Laser drilling micro-holes on a novel coronary drug delivery catheter

A unique catheter developed for delivering drugs locally into the coronary arteries requires an array of high precision holes ‘drilled’ into the distal end of a polymeric extrusion. Determination of the correct technology, i.e. wavelength, pulse energy, beam geometry, and fixturing were all crucial elements in developing a process that was not only accurate and repeatable, but also manufacturable. The process was also had to meet the requirements of the medical device regulatory environment (GMP’s, ISO’s). This combination of requirements can be a ‘tall order’ in the laser job shop industry, particularly when making the leap from an R&D effort into full production.