Title of Invention

"CERAMIC COATED MEDICAL AND BIOPSY APPLIANCES AND FABRICATION METHOD THEREFOR"

Abstract Ceramic-coated medical appliance or biopsy appliance is quite excellent in insulating performance which has no negative effects on tissues or cells of an organism subjected to surgery, a ceramic-coated genetic control needle which has no risk of breaking during use nor no unfavorable effects, such as destruction or tear-off, on sliced tissues or tissue areas around the needle at site of penetration into a lesion and which cuts off a cello nucleus or injects an immunological solution into the nucleus without causing any negative effects on tissues around the penetrated needle, and a fabrication method for the same. Specifically, in the ceramic-coated medial needle, genetic control needle, biopsy forceps and medical appliances such as forceps, surgical scissors and surgical knife, an insulating ceramic film having a resistance p of 105 ?-m or more is formed, by dry plating , at least on a portion, a part or the whole of an outer and/or an inner surface of a metal needle that directly contact an organism, or cells or cell nuclei thereof.
Full Text - 1A -
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a ceramic-coated medical or biopsy appliance formed of metal and a fabrication method therefor. Particularly, the invention relates to medical appliances and biopsy appliances which are coated with ceramic coatings on metallic parts thereof that directly contact any part of an organism, and to a fabrication method for the same. The medical and biopsy appliances principally include medical needles such as injection needles, puncture needles for hepatobiopsy/renal biopsy, suture needles and the like; biopsy forceps; forceps; surgical scissors; surgical knives and the like . The invention further relates to a ceramic-coated genetic control needle and a fabrication method therefor.
Background Art
The recent medical technologies have made a dramatic leap forward. In liver and pancreas examinations, for example, a variety of examination methods are commonly used for acquiring data not available from blood test. Such examination methods include ultrasonic diagnostics using ultrasound waves; CT

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(Computed Tomography) ; MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) for producing sectional images of various internal organs based on strong magnetism and electric waves ; angiography for visualizing a sate of blood vessels following the injection of a radiopaque contrast medium via a fine catherter, and the like.
Although the presence of a seat of disease such as cancer may be determined by the blood test or the diagnostic imaging method, histopathological examination of the lesion, such as hepatobiopsy, is required for definite diagnosis.
In such biopsies, tissues are normally collected by directly penetrating a special puncture needle into the lesion.
As to the use of the conventional puncture needle, however, unfavorable effects, such as cellular or tissular destruction and tissue tear-off, on tissue slices collected from the lesion or on tissue areas around the puncture needle at the site of penetration into the lesion have been pointed out, because a substrate of the needle is formed of a conductive metal, such as stainless steel, high tension steel or the like, having good electrical properties (resistance p: 10-6 - 1O-8 O-m) . These negative effects are attributed to 1) redo reaction, 2) hydrolysis and 3) binding to antibodies such as Haptein (refer to, for example, S.G.Steinemann: Periodontology 2000, 17(1998) , P7-21).
In contrast, a puncture needle formed of ceramics

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(hereinafter, simply referred to as "ceramic puncture needle" or "ceramic needle") may be used without exerting unfavorable effects on the collected tissues or the cells around the puncture needle penetrated into the lesion. However, the ceramic puncture needles and the ceramic needles are very fragile and tend to break easily, and therefore are not currently adopted in any case.
The present inventors first contemplated to form a ceramic film over an outer surface of the ordinary metal puncture needle in order to obtain a puncture needle having no negative effects on the collected tissues or the cells around the puncture needle penetrated into the lesion.
If, however, the ceramic film coated on a very fine cylindrical body like the puncture needle has poor adhesion to a surface of the cylindrical body, the ceramic film will be peeled off during use so that the intended object cannot be achieved. Particularly, the puncture needles and injection needles are unavoidably flexed to some degree when used, thus involving a high risk of peeling of the ceramic film.
For instance, Japanese examined patent No. JP-B-6-20464 has disclosed a medical incision/impression device wherein a medical knife is provided with a diamond film coating on its surface for reducing frictional resistance at incision.
However, the diamond film is coated by heating a substrate

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to 500 to 1300°C, while a thermal expansion difference between the substrate and the diamond film is significant. Hence, the diamond film is prone to delaminate and is not applicable to the puncture needle and the like as a subject matter of the invention.
Recently, the inventors have discovered a new fact that when a thin TiN ceramic film plasma-coated on a ferritic stainless steel sheet is subjected to plastic work of 180° bending, the TiN ceramic film exhibits local elongation at cracked portions assuming unique concave shape just as seen in metals [Inokuti ; Yukio: prize-winning photograph at 2001 International Metallographic Contest (Indianapolis, USA, 2001, 11/5-8. held jointly by IMS (International Metallographic Society) and ASM (Amercian Society of Metals)].
The phenomenon suggests that the very fragile ceramic film is also workable, exhibiting metal-like elongation when subj ected to plastic work.
Accordingly, the inventors formed the TiN ceramic film on a surface of a stainless steel puncture needle by ceramic coating process in a high-vacuum and high-plasma atmosphere.
It was confirmed that the TiN ceramic film has such an excellent adhesion to the puncture needle that a certain degree of bending does not cause the delamination of the TiN ceramic film.

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However, even the puncture needle coated with the TiN
ceramic film could not completely eliminate the unfavorable effects, such as cellular or tissular destruction and tissue tear-off, on the collected tissues or on tissue areas around the puncture needle at the site of penetration into the lesion although such effects were not so serious as those caused by the conventional metal puncture needles.
The invention is directed to a solution to the above problem and has an object to provide a ceramic-coated medical appliance or biopsy appliance{hereinafter, simply referred to as "medical appliances" depending upon cases) which may be used without causing any unfavorable effects on the tissues or cells of organisms, the medical appliances including, for example, medical needles such as injection needles, puncture needles, suture needles; biopsy forceps; forceps; surgical scissors; surgical knives and the like.
Another object of the invention is to provide an innovative ceramic-coated medical puncture needle which is free from the risk of breakage during use and which has no unfavorable effects on the collected tissues or the cells around the puncture needle at the site of penetration into the lesion.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a ceramic-coated medical puncture needle which also has the insulating ceramic coating on its inner surface such that the

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aforementioned negative effects on the tissues may not occur due to contact between the tissues and a metal surface when a large amount of tissues is collected.
In some cases, the ceramic-coated genetic control needle may have unfavorable effects on cell nucleus when used to cut off the cell nucleus or to inject an immunological solution or the like in the nucleus.
That is, the outer surface of the ceramic-coated needle is covered by the insulating ceramic coating, causing no damage to an area around the penetrated ceramic-coated needle. Unfortunately, the coated needle is so fine that the needle is not always have the insulating ceramic coating on its inner surface. Hence, a fear exists that the negative effects may occur because of the contact between the cell nucleus and the metal surface inside of the needle when the nucleus is cut off or injected with the immunological solution or the like.
The invention is directed to the solution to the above problem and has an object to provide a novel ceramic-coated genetic control needle and a fabrication method therefor. The genetic control needle is characterized in that the insulating ceramic film is also formed on the inner surface of the very fine needle, thereby eliminating the unfavorable effects on an area around the needle penetrated into the cell or the like as well as on the nucleus in the needle during the cut-off of cell

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nuclei or injection of the immunological solution or the like.
The invention is further directed to the improvement of
the aforementioned technique and has an object to provide a
fabrication method for the ceramic-coated medical appliances.
The method is characterized in that a ceramic film of increased
adhesion is formed by way of a mixed layer of an iron matrix
and the ceramic film produced at an interface therebetween
(initial coat layer) and that the ceramic film is further improved
in insulation performance and wear resistance by way of an even
more increased resistance p at least at its top surface.
Disclosure of the Invention
The followings are the gist and constitution of the invention.
1. A ceramic-coated medical appliance or biopsy appliance
characterized in that at least a metal portion directly
contacting an organism is coated with an insulating ceramic film
having a resistance p of 10s O-m or more.
2. A ceramic-coated medical appliance or biopsy appliance
according to the above appliance (1) , characterized in that the
ceramic film has a thickness of 0.05 to 5.0 urn.
3. A ceramic-coated medical appliance or biopsy appliance
according to the above appliance (1) or (2) , characterized in
that the ceramic film comprises at least one selected from the

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group consisting of nitrides, carbides or oxides of Al, B, Si, Cr and Ti.
4. A ceramic-coated medical appliance according to any one of
the above appliances (1) to (3) , characterized in that the medical
appliance is any one of biopsy forceps, forceps, surgical
scissors and a surgical knife.
5. A ceramic-coated medical appliance according to any of the
above appliances (1) to (3) , characterized in that the
ceramic-coated medical appliance is any one of an inj ection
needle, puncture needle and suture needle.
6. A ceramic-coated medical needle according to the above
appliance (5) , characterized in that the needle has the
insulating ceramic film of a resistance p of 105 O-m or more on
a part or the whole of a surface thereof.
7 . A ceramic-coated medical needle according to the above needle
(6) , characterized in that the ceramic film has a thickness of
0.05 to 5.0 um.
8 . A ceramic-coated medical needle according to the above needle
(6) or (7), characterized in that the ceramic film comprises
at least one selected from the group consisting of nitrides,
carbides or oxides of Al, B, Si, Cr and Ti.
9 . A ceramic-coated medical needle according to any one of the
above needles (6) , (7) or (8) , characterized in that a substrate
metal of the coated needle is stainless steel or high tension

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steel. 10 . A ceramic-coatedmedical needle according to the above needle
(6) , characterized in that a ceramic-coated area of the needle is a part or the whole of an outer surface thereof and a portion of an inner surface thereof that is 1 mm inward from a tip of the needle. 11. A ceramic-coated medical needle according to the above needle
(10), characterized in that the ceramic film has a thickness
of 0.05 to 5.0 um.
12 . A ceramic-coatedmedical needle according to the above needle
(10) or (11) , characterized in that the ceramic film comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of nitrides, carbides or oxides of Al, B, Si, Cr and Ti.
13. A ceramic-coated medical needle according to any one of the
above needles (10) , (11) or (12) , characterized in that a
substrate metal of the coated needle is stainless steel or high
tension steel.
14. A ceramic-coated generic control needle according to any
one of the above appliances (1) to (3) , characterized in that
the ceramic-coated biopsy appliance is a genetic control needle .
15. A ceramic-coated genetic control needle according to the
above needle (14) , characterized in that a ceramic-coated area
of the metal needle is at least a portion of a surface thereof
that contacts a cell nucleus in tissue of an organism.

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16. A ceramic-coated genetic control needle according to the aboveneedle (14) or (15) , characterized in that the coatedneedle has a diameter of 0.0005 to 0.5 mm.
17. A ceramic-coated genetic control needle according to any
one of the above needles (14),(15) or (16), characterized in
that the ceramic film comprises at least one selected from the
group consisting of nitrides, oxides or carbides of Al, B, Si,
Cr and Ti.
18. A ceramic-coated genetic control needle according to the
above needle (14) , characterized in that a ceramic-coated area
of an outer surface of the metal needle is at least a portion
thereof that contacts tissue of an organism, whereas a
ceramic-coated area of an inner surface of the metal needle is
at least a portion thereof that contacts a cell nucleus in the
tissue of the organism.
19. A ceramic-coated genetic control needle according to the
above needle (18), characterized in that the coverage of the
insulating ceramic film on the inner surface of the metal needle
extends 10 urn or more from a tip of the metal needle.
20. A ceramic-coated genetic control needle according to the
above needle (18) or (19) , characterized in that the ceramic
film has a thickness of 0.05 to 5.0 um.
21. A ceramic-coated genetic control needle according to any
one of the above needles (18),(19) or (20), characterized in

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that the ceramic film comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of nitrides, carbides or oxides of Al, B, Si, Cr and Ti.
22. A ceramic-coated genetic control needle according to any
one of the above needles (18) to (21), characterized in that
a substrate metal of the needle is stainless steel or high tension
steel.
23. A ceramic-coated genetic control needle according to any
one of the above needles (18) to (22), characterized in that
the needle has a diameter ? of 0.0005 to 0.5 mm.
24. A ceramic-coated genetic control needle according to the
above needle (14) , characterized in that a ceramic-coated area
of the metal needle is at least a respective portion of an outer
and an inner surface thereof that contacts a cell nucleus in
tissue of an organism, and that the ceramic film has an arithmetic
mean surface roughness Ra of 1.5 um or less.
25. A ceramic-coated genetic control needle according to the
above needle (24), characterized in that the coverage of the
insulating ceramic film on the inner surface of the needle extends
at least 10 urn from a tip of the needle.
26. A ceramic-coated genetic control needle according to the
above needle (24) or (25), characterized in that the ceramic
film has a thickness of 0.05 to 5.0 um.
27. A ceramic-coated genetic control needle according to any

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one of the above needles (24) , (25) or (26) , characterized in that the ceramic film comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of nitrides, carbides or oxides of Al, B, Si, Cr and Ti.
28. A ceramic-coated genetic control needle according to any
one of the above needles (24) to.(27), characterized in that
a substrate metal of the needle is stainless steel or high tension
steel.
29. A ceramic-coated genetic control needle according to any
one of the above needles (24) to (28), characterized in that
the needle has a diameter ? of 0.0005 to 0.5 mm.
30. A fabrication method for ceramic-coated medical appliance
or biopsy appliance characterized in that an insulating ceramic
coating film is formed by dry plating at least on a metal portion
of a metallic medical appliance or biopsy appliance that directly
contacts an organism.
31. A fabrication method for ceramic-coated medical appliance
or biopsy appliance according to the above method (30) ,
characterized in that 5 to 500 seem of O2 is introduced in a
coating atmosphere in the latter stage of the dry plating process ,
thereby offering a ceramic-coated medical appliance or biopsy
appliance having excellent insulating performance, adhesion and
wear resistance and featuring a resistance p of 105 om or more
at least at a top surface of the ceramic film.

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32. A fabrication method for ceramic-coated medical appliance or biopsy appliance according to the above method (30) or (31) , characterized in that the top surface of the ceramic film has a resistance p of 109 O-m or more.
33. A fabrication method for ceramic-coated medical appliance
or biopsy appliance according to any one of the above methods
(30) , (31) or (32), characterized in that the ceramic film
comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of
nitrides, oxides or carbides of Al, B, Si, Cr and Ti.
34. A fabrication method for ceramic-coated medical appliance
according to any one of the above methods (30) to (33) ,
characterized in that the medical appliance is any one of biopsy
forceps, forceps, surgical scissors and a surgical knife.
35. A fabrication method for ceramic-coated medical appliance
according to any one of the above methods (30) to (33) ,
characterized in that the medical appliance is an injection
needle or puncture needle.

36. A. fabrication method for ceramic-coated medical needle
according to the above method (35) , characterized in that the
metal needle is set in parallel with an approaching direction
of deposition particles as presenting a tip thereof against the
approaching deposition particles and the ceramic film is formed
at least on the tip portion of the needle by dry plating.
37. A fabrication method for ceramic-coated medical needle

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according to the above method (36) , characterized in that the ceramic film is an insulating ceramic film having a resistance p of 105 Q-m or more.
38. A fabrication method for ceramic-coated medical needle
according to the above method (36) or (37), characterized in
that the ceramic film has a thickness of 0.05 to 5.0 um.
39. A fabrication method for ceramic-coated medical needle
according to any one of the above methods (36),(37) or (38),
characterized in that the ceramic film comprises at least one
selected from the group consisting of nitrides, carbides or
oxides of Al, B, Si, Cr and Ti.
40. A fabrication method for ceramic-coated medical needle
according to any one of the above methods (36) to (39),
characterized in that a substrate metal of the coated needle
is stainless steel or high tension steel.
41. A fabrication method for ceramic-coated medical needle
according to the above method 35, characterized in that the
insulating ceramic film is formed by magnetron sputtering process
using, as a sputter target, at least one selected from the group
consisting of nitrides, carbides or oxides of Al, B, Si, Cr and
Ti while prevent ing abnormal discharge by disposing a high-plasma
atmosphere forming magnet and an RF device around the target,
thereby overlaying the ceramic film on a part or the whole of:
an outer surface of the needle and on a portion of an inner surface

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thereof at least 1 mm inward from a tip of the needle.
42. A fabrication method for ceramic-coated medical needle
according to the above method (41) , characterized in that two
of the sputter targets are disposed for forming the insulating
ceramic film based on a W-cathode system.
43. A fabrication method for ceramic-coated medical needle
according to any one of the above methods (41) to (42),
characterized in that the metal needle is set in parallel with
an approaching direction of deposition particles as presenting
its tip against the approaching deposition particles.
44. A fabrication method for ceramic-coated medical needle
according to any one of the above methods (41) , (42) or (43) ,
characterized in that the supply of reaction gas is suspended
in an initial stage of the magnetron sputtering process.
45. A fabrication method for ceramic-coated genetic control
needle according to any one of the above methods (30) to (33) ,
characterized in that the biopsy appliance is a genetic control
needle.
46. A fabrication method for ceramic-coated genetic control
needle according to the above method (45) , characterized in that
the metal needle is set in parallel with an approaching direction
of deposition particles as presenting a tip thereof against the
approaching deposition particles, and that the insulating
ceramic film having a resistance p of 105 Qm or more is formed

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at least on the tip portion of the needle by dry plating with an interior of the needle maintained at higher vacuum than the outside thereof through differential-pressure evacuation. 47 . A fabrication system for fabricating a ceramic-coated genetic control needle comprising a magnetron sputtering apparatus, a sample holder and a differential-pressure high-vacuum chamber in a vacuum vessel of a dry plating system, characterized in that a metal needle as a coating object is set on the sample holder as positioned in parallel with an approaching direction of deposition particles and presenting a tip thereof against the approaching deposition particles, and that a trailing end of the needle is connected with the differential-pressure high-vacuum chamber via a tube for maintaining an interior of the metal needle at higher vacuum than outside thereof by differential pressure vacuum effect while an insulating ceramic film is formed on an outer and an inner surface of the metal needle.
The invention is now described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Fig. 1 is a graphical representation of a relation between the resistance p of a ceramic coating and the texture damage degree (TDD);
Fig.2A is a diagram showing biopsy forceps according to the invention;

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Fig. 2B is a diagram showing conventional biopsy forceps ;
Fig.3A is a diagram showing forceps according to the invention;
Fig.3B is a diagram showing conventional forceps;
Fig.4A is a diagram showing surgical scissors according to the invention;
Fig.4B is a diagram showing conventional surgical scissors;
Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a preferred magnetron sputtering system used for the fabrication of a ceramic-coated needle according to the invention;
Fig.6A is a diagram showing a setting mode of puncture needles on a sample holder;
Fig.6B is an enlarged sectional view showing a tip of the puncture needle;
Fig. 7 is a transmission electron microscope(TEM) image of a cut-off nucleus;
Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram showing another preferred magnetron sputtering apparatus used for the fabrication of the ceramic-coated needle according to the invention;
Fig.9 is a diagram showing details of a procedure of differential-pressure high-vacuum evacuation and a process chamber;
Fig. 10 is an enlarged, view showing a tip of a metal needle;

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Fig.11 is a schematic diagram showing still another preferred magnetron sputtering system used for the fabrication of the ceramic-coated needle according to the invention;
Fig.l2A is a diagram showing a setting mode of puncture needles on the sample holder;
Fig.l2B is an enlarged sectional view showing a tip of the puncture needle;
Fig. 13 is a graphical representation of a relation between the resistance p and the amount of introduced oxygen gas;
Fig.14 is a graphical representation of the results of elementary analysis measured from top in the film thickness direction by GDS;
Fig.l5A is a graphical representation of a roughness profile (arithmetic mean roughness Ra) of an outer surface of a tip portion of a needle prior to SiNx ceramic coating;
Fig.l5B is a graphical representation of a roughness profile (arithmetic mean roughness Ra) of the outer surface of the tip portion of the needle subjected to the SiNx ceramic coating;
Fig.l6A is a graphical representation of a roughness profile (arithmetic mean roughness Ra} of an inner surface of the tip portion of the needle prior to the SiNx ceramic coating; and
Fig.16B is a graphical representation of a roughness

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profile (arithmetic mean roughness Ra) of the inner surface of the tip portion of the needle subjected to the SiNx ceramic coating.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
The inventors have made intensive studies to solve the aforementioned problem associated with "Background Art" and found that all the ceramic materials are not necessarily usable as a coating ceramic but the usable ceramic material must be an insulating material of high resistance p.
Fig.l shows the results of an examination of effects on tissues of an organism. The examination used puncture needles formed with ceramic films of different resistances p on respective surfaces of stainless steel substrates thereof. The results are represented by a relation between the resistance p and the texture damage degree (TDD: histopathological examination by microscopic observation). The texture damage degree (TDD) was determined as follows . Each photographic image of sliced cell tissues was image processed to determine a roughness profile at cut face of the tissues. An arithmetic mean roughness of the roughness profile was found based on JIS B0633 (ISO4288) and then applied to a conversion expression "TDD=0.0563Ra-0.0911" to give a TDD value; The conversion expression was defined based on conditions that cell tissues

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sliced with a conventional stainless-steel puncture needle had a mean surface roughness Ra of 10.5 um at cut face a TDD value of 0.5, and that cell tissues sliced with a ceramic-coated needle having a resistance p of ? had a minimum surface roughness Ra of 3 . 4 um at interface and a TDD value of 0 .1. It is considered that with the TDD value of 0.40 or less, or preferably of 0.35 orless, there is no unfavorable effects on the tissues of organism due to damages, such as destruction or tear-off.
As shown in Fig.l, good results of TDD values of 0.40 or less were achieved by the use of coating ceramics having resistances p of at least 105 o-m. In Fig.l, a stainless-steel puncture needle free from the ceramic coating had a resistance p of 7x10-6 whereas a puncture needle coated with a TiN ceramic film had a resistance p of 3x10-4. The resistance is defined herein to mean a volume resistance determined by the four probe method of resistivity measurement according to ASTMD-991.
The invention adopted a ceramic coating process in a high-vacuum, high-plasma atmosphere thereby achieving high adhesion between a high-precision worked metal needle and an insulating ceramic thin film.
Specifically, the invention is characterized by forming a complex structure of iron matrix and a ceramic film combined via a mixed layer of these (including functionally gradient properties) and advantageously capitalizing on individual

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properties of the components.
The invention will be described in detail as below.
Fig.5 schematically shows a preferred magnetron sputtering system used for the fabrication of a ceramic-coated needle according to the invention. Fig. 6A is a diagram showing a setting mode of metal puncture needles as a material, whereas Fig.6B is an enlarged sectional view of a tip portion of the puncture needle coated with a ceramic film.
Referring to the figures, a reference numeral 1 denotes a vacuum vessel, a numeral 2 denoting a sample holder, a numeral 3 denoting a metal puncture needle. A reference numeral 4 denotes ferrosilicon as a target, a numeral 5 denoting a magnet, a numeral 6 denoting a copper plate interposed between the target and the magnet, a numeral 7 denoting a water cooling pipe for the copper plate. In addition, a numeral 8 denotes an inlet port for a reaction gas, a numeral 9 denoting ionized Si-particles, a numeral 10 denoting a fixing jig for the puncture needles, and numerals 11 and 12 denoting a respective ceramic film formed on an outer surface and an inner surface of the puncture needle 3.
According to Fig. 5 , the ionized Si-particles 9 react with nitrogen gas as the reaction gas while moving straight toward the metal puncture needle 3 fixed on the sample holder 2 , thereby forming SiNx. Thus, SiNx is deposited on the surface of the

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puncture needle 3.
The invention is characterized in that in the above vapor deposition process for forming the deposition particles, i.e. , an SiNx ceramic, the puncture needle 3 is positioned in parallel with an approaching direction of the deposition particles as presenting a tip thereof against the approaching deposition particles.
Such a setting mode of the puncture needles effectively permits the deposition particles to enter and adhere to interiors of the puncture needles 3. Hence, as shown in Fig.6B, the insulating ceramic film 12 is effectively formed on the inner surface of the puncture needle and, of course , on the outer surface thereof.
It is noted here that the ceramic film on the puncture needle need not cover the whole of the outer surface thereof but only need to cover at least an area which contacts the tissues of an organism during use.
In this respect, there is a similar requirement for the inner surface of the puncture needle, which need be coated with the ceramic film over an area (represented by 'h' in Fig.6B) inwardly extending at least 1 mm from the needle tip (bottom of aperture). This is because the collected tissue slice may sometimes sustain the aforesaid negative effects unless the inner surface of the puncture needle has an coverage of the insulating

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ceramic film inwardly extending at least 1 mm from the needle tip. Preferably, the coverage of the ceramic film may inwardly extend about 3 to 10 mm from the needle tip (aperture bottom) .
Next, the reason for limitation of the invention will be explained as below.
According to the invention, the ceramic film featuring excellent insulation, adhesion and wear resistance is formed onmedical appliances at their metalportions directly contacting any part of the organisms, the medical appliances including medical needles such as injection needles, puncture needles, and suture needles; biopsy forceps ; forceps; surgical scissors; surgical knives and the like. (1) Coating Substrate
A substrate for medical appliances may be any of metal materials but particularly preferred are stainless steel and high tension steel.
The reason is because stainless steel is free from surface rust and easy to high-precision work. In particular, ferritic stainless steel may be advantageously used.
Preferred chemical compositions of a typical ferritic stainless steel are C: 0.01 wt% or less. Si: 1.0 wt% or less, Mn: 2.0 wt% or less, P: 0.08 wt% or less, S: 0.02 wt% or less, Cr: 10-35 wt%, and N: 0.10 wt% or with the remainder being Fe and unavoidable impurities. The ferritic stainless steel

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may further contain one or two or more types selected from the group consisting of Al: 0.3 wt% or less , Ni : 1.0 wt% or less, Mo: 3.0 wt% or less, Ti: 1.0 wt% or less, Nb: 1.0 wt% or less, V: 0.30 wt% or less, Zr: 1.0 wt% or less, Cu.: 1.0 wt% or less, W: 0.30 wt% or less, and B: 0.01 wt% or less.
Preferred chemical compositions of a typical high tension steel are C: 0.01 wt% or less, Si: 1.0 wt% or less, Mn: 2.0 wt% or less, P: 0.08 wt% or less, and S: 0.02 wt% or less, with the remainder being Fe and unavoidable impurities.
In a case where the stainless steel is used as the substrate to fabricate the medical appliances, for example, the following procedure may be taken . A stainless steel material is subjected to continuous casting process, followed by hot rolling, cold rolling and bright annealing, and then high-precision worked into any of various desired shapes. These steps may be carried out according to the conventional techniques.
In the case of the high tension steel, a commonly taken procedure includes the steps of continuous casting; hot rolling, cold rolling and annealing; welding opposite ends of sheet metal; and working the sheet metal into round pieces. (2) Ceramic Film
Metal surfaces of the resultantmedical appliances , which include the medical needles such as injection needles , puncture needles and suture needles; biopsy forceps; forceps; surgical

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scissors; and surgical knives, are cleaned by ultrasonic cleaning or electrolytic polishing and then, formed with the ceramic film. It is important to use an insulating ceramic having a resistance p of at least 105 O-m. This is because the ceramics having the resistance p of at least 105 O-m can fully eliminate the negative effects of damages, such as destruction or tear off, on the sliced tissues or cellular tissues at the lesion site that are contacted by the medical appliances.
Advantageous ceramics having the resistance p of at least 105 O-m may be at least one selected from the group consisting of nitrides, carbides or oxides of Al, B, Si, Cr and Ti.
A preferred thickness of the ceramic film is in the range of 0.05 to 5.0 um, because a ceramic film having a thickness of at least 0.05 um assures a sufficient insulating performance. On the other hand, a ceramic film having a thickness of 5.0 um or less is easier to attain good adhesion to the substrate and besides, obviates increased costs associated with the coating process. The film thickness was measured as follows, using a Stylus coating thickness tester Alpha-step 200 (commercially available from Tencor Instrument Inc) . The ceramic film was overlaid on a part of a glass slide to define a coated region and a non-coated region, and the film thickness was determined from a difference between levels of the coated region and the non-coated region.

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(3) Ceramic Film Coating Process
The ceramic film coating process is not particularly limited but an advantageous coating process is dry plating. Although the most preferred process is magnetron sputter ing which provides high ionization and high-speed film formation, other applicable processes include known PVD coating processes such as RF (Radio Frequency) ionplating (hereinafter, simply referred to as "RF process") , hollow cathode electro-discharge forming, and arc discharge forming; and CVD coating processes; and high-plasma CVD coating processes.
The followings are preferred conditions of ceramic film forming by magnetron sputtering.
In the case of an SiNx coating using ferrosilicon as a target, for example, optimum coating conditions are input power: 5-30 kW, vacuum degree: 0.8-3x10-3 Torr, Ar gas: 50-1000 seem, and N2 gas: 50-1000 seem (Standard Cubic Centi Meter per Minute) . (4) Ceramic Coated Portion.
The medical appliances of the invention, which include the medical needles such as injection needles, puncture needles and suture needles; biopsy forceps; forceps; surgical scissors; surgical knives and the like, need not have the ceramic film coating on their overall surfaces. The ceramic film only need be formed at least on each portion directly contacting the tissues of an organism during use.

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As specific examples of the invention, biopsy forceps, forceps and surgical scissors are shown in Figs.2A, 3A and 4A, respectively. It is noted that Figs.2B, 3B and 4B show the current medical appliances, respectively.
The needles as the subject matter of the invention are not limited to the aforesaid puncture needles and injection needles but may include any medical needles punctured into the organisms, that are used for injection of a contrast medium or acupuncture treatment, for example.
Unfortunately, the above coating process has another problem that a ceramic film of excellent insulating performance cannot be attained.
Hence, the inventors have made an intensive study to achieve the improvement and discovered that the insulating performance of the ceramic film can be effectively enhanced by increasing the 02 concentration of the coating atmosphere of the dry plating process.
Specifically, when the coating process was carried out in an 02-enriched atmosphere,, the resultant ceramic film, which was based on Al, B or Si, had quite an excellent insulating performance with resistance p > 109 o-m.
Furthermore, even in a ceramic film based on Cr or Ti, which could not achieve a resistance p of 105 Om or more according to the conventional techniques, an excellent insulating

28
performance with resistance p > 105 O-m was attained by increasing the O2 concentrations of the coating atmosphere.
However, it was also found that in a case where the coating atmosphere was increased in the O2 concentrations at an initial stage of the dry plating process, the resultant ceramic film was decreased in adhesion.
Therefore, the invention specifies that the O2 concentrations of the coating atmosphere is increased only in the latter half period of the dry plating process.
The latter half period of the coatingprocess to introduce the oxygen gas in the coating atmosphere is a stage when a percentage of iron contained in the hybrid layer of iron matrix and ceramic is decreased to 20 wt% or less (preferably 10 wt% or less) . If this stage is expressed in terms of a thickness of a formed ceramic film, the corresponding film thickness is equal to 10 to 50 % of the total film thickness. In a case where the 02 concentration of the coating atmosphere was increased in the former stage of the coating process when the percentage of ion contained in the mixed layer of iron matrix and ceramic was in excess of 20 wt%, the resultant ceramic film was decreased in adhesion and hence, the resistance p > 105 O-m could not be achieved.
Fig. 13 is agraphical representation of a relation between the resistance p of a SiNx ceramic-coated puncture needle and

29
the amount of introduced oxygen gas , the SiNx ceramic film formed in thickness of 1. 0 urn on the puncture needle surface by magnetron sputtering. It is noted that the oxygen gas was introduced only in the latter stage of the magnetron sputtering process (surface coating portion: 0.5 um in thickness).
As seen from Fig. 13, the introduction of oxygen gas dramatically increases the resistance p. Particularly, when the amount of introduced oxygen gas is 5 sccm or more, the resistance p is increased to 105 Om or more, and when the amount of introduced oxygen gas is 50 sccm or more, the resistance p is significantly increased to 1013 Q-m or more.
However, with the amount of introduced oxygen gas in excess of 500 sccm, the increasing effect of the resistance p reaches saturation.
Accordingly, the invention limits the introduction of oxygen gas into the coating atmosphere in the latter stage of the dry plating process to the range of 5 to 500 seem or preferably of 50 to 500 sccm.
Fig.14 graphically shows the results of analysis of Fe, N, 0 and Si in the thickness direction of the SiNx ceramic film as determined by glow discharge analysis.
As seen in Fig. 14, the concentrations of each component varies in the thickness direction. Particularly, 0 is rich in a 0.5 um deep region from surface. This indicates that the

30
ceramic film is functionally gradient in the thickness direction so that the ceramic coating film of good adhesion, insulating performance and wear resistance is obtained.
As mentioned above, an advantageous ceramic film to be formed may include at least one selected from the group consisting of nitrides, oxides or carbides of Al, B, Si, Cr and Ti.
The thickness of the ceramic film may preferably be in the range of 0.05 to 5.0 um, because the ceramic film having a thickness of at least 0 . 05 um assures the sufficient insulating performance. On the other hand, the ceramic film having a thickness of 5 . 0 um or less is easier to attain good adhesion to the substrate and besides , obviates increased costs associated with the coating process.
In the dry plating process according to the invention, a single element (metal element) may be used as the target in a case where the ceramic film to be formed is a nitride or carbide. In a case where the ceramic film to be formed is an oxide, it is preferred to use an oxide as the target.
In the formation of the ceramic coating film, an RF (Radio Frequency) device with magnets disposed around the target may advantageously be used for accomplishing high-plasma atmosphere and then good resistance.
The medical appliances of the invention, which include the medical needles such as inj ection needles, puncture needles

31
and suture needles ; biopsy forceps ; forceps ; surgical scissors ; surgical knives and the like, need not have the ceramic film coating on their overall surfaces. The ceramic film only need be formed at least on each portion directly contacting the tissues of an organism during use.
Fig. 11 shows another system according to invention, which provides a favorable plasma atmosphere free from abnormal discharge. According to Fig.11, the deposition particles (ionized Si-particles) 9 react with O2 gas as the reaction gas while moving straight toward the metal puncture needles 3 fixed on the sample holder 2, so as to be deposited as SiO2 on the surfaces of the puncture needles 3. It is noted that all the evaporated particles from the target are not ionized Si particles but some of them are SiO2 particles, not separated into Si and O2, to be deposited on the metal puncture needles 3 as they are.
According to the invention, the insulating material such as SiO2 is used as the target, which is provided with a high-plasma atmosphere forming magnet 21 and an RF device 19 in its vicinity, whereby the high-plasma atmosphere free from abnormal discharge can be produced. Therefore, the puncture needle having an excellent insulating performance can be fabricated without decreasing the adhesion of the ceramic film. Incidentally, a reference numeral 20 denotes a power source for the RF device.
The invention employs two sputter targets and adopts

32
W-cathpde system for alternately discharging these targets, thereby more effectively preventing the abnormal discharges from the target surfaces . In addition, the high-speed film formation is provided simultaneously.
As mentioned above, the invention uses the insulating material as the target. Hence, the adhesion to the substrate is somewhat decreased as compared with a case where a common metal/semi-metal target is used. However, the invention can obtain the ceramic film far more excellent in the insulating performance than a process wherein a reactive ceramic film is formed in the course of the process using the metal/semi-metal target.
A preferred thickness of the ceramic film is in the range of 0.05 to 5.0 um, because a ceramic film having a thickness of at least 0.05 um assures the sufficient insulating performance . On the other hand, a ceramic film having a thickness of 5.0 um or less is easier to achieve good adhesion to the substrate and besides, obviates increased costs associated with the coating process.
The coating process of the ceramic film according to the invention is not particularly limited, as described above. However, an advantageous coating process is dry plating. As to the dry plating, it is preferred to adopt magnetron sputtering which provides the atmosphere of high ion concentration and

33
high-speed film forming, and which facilitates the control of ceramic film thickness and the film coating process.
In this case, it is preferred to provide the high-plasma atmosphere forming magnet 21 and the RF device 19 around or above the cathodes for stable execution of the coating process in the high-plasma atmosphere free from abnormal discharge. In this case, the W-cathode system alternately discharging two sputter targets may be adopted for more effective prevention of the abnormal discharge.
The followings are preferred conditions for forming the ceramic film by magnetron sputtering.
For instance, a sintered SiO2 target may be used for SiO2 coating whereas a sintered SiNx target may be used for SiNx coating. In such cases, optimum coating conditions are input power: 5-50 kW, vacuum degree : 0 . 8xl0-4 -3x10-3 Torr, Ar gas rate: 50-500 sccm, and reaction gas rate (O2 or N2 gas): 50-2000 sccm.
In a case where the insulating target is used with the flowing reaction gas and all the particles from the target are deposited as a film of nitride, carbide or oxide, the resultant film has a somewhat lower adhesion to the needle as the substrate than a film formed from ionized particles from a metal target. Hence, a more advantageous approach may be taken to prevent the deterioration of adhesion, the approach wherein the supply of reaction gas such as O2 or N2 is suspended in the initial stage

34
of the coating process so that the coating process takes place in the presence of a certain amount of ionized particles,
The needles as the subject matter of the invention are not limited to the aforesaid puncture needles , inj ection needles and suture needles and may include any medical-needles punctured into the organisms, that are used for injecting the contrast medium, for example.
As mentioned above, the invention is characterized in that the ceramic insulating material, such as sintered SiO2, rather than the metal material is used as the target in order to form the ceramic coating film having the excellent insulating performance, and that the high-plasma atmosphere forming magnet 21 and the RF device 19 are disposed in vicinity of the cathodes for overlaying the ceramic film of high insulation in the favorable plasma atmosphere free from abnormal discharge.
The inventors used the above ceramic-coated puncture needle of the invention to collect rat hepatic tissues, which were observed in details with a. transmission electron microscope. As a result, the following new facts were discovered.
a) The surface of the tissues severed with the ceramic-coated
puncture needle is much smoother than that of tissues severed
with the ordinary stainless-steel puncture needle.
b) A case was observed wherein a part of a nucleus of a cell
collected with the ceramic-coated puncture needle was cut off

35
as shown in a transmission electron microscopic image of Fig. 7 .
Thus, the ceramic-coated needle with the ceramic film of high insulating performance have extremely decreased negative effects , such as destruction or tear-off, on the tissues or cells of the organism.
Hence, the inventors investigated the applicability of the invention to a wide range of technical fields in order to find applications of the above features of the ceramic-coated needle in other fields than the medical field.
Consequently, the inventors found that the invention provides excellent effects in the field ofbiopsy or particularly genetic control.
In the field of genetic control, glass or ceramic needles have conventionally been used for cutting off a cellular nucleus or injecting an immunological solution into the nucleus. Unfortunately, these needles have the following drawbacks. 1) A genetic control needle for cutting off the cellular nucleus or injecting the immunological solution or the like into the nucleus must be very fine. For instance, the nuclei have diameters on the order of 2 to 5 um and hence, the needle must be commensurate in size in order to perform the genetic control. However, it is extremely difficult to form such a fine needle from glass or ceramic and hence, the minimum possible needle size that is achieved by the prior art is 0.7 um or so.

36
2) Conventionally, the needle having the diameter on the order of 0.7 um has been used for cutting off the nucleus or injecting the immunological solution. Unfortunately, such a needle detrimentally has a lower cutting performance so as to encounter resistance from a nuclear envelope as a protective film of the nucleus, failing to accomplish precise cut-off of the nucleus or accurate injection of the immunological solution. 3) Since glass or ceramic is so fragile that it is naturally difficult to form a fine needle from glass or ceramic. In addition, such a glass or ceramic needle tends to break easily when used, and hence are difficult to handle.
In this connection, the inventors fabricated a novel ultra-fine ceramic-coated needle for genetic control based on the above findings and tried the resultant needle in the cut off of nuclei or injection of the immunological solution or the like.
As a result, it was demonstrated that such a ceramic-coated needle was capable of precisely cut off a part of a nucleus in a cell, permitting the genetic control without causing damaging effects, such as cell destruction or tear-off, on the cells or tissues around the penetrated needle.
The invention is based on the above finding.
The invention will hereinbelow be described in detail.
An ultra-fine needle of an equivalent size to that of

37
the nucleus is required for achieving the "genetic control via cut-off of the cell nucleus or injection of the immunological solution" as the object of the invention.
The cellular nuclei include egg cells (diameter: about 25 um) as a larger one and normal cell nuclei (diameter: about 2 to 5 urn) as a smaller one.
The reason for the limitation of the inventive ceramic-coated genetic control needle will be explained as below.
(1) Diameter of Ceramic-Coated Genetic Control Needle
In order to inject the immunological solution into a cell nucleus, the diameter of the needle is not necessarily smaller than that of the nucleus but may be of a size such that a tip of the needle can cut into the nucleus to inj ect the immunological solution. In the light of a precise control of the amount of injected immunological solution, however, it is of course advantageous that the needle has a size about 1/4 to 1/5 of that of the nucleus such as to permit its tip to bodily enter the nucleus.
Therefore, the invention defines a preferred size of the ceramic-coated genetic control needle to be in the range of 0 . 0005 to 0.5 mm.
(2) Substrate for Ceramic-Coated Genetic Control Needle
Although any metal materials are usable as a substrate for the ultra-fine needle, particularly preferred is stainless

38
steel.
The reason is because stainless steel is free from surface rust and easy to high-precision work. Above all, ferritic stainless steel may be advantageously used.
In a case where stainless steel is used as the substrate to fabricate the genetic control needle, for example, the following procedure may be taken. A stainless steel material, is subjected to continuous casting process, followed by hot rolling, cold rolling and bright annealing, and then high-precision worked into a desired shape. These steps may be carried out according to the conventional techniques.
Subsequently, the resultant needle is precision worked to a diameter of about 0.0005 to 0.5 mm? using the advanced high-precision working technique.
(3) Ceramic Film on Ceramic-Coated Genetic Control Needle
A surface of the resultant needle is cleaned by ultrasonic cleaning or electrolytic polishing and then, coated with a ceramic film. It is important to use an insulating ceramic having a resistance p of at least 10s O-m. This is because the ceramic having the resistance p of at least 105 O-m can fully eliminate the negative effects on sliced tissues, cells on a lesion area or a target cell nucleus contacted by the needle.
(4) Fabrication Method for Ceramic-Coated Genetic Control Needle
Description will hereinbelow be made on a method for

39
overlaying the ceramic film on an outer and an inner surface of the genetic control needle using the dry plating technique.
Fig. 8 schematically shows a magnetron sputtering system preferably used for the fabrication of a ceramic-coated genetic control needle according to the invention.
In Fig. 8, a reference numeral 1 denotes a vacuum vessel, a numeral 13 denoting a process chamber containing a sample holder and metal needles , a numeral 4 denoting a f errosilicon as a target, a numeral 5 denoting a magnet, a numeral 6 denoting a copper plate interposed between the target and the magnet, a numeral
7 denoting a water cooling pipe for the copper plate, a numeral
8 denoting an inlet port for a reaction gas. In addition, an
arrow 14 denotes a direction in which the air in the vacuum vessel
1 is evacuated (about 5x10-4 Torr), an arrow 15 denoting
differential-pressure high-vacuum evacuation for maintaining
the interior of the metal needles in higher vacuum (at least
5xl0-5 Torr, or at least 6. 65x10-3 Pa) , a numeral 9 denoting ionized
Si-particles. A numeral 16 denotes a differential-pressure
high-vacuum chamber.
Referring to Fig. 8 , the ionized Si-particles 9 react with nitrogen gas as the reaction gas while moving straight toward the metal puncture needles 3 fixed on the sample holder 2 in the process chamber 13, so as to be deposited as SiNx on the surfaces of the puncture needles 3.

40
However, the genetic control needle 3 is so fine as to make the invasion of plasma vapor flow into the needle extremely difficult.
According to the invention, a setting mode of the metal needles 3 is improved while the advanced differential-pressure evacuation technique is utilized to produce a state where a vacuum degree inside of the needle is higher than that outside of the needle. In this sate, the plasma coating process is carried out, allowing the plasma vapor flow to enter the interior of the needles for SiNx deposition.
Now referring to Fig. 9, a procedure for the differential-pressure high-vacuum evacuation and of the process chamber are described in detail.
In Fig.9, a numeral 3 denotes a metal genetic control needle, a numeral 2 denoting the sample holder, a numeral 10 denoting a fixing jig for the genetic control needles 3 , a numeral
17 denoting a tube interconnecting the genetic control needle
3 and the differential-pressure high-vacuum chamber 16 , a numeral
18 denoting a joint for coupling the tube 17 with the
differential-pressure high-vacuum chamber 16.
As shown in Fig.9, a first feature of the invention is that in the vapor deposition process for forming the SiNx ceramic film, the metal needle 3 is positioned in parallel, with an approaching direction of the deposition particles as presenting

41
a tip thereof against the approaching deposition particles.
Such a needle setting mode effectively permits the deposition particles to enter and adhere to the interior of the metal needle 3.
A second feature of the invention is that the metal genetic control needle 3 is connected with the differential-pressure high-vacuum chamber 16 so that the plasma coating is carried out in a state where the vacuum degree on the inside of the metal needle 3 is made higher than that outside of the. needle 3 by the differential-pressure evacuation technique.
The use of such a differential-pressure evacuation technique more effectively permits the deposition particles to enter the interior of the metal needle 3 and to be deposited thereto. As a result, a coverage of the ceramic film coating extends further inwardly of the metal needle 3 than a case where the differential-pressure evacuation technique is not used.
In fact, when the ceramic film was overlaid on the metal needle 3 according to the invention, the insulating ceramic film was effectively formed not only on the outer surface of the metal needle 3 but also on the inner surface thereof, as shown in Fig. 10 . In the figure, a numeral 11 denotes the ceramic film overlaid on the outer surface of the metal needle 3, whereas a numeral 12 denotes the ceramic film overlaid on the inner surface thereof.
It is preferred here that a difference between the

42
differential-pressure vacuum degrees at the outside and at the inside of the metal needle is at least 4 . 5xl0-4 Torr, although such a difference may vary depending upon the diameter of the metal needle.
As to an evacuation machine for evacuating the air from the vacuum vessel, a diffusion pump may sufficiently serve the purpose. However, a vacuum pump for achieving the differential-pressure high vacuum must be a pump capable of easily achieving the high vacuum. An example of such a pump includes Crio Pump and Turbo Pump.
The ceramic films on the outer and inner surfaces of the metal genetic control needle need not cover the overall surfaces of the needle. The ceramic film on the outer surface only need to cover at least a portion contacting the tissues of the organism, whereas the ceramic film on the inner surface only need to cover a portion contacting the cell nuclei in the tissues of the organism.
Specifically, the ceramic-coated area of the outer surface is at least 1 mm or preferably 10 mm from the tip of the metal needle, whereas that of the inner surface is at least 10 urn or preferably at least 1 mm from the tip (aperture bottom) of the metal needle (represented by 'h' in Fig.10).
The followings are preferred conditions for forming the ceramic film by magnetron sputtering.

43
In the case of an SiNx coating using ferrosilicon as a target, for example, optimum coating conditions are input power: 5-30 kW, vacuum degree (in vacuum vessel) : 0 . 8-3x10-3 Torr , Ar gas: 50-1000 sccm, and N2 gas: 50-1000 sccm.
A ceramic film having quite a high insulating performance
with resistance p of at least 109 O-m can be obtained by
introducing about 5 to 500 sccm of O2 gas during the plasma coating
process or particularly in the latter stage thereof.
(5) Surface Roughness Ra of Ceramic-Coated Genetic Control Needle
Smoothing the surface of the ceramic-coated needle significantly reduces the occurrence of morphological defects of cellular nuclei , such as cut face or contact surface tear-off, caused by the needle cutting off the nuclei or injecting the immunological solution.
Therefore, it is preferred to limit the surface roughness Ra of the ceramic film to 1.5 um or less, or more preferably to l.3 um or less. The reason for the limitation will be explained as below.
The aforementioned magnetron sputtering method was used to form a 0.7 um-thick SiNx ceramic film on an outer and an inner surface of a stainless-steel needle having a diameter of 0.1 mm. The SiNx ceramic films on the outer and inner surfaces of a tip portion of the needle were examined for the surface roughness.

44
In this examination, pre-coating surface roughnesses of the outer and inner surfaces of the stainless steel needle were also determined the same way and then, the pre-coating and post-coating surface roughnesses were compared.
The above examination used a surface texture measuring instrument commercially available fromBelty Inc. (Germany) and the arithmetic mean surface roughness Rawas determined according to JIS B0633 (ISO4288) . Since the diameter of the needle was too small to take accurate measurement on the inner surface, a similar SiNx ceramic film was formed on a stainless steel needle having a diameter of 1. 5 mm and measured. Measurement conditions were cut-off value ?c: 5 um, and measuring range ln: 5 mm.
For comparison, Figs. 15A and 15B show roughness profiles at the outer surface (arithmetic mean roughness Ra) of the tip portion of a needle before and after the deposition of the SiNx film. For comparison, Figs. 16A and 16B show roughness profiles at the inner surface (arithmetic mean roughness Ra) of the tip portion of the needle before and after the deposition of the SiNx film.
As seen from Figs. 15A and 16A, the stainless steel needle has arithmetic mean roughnesses Ra on the order of 2 um at the outer surface and the inner surface. In contrast, the stainless steel needle formed with the SiNx ceramic film is improved in the arithmetic mean roughness Ra to 1. 2 um or less at both the

45
outer and inner surfaces, as seen in Figs.l5B and 16B.
Aparticularly effective approach to decrease the surface roughness of the ceramic coating film is to adopt the aforementioned coating method wherein O2 is introduced in the atmosphere in the latter stage of the dry platingprocess , thereby imparting the ceramic film with the functionally gradient property in the thickness direction. The coating method provides stable reduction of the surface roughness Ra of the ceramic film to 1.3 urn or less.
As described above, both the outer and inner surfaces of the needle are dramatically smoothed by subj ecting the needle to the SiNx ceramic coating process in the atmosphere of high-density plasma. Thus, the use of such a needle results in the smooth cut-off of the cellular tissue or nuclei. .
In addition, the smoothed surface of the ceramic coating film contributes to a notable reduction of the occurrence of morphological defects of cellular nuclei, such as cut face or contact surface tear-off, caused by the needle cutting off the nuclei or inj ecting the immunological solution.
Therefore, the ceramic film of the invention may preferably have a surface roughness Ra of 1.5 um or less or more preferably of 1.3 urn or less. Example 1
A ferritic stainless steel material, containing C: 0.039

46
mass%, Si: 0.25 mass%/ Mn: 0.12 mass%, P: 0. 00 8 mass%, S; 0. 012 mass%, and Cr: 18.9 mass% with the remainder being Fe and unavoidable impurities, was subjected to continuous casting process, followed by hot rolling, cold rolling and bright annealing, and then high-precision worked into biopsy forceps , forceps, surgical scissors and a surgical knife.
Subsequently, the medical appliances were supersonically cleaned and subjected to the magnetron sputtering process illustrated in Fig.5 for formation of various ceramic films on the individual portions shown in Figs.2A to 4A. Specifically, the SiNx film was formed on the biopsy forceps, the SiO2 film was formed on the forceps, a BN film was.formed on the surgical scissors, and an A12O3 film was formed on the surgical knife. For comparison purpose, a TiN film was formed on the biopsy forceps . All the coating films had a thickness of about 1 um. Thickness measurement was performed in the aforementioned manner using the Stylus coating thickness tester Alpha-step 200 (commercially available from Tencor Instrument Inc) . That is, the film thickness was determined from a difference between levels of the coated region and the non-coated region on the glass slide.
The resultant medical appliances including the biopsy forceps, forceps, surgical scissors and surgical knife were examined for the insulating performance {resistance p) and adhesion of the ceramic films thereof. The results are listed

47
in Table 1.
The adhesion of the ceramic films was determined as follows . A ceramic-coated stainless steel sheet was prepared by forming each ceramic film on the stainless steel sheet the same way as the above. Each ceramic-coated steel sheet was wrapped around each of bars of different diameters to evaluate the adhesion based on a minimum diameter of a bar that did not encounter the delamination of the ceramic film. A minimum diameter of 20 mm or less was graded as good adhesion (O), a diameter of more than 20 mm to 30 mm or less was graded as acceptable (A) and a minimum diameter of more than 30 mm was graded as poor (X) . As described above, the resistance p was determined by the four probe method of resistivity measurement. The resistance p of oO means a resistance p of at least 109 O-m.
As shown in Table 1 , all the medical appliances according to the invention had quite excellent insulating performance and good film adhesion. Example 2
A ferritic stainless steel material, containing in mass percentage C: 0.033 %, Si: 0.20 %, Mn: 0.15 %, P: 0.008 %, S: 0 . 008 % , and Cr : 17.7% with the remainder being Fe and unavoidable impurities, was subjected to continuous casting process, followed by hot rolling, cold rolling and bright annealing, and then high-precision worked into a puncture needle (outside

48
diameter: 2.0 mm, length: 170 mm), biopsy forceps, forceps, surgical scissors and a surgical knife.
Subsequently, the medical appliances were supers onically cleaned and subjected to the magnetron sputtering process illustrated in Fig. 5 (with the RF device also used in some step) for formation of various ceramic films listed in Table 2 in the high-plasma atmosphere. In the coating process, the former stage was carried out in the normal coating atmosphere, whereas the latter stage (surface coating portion: 0.5 urn in thickness) was carried out with oxygen gas introduced in the atmosphere in different amounts. All the coating films had a thickness of about 1.0 um. Thickness measurement was taken the same way as in Example 1. The coating conditions were input power: 6 kW, Ar gas: 100 seem, and N2 gas: 130 sccm (No.l, 3, 5).
The resultant medical appliances were examined for the insulatingperf ormance (resistance p) and adhesion of the ceramic films thereof. The results are listed in Table 2.
The adhesion of the ceramic films listed in Table 2 was determined as follows. A ceramic-coated stainless steel sheet was prepared by forming each ceramic film on the stainless steel sheet the same way. Each ceramic-coated steel sheet was wrapped around each of bars of different diameters to evaluate the adhesion based on the minimum diameter of a bar that did not encounter the delamination of the ceramic film. The adhesion

49
of the ceramic films was evaluated based on the same criteria as in Example 1. Similarly to Example 1, the resistance p was determined by the four probe method of resistivity measurement. The resistance p = oO means a resistance p of at least 109 O-m.
As shown in Table 2, all the medical appliances according to the invention had quite excellent insulating performance and good film adhesion. Example 3
A ferritic stainless steel material (a) containing C: 0.03 mass%. Si: 0.2 mass%, Mn: 0.15 mass%, P: 0.010 mass%, S: 0.010 mass%, and Cr: 18.8 mass% with the remainder being Fe and unavoidable impurities; and an austenite stainless steel material (b) containing C: 0.05 mass%. Si: 0.3 mass%f Mn: 0.20 mass%, P:0.012 mass%, S: 0.011 mass%, Cr: 19.1 mass%, Ni: 9.1 mass% and Mo: 0.25 mass% with the remainder being Fe and unavoidable impurities were each subjected to continuous casting process, followed by hot rolling, cold rolling and bright annealing, and then high-precision worked into a contrast medium needle having an outside diameter of 0.8 mm and a length of 200 mm. After supersonically cleaned, the contrast medium needles were set in the magnetron sputtering system shown in Fig.5 for SiNx film formation in the high plasma atmosphere.
The magnetron sputtering process formed the SiNx ceramic film in a thickness of 0.8 um under the conditions of Ar: 100

50
sccm, and N2: 65 sccm. Thickness measurement was taken the
same way as in Example 1. A coverage area of the SiNx film on
the outer surface was 70 mm from the needle tip, whereas a coverage
area of that on the inner surface was 6 mm from the needle tip
(aperture bottom).
Table 3 shows the results of examination on the texture damage degree (TDD) of tissues collected using each of the resultant ceramic-coated contrast medium needles and the adhesion of each of the SiNx ceramic films.
The adhesion of the ceramic films was determined as follows . A ceramic-coated stainless steel sheet was prepared by forming each ceramic film on the stainless steel sheet the same way. Each ceramic-coated steel sheet was wrapped around each of bars of different diameters to evaluate the adhesion based on the minimum diameter of a bar that did not encounter the delamination of the ceramic film. The adhesion of the ceramic films was evaluated based on the same criteria as in Example 1. Similarly to Example 1, the resistance p was determined by the four probe method of resistivity measurement. The resistance p = oO means a resistance p of at least 109 O-m.
For comparison purpose. Table 3 also shows the results of a contrast medium needle formed from the ferritic stainless steel (a) and free from the ceramic film.
As shown in Table 3, both the ceramic needles according

51
to the invention had good film adhesion and presented good TDD values of 0.15 or less for the collected tissues. Example 4
A ferritic stainless steel material containing C: 0.03 mass%, Si: 0.3 mass%, Mn: 0.12 mass%, P: 0.011 mass%, S: 0.009 mass%, and Cr: 16.9 mass% with the remainder being Fe and unavoidable impurities, was subjected to continuous casting process, followed by hot rolling, cold rolling and bright annealing, and then high-precision worked into a needle for biopsy examination (hereinafter, referred to as "biopsy needle") having an outside diameter of 2.1 mm and a length of 170 mm. After supersonically cleaned, the biopsy needle was subjected to the magnetron sputtering process illustrated in Fig. 5 (with the RF device also used in some step) for formation of various ceramic films listed in Table 4 in the high-plasma atmosphere. Thickness measurement was taken the same way as in Example 1. In this process, the biopsy needle was set in the same way as that shown in Fig.5.
Table 4 shows the results of examination on the texture damage degree (TDD) of tissues collected using each of the resultant ceramic-coated needles and the adhesion of the ceramic films. The adhesion of the ceramic films was evaluated based on the same criteria as in Example 1. Similarly to Example 1, the resistance p was determined by the four probe method of

52
resistivity measurement. The resistance p = oO means a resistance p of at least 109 o-m.
As shown in Table 4, in the case where the insulating ceramic film having a resistance p of at least 105 O-m was formed according to the invention, the TDD for the collected tissues was reduced to 0 . 35 or less. Therefore, the use of such needles fully eliminated the negative effects not only on the cells around the needle penetrated into the lesion but also on the sliced tissues. Example 5
A ferritic stainless steel material containing C: 0.033 mass%, Si: 0.3 mass%, Mn: 0.13 mass%, P: 0.009 mass%, S: 0.011 mass%, and Cr: 17.9 mass% with the remainder being Fe and unavoidable impurities, was subjected to continuous casting process, followed by hot rolling, cold rolling and bright annealing, and then high-precision worked into a puncture needle having an outside diameter of 0.9 mm, an inside diameter of 0.75 mm and a length of 230 mm.
After supersonically cleaned, the needle was set in the magnetron sputtering system shown in Fig.11 for formation of various 1. 0 um-thick ceramic films in the high-plasma atmosphere. Thickness measurement was taken the same way as in Example 1.
In this process, the puncture needles were set the same way as shown in Fig.11 while each of various materials listed

53
in Table 5 was used as the sputter target. In particular, the W-cathode system was used when the target No. 2 or No. 4 was used in Table 5.
A coverage area of the ceramic film formed on the outer surface by the magnetron sputtering process was on the order of 50 to 80 mm from the needle tip, whereas a coverage area of that on the inner surface was on the order of 5 to 8 mm from the needle tip (aperture bottom).
Table 5 shows the results of examination on the adhesion and the insulating performance (resistance p) of the ceramic films on the ceramic-coated puncture needles.
The adhesion of the ceramic films was determined as follows . A ceramic-coated stainless steel sheet was prepared by forming each ceramic film on the stainless steel sheet the same way. Each ceramic-coated steel sheet was wrapped around each of bars of different diameters to evaluate the adhesion based on the minimum diameter of a bar that: did not encounter the delamination of the ceramic film. The adhesion of each ceramic film was evaluated based on the same criteria as in Example 1. Similarly to Example 1, the resistance p was determined by the four probe method of resistivity measurement. The resistance p = oO means a resistance p of at least 109 O-m.
As shown in Table 5, the ceramic-coated needles according to the invention had quite excellent insulating performance and

54
favorable film adhesion. Exarr.ple 6 (Egg Cell with Large Nucleus (about 25 um) )
A ferritic stainless steel material containing C: 0.030 mass%. Si: 0.22 mass%, Mn: 0.18 mass%, P: 0.009 mass%, S; 0.008 mass%, and Cr: 17.9 mass% with the remainder being Fe and unavoidable impurities, was subjected to continuous casting process, followed by hot rolling, cold rolling and bright annealing, and then high-precision worked into a metal needle having an outside diameter of 0 . 2 mm, an inside diameter of 0.15 mm and a length of 100 mm.
After supersonically cleaned, the metal needle was coated with an SiNx film by means of the magnetron sputtering system shown in Figs.8 and 9.
The magnetron sputtering process formed a 0.7 urn-thick SiNx film under conditions of Ar: 100 seem, and N2: 150 sccm. Thickness measurement was taken the same way as in Example 1. A coverage area of the SiNx ceramic film on the outer surface was 50 mm from the needle tip, whereas a coverage area of that on the inner surface was 8 mm from the needle tip (aperturebottom) .
When the SiNx ceramic-coated needle was used to inject an immunological solution into an egg, the tip of the ceramic needle smoothly entered the egg and a predetermined amount of immunological solution could be injected accurately.
The needle had substantially no negative effects on the

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tissues of the organism, presenting a texture damage degree (TDD) of 0.33. Example 7 (Lymphatic Cell with Small Nucleus (about 3 um) )
A ferritic stainless steel material containing C: 0.045 mass%, Si: 0 . 34 mass%, Mn: 0.25 mass%, P: 0.010 mass%, S: 0.007 mass%, and Cr: 16.9 mass% with the remainder being Fe and unavoidable impurities, was subjected to continuous casting process, followed by hot rolling, cold rolling and bright annealing, and then high-precision worked into a metal needle having an outside diameter of 0.005 mm, an inside diameter of 0.002 mm and a length of 50 mm.
After supersonically cleaned, the metal needle was coated with a 0 . 5 um-thick BN film by means of the magnetron sputtering system shown in Figs.8 and 9 (with the RF device also used in some step). Thickness measurement was taken the same way as in Example 1.
When the BN ceramic-coated needle was used to cut off a cell nucleus, a precise cut-off of the nucleus at an intended site could be achieved.
As a matter of course, the needle had substantially no negative effects on the tissues of organism, presenting a texture damage degree (TDD) of 0.30. Example 8
A ferritic stainless steel material containing C: 0.039

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mass%, Si; 0.28 mass%, Mn: 0.26 mass%, P: 0 . 012 mass%, S: 0.009 mass%, and Cr: 18.3 mass% with the remainder being Fe and unavoidable impurities, was subjected to continuous casting process, followed by hot rolling, cold rolling and bright annealing, and then high-precision worked into a stainless steel needle having an outside diameter of 0 . 005 mm, an inside diameter of 0 . 002 mm and a length of 50 mm. After supersonically cleaned, the needle was coated with an SiNx film by means of the magnetron sputtering system shown in Figs.8 and 9 in the high plasma atmosphere.
The magnetron sputtering process formed a 0.5 um-thick SiNx film under conditions of Ar: 100 sccm and N2: 130 sccm. Thickness measurement was taken the same way as in Example 1,
In this process, the vacuum on the outer surface of the needle was controlled to 1. 5xl0-3 Torr, whereas the vacuum inside of the needle was controlled to 5.0xl0~5 Torr.
A coverage area of the SiNx ceramic film on the outer surface was 5 mm from the needle tip, whereas a coverage area of that on the inner surf ace was 20 um from the needle tip (aperture bottom).
When the SiNx ceramic-coated needle was used to cut off a cell nucleus, a precise cut-off of the nucleus at an intended site could be achieved.
As a matter of course, the needle had substantially no

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negative effects on the tissues of the organism such as destruction or tear-off, presenting a texture damage degree (TDD) of 0.30. Example 9
A ferritic stainless steel material containing C: 0.03 mass%, Si: 0.06 mass%, Mn: 1.3 mass%, P: 0.031 mass%, S: 0.012 mass%, and Cr: 17.9 mass% with the remainder being Fe and unavoidable impurities, was subjected to continuous casting process, followed by hot rolling, cold rolling and bright annealing, and then high-precision worked into metal needles having different outside diameters and inside diameters.
After supersonically cleaned, the needles were coated with various ceramic films by means of the magnetron sputtering system shown in Figs. 8 and 9 in the high plasma atmosphere. The resultant films had a thickness of 1. 0 um. Thickness measurement was taken the same way as in Example 1.
In this process, the metal needles were set the same way as in Fig.. 9 while each of various materials listed in Table 6 was used as the sputter target.
Table 6 shows the results of examination on the insulating performance (resistance p) and the texture damage degree (TDD) of the ceramic films of the ceramic-coated needles.
As shown in Table 6, the ceramic-coated needles according to the invention had quite excellent insulating performance and

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presented favorable texture damage degrees of low values. Example 10
A stainless steel material containing C: 0.042 mass%. Si: 0.31 mass%,Mn: 0.21 mass%, P: 0.011 mass%, S: 0.008 mass%/ and Cr: 17.9 mass% with the remainder being Fe and unavoidable impurities , was subjected to hot rolling, cold rolling and bright annealing, and then high-precision worked into a stainless steel needle having an outside diameter of 0 . 005 mm, an inside diameter of 0.002 mm and a length of 50 ram. After supersonically cleaned, the needle was coated with an SiNx film by means of the magnetron sputtering system shown in Figs.8 and 9 in the high plasma atmosphere.
The magnetron sputtering process formed a 0.5 um-thick SiNx ceramic film under conditions of Ar: 100 sccm and N2: 130 sccm. Thickness measurement was taken the same way as in Example 1.
In this process, the vacuum on the outer surface of the needle was controlled to 1.60xl0-1 Pa (1.2xl0-3 Torr) , whereas the vacuum inside of the needle was controlled to 9.31xlO-3 Pa (7.0xl0-5 Torr) .
A coverage area of the SiNx ceramic film on the outer surface was 50 mm from the needle tip, whereas a coverage area (area represented by 'h' in Fig. 10) of that on the inner surface was 50 um from the needle tip (aperture bottom).

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The resultant SiNx ceramic-coated needle had a surface roughness Ra of 1.1 um. When this needle was used to cut off a cell nucleus, a precise cut-off of the nucleus at an intended site could be achieved.
As a matter of course, the needle had substantially no negative effects on the tissues of the organism such as destructionor tear-off, presenting a texture damage degree (TDD) of 0.29. Example 11
A stainless steel material containing C: 0.033 mass%. Si: 0.22 mass%, Mn: 0.13 mass%, P: 0.009 mass%, S: 0.012 mass%, and Cr: 18.6 mass% with the remainder being Fe and unavoidable impurities, was subjected to continuous casting process, followed by hot rolling, cold rolling and bright annealing, and then high-precision worked into metal needles having different outside diameters and inside diameters.
After supersonically cleaned, the needles were coated with various ceramic films by means of the magnetron sputtering system shown in Figs.8 and 9 in the high plasma atmosphere, respectively. Thickness measurement was taken the same way as in Example 1.
In this process, the metal needles were set the same way as in Fig. 9 while each of various materials listed in Table 7 was used as the sputter target.

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Table 7 shows the results of examination on the surface roughness (Ra) , the insulating performance (resistance p) and the texture damage degree (TDD) of the ceramic films of the ceramic-coated needles.
As shown in Table 7 , the ceramic-coated needles according to the invention achieved the surface roughness of 1.3 um or less, also having quite excellent insulating performance and favorable texture damage degrees of low values. Example 12
A stainless steel material containing C: 0.023 mass%. Si: 0.26 mass%, Mn: 0.18 mass%, P: 0.01 mass%, S: 0.011 mass%, and Cr: 17.3 mass% with the remainder being Fe and unavoidable impurities, was subjected to continuous casting process, followed by hot rolling, cold rolling and bright annealing, and then high-precision worked into metal needles having different outside diameters and inside diameters.
Similarly to Example 11, the needles were supersonically cleaned and then coated with various ceramic films by means of the magnetron sputtering system shown in Figs.8 and 9 in the high plasma atmosphere, respectively. Thickness measurement was taken the same way as in Example 1.
In the course of the plasma process, O2 was introduced in the atmosphere to obtain the ceramic films functionally gradient in the thickness direction.

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Table 8 shows the results of examination on the surface roughness (Ra) , the insulating performance (resistance p) and the texture damage degree (TDD) of the ceramic films of the ceramic-coated needles.
As shown in Table 8, the ceramic-coated needles according to the invention achieved the surface roughness of 1.2 um or less, also having quite excellent insulating performance and favorable texture damage degrees of low values.
Industrial Applicability
According to the invention, the ceramic-coated medical appliances can be fabricated in a stable manner, the appliances featuring such an excellent insulating performance as to exert no negative effects, such as destruction or tear-off, on the tissues or cells of the organism subjected to surgery or the like.
According to the invention, the ceramic-coated medical needles can be fabricated in a stable manner, the needles having no risk of breakage during use nor negative effects on the sliced tissues or the tissue area around the needle at the site of penetration into the lesion.
According to the invention, the genetic control operation, such as cut-off of the cellular nucleus or injection of the immunological solution or the like into the nucleus, can be

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performed easily without causing any negative effects on the area around the needle punctured into the nucleus nor on the cellular nucleus in the needle.

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We claim :-
1. A ceramic-coated medical appliance or biopsy appliance
wherein at least a metal part directly contacting an organism is
coated with an insulating ceramic film of thickness 0.05 to 5.0 um
having a resistance p of at least 105 0-m.
2. A ceramic-coated medical appliance or biopsy appliance as
claimed in claim 1, wherein the ceramic film comprises at least
one selected from the group consisting of nitrides, carbides or
oxides of Al, B, Si. Cr and Ti.
3. A ceramic-coated medical appliance or biopsy appliance as
claimed in any one of claims 1 & 2, wherein the medical
appliance is any one of biopsy forceps, forceps, surgical
scissors and a surgical knife.
4. A ceramic-coated medical appliance or biopsy appliance as
claimed in any one of claims 1 & 2, wherein the ceramic-coated
medical appliance is any one of an injection needle, puncture
needle and suture needle.
5. A ceramic-coated medical appliance or biopsy appliance as
claimed in claim 4, wherein the insulating ceramic film of a
resistance p of 10 Sim or more is formed on a part or the whole
of a surface of the needle.
6. A ceramic-coated medical appliance or biopsy appliance as
claimed in claim 5, wherein the ceramic film has a thickness of
0.05 to 5.0 um.
71

7. A ceramic-coated medical appliance or biopsy appliance as
claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the ceramic film comprises at
least one selected from the group consisting of nitrides,
carbides or oxides of Al, B, Si, Cr and Ti.
8. A ceramic-coated medical appliance or biopsy appliance as
claimed in claims 5, 6 or 7, wherein a substrate metal of the
coated needle is stainless steel or high tension steel.
9. A ceramic-coated medical appliance or biopsy appliance as
claimed in claim 5, wherein a ceramic-coated area of the needle
is a part or the whole of an outer surface thereof and a
portion of an inner surface thereof that is 1 mm inward from a
tip of the needle.

10. A ceramic-coated medical appliance or biopsy appliance as
claimed in claim 9, wherein the ceramic film has a thickness of
0.05 to 5.0 um.
11. A ceramic-coated medical appliance or biopsy appliance as
claimed in Claim 9 or 10, wherein the ceramic film comprises at
least one selected from the group consisting of nitrides,
carbides or oxides of Al, B, Si, Cr and Ti.
12. A ceramic-coated medical appliance or biopsy appliance as
claimed in claims 9, 10 or 11, wherein a substrate metal of the
coated needle is stainless steel or high tension steel.
13 . A ceramic-coated medical appliance or biopsy appliance as claimed in any one of claims 1 & 2, wherein the biopsy appliance is a genetic control needle.
12

14. A ceramic-coated genetic control needle as claimed in Claim
13, wherein a ceramic-coatecl area of the metal needle is at
least a portion of a surface thereof that contacts a cell nucleus
in tissue of an organism.
15. A ceramic-coated genetic control needle as claimed in Claim
13 or 14, wherein the coated needle has a diameter of 0.0005 to
0.05 mm.
16. A ceramic-coated genetic control needle as claimed in any
one of Claims 13, 14 or 15, wherein the ceramic film comprises at
least one selected from the group consisting of nitrides, oxides
or carbides of Al, B, Si, Cr and Ti.
17. A ceramic-coated genetic control needle as claimed in Claim
13, wherein a ceramic-coated area of an outer surface of the
metal needle is at least a portion thereof that contacts tissue
of an organism, whereas a ceramic-coated area of an inner surface
of the needle is at least a portion thereof that contacts a cell
nucleus in the tissue of the organism.
18. A ceramic-coated genetic control needle as claimed in Claim
17, wherein the coverage of the insulating ceramic film on the
inner surface of the metal needle extends 10 um or more from a
tip of the metal needle.
19. A ceramic-coated genetic control needle as claimed in Claim
17 or 18, wherein the ceramic film has a thickness of 0.05 to
5 . 0 um.
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20. A ceremic-coated genetic: control needle as claimed in any
one of Claims 17,18 or 19, wherein the ceramic film comprises at
least one selected from the group consisting of nitrides,
carbides or oxides of Al, B, Si, Cr and Ti.
21. A ceremic-coated genetic control needle as claimed in any one
of Claims 17 to 20, wherein a substrate metal of the needle is
stainless steel or high tension steel.
22. A ceramic coated genetic control needle as claimed in any one
of Claims 17 to 21, wherein the needle has a diameter 0 of 0.0005
to 0.5 mm.
23. A ceramic-coated genetic control needle as claimed in Claim
13, wherein a ceramic-coated area of the metal needle is at least
a respective portion of an outer and an inner surface thereof
that contacts a cell nucleus in tissue of an organism, and that
the ceramic film has an arithmetic mean surface roughness Ra of
1.5 um or less.
24. A ceramic-coated genetic control needle as claimed in Claim
23, wherein the coverage of the insulating ceramic film on the
inner surface extends at least 10 um from a tip of the needle.
25. A ceramic-coated genetic control needle as claimed in Claim
23 or 24, wherein the ceramic film has a thickness of 0.05 to
5.0 um.
26. A ceramic-coated genetic control needle as claimed in any one
of Claims 23, 24 or 25, wherein the ceramic film comprises at
least one selected from the group consisting of nitrides,
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carbides or oxides of Al, B, Si, Cr and Ti.
27. A ceramic-coated genetic control needle as claimed in any one
of Claims 23 to 26, wherein a substrate metal of the needle is
stainless steel or high tension steel.
28. A ceramic-coated genetic control needle as claimed in any
one of Claims 23 to 27, wherein the needle has a diameter ? of
0.0005 to 0.5 mm.
29. A fabrication method for ceramic-coated medical applicance
or biopsy appliance as claimed in claim 1 wherein an insulating
ceramic coating film is formed by dry plating at least on a metal
portion of a metallic medical appliance or biopsy appliance that
directly contacts an organism.

30. A fabrication method for ceramic-coated medical appliance or
biopsy appliance as claimed in Claim 29, wherein 5 to 500 scccm
of O2 is introduced in a coating atmosphere in the latter stage
of the dry plating process, thereby offering a ceramic-coated
medial appliance or biopsy appliance having excellent insulating
performance, adhesion and wear resistance and featuring a
resistance p of 105 o-m or more at least at a top surface of
the ceramic film.
31. A fabrication method for ceramic-coated medical appliance at
biopsy appliance as claimed in Claim 29 or 30, wherein the top
surface of the ceramic film has a resistance p of 109 om or more.
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32. A fabrication method for ceramic coated medical appliance or
biopsy appliance as claimed in any one of Claims 29, 30 or 31,
wherein the ceramic film comprises at least one selected from
the group consisting of nitrides, oxides or carbides of Al, B,
Si, Cr and Ti.
33. A fabrication method for ceramic-coated medical appliance as
claimed in any one of Claims 29 to 32, wherein the medical
appliance is any one of biopsy forceps, forceps, surgical
scissors and a surgical knife.
34. A fabrication method for ceramic-coated medical appliance as
claimed in any one of Claims 29 to 32, wherein the medical
appliance is an injection needle or puncture needle.

35. A fabrication method for ceramic-coated medical needle as
claimed in Claim 34, wherein the metal needle is set in parallel
with an approaching direction of deposition particles as
presenting a tip thereof against the approaching deposition
particles and the ceramic film is formed at least on the tip
portion of the needle by dry plating.
36. A fabrication method for ceramic-coated medical needle as
claimed in Claim 35, wherein the ceramic film is an insulating
ceramic film having a resistance p of 10 Sim or more.
37. A fabrication method for ceramic-coated medical needle as
claimed in Claim 35 or 36, wherein the ceramic film has a
thickness of 0.05 to 5.0 um.
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38. A fabrication method for ceramic-coated medical needle as
claimed in Claim 35, 36 or 37, wherein the ceramic film comprises
at least one selected from the group consisting of nitrides,
carbides or oxides of Al, B, Si, Cr and Ti.
39. A fabrication method for ceramic-coated medical needle as
claimed in any one of Claims 35 to 38, wherein a substrate metal
of the coated needle is stainless steel or high tension steel.
40. A fabrication method for ceramic-coated medical needle as
claimed in Claim 35, wherein the insulating ceramic film is
formed by magnetron sputtering process using, as a sputter
target, at least one selected from the group consisting of
nitrides, carbides or oxides of Al, B, Si, Cr and Ti while
preventing abnormal discharge by disposing a high-plasma
atmosphere forming magnet and an RF device around the target,
thereby overlaying the ceramic film on a part or the whole of an
outer surface of the needle and on a portion of an inner surface
thereof at least l mm inward from a tip of the needle.
41. A fabrication method for ceramic-coated medical needle as
claimed in Claim 40, wherein two of the sputter targets are
disposed for forming the insulating ceramic film based on a
W-cathode system.
42. A fabrication method for ceramic-coated medical needle as
claimed in Claim 40 or 41, wherein the metal needle is set in
parallel with an approaching direction of deposition particles as
presenting its tip against the approaching deposition particles.
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43. A fabrication method for ceramic-coated medical needle as
claimed in any one Claims 40, 41 or 42, wherein the supply of
reaction gas is suspended in an initial stage of the magnetron
sputtering process.
44. A fabrication method for ceramic-coated genetic control
needle appliance as claimed in any one of Claims 29 to 32,
wherein the biopsy appliance is a genetic control needle.
45. A fabrication method for ceramic-coated genetic control
needle as claimed in Claim 44, wherein the metal needle is set
in parallel with an approaching direction of deposition particles
as presenting a tip thereof against the approaching deposition
particles, and wherein the insulating ceramic film having a
resistance p of 10 om or more is formed at least on the tip
portion of the needle by dry plating with an interior of the
needle maintained at higher vacuum than the outside thereof
through differential-pressure evacuation.
46. A system for fabricating a ceramic-coated genetic control
needle comprising a magnetron sputtering apparatus, a sample
holder and a differential-pressure high-vacuum chamber in a
vacuum vessel of a dry plating system, wherein a metal needle as
a coating object is set on the sample holder as positioned in
parallel with an approaching direction of deposition particles
and presenting a tip thereof against the approaching deposition
particles, and wherein a trailing end of the needle is connected
with the differential-pressure high-vacuum chamber via a tube
for maintaining an interior of the metal needle at higher vacuum
78

than outside thereof by differential pressure vacuum effect while an insulating ceramic film is formed on an outer and an inner surface of the metal needle.

79
Ceramic-coated medical appliance or biopsy appliance is quite excellent in insulating performance which has no negative effects on tissues or cells of an organism subjected to surgery, a ceramic-coated genetic control needle which has no risk of breaking during use nor no unfavorable effects, such as destruction or tear-off, on sliced tissues or tissue areas around the needle at site of penetration into a lesion and which cuts off a cello nucleus or injects an immunological solution into the nucleus without causing any negative effects on tissues around the penetrated needle, and a fabrication method for the same.
Specifically, in the ceramic-coated medial needle, genetic control needle, biopsy forceps and medical appliances such as forceps, surgical scissors and surgical knife, an insulating ceramic film having a resistance p of 105 ?-m or more is formed, by dry plating , at least on a portion, a part or the whole of an outer and/or an inner surface of a metal needle that directly contact an organism, or cells or cell nuclei thereof.

Documents:


Patent Number 208396
Indian Patent Application Number 00319/KOLNP/2003
PG Journal Number 30/2007
Publication Date 27-Jul-2007
Grant Date 26-Jul-2007
Date of Filing 17-Mar-2003
Name of Patentee KAWASAKI STEEL CORPORATION
Applicant Address 1-28,KITAHONMACHIDORI 1-CHOME,CHUO-KU,KOBE-SHI,HYOGO 651-0075, JAPAN
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 INOKUTI YUKIO TECHNICAL RESEARCH LABORATORIES KAWASAKI STEEL CORPORATION 1.KAWASAKICHO,CHUO-KU,CHIBA-SHI,CHIBA 260-0835,JAPAN
2 MORI, HIROTARO RESEARCH CENTER FOR ULTRA-HIGH VOLTAGE ELECTRON MICROSCOPY, OSAKA UNIVERCITY 7-1,MIHOGAOKA IBARAKI OSAKA 567-0047,
3 FUKUDA HIROYUKI MEDICAL DEPARTMENT,CHIBA UNIVERCITY,1-8-1,INOHANA,CHUO-KU,CHIBA-SHI, CHIBA 260-8677
4 EBARA MASAAKI MEDICAL DEPARTMENT,CHIBA UNIVERCITY,1-8-1,INOHANA,CHUO-KU,CHIBA-SHI, CHIBA 260-8677
PCT International Classification Number A 61 B 17/30
PCT International Application Number PCT/JP03/00498
PCT International Filing date 2003-01-22
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 2002-060005 2002-03-06 Japan
2 2002-190075 2002-06-28 Japan
3 2002-045894 2002-02-22 Japan
4 2002-112764 2002-04-16 Japan
5 2002-012863 2002-01-22 Japan