Frame members

Abstract

This design facilitates the production of indexes, offers excellent versatility, and contributes to reducing the manufacturing time of the superstructure. [Solution] The frame member 1 comprises a frame portion 10 including a straight portion or a curved portion, and a mesh structure portion 20 integrally provided with the frame portion in a planar region defined by the frame portion. The mesh structure portion has a plurality of polygonal cells 30 when viewed from a first direction intersecting the planar region. Each of the plurality of cells comprises a plurality of wall portions that form a polygon parallel to the first direction, a plurality of holes formed through each of the plurality of wall portions in a direction intersecting the wall portion, and beam portions provided on adjacent parts of the plurality of wall portions in a direction intersecting the first direction, connecting adjacent wall portions.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a frame member.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there are cases where a first structure that reproduces the position, direction, etc. of a pin-shaped structure implanted in a predetermined portion is created, and a second structure that conforms to this first structure is created. One example is a dental implant. For example, in a dental implant, an upper structure of the implant and an implant body embedded in the jawbone in the oral cavity are directly or indirectly connected to reproduce an artificial tooth. To fabricate the upper structure of a dental implant, for example, first, an impression coping is attached to the implant body embedded in the patient's oral cavity to obtain an impression. Then, after fabricating a plaster model of the patient's oral cavity based on the obtained impression, the upper structure is fabricated (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Also, an impression coping that conforms to an abutment fixed to the embedded implant body is placed on the abutment, and these are integrally connected with a connecting member and temporarily fixed. Then, a resin member is applied around the impression coping from above the connecting member, and they are fixed while being connected. In this way, after fabricating a measurement master (index) that accurately transfers the position and inclination of the implant body or abutment in the oral cavity, the upper structure is also fabricated (see, for example, Patent Document 2). In addition, when fabricating the measurement master, for example, a ladder frame in which a plurality of connecting members are connected in a ladder shape is also used.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

[0005] However, the dental implant disclosed in Patent Document 1 has the problem that it takes a very long time to fabricate the superstructure because, in order to fabricate the superstructure, it is first necessary to take an impression of the oral cavity and create a plaster model. Furthermore, the dental implant disclosed in Patent Document 2 has the problem that it takes a very long time to fabricate the measurement master (index) because, in the oral cavity which is different for each patient, it is necessary to connect connecting members and ladder frames to the impression coping and apply resin material to create a one-of-a-kind measurement master.

[0006] This invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a frame member that facilitates the production of indexes, has a highly versatile structure, and can contribute to shortening the production time of the superstructure. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The frame member according to the present invention comprises a frame portion including a straight portion or a curved portion, and a mesh structure portion integrally provided with the frame portion in a planar region defined by the frame portion, wherein the mesh structure portion has a plurality of polygonal cells when viewed from a first direction intersecting the planar region, and each of the plurality of cells comprises a plurality of wall portions that constitute the polygon parallel to the first direction, a plurality of holes formed through each of the plurality of wall portions in a direction intersecting the wall portions, and beam portions provided on adjacent parts of the plurality of wall portions in a direction intersecting the first direction, connecting adjacent wall portions.

[0008] In one embodiment of the present invention, the frame portion is formed in a U-shape, a parallel bar shape, or a concentric arc shape that surrounds the mesh structure portion when viewed from the first direction.

[0009] In another embodiment of the present invention, the frame portion is formed in the shape of a pair of parallel rods or a pair of concentric arcs when viewed from the first direction, and further comprises connecting walls that connect the ends of the frame portion.

[0010] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the frame portion is formed in the shape of a round bar having a circular or elliptical cross-section.

[0011] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the frame portion and the mesh structure portion each have a honeycomb structure in which each cell is hexagonal.

[0012] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the frame portion and the mesh structure portion are made of cobalt-chromium or titanium. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, the production of the index is made easier, and it has a highly versatile structure, which can contribute to shortening the production time of the superstructure. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This is a plan view showing a frame member according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is an enlarged cross-sectional view of line AA' in Figure 1(a). [Figure 3] This is a magnified perspective view of a portion of the frame component. [Figure 4] This is a plan view showing the usage state of the frame member. [Figure 5] This diagram schematically shows an electron beam stacking apparatus used in the manufacture of the frame components. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] Hereinafter, referring to the attached drawings, the frame member according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. However, the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to each claim, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential for the solution means of the invention.

[0016] Also, in the following embodiments, the same or corresponding components are denoted by the same reference numerals and redundant descriptions are omitted. Also, in the embodiments, when the arrangement, scale, dimensions, etc. of each component are exaggerated or diminished and shown in a state not matching the actual ones, and when descriptions of some components are omitted and shown.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a frame member 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line A - A' of FIG. 1(a). FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the frame member 1. Note that FIG. 1(a) shows the frame member 1A of type A, FIG. 1(b) shows the frame member 1B of type B, and FIG. 1(c) shows the frame member 1C of type C, but the frame member 1 according to the present embodiment is not limited thereto.

[0018] Also, the direction toward the paper surface of FIG. 1 (the direction intersecting (for example, orthogonal) the paper surface) is defined as the first direction, and in the direction along this paper surface (the direction orthogonal to the first direction), the left - right direction toward the paper surface is defined as the second direction, and the up - down direction (the direction orthogonal to the second direction) toward the paper surface is defined as the third direction. Further, hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, the frame members 1A, 1B, and 1C may be collectively referred to as the frame member 1.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 1(a) to 1(c), the frame member 1 (1A, 1B, and 1C of the present embodiment, the same hereinafter) can be used, for example, as a frame member to which an impression coping or the like is attached when manufacturing an index (verification cast) of a dental implant.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 1(a), the frame member 1A is used, for example, as a full jaw application type (type A) in the patient's oral cavity. Also, as shown in Fig. 1(b), the frame member 1B is used, for example, as an anterior tooth application type (type B) in the patient's oral cavity. Further, as shown in Fig. 1(c), the frame member 1C is used, for example, as a local application type (type C) in the patient's oral cavity.

[0021] The frame member 1 includes a frame portion 10 and a mesh structure portion 20. The frame portion 10 can be formed, for example, to include a straight portion or a curved portion when viewed from the first direction. Specifically, the frame portion 10 of the frame member 1A is formed in a U shape (inverted U shape in the illustrated example) that extends in the second direction surrounding the mesh structure portion 20 and extends in the third direction when viewed from the first direction. Also, the frame portion 10 of the frame member 1B is formed in a concentric arc shape surrounding the mesh structure portion 20 when viewed from the first direction. Further, the frame portion 10 of the frame member 1C is formed in a parallel bar shape surrounding the mesh structure portion 20 when viewed from the first direction.

[0022] In addition, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the frame portion 10 is formed, for example, in a round bar shape having a circular or elliptical cross section, but is not limited thereto, and may be formed in a prismatic shape with a polygonal cross section. For example, the diameter D (see Fig. 2) of the frame portion 10 in the frame member 1 of the present embodiment is about 1 mm to about 3 mm.

[0023] On the other hand, the mesh structure portion 20 is provided integrally with the frame portion 10 in a planar region defined based on the frame portion 10. The mesh structure portion 20 has a plurality of cells 30 in a polygonal shape when viewed from the first direction orthogonal to the planar region. Examples of the polygonal shape include, but are not limited to, regular triangles, squares, regular hexagons, polygons other than regular polygons, and combinations thereof.

[0024] In other words, each of the multiple cells 30 comprises multiple wall portions 31, multiple holes 32, and beam portions 33. The multiple wall portions 31 form a polygon parallel to the first direction. The multiple wall portions 31 are arranged in a polygon, for example, a hexagonal shape (honeycomb structure), as viewed from the first direction. Therefore, the frame portion 10 and the mesh structure portion 20 are formed such that each cell 30 has a hexagonal honeycomb structure. The thickness T of the multiple wall portions 31 (see Figure 3) is, for example, about 0.1 mm to about 0.3 mm.

[0025] The multiple holes 32 are formed through the multiple wall portions 31 in directions perpendicular to each wall portion 31. For example, the multiple holes 32 are formed through the central position of each wall portion 31. In the illustrated example, the multiple holes 32 are formed as circular holes at the central position of the wall portion 31, but this is not the only example. The multiple holes 32 connect adjacent hexagonal spaces of each cell 30 surrounded by each wall portion 31.

[0026] The beam sections 33 are provided on adjacent sections of the multiple wall sections 31 in a direction perpendicular to the first direction, connecting adjacent wall sections 31 to each other. The beam sections 33 are provided on adjacent sections of each wall section 31, for example, so as to form a triangular shape when viewed from the first direction. The beam sections 33 are formed on the wall surfaces of adjacent sections located between the holes 32 of adjacent wall sections 31 in a direction perpendicular to the first direction, extending in a direction perpendicular to the first direction. Each beam section 33 on an adjacent section of each wall section 31 is formed with a dimension shorter than the dimension of each wall section 31 in the first direction.

[0027] The beam section 33 is deliberately provided to vary the rigidity of each cell 30. Specifically, the beam section 33 increases the rigidity of the adjacent parts of each wall section 31 and also has the function of causing stress concentration around the holes 32 of each wall section 31. As a result, when an external force is applied to each cell 30 in the first direction using, for example, a fingertip or forceps (small pliers) not shown, the area from the center point of the adjacent part of each wall section 31 where the external force is applied up to the hole 32 will easily break. On the other hand, the wall sections 31 and their adjacent center points of the other cells 30 to which no external force has been applied maintain their rigidity due to the formed beam section 33, and thus maintain their robustness and shape.

[0028] As shown in Figures 1(b) and 1(c), frame members 1B and 1C are formed in the shape of a pair of parallel concentric arcs or a pair of parallel rods when viewed from a first direction. These frame members 1B and 1C, along with the frame portion 10 and the mesh structure portion 20, further include connecting walls 11 that connect the ends of the frame portion 10. Therefore, these frame members 1B and 1C have the mesh structure portion 20 in a planar area enclosed by the frame portion 10 and the connecting walls 11.

[0029] Figure 4 is a plan view showing the frame member 1 in use. The frame member 1 configured as described above can be used, for example, as a frame member in the fabrication of an index for dental implants. When using the frame member 1, first, a suitable frame member 1A to 1C is selected from the pre-fabricated frame members 1A to 1C for the implant body already placed in the patient's oral cavity. In the example shown in Figure 4, frame member 1A is used as an example of the selected frame member 1, but the explanation is not limited to this.

[0030] Next, the selected frame member 1 (1A) is inserted into the patient's oral cavity, and the frame portion 10 is aligned, for example, by visual inspection. The cells 30 of the mesh structure portion 20 that overlap with the position of the implanted implant are marked with a pen or the like. After that, the frame member 1 is removed from the patient's oral cavity, and the cells 30 at the marked locations of the mesh structure portion 20 are hollowed out, for example, with a fingertip or forceps, to create through holes 39 through which impression coping or the like can pass, as shown in Figure 4(a).

[0031] Next, the impression coping is fastened to the implant body in the patient's oral cavity, and as shown in Figure 4(b), the frame member 1 with through holes 39 is attached to the impression coping 37, and the immediate polymerization resin 38 is applied around the impression coping 37. The immediate polymerization resin 38 spreads well from around the impression coping 37 through the holes 32 of each cell 30 to around the through holes 39, adheres to the mesh structure 20, and hardens.

[0032] Then, after the self-curing resin 38 has hardened, the frame member 1 is removed from the patient's oral cavity along with the impression coping 37, and an index recording the position and inclination (implantation angle) of the implant body is completed. In this way, the impression coping 37, etc., which captures the position and inclination of the implant body, can be fixed to an existing frame member 1, which is pre-fabricated for each type rather than being a one-off item, via the self-curing resin 38. This makes it easier to produce the index and allows the fabrication of the dental implant superstructure to begin in a short period of time, thereby shortening the fabrication time of the superstructure.

[0033] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of an electron beam additive manufacturing apparatus 200 used in the manufacture of the frame member 1. The frame member 1 described above can be manufactured, for example, by metal additive manufacturing of a dental metal material. Here, the dental metal material may be cobalt-chromium or titanium, but is not limited to these.

[0034] Frame member 1 is manufactured by forming metal powder (metal powder) such as cobalt-chromium or titanium using a metal additive manufacturing method. Metal additive manufacturing methods include electron beam additive manufacturing and laser additive manufacturing. Generally, electron beam additive manufacturing is performed using an electron beam additive manufacturing apparatus 200 (see Figure 5) through the following process.

[0035] Specifically, first, a layer of metal powder of a certain thickness is laid down (Step 1). Next, an electron beam is irradiated locally onto the area of ​​the metal powder layer to be solidified, heating the metal powder layer and causing it to instantly melt and solidify (Step 2). At this time, the irradiated electron beam is scanned based on, for example, three-dimensional data or slice data.

[0036] Then, the manufacturing table of the electron beam stacking apparatus 200 is lowered, and another layer of metal powder is laid down (step 3). Steps 1 to 3 above are repeated to sequentially stack the metal to obtain the frame member 1, which is a stacked molded body in the final shape. After that, the unsolidified metal powder is removed to obtain the finished frame member 1. By subjecting cobalt-chromium or titanium metal powder to the above steps, a frame member 1 having the above-described U-shaped, parallel bar-shaped, or concentric arc-shaped frame portion 10 and an integral mesh structure portion 20 can be manufactured as a metal stacked molded body (metal molded body) of a predetermined shape.

[0037] The electron beam additive manufacturing apparatus 200 has a structure, for example, as shown in Figure 5, and consists of an electron gun 100, a focus coil 6, a deflection coil 7, and a vacuum chamber 9, and the inside of the apparatus is maintained under vacuum. The electron gun 100 includes a filament 2 that emits electrons, a grid cup 3 that extracts electrons, and an anode 4 that accelerates electrons.

[0038] In the electron gun 100, electrons are drawn from a filament 2 heated to, for example, 2500°C or higher by a grid cup 3. The electrons are then accelerated to half the speed of light through an anode 4 and irradiated as an electron beam 8 onto a single layer of metal powder 111. The metal powder 111 is, for example, cobalt-chromium powder with an average particle size of 25 μm or titanium powder with an average particle size of 35 μm, and is contained in a manufacturing table 112 located inside a vacuum chamber 9.

[0039] The electron beam 8 emitted from the electron gun 100 is focused onto the metal powder 111 by the focus coil 6 and scanned into a predetermined shape based on three-dimensional data and slice data by the deflection coil 7. When the electron beam 8 is irradiated onto the layered metal powder 111, its kinetic energy is converted into heat, which heats and melts the metal powder, and then it rapidly solidifies. Another layer of metal powder 111 is laid on top of it, and the same process is repeated, so that the metal is stacked and a final product (frame member 1) of a predetermined shape is formed.

[0040] Furthermore, metal lamination can also be performed using a laser lamination method with a laser lamination apparatus. In the laser lamination method, laser light generated by a laser lamination apparatus, such as a Yb (ytterbium) laser apparatus, is irradiated onto metal powder while controlling the irradiation position with a galvanometer mirror.

[0041] The procedure for metal lamination using laser stacking involves irradiating a layer of metal powder with laser light through a galvanometer mirror, melting and solidifying only the irradiated area, and repeating this process to create a metal molded body (frame member 1) of a predetermined shape.

[0042] In this embodiment, frame member 1A is manufactured by laminating metal so as to extend in a third direction (vertical direction), as shown in Figure 5, with the U-shaped opening of the U-shaped frame portion 10 facing downwards and the U-shaped bottom facing upwards. Although not shown in the illustration, frame member 1B is manufactured by laminating metal so as to extend in a third direction (vertical direction), with the opening of the concentric arc-shaped frame portion 10 facing downwards and the arc side facing upwards. Furthermore, although not shown in the illustration, frame member 1C is manufactured by laminating metal so as to extend in a third direction (vertical direction), with one side of the parallel bar-shaped frame portion 10 facing downwards and the other side facing upwards. As a result, the mesh structure portion 20 is formed by laminating metal so that the planar area is vertical.

[0043] By manufacturing the frame member 1 of this embodiment in this manner using the metal lamination method, it is possible to eliminate problems such as overhangs and undercuts, and to achieve high yield and mass production, compared to, for example, the case where metal lamination is performed so that the planar area of ​​the mesh structure 20 is horizontal.

[0044] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims of the invention and its equivalents.

[0045] For example, in the above embodiment, frame members 1A to 1C used as indexes for dental implants were described as examples of frame member 1. However, frame member 1 is not limited to the above shape or usage, as long as it comprises a frame portion 10 and a mesh structure portion 20. In addition to the medical applications described above, frame member 1 can also be applied to various industries such as the aerospace industry, civil engineering industry, and automotive industry.

[0046] Furthermore, although the frame member 1 was described using a metal material manufactured by metal additive manufacturing as an example, it is not limited to this. The frame member 1 may be manufactured by casting, for example, or it may be a resin molded body obtained by additive manufacturing of resin material using a three-dimensional molding device or the like to have a frame part 10 and a mesh structure part 20. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 1 Frame member 10 Frame section 11 Connecting wall 20 Mesh structure section 30 cells 31 Wall 32 Hole 33 Beam section 37 Impression coping 38. Immediately Curing Resin 39 Through hole

Claims

1. A frame section including straight or curved sections, A mesh structure is provided integrally with the frame in a planar region defined by the frame, Equipped with, The mesh structure has a plurality of polygonal cells when viewed from a first direction intersecting the planar region, Each of the aforementioned multiple cells is: Multiple wall portions that form the polygon parallel to the first direction, Multiple holes are formed through each of the aforementioned wall portions in a direction intersecting the wall portion, A beam is provided in adjacent portions of the plurality of wall portions in a direction intersecting the first direction, and connects adjacent wall portions to each other. Equipped with Frame components.

2. The frame portion is formed in a U-shape, parallel bar shape, or concentric arc shape, surrounding the mesh structure portion when viewed from the first direction. The frame member according to claim 1.

3. The frame portion is formed in the shape of a pair of parallel rods or a pair of concentric arcs when viewed from the first direction. The frame further comprises connecting walls that connect the ends of the aforementioned frame sections. The frame member according to claim 1.

4. The frame portion is formed in the shape of a round bar having a circular or elliptical cross-section. The frame member according to claim 2 or 3.

5. The frame portion and the mesh structure portion each have a honeycomb structure in which each cell is hexagonal. A frame member according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

6. The frame portion and the mesh structure portion are made of cobalt-chromium or titanium. The frame member according to claim 5.

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