Plasma treatment of pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators ensures hermetically sealed devices and reliably bonded subcomponents
Artificial cardiac rhythm systems are complex devices with sub components requiring robust integration. Pacemakers and defibrillators are composed of electrode wires and sensors, a titanium housing for a computer, battery and a single- or multiple-pulse generator. It is critical that all bonded subcomponents preserve their adhesion reliability to avoid device failure. Plasma treatment greatly enhances adhesion of these subcomponents by cleaning and activating surfaces prior to laser welding, adhesive bonding and potting. For example, the electrode leads that are intravenously fed to the heart are coupled to the titanium housing via a polyurethane feedthrough. Plasma treatment not only provides excellent bondability between the polyurethane and the titanium housing, it also promotes potting of the leads ensuring the entire unit is hermetically sealed from the body.
