Hybrid cutting of bio-tissues

© 2016 The Authors.Modern-day histology of bio-tissues requires high-precision cutting to ensure high quality thin specimens used in analysis. The cutting quality is significantly affected by a variety of soft and hard tissues in the samples. The paper deals with the next step of microtome development employing controlled ultrasonic vibration to realise a hybrid cutting process of bio-tissues. The study is based on a numerical (finite-element) analysis of multi-body dynamics of a cutting system. Conventional and ultrasonically assisted cutting processes of bio-tissues were simulated using material models representing cancellous bone and incorporating an estimation of friction conditions between a cutting blade and the material to be cut. The models allow adjustments of a section thickness, cutting speed and amplitude of ultrasonic vibration. The efficiency and quality of cutting was dependent on cutting forces, which were compared for both conventional and ultrasonically assisted cutting processes.