Media-exposed interconnects for transducers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9616223-B2
Application number	US-32389605-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 30, 2005
Priority date	Dec 30, 2005
Publication date	Apr 11, 2017
Grant date	Apr 11, 2017

Abstract

Media-exposed interconnects for transducer modules are disclosed. The transducers may be sensing transducers, actuating transducers, IC-only transducers, or combinations thereof, or other suitable transducers. The transducers may be used in connection with implantable medical devices and may be exposed to various media, such as body fluids. The media-exposed interconnects for transducer modules may allow transducers to communicate electrically with other components, such as implantable medical devices.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lead for electrically communicating with an implantable medical device comprising:
a lead body supporting a conductor, the conductor adapted for electrical communication with the implantable medical device;
a transducer module including a transducer supported by the lead body and including an electrically conductive interface pad coupled to the transducer, the transducer being configured to provide an electrical signal to the interface pad and wherein the interface pad is configured to exert a tensile force on the transducer;
an exposed interconnect generally exposed to biological fluids when in an implant environment, the exposed interconnect including a first conductive layer deposited over the interface pad and being coupled to the conductor to provide a conductive interface between the transducer and the conductor, wherein the first conductive layer exerts a compressive force on the interface pad; and
a second conductive layer coupled to the first conductive layer, wherein the second conductive layer is configured to exert a tensile force on the first conductive layer, and wherein the magnitude of the compressive force counteracts the magnitude of the tensile forces exerted by the interface pad and the second conductive layer to reduce or eliminate a net force exerted on the transducer.

2. The lead of claim 1 , wherein the exposed interconnect is configured to maintain long-term electrical communication between the transducer and the conductor when the transducer is subject to a DC bias.

3. The lead of claim 1 , wherein the pad comprises a machined stud.

4. The lead of claim 1 , wherein the transducer comprises an integrated circuit and the interconnect is configured to allow electrical communication between the integrated circuit and the conductor when in the implant environment.

5. The lead of claim 1 , wherein the transducer comprises a MEMS device.

6. The lead of claim 1 , wherein the first conductive layer selected from the group consisting of niobium, tantalum, vanadium, hafnium, zirconium, and alloys thereof.

7. A transducer module for an implantable medical device comprising:
a capsule in electrical communication with the implantable medical device;

a conductor in electrical communication with the capsule;
a transducer disposed at least partially within the capsule and including an electrically conductive interface pad, the transducer being configured to provide an electrical signal to the interface pad and exert a first force in a first direction relative to the interface pad;
an exposed interconnect generally exposed to biological fluids when in an implant environment, the exposed interconnect including a first conductive layer deposited over the interface pad and being coupled to the conductor to provide a conductive interface between the transducer and the conductor, wherein the first conductive layer exerts a second force in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and
a second conductive layer coupled to the first conductive layer, wherein the second conductive layer is configured to exert a third force in the first direction, the second force being configured to counteract the first and second forces to reduce or eliminate a net force exerted on the transducer by the interface pad.

8. The transducer module of claim 7 , wherein the exposed interconnect includes a configuration that maintains long-term electrical communication between the transducer and the conductor when the transducer is subject to a DC bias.

9. The transducer module of claim 7 , wherein the pad comprises a machined stud.

10. The transducer module of claim 7 , wherein the transducer comprises an integrated circuit and the interconnect is configured to allow electrical communication between the integrated circuit and the conductor when in the implant environment.

11. The transducer module of claim 7 , wherein the transducer comprises a MEMS device.

12. The transducer module of claim 7 , wherein the exposed interconnect comprises means for reducing stress existing between the pad and the transducer.

13. The transducer module of claim 7 , wherein the first conductive layer selected from the group consisting of niobium, tantalum, vanadium, hafnium, zirconium, and alloys thereof.

14. The transducer module of claim 7 , wherein the second force exerted by the first conductive layer is a compressive force and the first and third forces are tensile forces.

15. The transducer module of claim 7 , wherein the first conductive layer is configured to exert the second force having a magnitude that is closely matched or equal to a combined magnitude of the first and third forces.

16. A transducer module for an implantable medical device comprising:
a capsule in electrical communication with the implantable medical device;
a conductor in electrical communication with the capsule;
a transducer disposed at least partially within the capsule and including an electrically conductive interface pad configured to exert a first force on the transducer, the transducer being configured to provide an electrical signal to the interface pad;
an exposed interconnect generally exposed to biological fluids when in an implant environment, the exposed interconnect including a first conductive layer deposited over the interface pad and being welded to the conductor to provide a conductive interface between the transducer and the conductor, wherein the first conductive layer exerts a second force on the interface pad; and
a second conductive layer coupled to the first conductive layer, wherein the second conductive layer is configured to exert a third force on the first conductive layer, the first conductive layer being configured to generate the second force having a magnitude that counteracts a magnitude of the first and third forces generated by the interface pad and the second conductive layer to reduce or eliminate a net force exerted on the transducer.

17. A lead for electrically communicating with an implantable medical device comprising:
a lead body supporting a conductor, the conductor adapted for electrical communication with the implantable medical device;
a transducer module including a transducer supported by the lead body and including an electrically conductive interface pad coupled to the transducer, the transducer being configured to provide an electrical signal to the interface pad and wherein the interface pad is configured to exert a first force on the transducer;
an exposed interconnect generally exposed to biological fluids when in an implant environment, the exposed interconnect including a first conductive layer deposited over the interface pad and being coupled to the conductor to provide a conductive interface between the transducer and the conductor, wherein the first conductive layer exerts a second force on the interface pad; and
a second conductive layer coupled to the first conductive layer, wherein the second conductive layer is configured to exert a third force on the first conductive layer, the second force being opposite the first and third forces, and wherein the second force counteracts the first and third forces to reduce or eliminate a net force exerted on the transducer by the interface pad.

18. A transducer module for an implantable medical device comprising:
a capsule in electrical communication with the implantable medical device;
a conductor in electrical communication with the capsule;
a transducer disposed at least partially within the capsule and including an electrically conductive interface pad, the trans

Assignees

• Schugt Michael A
• Mothilal Kamal D
• Ruben David A
• Larson Lary R
• Mattes Michael F
• Medtronic Inc

Inventors

• Schugt Michael A
• Mothilal Kamal D
• Ruben David A
• Larson Lary R
• Mattes Michael F

Classifications

• H10W70/05

  of insulating or insulated package substrates, or of interposers, or of redistribution layers (manufacture or treatment of leadframes H10W70/04) · CPC title

• B81B3/0072

  For controlling internal stress or strain in moving or flexible elements, e.g. stress compensating layers · CPC title

• H05K3/4061

  for via connections in inorganic insulating substrates · CPC title

• H05K1/0271

  Arrangements for reducing stress or warp in rigid printed circuit boards, e.g. caused by loads, vibrations or differences in thermal expansion · CPC title

• A61N1/056 Primary

  Transvascular endocardial electrode systems · CPC title