Objective
During the course of a medical operation, a steel blade will quickly become 'surgically' blunt and need to be changed. A ceramic blade will perform better than a steel cutting edge due to its high wear resistance, high hardness and low coefficient of friction when compared to steel. For medical applications, these features help the surgeon perform more efficiently and help reduce patient trauma. Although ceramic scalpel blades are currently available, the major limitation to their wider implementation is their relatively high cost of manufacture. This is due to the intricate diamond machining operation which accounts for approximately 75% of the cost. It is envisaged that novel ultrasonic machining may replace diamond machining, thus making the selling price of a ceramic scalpel similar to that of a steel scalpel. The objectives of this project are to design and manufacture a low cost ceramic blade, and to use the ceramic machining technology developed to produce a demonstrator, such as a scalpel. This technology will subsequently be exploited by the project partners and transferred to other relevant industry sectors, where advanced cutting blade technology is required.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Data not available
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
CW1 6UA CREWE
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.