Patent ID: 9643020
Date: 2017-05-09
CPC Classifications: A61N,G01R,H05K,Y10T

Claim:
1. A method of manufacturing a feedthrough assembly, comprising: providing an insulating structure having a top portion, a bottom portion and at least one aperture extending from the top portion to the bottom portion, the aperture having a first diameter; providing a ferrule having an outer surface, the ferrule defining an inner lumen surface; disposing the insulating structure within the inner lumen surface to fixedly secure the insulating structure to the ferrule; inserting a terminal pin into the aperture, the terminal pin having a diameter sized to correspond to the first diameter; performing an electrical isolation evaluation of the insulating structure, wherein the evaluation comprises applying a pulse signal between the terminal and the ferrule at one of the top portion and the bottom portion using a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the first electrode is engaged with a surface along the top portion and the second electrode is engaged with a surface along the bottom portion; monitoring for occurrence of electrical conduction in response to the application of the pulse signal, wherein the presence of conduction provides an indication of a foreign material disposed on the insulating structure; measuring a first electrical parameter through the two electrodes responsive to the applied pulse signal; comparing the first electrical parameter to criteria for detecting foreign material; detecting foreign material on one of the top portion and the bottom portion in response to the first electrical parameter meeting the criteria for detecting foreign material; moving at least one of the two electrodes to a different location along the one of the top portion and the bottom portion; applying a next pulse signal using the two electrodes; and measuring a second electrical parameter in response to the next pulse signal;