Attachment apparatus for an implantable medical device employing ultrasonic energy

An implantable medical device comprising a hermetically sealed enclosure, a header module formed of a thermoplastic material, and a mechanism for attaching the hermetically sealed enclosure to the header module, the mechanism comprising:

• at least one upstanding attachment tab having a lower portion connected to a predetermined location disposed on a upper mating surface of the enclosure, a free upper end of the at least one upstanding attachment tab extending upwardly in a predetermined location away from the upper mating surface;
• at least one tab channel disposed in the header module and extending upwardly in respect of a lower mating surface of the header module, the at least one channel being sized to receive the at least one upstanding attachment tab therein when at least portions of the upper mating surface and the lower mating surfaces engage and are aligned in respect of one another, at least portions of both mating surfaces being configured and shaped to matingly fit against one another;
• at least one tab laterally extending retention feature formed in the at least one upstanding attachment tab, the at least one upstanding attachment tab being disposed in the at least one tab channel;
• and
• header module solidified thermoplastic material surrounding the at least one tab laterally extending retention feature and connecting the at least one tab laterally extending retention feature to the header module, wherein the solidified thermoplastic material originates from melted portions of the header module corresponding to the at least one tab laterally extending retention feature.

An implantable medical device comprising a hermetically sealed enclosure, a header module formed of a thermoplastic material, and a mechanism for attaching the hermetically sealed enclosure to the header module, the mechanism comprising:

• a plurality of upstanding attachment tabs, each tab having a lower portion connected to a predetermined location disposed on a upper mating surface of the enclosure, free upper ends of the attachment tabs extending in corresponding predetermined directions away from the upper mating surface;
• a plurality of tab channels disposed in the header module extending away from a lower mating surface of the header module, the channels being sized to receive corresponding ones of the plurality of upstanding attachment tabs therein when at least portions of the upper mating surface and the lower mating surfaces engage and are aligned in respect of one another, at least portions of both mating surfaces being configured and shaped to matingly fit against one another;
• a plurality of tab hooks, wherein at least one tab hook is formed in each of the plurality of upstanding attachment tabs, the tabs being disposed in the tab channels;
• and
• header module solidified thermoplastic material surrounding the tab hooks and connecting the tab hooks to the header module, wherein the solidified thermoplastic material originates from melted portions of the header module corresponding to the tab hooks.