An electromagnetic interference (EMI) filter is provided to attenuate potentially damaging high frequency electromagnetic interference from interfering with the operation of a hermetically sealed implantable medical device. In one embodiment, the EMI filter is joined to a bypass unit that is configured to provide an energy path for the delivery of an energy pulse. The bypass unit, in one embodiment, may include a non-linear device in parallel with an impedance component. The non-linear device can be a DIAC, a MOSFET, or any other non-linear semiconductor array. The EMI filter may be located within the header assembly, the feedthrough assembly, or located proximate to a pulse generator along the energy delivery path.