Applications > Medical Device > Cardiac Rhythm Management
Cardiac Rhythm Management
In the manufacture of pacemakers and defibrillators, plasma is used in the header assembly, in creating the electronics package, cleaning the can post laser welding, and treatment of the external electronic leads. Plasma cleans mold release and activates the surface of pacemaker and defibrillator headers to improve the bond between the header and can. It can also be used to remove titanium oxide from laser welding processes. It is a superior final cleaning step that helps improve the biocompatibility and bondability of many medical product or components.
For example, the pacemaker header is typically manufactured from a polyurethane such as tecothane. This molded material often has a mold release compound that can inhibit the adhesive bond between the header and the titanium can. Plasma is used to remove the mold release compound and enhance this adhesive bond. The figure below displays the adhesion strength of the tecothane to the titanium can as a function of concentration of the mold release wax compound. The results show that as the concentration of the wax compound on the tecothane surface decreases the adhesion increases.
Other applications for plasma in pacemaker/defibrillator manufacturing include: cleaning hybrid electronic circuitry prior to wire bonding, underfill; molding/encapsulation, and conformal coating to improve yield, reliability and performance of the electronic device; cleaning titanium can both pre and post laser weld; and improving adhesion of electrical insulator coatings.
Related Technical Papers:
Related Products
PX-Series Plasma Treatment System
PX-Series systems are equipped with an automatic impedance matching network for ease of operation and consistent results.
AP-1000 Plasma Treatment System
PLC controller with touch screen interface provides industrial reliability and ease of use. Complete system enclosure minimizes footprint.
FlexTRAK Plasma Treatment System
PLC controller with touch screen interface provides industrial reliability and ease of use. Complete system enclosure minimizes footprint.
C-Series Plasma Treatment System
The C-Series systems accommodate a wide variety of products and process capabilities with a vacuum chamber sized to meet specific customer product and production requirements.
Medical Device Applications Team
James D. Getty, Medical Device Market Manager
Bierhuis has lead the March organization since the acquisition of Advanced Plasma Systems and March Instruments in 1999. Prior to his appointment at March he has held a variety of positions in Nordson’s Adhesive Systems business. Bierhuis has a BBA from Nijenrode in the Netherlands and a MBA from the University of Georgia.
David Foote, Sr. Staff Applications Engineer
Mr. Foote has an extensive background in chemical vapor deposition (CVD) with a focus on plasma enhanced CVD. Prior to working with March he developed processes in the semiconductor and semiconductor equipment industries. He holds a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati. Mr. Foote has been granted over 35 patents.
Ask the Experts
Semiconductor
The Semiconductor Business Group focuses on plasma processes for advanced semiconductor packaging and assembly (ASPA), wafer level packaging (WLP), microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), data storage devices such as thin film read-write heads (TFH) for hard disk drives, and images sensors. More>>>
Medical Device
The Medical Device Business Group is engaged in providing enhanced product performance, more reliable devices and lower cost processes to companies who manufacture leading edge medical devices including cardiac rhythm management products, catheters, stents, ocular devices, and filter media.
More>>>
Printed Circuit Board
Printed circuit board manufacturers work with our PCB Business Group due to the implementation of new materials technology, and smaller geometries in HDI, flex, and rigid flex applications. More>>>