Laser welding of disc to close needle end

An ophthalmic surgical cutting apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

• a handle;
• a hollow needle, the needle having
• an inner surface defining an inner diameter,
• an outer surface defining an outer diameter that is about 0.04 inch or less,
• a first end connected to the handle,
• a second end opposite the first end,
• an end cap shaped and sized as a plate and formed from a blank material such that at least one bridge is left between the end cap and the blank material after the end cap is formed, the end cap welded to the second end by a weld to enclose the needle, the bridge being cut when the end cap is welded to the second needle end, the end cap having a substantially flat inner surface, and a substantially flat outer surface, and
• a port positioned a tip distance from the outer surface of the end cap;
• and
• a hollow cutter slidably disposed within the needle, the cutter having
• a first end, the first end connected to a drive,
• a second end opposite the first end,
• a cutting edge disposed at the second end of the cutter, and
• an outer cutter surface defining an outer cutter diameter, the outer cutter
• diameter of the cutter being less than the inner diameter of the needle,
• wherein the drive reciprocally moves the cutter within the needle to perform a cutting operation and the cutter travels an overtravel distance past the port.