Laser generated surface finishes for implantable medical devices and electrodes

A method of preparing an electrode for use with an implantable medical device, the electrode including a titanium surface, the method comprising:

• maintaining a nitrogen gas environment proximate to the titanium surface;
• delivering energy to the titanium surface;
• modifying the titanium surface with the energy delivered to the titanium surface, wherein modifying includes:
• removing titanium from the titanium surface to expose titanium in a high energy condition;
• and
• permitting at least some of the removed titanium to redeposit on the titanium surface in the high-energy condition;
• and
• forming titanium nitride on the titanium surface by reacting at least some of the titanium in the high-energy condition on the titanium surface with nitrogen from the nitrogen gas environment.

A method of preparing an electrode for use with an implantable medical device, the electrode including a titanium surface, the method comprising:

• maintaining a nitrogen gas environment proximate to the titanium surface;
• delivering energy to the titanium surface;
• modifying the titanium surface with the energy delivered to the titanium surface, wherein modifying includes:
• removing titanium from the titanium surface with a laser to expose titanium in a high energy condition;
• and
• permitting at least some of the removed titanium to redeposit on the titanium surface in the high-energy condition;
• and
• forming titanium nitride on the titanium surface by reacting at least some of the titanium in the high-energy condition on the titanium surface with nitrogen from the nitrogen gas environment.