Laser deposition of elements onto medical devices
AssigneeSciMed Life Systems, Inc.
InventorsKenneth M. Merdan, Vitaliy N. Shapovalov
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Devices and methods for fabricating medical devices are disclosed. A device in accordance with the present inventions includes a laser beam source capable of producing a laser beam, a carrier coupled to a carrier motion actuator capable of moving the carrier relative to the laser beam, and a workpiece motion actuator capable of moving a workpiece relative the laser beam. A method in accordance with the present invention includes the steps of positioning the carrier between the laser beam source and the workpiece, illuminating a portion of the carrier with the laser beam, moving the carrier relative to the laser beam, and moving the workpiece relative to the laser beam.
Claims9
An apparatus for applying a layer of writing material to a workpiece, said workpiece having an outer surface and a longitudinal axis, comprising
- a laser beam source capable of producing a laser beam;
- a carrier comprising a substrate, and a layer of writing material overlaying the substrate;
- a carrier motion actuator capable of moving the carrier relative to the laser beam;
- a workpiece motion actuator capable of moving the workpiece rotationally about its longitudinal axis relative the laser beam;
- a controller coupled to the carrier motion actuator, the workpiece motion actuator, and the laser beam source;
- the carrier being interposed between the laser source and the workpiece;
- and
- the laser beam being adapted to illuminate a portion of the carrier.
A method of forming a layer of writing material on a surface of a workpiece, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a laser beam source capable of creating a laser beam;
- providing a carrier comprising a substrate, and a layer of writing material overlaying the substrate;
- coupling the carrier to a carrier motion actuator;
- coupling the workpiece to a workpiece motion actuator;
- positioning the carrier between the laser beam source and the workpiece;
- illuminating a portion of the carrier with the laser beam;
- moving the carrier relative to the laser beam;
- and
- moving the workpiece relative to the laser beam;
- wherein the step of illuminating the portion of the carrier with the laser beam transfers a portion of the writing material to the workpiece;
- wherein the step of moving the workpiece relative to the laser beam includes the step of rotating the workpiece about a first axis, said first axis being the longitudinal axis of the workpiece.
A method of forming a layer of writing material on a surface of a workpiece, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a laser beam source capable of creating a laser beam;
- providing a carrier comprising a substantially laser transparent substrate, and a layer of writing material overlaying the substantially laser transparent substrate;
- coupling the carrier to a carrier motion actuator;
- coupling the workpiece to a workpiece motion actuator;
- positioning the carrier between the laser beam source and the workpiece;
- illuminating a portion of the carrier with the laser beam;
- moving the carrier relative to the laser beam;
- and
- moving the workpiece relative to the laser beam;
- wherein the step of illuminating the portion of the carrier with the laser beam transfers a portion of the writing material to the workpiece;
- wherein the step of moving the carrier relative to the laser beam includes the step of rotating the carrier about a first axis such that the carrier rotates about the workpiece.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.