Apparatus and method for establishing an electrically conductive and mechanical connection

An apparatus comprising:

• a main body having an electrode;
• and
• a contact element that is a wire comprising a connection region that is directly mechanically and electrically conductively connected to the electrode in order to electrically conductively and mechanically connect the main body and the contact element so that an electrical and mechanical connection between the electrode and the contact element is free of melting regions of materials of the electrode and of the contact element that are involved in the connection, wherein the connection is realized in a manner free of solder material, wherein the contact element is flattened in a region in which the connection is formed, and wherein the contact element has a larger width in the connection region than in a region other than the connection region;
• wherein the connection has a plurality of local connection regions delimited from one another between the electrode and the contact element;
• wherein the connection region forms a continuous region where the local connection regions are arranged;
• wherein each local connection region of the plurality of local connection regions comprises a cohesive diffusion connection of the materials of the electrode and a material of the contact element;
• and
• wherein the cohesive diffusion connection is formed by application of mechanical force and heat.