulator and a conductive pin. Feedthroughs experience fatigue due to manufacturing and in vivo loading. In the worst cases, this may result in pin fracture or hermeticity loss. Fatigue and hermeticity test results of novel pin materials will be discussed and compared to currently utilized materials. Because the assembly is thermal in nature, the mechanical properties of the components vary. Thus, evaluations of new designs must be performed on assembled samples rather than individual components. The reduction in overall implant size poses unique challenges for the evaluation of these ever smaller components. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Definite: A CD-only volume |