Abstract: The present disclosure is related to a method for sharpening the tip of a microprobe, in particular a neural probe or an array of neuroprobes having a common base portion. The probes have a constant thickness and a chisel-shaped tip portion. The probes are attached to the slanted side of a wedge-shaped carrier, with the probe tips placed in close proximity to the edge of the carrier, for example extending over said edge. The base of the carrier is then subjected to a grinding step, possibly followed by a polishing step, so that the probe tips of the probes are ground to form a sharp pointed tip shape.

Abstract: A jig intended in use to hold a set of blanks of rod-like or wire-like form during machining, said jig having a body adapted to be mounted to a drive shaft for rotation of the body about an axis of rotation, the body having an outer portion and an inner portion wherein the inner and outer portions are capable of angular displacement relative to each other, the portions having opposed faces which are concentric and which define clamping faces which in use are intended to support the set of blanks such that their central axes are substantially parallel to the axis of rotation and at least one end extends axially beyond the body.

Abstract: A notch-locating fixture for forming notches at predetermined locations along a needle wire used in a surgical suturing apparatus includes a base having at least one semi-circular recess shaped and dimensioned for receiving the needle wire. The fixture also includes a cover member including at least one aligned slot formed therein in a manner providing a grinding wheel with access to needle wire held between the base and the cover member. The fixture further includes a securing structure selectively coupling the base to the cover member.

Abstract: A jig intended in use to hold a series of blanks of rod-like or wire-like form during machining, the jig having a body adapted to be mounted to a drive shaft for rotation of the body about an axis of rotation, the body having a perimeter which on rotation of the jig defines a rotation path, the perimeter being defined by a set of stations located around the rotation path, each station having a pair of opposed clamping surfaces, one side of the clamping surfaces being located at the rotation path, in use the clamping surfaces being intended to receive between themselves a set of said blanks, one end of said blanks being positioned to extend outwardly from the one side to extend beyond the rotation path. The clamping surfaces can have a cylindrical or polygonal shape and the blanks can be supported to extend in a direction transverse to the rotation path or parallel to the rotation path. A process and grinding system are also claimed.

Abstract: The invention is a grinding apparatus for grinding tips of welding electrodes.

Abstract: Reconditioning a fiber for laser applications by cleaving off its tip and shaping the cleaved end into a conical or pyramidal shape with a grinder. The cleaved end is grasped in a fiber holder. The grinder is driven, e.g., to rotate. The fiber holder is moved relative to the grinder to bring it into contact with the moving grinder. The fiber holder may be rotated during the contact. Preferably, the axis of symmetry of the fiber is substantially parallel to the plane of rotation of the grinder to effect tangential grinding.

Abstract: A sharpening machine for sharpening the cutting edges of instruments, particularly the curved inner cutting edges of dental instruments, to obtain an arbitrary wedge angle. A grinding disk is provided with both a plane surface and a radiused outer edge. A shaft extension extends above the plane of the grinding disk and serves to support the instrument as it is being sharpened. The longitudinal axis of the instrument is displaced away from the axis of rotation of the shaft extension by an offset one-half distance equal to the diameter of the shaft extension thereby determining an offset angle of the longitudinal axis of the instrument with respect to the grinding disk and thus the wedge angle of sharpening of the curved inner edge of the instrument. In order to facilitate the sharpening of the curved inner edge of the instrument, the outer edge of the grinding disk is formed with a radius shorter than the radius of curvature of the instrument.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing surgical needles from solid, cylindrical needle blanks. A plurality of needle blanks are cut from a roll of wire and mounted to a flat carrier strip. The carrier strip then indexes each needle blank to a grinding station where an orbital grinding means grinds the distal end of each needle blank into a taper point while the needle blanks are held fixed in the carrier strip.

Abstract: An apparatus for preparing hypodermic needle having a needle shaft with a pointed end and a hub end and having a needle hub joined to the hub end for safe disposal of the hypodermic needle includes a metal grinder assembly including a grinding member having a grinding surface and a mechanism for moving the grinding member, and a needle guide structure for holding the needle shaft adjacent to the grinding member and the pointed end oriented substantially toward the grinding surface, for guiding the needle shaft toward and against the grinding surface to progressively grind the needle shaft into very fine particles. The mechanism for moving the grinding member preferably includes an electric motor. The apparatus preferably additionally includes a housing enclosing the grinding member, having a housing wall.