Patent ID: 8187946

Claim:
A method, comprising: manufacturing a phase change memory device, the manufacturing including: forming a heater; forming a sub-lithographic pore extending through the heater, the sub-lithographic pore being defined by an inner wall of the heater; and forming a phase change region extending completely through said pore and having an outer wall that contacts the inner wall of the heater, wherein the inner wall of the heater is configured to supply heat to the phase change region; forming an electrode in a first dielectric layer, forming a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer, and forming said heater over the second dielectric layer, said electrode, and said first dielectric layer; including forming a third dielectric layer over said heater and forming a sub-lithographic aperture through the third dielectric layer; and wherein forming said sub-lithographic aperture comprises forming a lithographic aperture and reducing a width of said lithographic aperture using sidewall spacers.