Abstract: A coated medical instrument can include a first layer bonded to a metal substrate surface of a medical instrument, a second layer bonded to the first layer, and a third layer disposed on the second layer, The first layer comprises chromium (Cr), hafnium (Hf), titanium (Ti), and/or niobium (Nb). The second layer comprises a nitride, oxide, carbide, carbonitride, or boride of chromium (Cr), hafnium (Hf), niobium (Nb), tungsten (W), titanium (Ti), aluminum (Al), zirconium (Zr), and/or silicon (Si). The third layer comprises a nitride, oxide, carbide, boride, oxynitride, oxycarbide, or oxycarbonitride of chromium (Cr), hafnium (Hf), niobium (Nb), tungsten (W), titanium (Ti), aluminum (Al), zirconium (Zr), and/or silicon (Si). Methods for making coated medical instruments are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A coated medical instrument can include a first layer bonded to a metal substrate surface of a medical instrument, a second layer bonded to the first layer, and a third layer disposed on the second layer, The first layer comprises chromium (Cr), hafnium (Hf), titanium (Ti), and/or niobium (Nb). The second layer comprises a nitride, oxide, carbide, carbonitride, or boride of chromium (Cr), hafnium (Hf), niobium (Nb), tungsten (W), titanium (Ti), aluminum (Al), zirconium (Zr), and/or silicon (Si). The third layer comprises a nitride, oxide, carbide, boride, oxynitride, oxycarbide, or oxycarbonitride of chromium (Cr), hafnium (Hf), niobium (Nb), tungsten (W), titanium (Ti), aluminum (Al), zirconium (Zr), and/or silicon (Si). Methods for making coated medical instruments are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A coated medical instrument can include a first layer bonded to a metal substrate surface of a medical instrument, a second layer bonded to the first layer, and a third layer disposed on the second layer, The first layer comprises chromium (Cr), hafnium (Hf), titanium (Ti), and/or niobium (Nb). The second layer comprises a nitride, oxide, carbide, carbonitride, or boride of chromium (Cr), hafnium (Hf), niobium (Nb), tungsten (W), titanium (Ti), aluminum (Al), zirconium (Zr), and/or silicon (Si). The third layer comprises a nitride, oxide, carbide, boride, oxynitride, oxycarbide, or oxycarbonitride of chromium (Cr), hafnium (Hf), niobium (Nb), tungsten (W), titanium (Ti), aluminum (Al), zirconium (Zr), and/or silicon (Si). Methods for making coated medical instruments are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A composite utility blade and method of making such a blade involves butt joining a high speed or tool steel wire to a front edge of an alloy steel backing strip. The wire defines a predetermined cross-sectional shape that substantially corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the cutting edge of the blade. The wire is electron beam welded to the backing strip to form a composite strip defining a first metal portion formed by the alloy steel backing strip, a second metal portion formed by the high speed or tool steel wire, and a weld region joining the first and second metal portions. The composite strip is then annealed, and the annealed strip is straightened to eliminate any camber therein. The annealed composite strip is then hardened such that the first metal portion defines a first surface hardness and the second metal portion defines a second surface hardness greater than the first surface hardness.

Abstract: A metal cutting band saw blade has a plurality of cutting teeth defining a cutting direction, and a repeating tooth pattern of between 3 and 7 teeth. Each tooth defines a laterally-extending upper surface having a width and a height with respect to the back edge of the blade, and side surfaces extending laterally and downwardly on opposite sides of the upper surface relative to each other at acute angles relative to the upper surface. The teeth located rearwardly of the first tooth with respect to the cutting direction of the saw blade define progressively lower heights and progressively smaller acute angles of the side surfaces, and the widths of the upper surfaces of these teeth are greater than the width of the upper surface of the respective first tooth.

Abstract: A metal cutting band saw blade has a plurality of cutting teeth defining a cutting direction, and a repeating tooth pattern of between 3 and 7 teeth. Each tooth defines a laterally-extending upper surface having a width and a height with respect to the back edge of the blade, and side surfaces extending laterally and downwardly on opposite sides of the upper surface relative to each other at acute angles relative to the upper surface. The teeth located rearwardly of the first tooth with respect to the cutting direction of the saw blade define progressively lower heights and progressively smaller acute angles of the side surfaces, and the widths of the upper surfaces of these teeth are greater than the width of the upper surface of the respective first tooth.

Abstract: A composite utility blade and method of making such a blade involves butt joining a high speed or tool steel wire to a front edge of an alloy steel backing strip. The wire defines a predetermined cross-sectional shape that substantially corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the cutting edge of the blade. The wire is electron beam welded to the backing strip to form a composite strip defining a first metal portion formed by the alloy steel backing strip, a second metal portion formed by the high speed or tool steel wire, and a weld region joining the first and second metal portions. The composite strip is then annealed, and the annealed strip is straightened to eliminate any camber therein. The annealed composite strip is then hardened such that the first metal portion defines a first surface hardness and the second metal portion defines a second surface hardness greater than the first surface hardness.

Abstract: A metal cutting band saw blade has a plurality of cutting teeth defining a cutting direction, and a repeating tooth pattern of between 3 and 7 teeth. Each tooth defines a laterally-extending upper surface having a width and a height with respect to the back edge of the blade, and side surfaces extending laterally and downwardly on opposite sides of the upper surface relative to each other at acute angles relative to the upper surface. The teeth located rearwardly of the first tooth with respect to the cutting direction of the saw blade define progressively lower heights and progressively smaller acute angles of the side surfaces, and the widths of the upper surfaces of these teeth are greater than the width of the upper surface of the respective first tooth.