Method and apparatus for automated assembly and laser welding of medical devices

• US 20050284919A1
• Filed: 07/28/2004
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Boyd, Steven K.
• Application Number:
  US10/900,858
• Publication Number:
  US 20050284919A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 228/219
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3754 Feedthroughs
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/032 using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/08 Devices involving relative movement between laser beam and workpiece
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/12 in a special atmosphere, e.g. in an enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/123 in an atmosphere of particular gases
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/127 in an enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/24 Seam welding
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/702 Auxiliary equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 37/04 for holding or positioning work
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 37/047 moving work to adjust its position between soldering, welding or cutting steps B23K37/053 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and system for assembling a component within a medical device that includes a support device fixedly positioning the medical device and a weld head capable of being advanced towards a bottom portion of the support device so that the seal member, the front wall, the rear wall and the side walls of the weld head form a gas suite for generating a weld along the component and the device. A test station determines whether the component is in a predetermined working state, and an orientation sensor senses an orientation vector of the component. A first sensor senses a position of the component within an aperture of the device and plots a weld path associated with the component. An installation head obtains the component, advances the component between the test station, the orientation sensor and the first sensor, and through the aperture.

Claims

1. A system for assembling a component within a medical device, comprising:

a support device, having a bottom portion, fixedly positioning the medical device;

a seal member fixedly positioning the component within the device; and

a weld head having a front wall and a rear wall extending between side walls, the weld head capable of being advanced towards the bottom portion of the support device so that the seal member, the front wall, the rear wall and the side walls form a gas suite for generating a weld along the component and the device.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an input port formed along the front wall for Injecting an inert gas within the gas suite.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the side walls include an inner wall and an outer wall extending to the output port and forming an aperture for receiving exhaust and directing the exhaust out of the gas suite via an output port formed by the rear wall.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a test station to determine whether the component is in a predetermined working state;

an orientation sensor to sense an orientation vector of the component;

a first sensor to sense a position of the component within an aperture of the device and to plot a weld path associated with the component; and

an installation head to obtain the component, advance the component between the test station, the orientation sensor and the first sensor, and to advance the component through the device aperture.

6. The system of claim 4, further comprising a microprocessor to determine a lead out of perpendicularity associated with the component in response to the sensed orientation vector, to control the installation head to position a distal tip of the component within the device aperture a distance associated with a thickness of the device, and to vector the component through the device aperture to compensate for the determined lead out of perpendicularity of the component.

7. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

a nozle positioned on the installation head to form a vacuum to fixedly engage the installation head and the component; and

a second sensor to sense contact between the nozle and the device as the installation head advances the component through the aperture.

8. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

a second sensor to sense, subsequent to the component being advanced through the device aperture by the installation head, a position of the component within the device aperture; and

a microprocessor to compare, in response to the sensed position of the component, a diameter of the device aperture with a diameter of the component.

9. The system of claim 4, further comprising a clamp advancing the seal member over the device to fixedly position the component within the device subsequent to the component being advanced through the device aperture by the installation head, and to form a seal along an upper portion of the device.

10. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

a base platform;

an arm capable of being advance on the base platform to be positioned along a y-axis, the installation head mechanically coupled to the arm and capable of being advanced along the arm to be positioned along an x-axis and a z-axis;

a shaft positioned within the installation head;

a nozzle positioned on the shaft and capable of being rotated about the shaft, the nozzle forming a vacuum to fixedly engage the installation head and the component; and

a second sensor to sense contact between the nozzle and the device as the installation head advances the component through the device aperture.

11. The system of claim 4, wherein the component is a feedthrough.

12. The system of claim 4, further comprising an identification sensor to determine an identification of the device, wherein the installation head obtains the component in response to the determined identification of the device.

5. The system of clairn 4, further comprising a microprocessor to determine, in response to the sensed orientation vector, whether a distal tip of the component is within a predetermined range.

13. A method for assembling a medical device, comprising:

positioning a seal member over the device to fixedly position a component within the device;

advancing a weld head, having a front wall and a rear wall extending between side walls, towards a bottom portion of a support device supporting the medical device so that the seal member, the front wall, the rear wall and the side walls form a gas suite;

Injecting an inert gas within the gas suite; and

generating a weld along the component and the device.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

identifying the component as being associated with the device;

determining whether the component is in a predetermined working state;

determining whether the component has a predetermined orientation;

positioning the component within an aperture associated with receiving the component;

determining whether the component is properly positioned within the aperture; and

plotting a weld path associated with the properly positioned component.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein determining whether the component has a predetermined orientation comprises:

advancing the component to be centrally located over a sensing device; and

determining whether a distal tip of the component is within a sensing range associated with the sensing device.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein determining whether the component has a predetermined orientation includes determining a lead out of perpendicularity associated with the component, and wherein positioning the component within an aperture associated with receiving the component comprises:

positioning a distal tip of the component within the aperture a distance associated with a thickness of the device; and

vectoring the component through the aperture to compensate for the determined lead out of perpendicularity of the component.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising determining whether the component is fully seated within the aperture.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein determining whether the component is properly positioned within the aperture comprises comparing a diameter of the aperture with a diameter of the component.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

fixedly positioning the properly positioned component within the device;

forming a seal along an upper portion of the device;

positioning a weld head under the device, the seal and the weld head forming a gas suite along the aperture; and

injecting an inert gas within the gas suite.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein determining whether the component has a predeternined orientation comprises:

advancing the component to be centrally located over a sensing device; and

determining whether a distal tip of the component is within a sensing range associated with the sensing device.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein determining whether the component has a predetermined orientation includes determining a lead out of perpendicularity associated with the component, and wherein positioning the component within an aperture associated with receiving the component comprises:

positioning a distal tip of the component within the aperture a distance associated with a thickness of the device; and

vectoring the component through the aperture to compensate for the determined lead out of perpendicularity of the component.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising determining whether the component is fully seated within the aperture.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein determining whether the component is properly positioned within the aperture comprises comparing a diameter of the aperture with a diameter of the component

24. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method comprising:

positioning a seal member over the device to fixedly position a component within the device;

advancing a weld head, having a front wall and a rear wall extending between side walls, towards a bottom portion of a support device supporting the medical device so that the seal member, the front wall, the rear wall and the side walls form a gas suite;

injecting an inert gas within the gas suite; and

generating a weld along the component and the device.