Patent ID: 7818876

Claim:
A method for forming an hermetically sealed feedthrough through an insulating body of an hermetic chamber, the insulating body including a planar ceramic insulating wall, the method comprising: a) assembling a stacked structure including a plurality of planar layers, the plurality of layers comprising: the planar ceramic insulating wall defining a plane for the stacked structure; a planar conductor positioned parallel to the plane of the stacked structure, wherein in end use the planar conductor is in conductive communication with the hermetic chamber via at least one conductive channel through the planar ceramic insulating wall; a planar ceramic insulator positioned parallel to the plane of the stacked structure; b) providing a particulate ceramic insulating material between adjacent layers of the stacked structure; c) heating the stacked structure to a temperature sufficient to recrystallise the particulate ceramic insulating material; and d) applying pressure to the stacked structure during said heating, wherein the pressure is applied in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the stacked structure, thereby promoting bonding of the stacked structure to provide the hermetically sealed feedthrough.