Anchoring devices and methods for affixing an implanted lead of a neurostimulation system at a target location in a patient are provided herein. Such anchoring devices includes a helical body having a plurality of tines extending laterally outward from the lead when deployed that engage tissue to inhibit axial movement of the implanted lead. The plurality of tines are biased towards the laterally extended deployed configuration and fold inward towards the lead to a delivery configuration to facilitate delivery of the lead through a sheath. The tines may be angled in a proximal direction or in both proximal and distal directions and may include various features to assist in visualization and delivery of the lead. The anchor may be formed according to various methods, including laser cutting of a tubular section along with heat or reflow to set the material with the anchor in the deployed configuration and injection molding.

This shaping apparatus is equipped with: a movement system which moves a target surface; a measurement system for acquiring position information of the target surface in a state movable by the movement system, a beam shaping system that has a beam irradiation section and a material processing section which supplies a shaping material irradiated by a beam from beam irradiation section; and a controller. On the basis of 3D data of a three-dimensional shaped object to be formed on a target surface and position information of the target surface acquired using the measurement system, the controller controls the movement system and the beam shaping system such that a target portion on the target surface is shaped by supplying the shaping material while moving the target surface and the beam from beam irradiation section relative to each other.

A new electrospark deposition (ESD) method and related system are provided in the present invention based on the use of a magnetized electrode, namely magnetic-aided ESD (M-ESD). In particular, the present invention uses a magnetized electrode (either magnetized by an electro-magnet or being a permanent magnet) to attract fine coating powders at the tip thereof which acts as a soft brush to coat on intricate surface profiles. Accordingly, the method of the present invention is able to provide a soft contact between the magnetized anode and the workpiece to be coated or manipulated. The present invention is useful in various surface engineering applications in the fields of aeronautical (e.g. restoration and repair of damaged aircraft turbine blades), nuclear reactors, military engineering, and in medical industries. As compared to conventional ESD, the present invention can address complicated surface geometries and internal surfaces while the cost can be significantly lowered by using inexpensive components and simplified method steps.

New beta-style (bcc) titanium alloys are disclosed. The new alloys generally include 4-8 wt. % Al, 4-8 wt. % Nb, 4-8 wt. % V, 1-5 wt. % Mo, optionally 2-6 wt. % Cr, the balance being titanium, optional incidental elements, and unavoidable impurities. The new alloys may realize an improved combination of properties as compared to conventional titanium alloys.

New beta-style (bcc) titanium alloys are disclosed. The new alloys generally include 2.0-6.0 wt. % Al, 4.0-12.0 wt. % V, and 1.0-5.0 wt. % Fe, the balance being titanium, any optional incidental elements, and unavoidable impurities. The new alloys may realize an improved combination of properties as compared to conventional titanium alloys.

New alpha-beta titanium alloys are disclosed. The new alloys generally include 7.0-11.0 wt. % Al, and 1.0-4.0 wt. % Mo, wherein Al:Mo, by weight, is from 2.0:1-11.0:1, the balance being titanium, any optional incidental elements, and unavoidable impurities. The new alloys may realize an improved combination of properties as compared to conventional titanium alloys.

A manufacturing method includes a first repeating step of irradiating a base material with a pulse laser, having a spot diameter S, while relatively moving a laser head and the base material in a first direction, moving the laser head by a predetermined pitch width Pin a second direction that intersects the first direction, and repeating irradiation by the pulse laser along the first direction and movement of the laser head in the second direction, and a second repeating step of irradiating the base material with the pulse laser while relatively moving the laser head and the base material in the second direction, moving the laser head by the pitch width in the first direction, and repeating irradiation by the pulse laser along the second direction and movement of the laser head in the first direction, wherein S<P<100 μm.

A number of variations may include a product that may include a substrate that may include an aluminum-nickel alloy and at least one surface and a coating that may include a metallic material deposited over the at least one surface via laser cladding.

A method for processing a powder material includes cleaning surfaces of a powder material that has spherical metal particles, coating the cleaned surfaces with an organic bonding agent, mixing the coated particles with a dispersion that contains ceramic nanoparticles, drying the mixture to remove a carrier of the dispersion and deposit the ceramic nanoparticles with a spaced-apart distribution onto the organic bonding agent on the surfaces of the particles, and thermally removing the organic bonding agent to attach the ceramic nanoparticles to the surface of the particles.

A method for forming a component includes providing a first layer of a mixture of first and second powders. The method includes determining the frequency of an alternating magnetic field to induce eddy currents sufficient to bulk heat only one of the first and second powders. The alternating magnetic field is applied at the determined frequency to a portion of the first layer of the mixture using a flux concentrator. Exposure to the magnetic field changes the phase of at least a portion of the first powder to liquid. The liquid portion couples to at least some of the second powder and subsequently solidifies to provide a composite component.