Implantable Medical Device Feedthroughs and Housings

A method comprising:

• forming a housing that includes an aperture extending through the housing, wherein a housing sidewall substantially surrounds the aperture;
• positioning an insulator comprising one or more conductors extending therethrough in the aperture;
• positioning braze material in one or more indentations in at least one of the housing sidewall and the insulator such that the braze material is disposed in the indentations between the insulator and the housing sidewall;
• and
• applying heat to melt the braze material so as to form a hermetic joint between the insulator and the housing.

An apparatus comprising:

• a housing having an aperture extending through the housing, wherein a housing sidewall substantially surrounds the aperture;
• braze material initially positioned adjacent to the aperture at a surface of the housing;
• and
• an insulator configured to be positioned in the aperture and joined to the housing via brazing that results in melting and flow of the braze material, wherein the insulator comprises:
• one or more conductors extending therethrough from a first surface to a second surface, and
• one or more braze-impediment features disposed on a cross-surface connecting the first surface to the second surface at a location between an initial position of the braze material and the first surface and configured to prevent melted braze material from flowing onto the first surface.