Diamond Blade Research Articles

Improved protocol for processing stented porcine coronary arteries for immunostaining

Percutaneous coronary intervention has resulted in a paradigm shift in the treatment of coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction. However, neither bare-metal stents nor polymer-coated drug-eluting stents represent ideal therapies at this time due to the undesired in-stent stenosis or delayed thrombosis. Hence there is pressing clinical need for greater understanding of the cellular mechanisms involved. It is hoped that this in turn will provide insight into designing and developing the next generation of stents. Although immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence are appropriate tools in understanding the molecular histology, performing these techniques on stented blood vessels is technically challenging because of poor permeability of antibodies into the stented blood vessels which are embedded in methacrylate-based resins and inadequate image resolution due to autofluorescence. Hence there is a need to develop techniques which can facilitate immunohistochemistry/immunofluorescence procedures on stented blood vessel cross-sections. In this study we describe an improved protocol for processing stented porcine coronary arteries for immunostaining with smooth muscle cell, endothelial cell, monocyte and macrophage markers. We first identified the optimal conditions for resin embedding of stented artery and cross sectioned the vessels using high speed precision wafering diamond blade. The sections were then ground using two levels of water sandpaper on a Metaserve 2000 grinder to achieve the desired thickness. For immunostaining, we developed a novel deplasticization protocol which favors optimal antibody permeabilization. Our protocol not only provides feasibility of improved immunostaining of stented artery sections but also results in high quality images.

Pixelized M-π-n CdTe detector coupled to Medipix2 readout chip

We have realized a simple method for patterning an M-π-n CdTe diode with a deeply diffused pn-junction, such as indium anode on CdTe. The method relies on removing the semiconductor material on the anode-side of the diode until the physical junction has been reached. The pixelization of the p-type CdTe diode with an indium anode has been demonstrated by patterning perpendicular trenches with a high precision diamond blade and pulsed laser. Pixelization or microstrip pattering can be done on both sides of the diode, also on the cathode-side to realize double sided detector configuration.The article compares the patterning quality of the diamond blade process, pulsed pico-second and femto-second lasers processes. Leakage currents and inter-strip resistance have been measured and are used as the basis of the comparison. Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) characterization has been done for a diode to define the pn-junction depth and to see the effect of the thermal loads of the flip-chip bonding process. The anode and cathode-sides of a 6 × 6 mm2 diodes were patterned with a diamond blade and flip-chip bonded to the Medipix2 readout chips. First imaging results with an X-ray source show reduced polarization effect and edgeless detector behavior for the anode-side patterned detector.

The SuperCrescent Diamond Knife

Diamond blades have been used extensively in cataract surgery but their routine use in glaucoma surgery has been limited owing to the lack of controlled sharpness. The SuperCrescent knife is an ultrathin (100 μm) diamond blade that is an innovative modification of conventional blade design. Its pentium faceted trapezoidal design along with the square front surface area affords better control during dissection and has been used with success in both traditional trabeculectomies and nonpenetrating glaucoma procedures.

Polycrystalline diamond shaving conditioner for CMP pad conditioning

This paper investigates a new design of diamond conditioner that is made by shaping a sintered matrix of polycrystalline diamond (PCD) to form serrated blades. These blades are arranged and embedded in a predetermined groove on a substrate surface of cylinder. This newly designed diamond conditioner is referred to here as a blade diamond disk. The dressing characteristics of pad surface textures are studied by comparing them with traditional diamond conditioners, and the polishing rates of silicon dioxide are also studied. It is found that serrated blades made of polycrystalline diamond enable the manufacturer to tightly control the diamond leveling, cutter's shape and penetration angle. The height variations of the diamond tips of the blade diamond disk are significantly smaller than that of the traditional diamond disk. Experimental results reveal that the pad dressing rate of a blade diamond disk is lower than that of a conventional diamond disk. The lifetime of the pad is expected to have been prolonged, consequently lowering the cost of the CMP process. The removal rate of the oxide film is higher for the blade diamond disk than for the traditional diamond disk, and hence wafer productivity is somewhat increased.

Blade Diamond Disk for Conditioning CMP Polishing Pad

A diamond conditioner or dresser is needed to regenerate the asperity structure of the pad and recover its designed ability in chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process. In this paper a new design of diamond conditioner is made by shaping a sintered matrix of polycrystalline diamond (PCD) to form teethed blades. These blades are arranged and embedded in epoxy resin to make a designed penetration angle, called the blade diamond disk. The dressing characteristics of pad surface textures are studied by comparison with conventional diamond conditioner. It is found that the height variation of the diamond tip of blade diamond disk is significantly smaller than the conventional diamond disk. The dressing rate of blade diamond disk is lower than that of the conventional diamond disk, and hence the pad life is prolonged. As a result, reduction of the cost CMP is expected. In addition the pad surface roughness Ra of about 3.79μm is less than Ra of about 4.15μm obtained after dressing using a conventional diamond disk.

Undecalcified Bone Preparation for Histology, Histomorphometry and Fluorochrome Analysis

Undecalcified bone histology demonstrates the micro-architecture of bone. It shows both the mineralised and cellular components of bone, which provides vital information on bone turnover or bone formation and resorption. This has tremendous importance in a variety of clinical and research applications. It yields beautiful images1 and allows for techniques such as fluorochrome assessment and histomorphometry2. Fluorochrome analysis is a technique where fluorescent dyes that bind to calcium are injected at a particular time point, which allows for quantification of the amount of mineralisation at that given time. Histomorphometry is a process of bone quantification at the microscopic level. Performing undecalcified bone histology is technically challenging, particularly with large size specimens. It requires variations in technique from those used in standard paraffin embedded histology. This video illustrates the process of producing good quality sections and demonstrates the technical difficulties and methods with which to overcome them. Specimen preparation, fixation and processing are achieved with a manner similar to other soft tissues, however due to the density and lower permeability of bone considerably longer fixation and processing times are required, often taking several weeks. Embedding is achieved using a supporting medium with similar or equal hardness and density to the bone such as methacrylate- based resins, but unlike paraffin infiltration and embedding, this is an irreversible step. Sectioning can be achieved by grinding which produces a thicker section, which is optimal for studies such as fluorochrome analysis. This is best achieved using a diamond blade on a macrotome. Alternatively, thinner sections can be produced for light microscopy and this is achieved using a sledge microtome with a very sharp blade. The sledge microtome provides the additional strength and stability required for large, hard blocks. Resin embedded sections can be stained with a variety of stains, which are demonstrated.

Effects of Load Cycling on the Microleakage of Beveled and Nonbeveled Margins in Class V Resin-Based Composite Restorations

This study evaluated the influence of mechanical loading and thermocycling on microleakage of class V resin-based composite restorations with and without enamel bevel. Sixty class V cavity preparations measuring 3.0 mm wide (mesio-gingivally) x 2.0 mm high (occluso-gingivally) x 1.5 mm deep with the occlusal margin in enamel and the gingival margin in cementum were prepared on the buccal surfaces of human premolars using a #12 diamond round bur (Drendel and Zweiling Diamant GmbH, Lemgo, Germany) in a high-speed, water-cooled handpiece. The specimens were then divided into two groups of 30 specimens each, based on the type of enamel cavosurface margin configuration as beveled or nonbeveled (butt joint). After restoring the preparations with a flowable resin-based composite (Tetric Flow, Ivoclar Vivadent-AG, Schaan, Liechtenstein) and finishing and polishing with sequential discs (Sof-Lex Pop-on, 3M-ESPE, St. Paul, MN, USA), the teeth were stored at 37° and 100 percent humidity. Twenty-four hours later, half of the specimens in each group (nonbeveled "N" or beveled "B") were exposed to a cycling loading for 250,000 cycles to simulate occlusal loading and assigned to two subgroups (NL+ or BL+), while the remainder of the specimens in each group were only maintained in a 100-percent-humidity environment, without any cyclical loading, until tested (NL+ or BL+). The specimens were sealed with sticky wax (Kemdent, Associated Dental Products, Swindon, UK) and nail polish. The apical foramen of each tooth was sealed with sticky wax and the rest of the tooth was covered with nail varnish, except for an area within 1.0 mm around the composite restoration. To detect marginal leakage, all of the samples were stored in a 0.5 percent basic fuchsine solution for 24 hours. The specimens were then sectioned longitudinally using a low-speed diamond blade (IsoMet, Buehler Ltd., Lake Bluff, IL, USA), machined, and evaluated under 25X magnification using a stereomicroscope (M9, Wild Heerbrugg, Switzerland). The specimens were scored on a scale from 1 to 4 on the degree of dye penetration. The qualitative data were analyzed by the Mann-Whitney U test at a 5 percent significance level (p<0.05). The null hypothesis of this study was that there is no difference in microleakage between beveled and nonbeveled class V buccal preparations in premolar teeth restored with resin-based composite and subjected to simulated occlusal loading and thermocycling. In each group the gingival margin showed significantly more microleakage than the enamel margin (p<0.05). Load cycling did not result in an increase in microleakage in nonbeveled (p=0.259) or in beveled (p=0.053) occlusal margins. However, the gingival margins showed a statistically significant difference in microleakage after load cycling whether in cavities with enamel occlusal bevel (p=0.004) or in groups without a bevel. This means the enamel margin configuration of the enamel occlusal margin had no effect on decreasing microleakage in the gingival aspect of class V composite restorations. In general, the nonbeveled preparations in this study had significantly less microleakage than the bevel specimens whether they were loaded occlusally or not (p=0.001). Within the limitations of this in vitro study, no benefit was derived from placing an enamel cavosurface bevel on the occlusal margin of a standardized class V composite restoration located at the cementoenamel junction. The most important consideration is to prevent microleakage along the gingival margin regardless of whether the occlusal enamel margin is beveled.

Mechanisms for Sawing of Refractory Bricks with Diamond Blades

Experimental studies were undertaken to investigate the mechanisms for circular sawing of refractory bricks with diamond segmented saw blades. Three kinds of diamond segments of different hardness were fabricated for the saw blades. The vertical and horizontal force components and the spindle power were measured in sawing. Based on the measurements of force and power, the specific energy and the normal force per diamond grit were obtained. The normal force per grit in the sawing of refractory bricks was found to be only 5% of the static compressive strength of diamonds used in the present study, but fractures of diamonds were still popular on the segment working surfaces after sawing. The power, horizontal force, and the specific energy were found to increase with segment hardness. The specific energy obtained from the measured power was basically comparable to the values obtained from a theoretical equation to calculate the specific energy associated with slurry erosion to the bond matrix of segments.

Patterning thick diffused junctions on CdTe

Dividing the detector crystal into discrete pixels enables making an imaging detector, in which the charge collected by each pixel can be read separately. Even if the detector is not meant for imaging, patterns on the crystal surface may be used as guard structures that control and limit the flow of charges in the crystal. This has been exceedingly hard for the detector crystals having thick diffused layers. The paper reports a patterning method of the thick diffused junctions on CdTe. The patterning method of In-diffused pn-junction on CdTe chip is demonstrated by using a diamond blade. The patterning is done by removing material from the pn-junction side of the chip, so that the trenches penetrate the diffused layer. As the trenches extend deeper into the bulk than the junction, the regions separated by the trench are electrically isolated. Electrical characterization results are reported for the strips separated by trenches with various depths. The strip isolation is clearly seen in both measured leakage currents and inter-strip resistances. The paper also represents the first images of the pixelated CdTe chips bump bonded to the Medipix2 readout chip. The images were taken with the Sr90 source. The CdTe chips had 110 μm×110 μm and 55 μm×55 μm pixel grid spacing. The images demonstrate the imaging capability of the pixelated chips and give an idea on the uniformity and quality of the pixelization method.

Laser cutting ceramics using an unstable fracture technique

This study proposes a new laser cutting method that uses the unstable fracture technique. In this method, a diamond blade is used to scribe a groove along the desired cutting path in an alumina substrate. A defocused CO2 laser is applied to the substrate surface. As the laser moves a short distance, a short crack is generated through the edge of the substrate. When the laser direction is reversed, a great thermal stress is induced at the crack tip, causing the substrate to break along the scribed line. The acoustic emission signals produced during the fracture process were obtained to analyze the crack growth phenomenon. SEM photographs of the breaking surface were obtained to analyze the cutting quality. The relationship between the laser scanning speed and groove depth is discussed based on findings from the experimental results. The stress analyses via ANSYS were performed to characterize these complicated phenomena. It was found that the laser-cutting surface was free of micro-cracks and the surface quality was much better than that from mechanical breaking.

New Surgical Strategy for Corneal Tattooing Using a Femtosecond Laser

The purpose of this study was to describe a new method of femtosecond (FS) laser-assisted corneal tattooing and to report the results of this method in a case series. The study involved 6 eyes of 6 patients with total or partial corneal opacity. An FS laser was used for lamellar dissection and to make a side cut with a hinge, creating a corneal flap. Laser parameters were adjusted depending on ocular condition and the location of the corneal opacity. After lifting the corneal flap, further lamellar dissection with a diamond blade was performed up to the periphery of the limbal area. Using a cannula, dye was injected into the lamellar stromal bed and the space of the lamellar dissected pocket in the limbus, after which the flap was repositioned. The design and application of the FS laser for dissection and flap creation were successful in all cases. There were no significant complications other than an incomplete cut under band keratopathy in 1 eye. The cosmetic effects were satisfactory in all cases. No patient complained of pain for more than 1 day after surgery. The advantages of the FS laser-assisted corneal tattooing include a customized design, speed, decreased pain, reduced risk of perforation, and good wound healing. This procedure provides improvements over current corneal tattooing techniques, although it is relatively expensive.

A33 Research on Chemical Reaction Assisted Ultra-short Pulsed Laser Cleavage-cutting of Silicon Wafer(M4 processes and micro-manufacturing for science)

Blade dicing by use of diamond blades is the conventional process for separating IC chips, however, encounters many problems including cracks and chippings during the process. On the other hand, Laser machining is expected to be free from these problems. This study aims to develop the ultra-short pulsed Laser cleavage-cutting process by the assistance of chemical reaction to improve process efficiency and process accuracy. In the experiments, single crystal silicon wafers were irradiated by a pico-second pulsed Laser under various conditions, such as TMAH concentration and pulse energy to acquire the fundamental data for precise Laser cleavage-cutting.

An Experimental Study on High Speed Grinding of Granite with a Segmented Diamond Wheel

An experimental study was undertaken to investigate the grinding of granite at different grinding speeds over a wide range of material removal rates. A metal-bonded diamond blade was used as the grinding wheel with natural gray granite as the workpiece material. The tangential and normal force components were obtained through measuring the horizontal and vertical force components as well as the consumed power. The experiments were conducted with a constant wheel surface state to study the influence of grinding speed under different material removal rates. An additional test was also carried out to examine the grinding process while the wheel surface state progressively changed, in which case both forces and the morphologies of diamond grains were monitored at regular intervals. At a fixed material removal rate, both the tangential and normal forces reduced slightly with the grinding speed. But the specific energy increased greatly at higher grinding speeds especially at a shallower maximum grain depth of cut.

Successful Removal of a Penile Constriction Ring in a 14-Year-Old Male

Penile strangulation is a rarely described medical emergency, especially in the adolescent population. This case demonstrates the successful removal of a constricting metal ring from the penis of a 14-year-old male with a diamond blade equipped orthopedic oscillating saw while under ketamine anesthesia in the emergency department.

Investigation on the wear process of diamond blade tools

The use of diamond tools has increased enormously in recent decades. However the wear process during the cutting operation of the diamond tool has not been properly investigated and is poorly understood. The cutting performance of a diamond tool is strongly influenced by the wearing process. The principal factors that require consideration in predicting wear rates are the composition of diamond tool, the operating parameters and the characteristics of the material being cut. The work described in this paper involves an investigation of the wear processes of diamond tools in order to predict the cutting performance in a given operation. A series of tests and simulations were carried out in order to try to understand the cutting action and mode of wear on the diamond tools and to evaluate which properties influence the operation. A mathematical characterisation of the performance of a diamond tool for specific conditions was proposed which would be valuable technically and economically to diamond tool manufacturers and users.

Effect of Si and Ti Coating on Interface Bonding between Diamond and Fe-Based Metal Bond

Fe-based metal bond has been widely used in fabricating diamond tools recently since the production cost could be greatly reduced for the low price of iron. However, graphitizing elements such as Fe, Co and Ni in the matrix catalyze the transformation of diamond to graphite during high temperature sintering process, which significantly decreases the tool’s efficiency and lifetime. In this paper, Si and Ti coating were coated on diamond grits by quasi atomic layer deposition (QALD) and vacuum slow vapor deposition (VSVD) separately not only to protect diamond from erosion but also to promote the adhesion between diamond grits and the bond. Three-point bending experiment was taken to measure the bending strength of Fe-Cu-Sn-Ni based metal bond diamond blade. In comparison with uncoated diamond blade, the bending strength of coated diamond blade improves dramatically. The theoretic calculation shows that the interface bonding strength between diamond and the metal bond increases by 181.68MPa owing to the Si coating. The effect of Si and Ti coating on interface bonding between diamond and the bond under different sintering temperatures was also illuminated.

Microtensile bond strength between crown and root dentin and two adhesive systems

Since bonding agent effectiveness is usually evaluated on coronal substrates, available knowledge for judging the effectiveness of bonds to root dentin is insufficient. The objective of this study was to evaluate the bond strength of 2 adhesive systems to crown, cervical finish line, and post space dentin. Twenty bovine maxillary incisors were used in this study. Teeth were sectioned along the cemento-enamel junction using a low-speed diamond blade to separate the crowns and roots. Then the crowns and roots were each divided into 2 groups, according to the 2 adhesive systems tested (n=10). The facial enamel surfaces of the crowns were abraded with 600-grit silicon carbide paper to expose flat, midcoronal dentin surfaces. Drills and a diamond rotary cutting instrument were used in a low-speed handpiece to prepare post spaces in the root canals. The same diamond rotary instrument was used to prepare horizontally flat surfaces in the cervical areas, similar to the horizontal aspect of a shoulder finish line. Composite resin was placed incrementally into the post spaces, over the flat cervical shoulder areas, and on the coronal dentin. Bonded beam specimens (0.5 mm(2) of cross-sectional area) derived from crown, cervical finish line, and post space dentin, were prepared for microtensile bond testing and tested in tension. Data were analyzed using 2-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc test (alpha=.05). Failure patterns of tested specimens were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. The mean tensile bond strength values (SD) (MPa) were: Single Bond-crown: 29.8 (4.0); Single Bond-finish line: 18.7 (4.3); Single Bond-post space: 17.0 (4.8); Clearfil SE Bond-crown: 30.1 (6.4); Clearfil SE Bond-finish line: 30.4 (5.3); and Clearfil SE Bond-post space: 17.0 (4.2). Bond strengths to post space dentin were lower than those to coronal dentin for both adhesives (P<.001). However, no significant difference was observed between coronal and finish line dentin for Clearfil SE Bond. Bond strength was reduced when adhesives were used in bonding to post space dentin. Cervical finish line sites bonded using Clearfil SE Bond adhesive yielded bond strength similar to that of coronal dentin sites.

Effect of circular keratotomy on keratoconus

Circular keratotomy was performed in 3 eyes of 3 patients with keratoconus before planned lamellar keratoplasty. After peribulbar anesthesia, a circular 400 microm cut centered on the geometrical corneal center was made using a Hessburg-Barron 7.0 mm trephine (Altomed). The circular cut was deepened with a guarded diamond blade set at 90% of the thinnest point in the circumference and closed with a single 10-0 nylon running suture. Videokeratography revealed increased astigmatism and increased central curvature in all eyes. In 1 patient, a 0.2 improvement in best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) was noted, associated with overall corneal steepening. In the other 2 patients, refraction, BSCVA, and corneal profile worsened, requiring lamellar keratoplasty. Circular keratotomy increased corneal curvature and worsened keratoconus and is therefore not recommended.

Studies of chipping mechanisms for dicing silicon wafers

The purpose of this study was to investigate the chipping modes produced in the die edges of dicing silicon wafer using the thin diamond blades. The effects of dicing directions and different wafer types on the chipping size were studied. Furthermore, scratching tests were also used to assist the analysis of studying chipping conditions of the silicon wafer. The experimental results showed that the trace behaviors produced by the diamond indenter in the scratching test of silicon wafer can be divided into the three stages: rubbing, plastic deformation, cracking. The plastic pile up and crack of the scratching traces on the wafer mainly propagate along the development of the easiest slip direction family . The chipping modes produced in dicing silicon wafer can be broadly classified as four types: (1) 30° chipping; (2) 60° chipping; (3) 90° chipping; (4) irregular chipping, which causes these mechanisms of chipping modes due to the meeting between the radial cracks of 30°, 60°, and 90° along the easiest slip direction family and the lateral cracks along the easiest cleavage plane family {111}. When using the thin diamond blade diced on the (111) silicon wafer along the $$ {\left[ {\overline{1} 10} \right]} $$ direction, the size of top chipping produced was smaller than that of along the $$ {\left[ {11\overline{2} } \right]} $$ direction. Besides, for the (100) plane of silicon wafer, the size and the distribution of the chipping modes produced along the $$ {\left[ {\overline{1} 10} \right]} $$ and $$ {\left[ {\overline{1} \overline{1} 0} \right]} $$ directions were similar.

The Abrasion Mechanism of Diamond Coated Blades with Ultraviolet-Cured Resins

In recent work, a creative idea has been proposed by applying the rapid prototyping technology to develop a new diamond-coated blade based on ultraviolet-cured resin bond. The new technology features many advantages such as fast processing speed, low environmental pollution, and low energy consuming. This paper makes an investigation on the adherence and abrasion mechanisms of such diamond blades. The experimental plan is well designed for selection of an optimal prescription of the mixture to achieve good mechanical performance and a manufacturing process is proposed to produce ultraviolet-cured resin bonded diamond coated blades. Practical experiments are carried to test the blade performance and to compare with different tools in incising artificial crystal. Furthermore, this paper also observes how the tensile strength and elastic modulus of ultraviolet-cured resin affect the crevasse and quality of machined edge surfaces.