Patent ID: 7797048

Claim:
A feedthrough terminal assembly for an active implantable medical device (AIMD), comprising: a conductive terminal pin or lead wire extending through a conductive ground plane of the AIMD in non-conductive relation; a feedthrough capacitor associated with the conductive terminal pin or lead wire, the capacitor having first and second sets of electrode plates; a hermetic insulator disposed adjacent to a face of the capacitor and disposed between the terminal pin or lead wire and the conductive ground plane; a breathable washer disposed between facing surfaces of the hermetic insulator and the feedthrough capacitor, the breathable washer comprising a breathable material which allows a leak detection gas to pass therethrough during a standard pressurized or vacuum pull leak detection test and yet excludes movement of liquids, dissolved solids or solid contaminants therethrough; means for conductively coupling the first set of electrode plates to the terminal pin or lead wire; and means for conductively coupling the second set of electrode plates to the ground plane.