Patent ID: 6533905
Filing Date: 2003-03-18
Classification: A61F,C22F,C23C

Abstract:
A method of forming a thin-fim device, comprisingplacing in a magnetron sputtering device, a mandrel having an exposed, etchable outer layer that corresponds to an open, interior volume of the thin-film device to be formed, providing the magnetron sputtering device with a TiNi alloy target composed of between 45-55% each of titanium and nickel, sputter depositing material from the TiNi alloy target to the mandrel under low-pressure, low-oxygen condition, the TiNi alloy target being adjacent to the mandrel, during said sputter depositing, moving the mandrel relative to the TiNi alloy target, to achieve substantially uniform sputter deposition over the exposed outer layer of the mandrel, continuing said sputtering until a desired thin-film alloy thickness between 0.5 and 100 microns is formed on the mandrel, heating the thin-film on the mandrel under annealing conditions, and releasing the thin-film device so formed from the mandrel.