Combination Impression Coping and Scan Body for Dental Prosthetics

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current dental implant procedures require separate components for impression taking and scanning, leading to complexity and inefficiency in creating dental models and prostheses.

Innovation Solution

A combination impression coping and scan body that can function as both an impression coping and a scan body, capable of being used in open-tray and closed-tray dental impression/modeling techniques, simplifying the process by eliminating the need for separate components and facilitating direct data collection for prosthetic design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate components are used for impression taking and scanning, then each component can be optimized for its specific function, but the overall device complexity and number of parts increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional optimizationVSAvoidnumber of parts
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the impression coping and scan body into a single integrated component. The impression coping includes a scan body portion that can be scanned by optical scanners, eliminating the need for separate scan body attachment. This merging reduces the number of parts while maintaining both impression-taking and scanning functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The impression coping is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both an impression-taking device and a scan body for optical scanning. The scanable portion of the impression coping provides reference data for prosthetic design software, allowing one component to fulfill roles that previously required separate devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Loss of information

If multiple separate components are attached to the dental model during prosthetic design, then each component provides specific data, but the process becomes complicated and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata completenessVSAvoidprocess time
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The scan body features are integrated into the impression coping before the impression is taken. This preliminary integration means that when the impression is removed and poured, the scanable portion is already positioned on the model, providing reference data without requiring subsequent attachment steps. This saves time in the prosthetic design process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If a single multi-functional component is used, then the number of parts and procedural complexity is reduced, but the component design becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocedural simplicityVSAvoidcomponent design complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The impression coping is divided into distinct functional portions: a scanable portion with specific geometric features for optical scanning, and an impression-taking portion with receptacles for impression material. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized for its specific function while being part of a single integrated component, making the overall design manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3415113B1Combination impression coping and scan body
Publication Date: 2020.07.01 BIOMET 3I LLC
  • EP3415113B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1C
  • EP3415113B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3415113B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

Various combination impression coping and scan bodies, as well as methods of use thereof in different dental impression and dental modeling techniques, are disclosed herein. The impression copings can be used in open-tray dental impression procedures and/or in closed-tray dental impression procedures. In addition, the impression copings can act as scan bodies to assist in designing various dental prosthetic components.