Attachment apparatus and method for an implantable medical device

An implantable medical device having an hermetically sealed enclosure attached to a pre-formed header module, the device comprising:

• a retention structure extending away from the enclosure attachment surface into proximity with a portion of the pre-formed header module when the enclosure attachment surface and a module attachment surface of the pre-formed header module are aligned with respect to one another, the retention structure comprising a bendable member that may be bent from an initial position allowing the pre-formed header module to be seated with respect to the hermetically sealed enclosure to a retention position;
• a bend engaging portion of the pre-formed header module over which the bendable member may be bent upon alignment and firmly seating of the module attachment surface against the enclosure attachment surface whereby the bendable member of the retention structure extending away from the enclosure surface is brought into proximity with the bend engaging portion of the pre-formed header module;
• and
• a bend formed in the bendable member bending it into engagement with the bend engaging portion of the pre-formed header module to attach the pre-formed header module attachment surface to the enclosure attachment surface.

An implantable medical device comprising an hermetically sealed enclosure having an enclosure attachment surface disposed thereon, a pre-formed header module formed of an insulating material and having a module attachment surface disposed thereon, the device comprising:

• attachment tab means for extending an upstanding attachment tab in a predetermined direction away from the enclosure attachment surface;
• means for defining a tab channel in the pre-formed header module extending away from the module attachment surface and oriented to receive an upstanding attachment tab therein when the enclosure attachment surface and the module attachment surface are seated and aligned with respect to one another;
• means for defining an access window extending laterally across the tab channel from a further surface of the pre-formed header module that defines an intersecting edge of the tab channel and exposes a free end portion of the attachment tab within the window extending across the tab channel when the enclosure attachment surface and the module attachment surface are seated and aligned with respect to one another;
• wherein the free end portion of the attachment tab is formed with a laterally extending bend thereof over the intersecting edge and into the laterally extending access window so that the attachment tab resists being withdrawn from the tab channel when a separation force is applied to separate the pre-formed header module from the hermetically sealed enclosure.