3D Printed Dental Model with Embedded Measurement Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dental articulators lack effective quality control features to verify the accuracy of 3D printed dental models, leading to potential inaccuracies and deformations that can result in improper prostheses and treatment delays.
Innovation Solution
The development of a dental articulator equipped with measurement elements and an inspection tool that performs go/no-go tests to verify the accuracy of 3D printed dental models, ensuring they meet specified tolerances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If 3D printing technology is used to fabricate dental models, then manufacturing efficiency and productivity are improved, but manufacturing precision and reliability deteriorate due to potential deformations and distortions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates measurement elements and quality control features directly into the 3D printed dental model during the manufacturing process itself, rather than adding them afterward. This preliminary integration allows for real-time verification of dimensional accuracy and detection of deformations while the model is being fabricated, resolving the contradiction between high-speed 3D printing and precision requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where measurement elements embedded in the dental model provide immediate information about dimensional accuracy and structural integrity. This feedback loop allows operators to detect and correct deformations or distortions during the 3D printing process, ensuring manufacturing precision is maintained despite the high productivity gains from additive manufacturing
2Device complexity
If conventional dental articulators without measurement features are used, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to detect and measure model accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the dental model itself to perform quality verification through integrated measurement elements that automatically indicate whether the model meets specified tolerances. The model self-attests to its own accuracy by incorporating features like go/no-go gauges and measurement protrusions that can be directly tested without requiring complex external measurement equipment, thus maintaining device simplicity while enhancing measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the dental model with quality control features and measurement elements into a single integrated component. Rather than using separate articulators and measurement tools, the measurement functionality is merged directly into the dental model structure, allowing quality verification to be performed as part of the normal articulator operation without adding significant complexity
3Measurement precision
If quality control features are added to verify 3D printed models, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies quality control features locally at specific critical locations on the dental model where dimensional accuracy is most important, rather than throughout the entire structure. This selective placement of measurement elements like protrusions, notches, and gauges at key measurement points provides sufficient verification precision without unnecessarily complicating the overall device design
Data Source
AI summary
A method comprises receiving a digital file comprising a design model representative of an upper human jaw or a lower human jaw and generating at least one measurement element on the design model. The method further comprises updating the digital file comprising the design model with the at least one measurement element, wherein the digital file comprises a set of instructions to be executed by a three-dimensional (3D) printer to fabricate a dental model with the at least one measurement element based on the design model, wherein the at least one measurement element is measurable to perform a quality assessment of the dental model.