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Technique for welding dissimilar metals

  • US 5,571,146 A
  • Filed: 10/31/1995
  • Issued: 11/05/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An implantable stimulating device for stimulating a patient'"'"'s heart, comprising:

  • a battery;

    pulse generating means, coupled to the battery, for generating stimulation pulses to the patient'"'"'s heart;

    a hermetically sealed housing having an interior region containing the battery and the pulse generating means and an exterior region;

    a plurality of connector blocks disposed adjacent the exterior region of the housing;

    at least one stimulation lead having a proximal end secured to the connector blocks and a distal end for implantation into the patient'"'"'s heart;

    a plurality of feedthrough terminal pins, each having a longitudinal axis, extending through the housing for connecting the pulse generating means to the connector blocks, the plurality of feedthrough terminal pins being made of a first material having a first melting point;

    a plurality of conductor ribbons extending between respective ones of the connector blocks and the feedthrough terminal pins, the plurality of conductor ribbons being made of a second material having a second melting point, the first and second materials being dissimilar, the first and second melting points being substantially different, each conductor ribbon extending to a terminal end proximate an associated one of the terminal pins, the terminal end having a transversely extending aperture therethrough with an opening smaller than a transverse dimension of the terminal pin, the terminal end lying in a plane parallel with and proximate to the associated one of the terminal pins and such that the center of the aperture in the terminal end of the conductor ribbon is generally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the terminal pin, such that a laser beam directed transversely of the conductor ribbon through the aperture therein impinges on the terminal pin to simultaneously melt the terminal pin and the conductor ribbon in the region of the aperture and create a homogenous mix of the first material with the second material in the region surrounding the aperture which, when solidified, achieves a welded connection between the conductive ribbon and the terminal pin without the formation of cracks and voids in the welded connection; and

    encapsulation means, attached to the housing, for encapsulating the plurality of connector blocks and the plurality of conductor ribbons therein, the encapsulation means further having at least one channel for receiving at least one stimulating lead therein.

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