Titanium-Glass Feedthrough Structure for Hermetic Corrosion Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrical feedthroughs face challenges in matching the properties of their metallic main body, glass insulation, and electrical conductors, particularly in terms of stability, corrosion resistance, and cytotoxicity, especially in medical applications where they may come into contact with body fluids.
Innovation Solution
A feedthrough design featuring a titanium or titanium alloy main body with a glass insulation material having a contact angle of less than 90 degrees, optimized glass compositions with specific ratios of B2O3 and SiO2, and additional components to enhance mechanical durability, corrosion resistance, and cytotoxicity avoidance, while maintaining hermeticity and allowing for potential optical signal transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional glass-metal feedthroughs are used with conventional materials, then basic insulation function is achieved, but mechanical durability and corrosion resistance are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters by selecting titanium or titanium alloys (such as TiAl6V4 alloy) for the main body instead of conventional metals, and optimizing the glass composition with specific B2O3 and SiO2 ratios. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by providing both enhanced mechanical strength and superior corrosion resistance simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite structure combining titanium main body with glass insulation material, where the contact angle between glass and metal is optimized to less than 90 degrees. This composite material approach ensures both mechanical durability from the titanium structure and corrosion resistance from the glass-titanium interface design.
2Reliability
If glass insulation material is used in contact with body fluids, then electrical insulation is achieved, but cytotoxicity may occur due to leaching effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the glass composition parameters by specifying particular ratios of B2O3 (20-40 wt%) and SiO2 (50-70 wt%), and limiting other oxides to ensure non-cytotoxicity. This parameter optimization allows the glass to maintain electrical insulation properties while preventing harmful leaching into body fluids, making it safe for medical implant applications.
3Reliability
If glass insulation material is used with metallic main body, then hermeticity is achieved, but integrity at material transition is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the contact angle parameter between glass and metal interface to less than 90 degrees through specific glass composition formulation. This parameter control ensures proper wetting and adhesion at the material transition, maintaining both hermeticity and structural integrity of the insulation material throughout the feedthrough structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution improves the mechanical durability and corrosion resistance of feedthroughs, prevents cytotoxicity, and maintains hermeticity, making them suitable for medical and other applications with improved stability and safety.
Implementation Method 1
the insulation material has a contact angle of less than 90 degrees at least in some regions with respect to the main body. By the provision of a main body including or composed of titanium or a titanium alloy... of an insulation material including or composed of glass and of a contact angle of below 90 degrees at least in some regions, it is especially possible to improve the integrity of the insulation material with respect to the surrounding main body or to increase the stability of the feedthrough to physical and/or chemical influences.
Data Source
AI summary
A feedthrough includes: a main body including at least one passage opening running through the main body, the main body including titanium or a titanium alloy; an insulation material accommodated in the at least one passage opening running through the main body, the insulation material including glass, the insulation material having a contact angle of less than 90 degrees at least in a plurality of regions of the insulation material with respect to the main body; and at least one electrical conductor extending through the insulation material accommodated in the at least one passage opening.