Method of coating a conductive probe needle

A method of coating a probe needle comprising:

• forming a tank and probe needle combination by
• (i) positioning a to-be-masked portion of the probe needle so as to come into contact with liquified wax contained in the tank, and
• (ii) allowing the liquified wax to harden about the portion of the probe needle so as to form a masked probe needle portion;
• vacuum depositing poly-para-xylene over said tank and probe needle of said tank and probe needle combination so as to coat the probe needle and tank;
• and
• separating said probe needle from the wax contained in said tank following the vacuum depositing of poly-para-xylene.

A method of coating a probe needle, comprising:

• placing a first end of the probe needle in a slot formed in a first tank such that the first end extends into said first tank;
• placing a second end of the probe needle in a slot formed in a second tank such that the second end extends into the second tank, and an intermediate portion extends between said first and second tanks;
• covering said first end with liquified wax contained in said first tank;
• covering said second end with liquified wax contained in said second tank;
• allowing the wax in said first tank and the wax in said second tank to harden about the respective first and second ends of said probe needle;
• positioning said first and second tanks with hardened wax covering the ends of said probe needle within a vacuum depositing chamber;
• vacuum depositing poly-para-xylene over said tanks and probe needle so as to coat the intermediate portion of said probe needle and tanks;
• and
• separating said probe needle from the wax contained in said tanks following the vacuum depositing step.