System and method for the manufacture of surgical blades
First Claim
1. A method for manufacturing a cutting device from a crystalline material, the method comprising:
- making at least one blade profile in a wafer of a first material, said wafer remaining exposed during said making to form said at least one blade profile; and
isotropically etching the wafer to form at least one blade comprising the at least one blade profile, said wafer remaining exposed during said etching to form said at least one blade.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for manufacturing surgical blades from either a crystalline or poly-crystalline material, preferably in the form of a wafer, is disclosed. The method includes preparing the crystalline or poly-crystalline wafers by mounting them and machining trenches into the wafers. The methods for machining the trenches, which form the bevel blade surfaces, include a diamond blade saw, laser system, ultrasonic machine, and a hot forge press. The wafers are then placed in an etchant solution which isotropically etches the wafers in a uniform manner, such that layers of crystalline or poly-crystalline material are removed uniformly, producing single or double bevel blades. Nearly any angle can be machined into the wafer which remains after etching. The resulting radii of the blade edges is 5-500 nm, which is the same caliber as a diamond edged blade, but manufactured at a fraction of the cost.
162 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for manufacturing a cutting device from a crystalline material, the method comprising:
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making at least one blade profile in a wafer of a first material, said wafer remaining exposed during said making to form said at least one blade profile; and isotropically etching the wafer to form at least one blade comprising the at least one blade profile, said wafer remaining exposed during said etching to form said at least one blade. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification