Patent ID: 8103348

Claim:
A method for making a header assembly for connecting an implantable medical device to at least one conductor lead terminating within a patient intended to be assisted by the medical device, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing at least one conductive connector comprising an outer surface, a distal end including a distal bore, a central region, and a proximal end including a proximal bore; b) providing a feedthrough adapter holder comprised of a plate shaped body including an upper surface, a lower surface, a side wall, and at least one through hole extending from the upper surface to the lower surface, the through hole having a diameter sized to enable movement of the conductive connector therein; c) moving the at least one connector into the at least one through hole, such that the plate shaped body of the feedthrough adapter holder is engaged with the central section of the at least one connector; d) drilling a through hole from the outer surface into the proximal bore of the at least one connector; e) displacing the at least one connector into engagement with the feedthrough adapter holder so that the holder contacts the proximal end of the at least one connector, including the through hole from the outer surface thereof into the proximal bore thereof; f) providing at least one conductor wire comprising a distal end and a proximal end, and inserting the proximal end of the at least one conductor wire into the distal bore of the connector, and joining the at least one conductor wire to the at least one connector; g) positioning the at least one conductor wire in a fixture so that its distal end is joinable to a terminal; h) providing at least one terminal, and joining the terminal to the distal end of the at least one conductor wire to form at least one conductor subassembly comprising the conductive connector, the conductor wire, and the terminal; i) placing the holder and the at least one conductor subassembly in a mold cavity; j) molding a polymeric material as a monolithic header body around the at least one conductor subassembly to form the header assembly; k) removing the header assembly from the mold; and l) removing the feedthrough adapter holder from the proximal end of the at least one conductive connector.