Function-oriented design and testing methods for newly developed ceramic ophthalmic scalpels

摘要

The quality of surgical instruments is mainly characterised by their functional properties in terms of medical, ergonomical, biocompatible and economical aspects. The functionality of an ophthalmic scalpel for example mainly depends on its cutting performance, which is characterised by the cutting edge sharpness, stability and micro geometry. To achieve a reliable production of scalpels, it is necessary to establish a holistic understanding of the process chain as well as the interactions of all machining processes. Objective parameters have to be found which correlate the surgeon's subjective performance evaluation to measurable characteristics, which are used to monitor the quality during manufacturing. A cooperative project has been conducted by two universities and two industrial partners, funded by the German federal ministry of economics and technology. On the one hand, the project focuses on the grinding process having a major impact on the scalpel's functionality. On the other hand, characterisation methods to evaluate the blade sharpness are reviewed in order to create the link between the surgeon's functionality perception and the process.