Abstract: A welding system with variable environment system is provided that allows devices to be welded in different gas environments. The preferred welding system uses a controllable gas delivery system that provides different gas mixtures to a welding chamber at different times. Thus, welding in different gas mixtures can be performed in a single welding chamber. This allows the devices to be welded both in environments that promote effective welding and in environments that have specific characteristics desirable for gases that remain in the completed device. Thus the system facilitates the formation of different types of devices in a single welding chamber, and in a single manufacturing line.

Abstract: A welding system with variable environment system is provided that allows devices to be welded in different gas environments. The preferred welding system uses a controllable gas delivery system that provides different gas mixtures to a welding chamber at different times. Thus, welding in different gas mixtures can be performed in a single welding chamber. This allows the devices to be welded both in environments that promote effective welding and in environments that have specific characteristics desirable for gases that remain in the completed device. Thus the system facilitates the formation of different types of devices in a single welding chamber, and in a single manufacturing line.

Abstract: An apparatus for using a laser beam to remove or ablate an insulating coating from a desired segment of an insulating coating from a desired segment of an insulated conductor (wire) without damaging or causing mechanical stress to the wire. A lens can be used to focus the laser beam at a focal point and a support to locate the insulated conductor in a position between the lens and the focal point in a path of the laser bean. A reflector can be aligned with the opening so as to reflect the laser beam portion back toward the conductor. The support can include a generally planar coil guide such as a Y-shaped groove.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed by which a laser beam is used to remove or ablate the insulating coating from a desired segment of an insulated conductor without damaging or causing mechanical stress to the wire, so that the wire can be used to transmit electrical signals to an electrode in a implantable medical device. The invention can be applied to one or more conductors that are coiled coaxially and can be used to expose separate portions of two or more conductors if the insulating coatings thereon are differentiated in a way that causes the separate insulating coatings to respond differently to contact with a laser beam.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed by which a laser beam is used to remove or ablate the insulating coating from a desired segment of an insulated conductor without damaging or causing mechanical stress to the wire, so that the wire can be used to transmit electrical signals to an electrode in a implantable medical device. The invention can be applied to one or more conductors that are coiled coaxially and can be used to expose separate portions of two or more conductors if the insulating coatings thereon are differentiated in a way that causes the separate insulating coatings to respond differently to contact with a laser beam.