Vacuum Brazing of Heart Pacemaker Feedthroughs

Understanding the Role of Feedthroughs in Heart Pacemakers 

Heart pacemakers are critical medical implants designed to maintain a stable heart rhythm by delivering electrical pulses to the heart muscle. A vital part of this device is the electrical feedthrough, which allows internal circuitry to connect to external leads while maintaining a hermetic seal that protects sensitive electronics from body fluids. These feedthroughs are typically made using biocompatible materials such as pure titanium (TA1), copper, and 95% alumina (Al₂O₃) ceramics. The ceramic is metallized using the Mo-Mn (molybdenum-manganese) method and coated with nickel or copper, while a silver-based brazing alloy (BAg72Cu) is used to create a strong, conductive bond between metal and ceramic.

Why Vacuum Brazing Is Essential for Pacemaker Feedthroughs

Vacuum brazing is the ideal joining method for heart pacemaker feedthroughs, where biocompatibility, hermetic sealing, and long-term reliability are critical. This process enables clean, flux-free, and oxidation-free bonding between ceramic and metal components- such as alumina (Al₂O₃) and titanium- ensuring a strong, conductive joint that maintains its integrity inside the human body. Vacuum brazing provides excellent mechanical strength and leak-tight seals, which are vital for protecting sensitive internal electronics from body fluids. Compared to traditional methods, it eliminates contamination risks and delivers repeatable, high-precision results- making it the preferred choice for manufacturing life-saving implantable medical devices. 
Normantherm VF Series: Engineered for Medical-Grade Brazing 
With over 15 years of expertise in vacuum furnace manufacturing, Normantherm provides customizable brazing solutions tailored to precise thermal and material requirements. 

To support the demanding needs of medical device production, it offers a range of high-performance vacuum brazing furnaces: VF 1300-422 (400×200×200 mm, L×W×H), VF 1300-644 (600×400×400 mm), VF 1300-966 (900×600×600 mm), and VF 1300-1288 (1200×800×800 mm). Each model reaches temperatures up to 1300 °C and supports various vacuum pressure levels- ideal for joining medical- grade materials such as titanium, ceramics, and specialty alloys.

Normantherm’s VF Series is trusted by leading medical device manufacturers for producing heart pacemaker components, offering high vacuum levels, accurate temperature control, and uniform heat distribution to ensure strong, hermetic ceramic-to-metal joints that meet strict regulatory and biocompatibility standards.

Editor: Sahera Khatun
Copyright: Normantherm Vacuum Brazing Furnace