APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CLOSED-LOOP CONTROL OF LASER WELDER FOR WELDING POLYMERIC CATHETER COMPONENTS

摘要

A detector (30) detects thermal radiation (28) being emitted from a fusion bond site (26) while a laser beam (14) impinges on and heats at least a portion of the bond site. The detector (30) can provide an electrical signal to a signal processor for controllably adjusting the laser beam power. The electrical signal may be substantially correlated to the temperature of at least a region of the bond site. A workpiece support preferably positions a first (20) and second (22) polymeric body so that a fusion bond site is formed. The laser impinges on at least a portion of the fusion bond site such that it emits thermal radiation. The detector (30) senses the thermal radiation and preferably provides a signal to the signal processor. In an aspect of the present invention, the signal processor controllably adjusts the power of the laser beam based on the signal provide by the detector.