Apparatus to improve the high voltage flashover characteristics of emi feedthrough filters used in active implantable medical devices

摘要

A feedthrough terminal assembly (20) for an active implantable medical device includes a conductive terminal pin (22) or leadwire, a feedthrough filter capacitor (21) having a first set (23) of electrode plates conductively coupled to the terminal pin or leadwire, and a second set (25) of electrode plates conductively coupled to a housing, ferrule (32) or ground plane of the active implantable medical device, and a non-conductive mullion (24) disposed relative to the terminal pin or leadwire for increasing creepage distance between the terminal pin or leadwire and another conductive element, creating a tortuous path that increases resistance to arcing/flashover.