Laser Fabrication and Characterization of Adhesive-Free Joints For Encapsulation of Biomedical Implant Devices

Laser-fabricated joints of sub-millimeter widths between biocompatible, dissimilar materials have the potential for applications as encapsulation of miniature implant biomedical devices. In this work, we briefly describe the laser joining method of a very promising system, polyimide/titanium-coated borosilicate glass, and present and discuss results from characterization of such laser joints by means of mechanical failure (tensile) tests, optical microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman spectroscopy. Our results suggest the formation of strong chemical bonds between Ti-containing species and certain polymeric functional groups. Mechanical tensile strength failure test showed that such joint experience only limited, disappearing with time degradation as a result of soaking in physiological solutions.