Dental Prosthesis Assembly with Positioning Rods

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing method for manufacturing dental prostheses implanted on a jaw is lengthy and fragmented, requiring the production of multiple precision parts and involving different operators, resulting in a time-consuming process.

Innovation Solution

An assembly for positioning synthetic teeth, comprising a wall with vestibular and occlusal cavities and positioning rods, along with a reference component, allows for precise positioning on a base to form a mold for resin injection, eliminating the need for a master model and reducing manufacturing time by using rapid prototyping methods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the traditional method using master model and surgical guide is used, then manufacturing precision is maintained, but manufacturing time increases to approximately 5 hours

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveprecisionVSAvoidmanufacturing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the master model from the manufacturing process. Instead of creating a master model and then using it to position teeth and form molds, the invention directly positions synthetic teeth in the assembly that forms the mold cavity, removing the intermediate master model step entirely.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning the synthetic teeth in the assembly before the molding process. The teeth are placed in cavities within the assembly wall, and the positioning means (rods and reference component) are pre-configured to ensure accurate positioning, eliminating the need for subsequent adjustment steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If multiple precision parts (surgical guide, master model) are manufactured, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidnumber of parts
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple functions into a single integrated assembly. The assembly combines the mold cavity, tooth positioning structures, and reference positioning means into one unified component. This eliminates the need for separate surgical guides and master models, reducing the number of parts while maintaining positioning accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The assembly serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the mold cavity, provides positioning for synthetic teeth, and incorporates reference positioning means for accurate placement. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate specialized components.

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

3Reliability

If the traditional fragmented process with multiple operators is used, then specialized skills are maintained, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespecialized skillsVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the manufacturing process into two main phases: (1) production of the assembly with pre-positioned teeth using rapid prototyping, and (2) the molding process. This segmentation allows for automated or semi-automated production of the assembly, reducing the need for multiple manual operations by different operators.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2465465B1Unit and method for manufacturing a dental prosthesis
Publication Date: 2013.04.24 LABE BIENFAIT
  • EP2465465B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2465465B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2465465B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The assembly (1) has a wall (2) whose vestibular and occlusive parts (3, 4) respectively possess cavities (5), where each cavity has a shape complementary to portions of the parts of respective synthetic teeth. A positioning unit positions the assembly on a base, and includes rods (7.1-7.3) connected to the occlusive part, where the rods are converged in a lingual region of the assembly. A reference component (8) in shape of cube has a plane positioning surface (9) cooperating with a positioning surface of the base by complementarity of shape so as to form a mold for molding dental prosthesis. The wall is made of wax, metal or synthetic plastic material. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is also included for a method for manufacturing a dental prosthesis destined to be implanted on a jaw.