title: The limits of hermeticity test methods for micropackages.
abstract: Hermeticity is crucial for the long-term implantation of electronic packages. Pushed by advances in micromachining, package volumes are decreasing and current leak detection methods are no longer sensitive enough. This article reviews the limits of the most common methods and exposes their inadequateness for medical electronic applications where the device's life is 50 years or longer.
authors.affiliation: Implanted Devices Group, University College London, London, UK. annevh@medphys.ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vanhoestenberghe
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Donaldson
mesh_terms: D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D004582:Electronics, Medical / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006813:Humidity