Patent ID: 7332689

Claim:
An apparatus for tacking materials together comprising: a laser, the laser constructed and arranged to selectively emit laser energy; an optical member, at least a portion of the optical member defining a window, the window being substantially transparent to the laser energy, the window having a first surface and a second surface, at least a portion of the second surface defining a substantially concave shape having a predetermined radius of curvature; a placement tray, the placement tray and the at least a portion of the second surface of the window define a processing area, at least a portion of the placement tray and the at least a portion of the second surface of the window being constructed and arranged to removably engage a tubular assembly within the processing area, the tubular assembly being defined by an outer tubular member disposed about at least a portion of at least one inner tubular member, the processing area constructed and arranged to receive the laser energy that is emitted from the laser and passed through the window of the optical member, the laser energy being transmitted substantially through the outer tubular member and being substantially absorbed by at least one region of the least one inner tubular member; and a moveable mandrel, the mandrel being positioned within the processing area, the mandrel constructed and arranged to be positioned at least partially within the at least one inner member of the tubular assembly.