An implantable medical device and methods of manufacture are provided for
implantation in a body. The device includes a device housing having an
interior cavity and electronic circuitry located in the interior cavity
of the device housing. The electronic circuitry detects a physiologic
condition of the body and delivers a therapy to the body. The device
further includes a feed-through assembly having a feed-through housing
that is joined to the device housing. The feed-through assembly includes
conductors held in the feed-through housing and electronically connected
to the electronic circuitry. A back-fill member is joined to the
feed-through housing. The back-fill member has an opening there through
communicating with the interior cavity of the device housing. A sealing
element is hermetically secured in the opening through the back-fill
member. The sealing element and back-fill member are formed of different
first and second materials, respectively. The second material is
generally harder than the first material. For example, the sealing
element may constitute a titanium ball configured to be deformed when
pressed into the opening in the back-fill member, where the first and
second materials constitute titanium and a titanium alloy, respectively.
The back-fill member is dimensioned relative to a support tool to permit
the back-fill member to self-align during an initial sealing operation by
shifting and/or tilting relative to a support tool.