The invention relates to a paste, preferably for joining components of power electronics modules, the paste comprising a solder powder, a metal powder and a binder, wherein the binder binds solder powder and metal powder before a first heating. According to the invention, the binder is free of flux or is a flux having only low activation. In this way, a joining layer which exhibits only few included voids and good mechanical and electrical stability can be provided between a first and a second component.

A hermetically sealed filtered feedthrough assembly attachable to an AIMD includes an insulator hermetically sealing a ferrule opening of an electrically conductive ferrule with a gold braze. A co-fired and electrically conductive sintered paste is disposed within and hermetically seals at least one via hole extending in the insulator. At least one capacitor is disposed on the device side. An active electrical connection electrically connects a capacitor active metallization and the sintered paste. A ground electrical connection electrically connects the gold braze to a capacitor ground metallization, wherein at least a portion of the ground electrical connection physically contacts the gold braze. The dielectric of the capacitor may be less than 1000 k. The ferrule may include an integrally formed peninsula portion extending into the ferrule opening spatially aligned with a ground passageway and metallization of an internally grounded feedthrough capacitor. The sintered paste may be of substantially pure platinum.

A method for manufacturing a singulated feedthrough insulator for a hermetic seal of an active implantable medical device (AIMD) is described. The method begins with forming a green-state ceramic bar with a via hole filled with a conductive paste. The green-state ceramic bar is dried to convert the paste to an electrically conductive material filling via hole and then subjected to a pressing step. Following pressing, a green-state insulator is singulated from the green-state ceramic bar. The singulated green-state insulator in next sintered to form an insulator that is sized and shaped for hermetically sealing to close a ferrule opening. The thusly produced feedthrough is suitable installation in an opening in the housing of an active implantable medical device.

A hermetically sealed filtered feedthrough assembly attachable to an AIMD includes an insulator hermetically sealing the opening of a ferrule with a gold braze. The ferrule includes a peninsula extending into the ferrule opening and the insulator has a cutout matching the peninsula. A sintered platinum-containing paste hermetically seals at least one via hole extending through the insulator. At least one capacitor is disposed on the device side. An active electrical connection electrically connects the capacitor active metallization to the sintered paste. A ground electrical connection electrically connects the capacitor ground metallization disposed within a capacitor ground passageway to the portion of the gold braze along the ferrule peninsula. The dielectric of the capacitor may be less than 1,000 k.

A filler for vacuum brazing of TU1 oxygen-free copper is an Au—Cu—Ni filler including the following elemental compositions in a specified proportion: 69% to 90% of Au, 9% to 30% of Cu, and 1% to 5% of Ni. The filler has a melting temperature of 900° C. to 910° C. The filler for vacuum brazing of TU1 oxygen-free copper can be used for brazing X-ray tube anodes, thereby realizing effective vacuum brazing.

Shapeable guide wire devices and methods for their manufacture. Guide wire devices include an elongate shaft member having a shapeable distal end section that is formed from a linear pseudoelastic nickel-titanium (Ni—Ti) alloy that has linear pseudoelastic behavior without a phase transformation or onset of stress-induced martensite. Linear pseudoelastic Ni—Ti alloy, which is distinct from non-linear pseudoelastic (i.e., superelastic) Ni—Ti alloy, is highly durable, corrosion resistant, and has high stiffness. The shapeable distal end section is shapeable by a user to facilitate guiding the guide wire through tortuous anatomy. In addition, linear pseudoelastic Ni—Ti alloy is more durable tip material than other shapeable tip materials such as stainless steel.

A method and apparatus for multiple flexible circuit cable attachment is described herein. Gold bumps are bonded on interconnection pads of a substrate to create a columnar structure and solder or conductive epoxy is dispensed on the flexible cable circuit. The substrate and flexible cable circuit are aligned and pressed together using force or placement of a weight on either the substrate or flexible cable circuit. Appropriate heat is applied to reflow the solder or cure the epoxy. The solder wets to the substrate pads, assisted by the gold bumps, and have reduced bridging risk due to the columnar structure. A nonconductive underfill epoxy is applied to increase mechanical strength.

A method and apparatus for multiple flexible circuit cable attachment is described herein. Gold bumps are bonded on interconnection pads of a substrate to create a columnar structure and solder or conductive epoxy is dispensed on the flexible cable circuit. The substrate and flexible cable circuit are aligned and pressed together using force or placement of a weight on either the substrate or flexible cable circuit. Appropriate heat is applied to reflow the solder or cure the epoxy. The solder wets to the substrate pads, assisted by the gold bumps, and have reduced bridging risk due to the columnar structure. A nonconductive underfill epoxy is applied to increase mechanical strength.

A conductive path can be formed using metal material coated with a layer that is controllably activated to release the metal material downhole in the wellbore. The conductive path can be used to communicate signals or power downhole in the wellbore.

Undercooled liquid metallic core-shell particles, whose core is stable against solidification at ambient conditions, i.e. under near ambient temperature and pressure conditions, are used to join or repair metallic non-particulate components. The undercooled-shell particles in the form of nano-size or micro-size particles comprise an undercooled stable liquid metallic core encapsulated inside an outer shell, which can comprise an oxide or other stabilizer shell typically formed in-situ on the undercooled liquid metallic core. The shell is ruptured to release the liquid phase core material to join or repair a component(s).