# US 5,347,887 A · Composite cutting edge > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,347,887 A - Document ID: US5347887A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/031,230 - Filed: 1993-03-11 - Granted: 1994-09-20 - Earliest claimed: 1993-03-11 - Assignees: Microsurgical Techniques, Inc. - Inventors: Richard D. Rosenthal; Gerald L. DePoorter; Ronald I. Christy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5347887A ## CPC - C23C 14/022: {by means of bombardment with energetic particles or radiation} - B23P 15/40: shearing tools - B26B 21/54: Razor-blades {(B26B21/4006 takes precedence)} - Y10S 76/08: Razor blade manufacturing - C23C: COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL (making metal-coated products by extrusion B21C23/22; covering with metal by connecting pre-existing layers to articles, see the relevant places, e.g. B21D39/00, B23K; metallising of glass C03C; metallising mortars, concrete, artificial stone, ceramics or natural stone C04B41/00; enamelling of, or applying a vitreous layer to, metals C23D; treating metal surfaces or coating of metals by electrolysis or electrophoresis C25D; single-crystal film growth C30B; by metallising textiles D06M11/83; decorating textiles by locally metallising D06Q1/04) - B23P: METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q) - B26B: HAND-HELD CUTTING TOOLS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (for harvesting A01D; for horticulture, for forestry A01G; for butchering or meat treatment A22; for manufactering or repairing footwear A43D; nail clippers or cutters A45D29/02; kitchen equipment A47J; {vegetable slicers, julienne cutters and similar devices and holders therefor, B26D3/28}; for surgical purposes A61B; for metal B23D; cutting by abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; plier-like tools with cutting edges B25B7/22; pincers B25C11/02; handles for hand implements, in general B25G; guillotine-type cutters B26D; {perforating by non-mechanical means, e.g. by fluid jet, B26F1/26}; for erasing B43L19/00; for textile materials D06H) - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract A process for shaping a blade edge and coating the: blade edge to improve the properties thereof is provided. The process includes an ion etching step using a collimated beam to reduce microcracks and an ion assisted processing step wherein ions are used to enhance the properties of a coating. The blade can then be sharpened again. The blade can be made from materials such as metal, ceramic of glass-ceramic. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process for making a blade, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a blade blank having a sharpened edge; (b) ion etching said edge with a collimated ion beam to sharpen said edge and to remove material therefrom, wherein the crack lengths of a majority of microcracks on said edge are reduced and the crack tip radii of a majority of microcracks on said edge are increased thereby toughening and strengthening said edge; and (c) depositing a coating on said edge using an ion assisted process. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A process as recited in claim 1, wherein said depositing step comprises the step of depositing a metallic material on said edge by ion assisted physical vapor deposition to form a first coated layer on said edge. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A process as recited in claim 2, wherein said depositing step further comprises the step of forming a metal compound on said first coated layer using an ion assisted chemical reaction process to form a second coated layer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A process as recited in claim 1, wherein said depositing step includes implanting ions into said edge to increase the fracture toughness of said edge. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A process as recited in claim 1, wherein said blade blank comprises a ceramic material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A process as recited in claim 1, wherein said blade blank comprises a metallic material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A process as recited in claim 1, wherein said blade blank comprises a glass-ceramic material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A process as recited in claim 1, wherein said blade blank comprises a metal core surrounded by a ceramic layer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) A process as recited in claim 2, wherein said metallic material comprises titanium. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) A process as recited in claim 3, wherein said metal compound comprises titanium nitride. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A process as recited in claim 1, wherein said providing step comprises the step of mechanically abrading a substrate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A process as recited in claim 11, wherein said abrading step comprises the steps of grinding and polishing said substrate with diamond grit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A process as recited in claim 12, wherein said grinding and polishing step comprises the step of polishing said substrate with submicron diamond powder. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A process as recited in claim 1, wherein said ion etching step comprises the step of directing a collimated ion beam at said edge having a beam energy of from about 1 keV to about 3.5 keV. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A process as recited in claim 14, wherein the etching rate is adjusted by tilting said edge at an angle relative to the direction of said ion beam. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A process as recited in claim 15, wherein the incident angle of the ion beam on the blade edge is from about 10.degree. to about 20.degree.. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) A process as recited in claim 14, wherein said ion beam is an argon beam. ### Claim 18 (depends on 2) A process as recited in claim 2, wherein said first coated layer has a thickness of from about 50 Angstroms to about 5000 Angstroms. ### Claim 19 (depends on 3) A process as recited in claim 3, wherein said second coated layer has a thickness of from about 0.5 micrometers to about 3 micrometers. ### Claim 20 (depends on 3) A process as recited in claim 3, further comprising the step of: (d) ion etching said second coated layer to sharpen said edge. ### Claim 21 (depends on 3) A process as recited in claim 3, further comprising the step of: (d) coating said second coated layer with a third coated layer comprising a metallic material. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) A process as recited in claim 21, further comprising the step of depositing a diamond-like carbon layer on said third coated layer. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) A process as recited in claim 21, further comprising the step of depositing a fluoropolymer filled silica coating on said third coated layer. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) A process as recited in claim 1, wherein said blade is used in a cutting tool. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) A process as recited in claim 1, wherein said blade is used in a surgical scalpel. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) A process as recited in claim 1, wherein said blade is used in an orthopedic saw. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) A process as recited in claim 1, wherein said blade is used in a laparoscopic instrument. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) A process as recited in claim 1, wherein said blade is used in a neurological instrument. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1) A process as recited in claim 1, wherein said blade is used in an opthamalic instrument.