DIRECT MANUFACTURE OF DENTAL AND MEDICAL DEVICES

• US 20080228303A1
• Filed: 03/13/2008
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Voxelogix Corporation
• Original Assignee: Voxelogix Corporation
• Inventors: Schmitt, Stephen M.
• Application Number:
  US12/048,047
• Publication Number:
  US 20080228303A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/98
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 13/0004 Computer-assisted sizing or machining of dental prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/063 Medicament applicators for teeth or gums, e.g. treatment with fluorides
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4097 characterised by using design data to control NC machines, e.g. CAD/CAM G05B19/4093 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture

Abstract

A method of making a medical or dental part may comprise creating a first digital model, manufacturing an initial embodiment of the part based on the first digital model using a layered manufacturing process, creating a second digital model of the initial embodiment of the part, determining the difference between the second digital model and the first digital model, and machining the initial embodiment of the part to create a final embodiment of the part by removing an amount of material substantially representative of the difference. A computer readable medium for performing such method is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of making a medical or dental part comprising:

creating a first digital model of said part;

manufacturing an initial embodiment of said part based on said first digital model using a layered manufacturing process;

creating a second digital model of said initial embodiment;

determining a difference between said second digital model and said first digital model; and

machining said initial embodiment to create a final embodiment of said part by removing an amount of material substantially representative of said difference.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said layered manufacturing process comprises EBM.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said machining comprises using a NC machine.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said first digital model of said part is created in the context of a digital model of at least a portion of a patient'"'"'s anatomy.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said second digital model is created using a machine selected from a contact digitizer, a laser imaging machine, and a light imaging machine.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said first digital model comprises data representative of at least one hole or recess that is formed in said initial embodiment of said part during said manufacturing.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said at least one hole or recess is adaptable for facilitating in-growth of bone or tissue after said part is installed in a patient.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein said at least one hole or recess is adaptable for containing a substance to promote tissue growth after said part is installed in a patient.

9. A computer readable medium comprising instructions for:

creating a first digital model of a medical or dental part;

manufacturing an initial embodiment of said part based on said first digital model using a layered manufacturing process;

creating a second digital model of said initial embodiment;

determining a difference between said second digital model and said first digital model; and

machining said initial embodiment to create a final embodiment of said part by removing an amount of material substantially representative of said difference.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein said layered manufacturing process comprises EBM.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein said machining comprises using a NC machine.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein said first digital model of said part is created in the context of a digital model of at least a portion of a patient'"'"'s anatomy.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein said second digital model is created using a machine selected from a contact digitizer, a laser imaging machine, and a light imaging machine.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein said first digital model comprises data representative of at least one hole or recess that is formed in said initial embodiment of said part during said manufacturing.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 14 wherein said first digital model comprises data representative of at least one hole or recess adaptable for facilitating in-growth of bone or tissue after said part is installed in a patient.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 14 wherein said first digital model comprises data representative of at least one hole or recess adaptable for containing a substance to promote tissue growth after said part is installed in a patient.