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AILU Medical Group Meeting: Cork, Ireland

Opportunities for laser micromachining: developments and applications in the medical sector
22 May 2008 - National Maritime College of Ireland, Cork


 

AILU's Medical Group held it's first event of 2008 in Ireland, a country where medical device manufacture is thriving. Large multinational companies in the medical sector – particularly those from the USA – have their European centres in Ireland. It was the perfect opportunity to foster cooperation between the UK and Ireland at a time when Ireland has an excellent track record in medical device manufacture. The Medical Group is a Photonics KTN Special Interest Group managed by AILU as part of its commitment to promote power photonics in the medical sector.

Photo of workshop speakers: (l to r) Leo Sexton (LaserAge), Mike Green (AILU), David Gillen (Blueacre Technology), Pat Forristal (Stryker Orthopaedics), Nadeem Rizvi (Laser Micromachining), Andreas Ostendorf (LZH), Louise Partridge (SPI), Jens Gedvicke (Fraunhofer ILT), Jürgen Bock (Precitec), Martin Sharp (LLEC), Alan Ferguson (Oxford Lasers), Birk Plönnigs (Jenoptik), Frank White (Stryker Instruments), Dermot Brabazon (Dublin City University), Anna O'Neil (AILU) and Tony Flahearty (NCLA, Galway).


The event “Opportunities for laser micromachining: developments and applications in the medical sector” was held at the National Maritime College of Ireland in Cork and was organised and managed in conjunction with LaserAge, based near Cork and the CAMMS, the Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Management Systems, at the Cork Institute of Technology. Over sixty delegates attended the event, which was chaired by Pat Forristal, Vice President of International Advanced Operations from Stryker Orthopaedics (Cork) and Chairman of the Irish Medical Devices Association.

Andreas Ostendorf, Director of LZH Germany, gave the keynote presentation in the morning on the generation of biocompatible 2-D and 3-D structures for medical implants by 2-photon polymerisation using femtosecond lasers; for example, to produce structures that simulate bone.

Frank White from Stryker Instruments described how their site in Cork, the key Stryker site for tissue cutting technologies, uses laser cutting, marking and welding to manufacture medical instruments. He illustrated the flexibility of lasers for batch manufacture of bespoke blade assemblies.

Nadeem Rizvi of Laser Micromachining Limited (GB) described the wide range of different lasers they use for prototyping and low volume medical device manufacture.

David Gillen of Blueacre Technology (IRE) spoke about 'stop on layer' laser processing, which centred on the control of ablative material removal and its importance in medical device manufacture. The technique can be used for thin layer metal processing, the stripping of polymer layers and in the production of multilayer devices. He illustrated how it was possible to prevent damage of underlying material or (when hole drilling in tubes) back surface damage, and showed laser drilling of 1500 holes per second with accurate control of ablation depth.

Dermot Brabazon of Dublin City University gave a wide ranging presentation on biomedical applications of laser plasmas, touching on a wide range of laser materials processes: cutting, drilling, welding; surface treatments; laser cladding and pulsed laser deposition; and rapid prototyping. He went on to discuss developments in laser use in plastic and cosmetic surgery, ophthalmology, selective laser trabeculoplasty, micro and nano surgery; diagnostics – imaging and spectroscopy; and micro nano fabrication. Throughout he emphasised the need for parametric mapping of the process and accurate measurement and control of laser electronic control of power density.

Martin Sharp of Lairdside Laser Engineering Centre (GB) described the recent work of the North West Laser Engineering Consortium of the universities of Liverpool and Manchester in micro fabrication. Areas addressed included: (i) femtosecond laser machining of micro and nano surfaces, the production of micro-channels, micro-texturing and activating surfaces; (ii) the use of CW fibre laser sources for the production of sub-micron powders; (iii) laser enhanced MoCVD, CVD & Sol-Gel Coatings; and (iv) microbuilding and microdeposition using optical tweezers technology.

Tony Flaherty from NCLA Galway spoke of “Light Factory 2020” an initiative to bring photonics into Irish manufacturing. The programme integrates initiatives in EU policy, collaborative research, networking and training, with an expansion of LightHouse, a combined activity of laser and photonics research groups within the University of Galway. He pointed out and illustrated how the drivers for economic transformation in Europe from an industrial to a knowledge-based economy are as strong in Ireland as in other EU countries.

After lunch Sean Burke from Enterprise Ireland illustrated the opportunities and possibilities for funding in Framework 7 programme with particular focus on the opportunities for SMEs.

In the second keynote presentation of the day, Jens Gedvicke of the Fraunhofer ILT Aachen gave a presentation on novel laser processes for packaging and adding functionality to medical components. As examples of added surface functionality in medical products he addressed: self-cleaning surfaces, improved fluid control; non-adhesive surfaces; and surfaces for controlling cell growth. He also described the use of fibre lasers for micro-welding metals, plastics and joining dissimilar metals.

The Innovations Session of short presentations comprised presentations from: Alan Ferguson of Oxford Lasers (GB) describing ultrafast laser processes for medical device manufacturing; Jonathan Magee of Rofin-Baasel described case studies of the use of lasers in cutting, welding and marking for medical instrumentation and implants; Jüergen Bock of Precitec (GER) described the development of laser cutting heads at Precitec; Birk Plönnigs from Jenoptik UK described the laser welding of plastics and its application in the medical sector; and Louise Partridge of SPI Lasers (GB) talked about medical device and instrument micro welding and cutting with fibre lasers.

At the end of the day Mike Green, Anna O’Neil and Leo Sexton (LaserAge) gave presentations about AILU, the Medical Special Interest Group and the Photonics KTN; and opportunities for an association like AILU in Ireland, respectively. 

AILU thanks go especially to Leo Sexton (LaserAge) and Paul Keane (CAMMS at CIT) who provided the local organisation for the event.


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