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Active implantable medical devices (AIMDs)

Manufacture AIMDs more efficiently with laser technology

Manufacturing implantable medical devices is extremely complicated - especially because of the sensitive electronics inside them. We will show you how to use laser technology to create stable electrical connections and helium-tight welds that can withstand high loads.

What are the challenges in manufacturing medical implants?

Implantable medical devices such as pacemakers consist of tiny components and sensitive electrical components. In the human body, these devices must function without problems and not cause any harm in the process. The devices are subject to a wealth of technical requirements and therefore place high demands on production processes and equipment: since the components used are often very delicate and the production steps very complex, many manufacturers rely on manual labour to assemble the implants. On the one hand, this is problematic because it is becoming increasingly difficult to find qualified employees. On the other hand, it makes it difficult to expand production, especially with additional production sites. In addition, manufacturers are required to document all production steps in a traceable manner. 

Since implantable medical devices are vital for many people, they must be available in sufficient numbers. To ensure this, production systems need to function reliably, have minimal downtime, and enable fast (maintenance) service. In this context, it is becoming increasingly important that production capacities and technology can be expanded with the necessary system components on a modular basis so that they can be used flexibly for various products.

Examples of active implants are pacemakers, defibrillators or neural sensors. They consist of several components (e.g. batteries, wires or circuits) that are first manufactured individually and then assembled. The housings of these implants must be hermetically sealed to protect both the sensitive electronics and the patient's body.

What advantages does laser technology offer in the development and manufacture of implantable medical devices?

Laser systems offer a solution to many complex technical challenges and limitations in the development and production of active implants. Their use enables precise and automated 3D welding of cables. This allows tight tolerances to be maintained and new types of materials such as glass and ceramics to be combined in the device housings. Laser systems and applications offer significant advantages over conventional welding processes when it comes to producing lossless electrical connections and stable, helium-tight weld seams that can simultaneously withstand high mechanical loads.

Lasers ensure sterility and biocompatibility

Lasers are ideal for processing biocompatible materials. They also produce smooth seams and non-porous surface structures to which germs do not adhere. This makes it easier to keep medical devices sterile. 

Lasers achieve hermetic sealing

Weld seams are helium-tight. This rules out the possibility of leaks in implants. This protects both the internal components of the device and the health of the patient.

Lasers create lossless electrical connections

Patients' lives often depend on the proper functioning of implantable devices. Using laser pulse welding, you can achieve stable and lossless electrical connections that meet the high quality requirements of medical products.

Lasers give you an edge in quality

Innovative laser systems from TRUMPF contain numerous functions for quality assurance in medical technology, e.g. sensors for process monitoring and the visual inspection of geometries, self-learning systems, and artificial intelligence.

How can you use lasers in the manufacture of active implants?

Contact welding of electrodes (battery)

Laser welding can be used to ensure lossless electrical connections within a specified contact area.

Pulse frequencies and strengths can be controlled, enabling laser welding at low heat and joining of almost all metallic materials. This is particularly relevant for flexible printed circuit boards in defibrillators and pacemakers or for connecting sensitive sensor systems. These weld seams have to withstand high mechanical loads.

Gas-tight heat conduction welding of AIMD housings

Active implants are welded at low heat to prevent damage to the delicate materials inside. Because of their special design, sensors or plastic components often lie very close to the welding area of the implants - especially if they are smaller and more complex. 

The advantage of weld seams is that they are very fine and smooth and have hygienic, non-porous surfaces. They are also hermetically sealed, protecting both the patient and the internal device components after implantation.

Laser cutting of multi-helix lines

When cutting multi-helix lines, the laser ensures that the coating of individual coils remains intact. This allows the geometry to be trimmed as required by radial, axial, staggered or perpendicular cuts to prepare it for further processing, such as the laser welding of cable ends. 

This technology does not produce splinters that could damage the insulation. There are also no heat effects or wear. The process is automated, meaning it also requires less time and less reworking compared to conventional manufacturing methods.

Laser structuring and ablation as surface preparation

Laser technology can be used to prepare medical device components for bonding by structuring their surfaces. For example, the roughness of electrode heads can be optimised with the laser so that they adhere perfectly during bonding.

Additionally, the laser makes it possible to clean surfacesremove coatings and remove irregularities like ETFE, PTFE, PFA, polyurethane or parylene from heat exchangers or equipment housings.

Laser tack welding of components

An electrode or wire often consists of several parts. Short tack weld spots allow these individual parts to be fixed in the correct position in relation to each other before the assembly is welded.

Only through this assembly process can you ensure tight geometric tolerances without distortion. In addition, this also simplifies assembly, as the parts hold together without requiring a lot of force.

Laser ablation to reduce wall thicknesses

Use laser ablation to reduce wall thicknesses in polymer hoses to achieve increased flexibility locally and thus the best possible flow rates.

Typical application areas are multilumen tubes for catheters and endoscopes.

Laser marking serial numbers

Innovative laser marking provides high-contrast, permanent and non-corrosive markings that are highly legible on a wide variety of materials.

This allows sequential batch numbers and serial designations to be applied to individual parts and equipment for faster and easier identification and tracking in manufacturing and logistics.

Creating individual patterns

When device components require special patterns, it is common to punch them or etch them using chemical processes. These processes are technically very demanding and require a lot of time and money.

Laser microprocessing and laser ablation provide an efficient alternative that reliably delivers precise results. Laser cutting requires nothing more than a program change in the control software. You can then quickly and precisely perform any number of repetitions in the highest quality.

Laser applications in the electronics sector

Lasers gives you the greatest geometrical freedom when cutting sensors with polymer carrier materials such as flexible printed circuit boards (PCBs). It is this flexibility that allows printed circuit boards to be folded and placed in small compact housings, such as the pacemaker electronics or camera and sensor systems of flexible endoscopes. The same laser that is used here for cutting can then also be used for the laser marking of serial numbers, among other things.

Learn how our customer Miethke manufactures their neuro-surgical implants with TRUMPF lasers

If you want to produce high-quality results, you need to purchase premium tools which can create that high quality. And that's why we came straight to TRUMPF.

Jörg Knebel
Head of Quality Management, Christoph Miethke GmbH & Co. KG

Are you also looking for the best solution for manufacturing your implantable medical devices?

We will show you how you can benefit from the use of laser technology. Write us an email or make an appointment at our Laser Application Center (LAC) to process your sample part directly on site.

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We have the right solution for the manufacture of your implantable medical device

As the world's leading supplier of industrial lasers, we know the challenges you face and are guaranteed to find the right solution for producing the development and manufacture of your medical device. 

Short-pulse lasers

Short-pulse lasers have a pulse duration in the nanosecond range and can be used in many work processes in industry. They offer unmatched flexibility for processes such as welding, cutting, drilling, marking, ablation or cleaning.

Ultrashort pulse lasers

Whether for structuring, cutting, drilling or ablating material, ultrashort pulse lasers are an indispensable tool for micro-manufacturing in medical technology. One of their special performance features is that they transfer almost no heat to the material (cold processing).

Automated multi-axis systems

In 3D manufacturing, automated multi-axis systems are often used for cutting, welding or surface treatment. These systems can be combined and configured with fibre lasers, disk lasers and ultrashort pulse lasers.

Marking lasers

Find the perfect marking laser for your requirements: simply answer a few questions about your application and our product finder will show you which marking laser is right for you.

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