Abstract: A medical device is electrically connected to a biological tissue for transmission of an electrical signal between the medical device and the biological tissue. The medical device includes a housing assembly and a control circuit assembly that controls the electrical signal. The control circuit assembly is enclosed within the housing assembly, and the control circuit assembly includes an electrically conductive terminal. The device further includes an electrical component at least partially enclosed within the housing assembly. The electrical component has a connecting member that electrically connects the electrical component to the control circuit assembly. The connecting member is resistance welded and bonded directly to the electrically conductive terminal of the control circuit assembly.

Abstract: A medical device is electrically connected to a biological tissue for transmission of an electrical signal between the medical device and the biological tissue. The medical device includes a housing assembly and a control circuit assembly that controls the electrical signal. The control circuit assembly is enclosed within the housing assembly, and the control circuit assembly includes an electrically conductive terminal. The device further includes an electrical component at least partially enclosed within the housing assembly. The electrical component has a connecting member that electrically connects the electrical component to the control circuit assembly. The connecting member is resistance welded and bonded directly to the electrically conductive terminal of the control circuit assembly.

Abstract: An electrode for an ignition device formed from a dilute nickel alloy with improved resistance to high temperature oxidation, sulfidation, corrosive wear, deformation and fracture. The electrode includes at least 90% by weight of nickel; zirconium; boron and at least one element from the group consisting of aluminum, magnesium, silicon, chromium, titanium and manganese. The weight ratio of Zr/B may range from about 0.5 to 150, and may include amounts of, by weight of the alloy, 0.05-0.5% zirconium and 0.001-0.01% boron. The oxidation resistance may be improved by the addition of hafnium in an amount that is comparable to the amount of zirconium, which may include an amount of, by weight of the alloy, 0.005-0.2% hafnium. Electrodes of dilute nickel alloys which include aluminum and silicon, as well as those which include chromium, silicon, manganese and titanium, are particularly useful as spark plug electrodes.

Abstract: An electrode for an ignition device is made from a Ni-based nickel-chromium-iron alloy which has improved resistance to high temperature oxidation, sulfidation, corrosive wear, deformation and fracture includes, by weight of the alloy: 14.5-25% chromium; 7-22% iron; 0.2-0.5% manganese; 0.2-0.5% silicon; 0.1-2.5% aluminum; 0.05-0.15% titanium; 0.01-0.1% total of calcium and magnesium; 0.005-0.5% zirconium; 0.001-0.01% boron, and the balance substantially Ni. It may also include at least one rare earth element selected from the group consisting of: yttrium, hafnium, lanthanum, cerium and neodymium in amounts ranging from 0.01-0.15% by weight, and incidental impurities, including cobalt, niobium, molybdenum, copper, carbon, lead, phosphorus or sulfur. These total of these impurities will typically be controlled to limits of 0.1% cobalt, 0.05% niobium, 0.05% molybdenum, 0.01% copper, 0.01% carbon, 0.005% lead, 0.005% phosphorus and 0.005% sulfur.

Abstract: An electrode for an ignition device is made from a dilute nickel alloy which has improved resistance to high temperature oxidation, sulfidation, corrosive wear, deformation and fracture and includes at least 90% by weight of nickel; zirconium; boron and at least one element from the group consisting of aluminum, magnesium, silicon, chromium, titanium and manganese. The weight ratio of Zr/B may range from about 0.5 to 150, and may include amounts of, by weight of the alloy, 0.05-0.5% zirconium and 0.001-0.01% boron. The oxidation resistance of the alloy may also be improved by the addition of hafnium to the alloy in an amount that is comparable to the amount of zirconium, which may include an amount of, by weight of the alloy, 0.005-0.2% hafnium. Electrodes of dilute nickel alloys which include aluminum and silicon, as well as those which include chromium, silicon, manganese and titanium, are particularly useful as spark plug electrodes.

Abstract: An electrode for an ignition device formed from a dilute nickel alloy with improved resistance to high temperature oxidation, sulfidation, corrosive wear, deformation and fracture. The electrode includes at least 90% by weight of nickel; zirconium; boron and at least one element from the group consisting of aluminum, magnesium, silicon, chromium, titanium and manganese. The weight ratio of Zr/B may range from about 0.5 to 150, and may include amounts of, by weight of the alloy, 0.05-0.5% zirconium and 0.001-0.01% boron. The oxidation resistance may be improved by the addition of hafnium in an amount that is comparable to the amount of zirconium, which may include an amount of, by weight of the alloy, 0.005-0.2% hafnium. Electrodes of dilute nickel alloys which include aluminum and silicon, as well as those which include chromium, silicon, manganese and titanium, are particularly useful as spark plug electrodes.

Abstract: A spark plug having a center electrode and a ground electrode wherein the spark portion of at least one of the center electrode and ground electrode includes a base material and a protective material that substantially prevents corrosion of the base material.

Abstract: An electrode for an ignition device is made from a dilute nickel alloy which has improved resistance to high temperature oxidation, sulfidation, corrosive wear, deformation and fracture and includes at least 90% by weight of nickel; zirconium; boron and at least one element from the group consisting of aluminum, magnesium, silicon, chromium, titanium and manganese. The weight ratio of Zr/B may range from about 0.5 to 150, and may include amounts of, by weight of the alloy, 0.05-0.5% zirconium and 0.001-0.01% boron. The oxidation resistance of the alloy may also be improved by the addition of hafnium to the alloy in an amount that is comparable to the amount of zirconium, which may include an amount of, by weight of the alloy, 0.005-0.2% hafnium. Electrodes of dilute nickel alloys which include aluminum and silicon, as well as those which include chromium, silicon, manganese and titanium, are particularly useful as spark plug electrodes.

Abstract: An electrode for an ignition device is made from a dilute nickel alloy which has improved resistance to high temperature oxidation, sulfidation, corrosive wear, deformation and fracture and includes at least 90% by weight of nickel; zirconium; boron and at least one element from the group consisting of aluminum, magnesium, silicon, chromium, titanium and manganese. The weight ratio of Zr/B may range from about 0.5 to 150, and may include amounts of, by weight of the alloy, 0.05-0.5% zirconium and 0.001-0.01% boron. The oxidation resistance of the alloy may also be improved by the addition of hafnium to the alloy in an amount that is comparable to the amount of zirconium, which may include an amount of, by weight of the alloy, 0.005-0.2% hafnium. Electrodes of dilute nickel alloys which include aluminum and silicon, as well as those which include chromium, silicon, manganese and titanium, are particularly useful as spark plug electrodes.

Abstract: An electrode for an ignition device is made from a Ni-based nickel-chromium-iron alloy which has improved resistance to high temperature oxidation, sulfidation, corrosive wear, deformation and fracture includes, by weight of the alloy: 14.5-25% chromium; 7-22% iron; 0.2-0.5% manganese; 0.2-0.5% silicon; 0.1-2.5% aluminum; 0.05-0.15% titanium; 0.01-0.1% total of calcium and magnesium; 0.005-0.5% zirconium; 0.001-0.01% boron, and the balance substantially Ni. It may also include at least one rare earth element selected from the group consisting of: yttrium, hafnium, lanthanum, cerium and neodymium in amounts ranging from 0.01-0.15% by weight, and incidental impurities, including cobalt, niobium, molybdenum, copper, carbon, lead, phosphorus or sulfur. These total of these impurities will typically be controlled to limits of 0.1% cobalt, 0.05% niobium, 0.05% molybdenum, 0.01% copper, 0.01% carbon, 0.005% lead, 0.005% phosphorus and 0.005% sulfur.

Abstract: A spark plug having a center electrode and a ground electrode wherein the spark portion of at least one of the center electrode and ground electrode includes a base material and a protective material that substantially prevents corrosion of the base material.

Abstract: A spark plug having a center electrode and/or a ground electrode with an attached spark portion. The spark portion has a base material and a protective material wherein the base material is highly resistant to spark erosion and the protective material is highly resistant to corrosion.

Abstract: A spark plug having a center electrode with a spark portion formed from a sintered powdered metal and a method of manufacture thereof.

Abstract: A spark plug having a discharge portion formed of a metal alloy chip. The metal alloy is selected to prevent wear due to the interaction of Iridium with Calcium or Phosphorus during combustion.