Patent ID: 7751893

Claim:
A method for connecting a header assembly to an implantable medical device, comprising the steps of: a) providing the medical device having a housing comprising: i) a first housing portion comprising a first major face wall supporting a first sidewall partially surrounding the first face wall except at a first open end; ii) a second housing portion comprising a second major face wall supporting a second sidewall partially surrounding the second face wall except at a second open end; iii) wherein the first and second housing portions are matable to each other with their respective first and second open ends being in alignment to provide a housing opening; b) positioning control circuitry and at least one electrical energy storage device in the first housing portion; c) providing a lid comprising at least one upstanding lug comprising a lug aperture generally aligned parallel to an upper lid surface; d) providing a feedthrough wire extending through a lid opening in the lid, the feedthrough wire being electrically insulated from the lid by a seal and having proximal and distal ends spaced from respective lower and upper lid surfaces; e) molding a header body of polymeric material supporting a terminal connectable to a lead of an electrical conductor, wherein the header comprises at least one inlet sized to receive the lid lug and a through bore alignable with the lug aperture when the header assembly is positioned on the lid and wherein the header body further includes a first passageway extending into the body communicating with the terminal and a second passageway extending into the body in communication with the terminal and the first passageway; f) securing the header body to the upper lid surface by inserting a pin into the through bore and the lug aperture with the distal end of the feedthrough wire extending through the first passageway to contact the terminal; g) accessing the terminal and the distal end of the feedthrough wire through the second passageway to electrically connect the feedthrough wire to the terminal; h) securing a first portion of the lid supporting the header body in the first open end of the first housing portion; i) connecting the proximal end of the feedthrough wire to the control circuitry powered by the electrical energy storage device received in the first housing portion; and j) mating the second housing portion to the first housing portion with a second portion of the lid secured in the second open end of the second housing portion to thereby close the housing opening with the lid.