Curve micromachining on the edges of nitinol biliary stent by ultrashort pulses laser. (1st May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hung, Chia-Hung; Chang, Fuh-Yu
• Is Part Of: Optics & laser technology. Volume 90(2017)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 6
• Publication Date: 2017-05-01
• Subjects: Femtosecond laser -- Curve micromachining -- Squared edges -- Rounded edges; Optics -- Periodicals; Lasers -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 621.366
• DOI: 10.1016/j.optlastec.2016.10.018
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0030-3992

Abstract

Abstract: In this study, a curve micromaching process on the edges of nitinol biliary stent was proposed by a femtosecond laser system with a galvano-mirror scanner. Furthermore, the outer diameter of nitinol tube was 5.116 mm, its inner diameter was 4.648 mm, and its length was 100 mm. The initial fabricated results of nitinol biliary stent represented that the edges of nitinol biliary stent were steep and squared by femtosecond laser. However, the results also indicated that if the laser movement path was precisely programmed by utilizing the unique characteristic of Gaussian beam of femtosecond laser with aligning the edges of stent, the radius of edges enhanced significantly from 9 µm to 42.5 µm. As a result, the edges of nitinol biliary stent can be successfully fabricated from squared edges to rounded-shaped edges with precise dimension, clean surface morphology, and minimal heat-affected zone remained. Hence, the nitinol biliary stent, after femtosecond laser micromachining, would not need any further post-process to remove heat-affected zone and the squared edges. Highlights: Rounded kerf edges was achieved by femtosecond laser with galvono-mirror scanner. Manipulating laser movement path could significantly enhance the radius of kerf edges. The removal mechanism of Gaussian laser beam on the edges was exhibited in this study for rounding purpose.