Medical Design Briefs - August 2021 - 52

process and reduce the time required to
finish superalloys and stainless steels.
Despite the fact that these are abrasive
tools, Garaczi says that even though
" abrasives " are often all lumped into the
same category, a distinction must be
made between abrasives used for aggressive
material removal and abrasive finishing
tools. Finishing tools release little
to no abrasive grit during use, and the
amount generated is comparable to the
metal chips, grinding dust and tool
abrasion created during the machining
process itself.
Even if minimal fine solids are produced,
the filtration requirements for
abrasive tools are not much different than
for machining. Any particulate can be easily
removed using inexpensive bag or cartridge
filtration systems.
He says that when making decisions
about what tools to purchase it is often on
a project-by-project basis. However, if the
tool can reduce cycle times versus its cost,
it is an easy decision.
The use of the hone is even helping
Delta cope with the demands placed on it
by COVID-19, by accommodating more
work being done in an automated manner.
This not only requires less labor, but
also facilitates social distancing for any
workers on the production floor. " I want to
do everything on the CNC machines
whenever I can, especially now, " he says.
To achieve this, the machine shop incorporates
Flex-Hones in a variety of sizes in
its tool carousels.
" For a part, we might use two to three
different size hones, depending on the
number of cross port intersections and different
hole sizes, " says Garaczi. " However,
it is really easy to put a Flex-Hone into a
toolholder, give it a simple tool path cycle
and let it run. "
Flexible hones enable deburring and honing of
complex parts with cross-drilled holes and other
difficult-to-access features at less cost. (Credit:
Brush Research Manufacturing)
Flexible hones are ideal for cross hole deburring.
(Credit: Brush Research Manufacturing)
Garaczi says that automating cross-hole
deburring eliminates a lot of off-line work,
since Delta Machine's parts are usually
complex with many intersecting holes.
" It is difficult for a person to reliably
repeat such work to the level of required
quality. Automating this with the CNC
machine usually will produce more consistent
results, while enabling greater social
distancing among our staff on the production
floor, " says Garaczi.
For more information, visit http://info.
hotims.com/79416-342.
Inflatable, Shape-Changing Spinal Implants Could Help
Treat Severe Pain
The device uses soft
robotics, ultra-thin
electronics, and
microfluidics.
Cambridge University
Cambridge, UK
A team of engineers and clinicians
has developed an ultra-thin, inflatable
device that can be used to treat the most
severe forms of pain without the need
for invasive surgery. The device, developed
by researchers at the University of
52
Intro
Cov
Cambridge, uses a combination of soft
robotic fabrication techniques, ultrathin
electronics and microfluidics.
The device is so thin - about the
width of a human hair - that it can be
rolled up into a tiny cylinder, inserted
into a needle, and implanted into the
epidural space of the spinal column, the
same area where injections are administered
to control pain during childbirth.
Once correctly positioned, the device
is inflated with water or air so that it
unrolls like a tiny air mattress, covering
a large section of the spinal cord. When
connected to a pulse generator, the
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ultra-thin electrodes start sending small
electrical currents to the spinal cord,
which disrupt pain signals.
Early tests of the device suggest that it
could be an effective treatment for
many forms of severe pain - including
leg and back pain - which are not
remedied by painkillers. It could also be
adapted into a potential treatment for
paralysis or Parkinson's disease. How -
ever, extensive tests and clinical trials
will be required before the device can
be used on patients.
Although other types of spinal cord
stimulation devices are currently used to
Medical Design Briefs, August 2021
µ
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Medical Design Briefs - August 2021

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