




Ablating


Applications
- 3-D micro-components
- Marker band
- Single lumen catheters
- Multilumen catheters
- Tip shaping of catheters
- Wire coating stripping
- Electrode coating removal
- Balloon surface texturing
definition
Process of using a laser beam to selectively remove material from a solid substrate.
example uses:
- Removal of a coating to expose a sensor, detachment device, or electrical connection point
- Material removal to shape a wire or tube into a complex micro component
- Tip shaping to soften the edge of a delivery catheter insertion point
markets
Medical device markets benefiting from laser ablation include:
- Neurovascular
- Ophthalmic
- Diabetes
- Electrophysiology
- Neuromodulation

cutting


Applications
- Pull rings
- Flexible catheter shafts
- Thin wall custom stents
- Needle fabrication
- Nitinol stents and valve frames
- Delivery system components
- Bioresorbable stents
definition
Process in which material is struck with a laser and removed with an assistive gas.
example uses:
- Custom flexibility is needed in a catheter delivery system
- Components require geometrical features that mechanical or molding processes cannot produce
- Complex geometry is required across the overall length of the component or implant
markets
Medical device markets benefiting from laser cutting include:
- Neurovascular
- Ophthalmic
- Structural Heart
- Electrophysiology
- Peripheral Vascular
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Sports Medicine

drilling


Applications
- Embolic protection filters
- Side ports in infusion catheters
- Micro hole arrays
- Flow access holes
definition
Process of using a laser to abate micro-scale holes in material.
example uses:
- Controlled fluid flow rate is required in a filter or drug delivery process
- Access point is needed in a catheter delivery system
- Holes cannot be made using mechanical or molding processes
markets
Medical device markets benefiting from laser hole drilling include:
- Interventional Cardiology
- Diabetes
- Drug Delivery
- Neurovascular
- Ophthalmic

welding


Applications
- Pull ring assemblies for steerable catheters
- Thin wire components for delivery systems
- Micro implants
- Metal components for systems
- Electrode rings to wire leads
definition
Process that joins two metals by using low heat input and high precision
example uses:
- Assembly of complex micro delivery system components such as marker bands, pull rings, flexible hypotubes, 3-D components, and thin wires
- Hermetic seal is required for implant or instrument
- Devices where traditional welding methods are not able to achieve weld requirements
markets
Medical device markets benefiting from laser welding include:
- Neurovascular
- Structural Heart
- Electrophysiology
- Interventional Cardiology
- Ophthalmic
- Peripheral Vascular
- Sports medicine