Single-action three-dimensional model printing methods

• US 8,817,332 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2013
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andy Wu
• Original Assignee: Andy Wu
• Inventors: Wu, Andy
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, RAMESH B
• Application Number:
  US14/036,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20140025190A1
• Time in Patent Office: 335 Days
• Field of Search: 700/98, 700118-119, 700/163, 336/17, 336/27, 358/1.14, 358/3.11, 264/572, 425/7, 425/97, 425/100, 703 1- 2, 101/3.1, 101/35, 101/93.01, 101/93.04, 101/93.05
• US Class Current: 358/3.11
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/386 Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 50/00 Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/00 Computer-aided design [CAD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/00 Three dimensional [3D] modelling, e.g. data description of 3D objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/20 Finite element generation, e.g. wire-frame surface description, tesselation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/20 Editing of 3D images, e.g. changing shapes or colours, aligning objects or positioning parts
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/04 involving 3D image data
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/08 involving all processing steps from image acquisition to 3D model generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10081 Computed x-ray tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30008 Bone
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2210/41 Medical

Abstract

Methods and techniques of using 3D printers to create physical models from image data are discussed. Geometric representations of different physical models are described and complex data conversion processes that convert input image data into geometric representations compatible with third party 3D printers are disclosed. Printing templates are used to encapsulate complex geometric representations and complicated data conversion processes from users for fast and simple 3D physical model printing applications.

Claims

1. A method for printing a 3D physical model from an image data set, comprising:

displaying one or more printing templates;

selecting a printing template by a single-action, wherein the selected printing template comprises predefined instructions for processing the image data set;

executing the selected printing template to generate a geometric representation; and

sending the generated geometric representation to a 3D printer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying of one or more printing templates includes displaying a list of printing templates using descriptive text, or using images such as graphical icons or 3D renderings or a combination of text and images.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the single-action may be a clicking of a mouse button when a cursor is positioned over a predefined area of the displayed list of printing templates, a sound generated by a user, a depressing of a key on a key pad, a selecting action by using a pointing device, or a selection of a displayed indication.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the executing printing template comprises:

receiving image data as input;

identifying voxel categories in the image data set;

generating a geometric representation from the identified voxels; and

sending the generated geometric representation to a 3D printer for printing a physical model.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the image data set has a plurality of voxels, each voxel having an intensity value;

wherein the image data set comprises images of one or more three-dimensional regions obtained using one or more imaging modalities selected from magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, ultrasound, X-ray imaging, positron emission tomography, microscopy imaging, simulated image.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the identifying of voxel categories includes checking one or more voxel attributes against a predefined criteria to identify the voxel categories.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the generating of a geometric representation comprises including all identified voxels to generate a geometric representation.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the geometric representation is one of or a combination of two or more of the following:

a list of 3D points, a list of 3D contours, a list of 3D polygonal surface models.