Focused ion beam milling of brass for microinjection mould fabrication

In this paper focused ion beam (FIB) milling (sputtering) is demonstrated for the fabrication of brass microinjection moulding inserts which have been previously conventionally milled. It is found that FIB milling of the α phase of the material results in much smoother final surfaces than the β phase. An annealing procedure for minimizing the effects of differential sputtering has also been performed. Further with the help of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and White Light Interferometry (WLI) measurements the FIB milling yield for 70-30 cartridge brass is determined and analysed. Finally, FIB milling of 5µm square trenches with a flat bottom surface is demonstrated

Apparent beam size definition of focused ion beams based on scanning electron microscopy images of nanodots

In this paper the new term apparent beam size of Focused Ion Beam (FIB) is introduced and an original method of its evaluation is demonstrated. Traditional methods of measuring the beam size, like the knife edge method, provide information about the quality of the beam itself but practically they do not give information on the FIB sputtering resolution. To do this, it is necessary to take into account the material dependant interaction of the beam with the specimen and the gas precursor in the vacuum chamber. The apparent beam size can be regarded as the smallest possible dot that FIB can sputter in a given specimen. The method of evaluating it, developed in this paper, is based on the analysis of a series of scanning electron images of FIB produced nanodots. Results show that the apparent beam size can be up to 5 times larger than the actual physical size of the beam and it is significantly influenced by the presence of gas precursor. It is also demonstrated that the apparent beam size can be used as a reference value for optimisation of the beam step during raster scanning

The Role of Vascular Resection in Pancreatic Cancer Treatment

Currently, porto‐mesenteric vein resection is a standard procedure at high‐volume pancreatic centers. Experience in vascular surgery is indispensable for a modern pancreatic surgeon. Nowadays, only arterial resections still are a controversial issue. Nevertheless, attempts at resection involving reconstruction of the main arteries such as the coeliac axis, hepatic artery, and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) have been reported, although in small case series. An overview of the historical and contemporary methods for surgical management of superior mesenteric/portal vein involvement as well as arterial involvement by pancreatic cancer is presented. We compare the data from the literature with our data based on the examination and long‐term follow‐up of more than 300 radical pancreatic resections. Seventy‐two of the presented patients underwent pancreatic resection with simultaneous vascular resection—SMPV in 65 cases (44 with resection of the portal vein, 15 with resection of the superior mesenteric vein, 6 with resection of the porto‐mesenterial confluence), arterial in 2 and partial resections of IVC in 5 cases. Combined vascular resections were done in three cases. Both groups PVR and PR showed similarly close results in complication rates, mortality, and morbidity. Three and 5 years survival rates were 42 and 38% in PD group and 28 and 19% in the PVR group. The vascular resection must be performed only upon carefully selected patients with data for presence of resectable tumors or tumors with borderline resectability from the preoperative imaging studies. The prompt management of pancreatic cancer with vascular involvement should involve multidisciplinary consultation in high‐volume centers

Focused ion beam milling of brass for microinjection mould fabrication

In this paper focused ion beam (FIB) milling (sputtering) is demonstrated for the fabrication of brass microinjection moulding inserts which have been previously conventionally milled. It is found that FIB milling of the α phase of the material results in much smoother final surfaces than the β phase. An annealing procedure for minimizing the effects of differential sputtering has also been performed. Further with the help of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and White Light Interferometry (WLI) measurements the FIB milling yield for 70-30 cartridge brass is determined and analysed. Finally, FIB milling of 5µm square trenches with a flat bottom surface is demonstrated

Complicated intra-abdominal infections in Europe: preliminary data from the first three months of the CIAO Study

Peer reviewe

Complicated intra-abdominal infections in Europe: a comprehensive review of the CIAO study

Peer reviewe

A decision support methodology for embodiment design and process chain selection for hybrid manufacturing platforms

This paper presents a methodology for the transformation of a product concept into a detailed design and manufacturing process chain for hybrid manufacturing platforms. Hybrid platforms offer new capabilities and opportunities for product design. However, they require high levels of process expertise for effective design and effective process selection. Design for hybrid manufacture is challenging as there is a requirement to understand a number of technologies, which may be highly varied. To address this challenge, a knowledge-based decision support system developed in this paper enables manufacturing expertise to be integrated into procedures for product design and process chain selection. This formalised numerical methodology is able to consider a wider range of varied manufacturing processes than any previous study. A feature-based design method is developed, which guides the designer towards an optimised product design during the embodiment design phase, and a process chain selection program is utilised to enable the effective analysis of a product design based on product evaluation criteria. The methodology has been successfully applied to the design of an LED product with internal geometries and electronics

The SMARTLAM 3D-I Concept: Design of Microsystems from Functional Elements Fabricated by Generative Manufacturing Technologies

Generative manufacturing technologies are gaining more and more of importance as key enabling technologies in future manufacturing, especially when a flexible scalable manufacturing of small medium series of customized parts is required. The paper describes a new approach for design and manufacturing of complex three dimensional components building on a combination of additive manufacturing and e-printing technologies, where the micro component is made up of stacks of functionalized layers of polymer films. Special attention will be paid to the 3-d modeling approach, requested to support the applicaton developer through provision of design rules for this integrated manufacturing concept. Both, the application concept as well as the related equipment and manufacturing integration currently are currently developed further in the project SMARTLAM, funded by the European Commission

A generative manufacturing-based concept and equipment for flexible, scalable manufacturing of microsystems

Generative manufacturing technologies are gaining more and more of importance as key enabling technologies in future manufacturing, especially when a flexible scalable manufacturing of small medium series of customized parts is required. The paper describes a new approach for design and manufacturing of complex three dimensional components building on a combination of additive manufacturing and e-printing technologies, where the micro component is made up of stacks of functionalized layers of polymer films. Special attention will be paid to the "3-d" modeling approach, requested to support the application developer through provision of design rules for this integrated manufacturing concept. Both, the application concept as well as the related equipment and manufacturing integration are currently developed further in the project SMARTLAM, funded by the European Commission