Advances in Laser Welding Systems

The challenges of many medical device manufacturing applications are pushing the need for more sophisticated metals-joining technologies. In response to these requirements, pulsed Nd:YAG laser welding as become an important enabling technology, as single-use medical devices become smaller and smaller and reliability requirements tighten for implantable cardiac health management devices. The use of laser welding us also making practical a wider range of applications as newly available laser light welding opens the door to reliable laser welding of copper and gold alloys. This article highlights the special challenges of applying pulses Nd:YAG lasers in precision joining of guidewires and similar structures, motion and laser control techniques beneficial to hermetic laser seam welding of implantable devices, and new metals joining production methods made possible by the availability of "green light" (532 nm) pulsed Nd:YAG welding lasers.