Abstract: A hermetic interconnect for medical devices is disclosed. In one embodiment, the interconnect includes platinum leads co-fired between alumina substrates to form a monolithic composite that is subsequently bonded into a titanium alloy flange. Both methodology for forming these interconnects as well as specific geometries and compositions are disclosed. Interconnects formed in this fashion enable significant reductions in overall size of the interconnect relative to the number of feedthrough leads as well as substantial improvements in robustness versus currently available technology.

Abstract: A hermetic interconnect for medical devices is disclosed. In one embodiment, the interconnect includes platinum leads co-fired between alumina substrates to form a monolithic composite that is subsequently bonded into a titanium alloy flange. Both methodology for forming these interconnects as well as specific geometries and compositions are disclosed. Interconnects formed in this fashion enable significant reductions in overall size of the interconnect relative to the number of feedthrough leads as well as substantial improvements in robustness versus currently available technology.

Abstract: Detailed are highly durable and abrasion-resistant composite diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings with controllable color ideally, but not exclusively, suitable as decorative coatings for metal substrates, for example. The composite DLC coatings typically include at least a layer of Si-DLC which comprises the elements C, H, and Si, and color choices include light yellow, bronze, copper-gold, burgundy, bluish-black, and black.

Abstract: The invention provides a highly durable and abrasion-resistant composite diamond-like carbon coating with controllable color which is ideally suitable as a decorative coating on electrically conductive, e.g. metal, substrates, including architectural hardware and fixtures made of brass and other metals, jewelry, medical and dental instruments, writing instruments such as pens and pencils, musical instruments, eyeglass frames, cigar and cigarette lighters, automobile hood ornaments and other components, sporting equipment and other products for leisure activities such as golf club shafts, golf club heads, cycling equipment, and fishing and hunting equipment, and other similar electrically conductive substrates. The invention also provides the process for depositing a highly adherent, highly abrasion resistant composite diamond-like carbon coating to metal substrates.

Abstract: An ion beam deposition method is provided for manufacturing a coated substrate with improved wear-resistance, and improved lifetime. The substrate is first chemically cleaned to remove contaminants. Secondly, the substrate is inserted into a vacuum chamber onto a substrate holder, and the air therein is evacuated via pump. Then the substrate surface is bombarded with energetic ions from an ion beam source supplied from inert or reactive gas inlets to assist in removing residual hydrocarbons and surface oxides, and activating the surface. After sputter-etching the surface, a protective, wear-resistant coating is deposited by plasma ion beam deposition where a portion of the precursor gases are introduced into the ion beam downstream of the ion source, and hydrogen is introduced directly into the ion source plasma chamber. The plasma ion beam-deposited coating may contain one or more layers.