Dental Prosthesis Blank with Angled Attachment for Non-Axial Screw Channels

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional techniques require high precision machinery to form dental prostheses, limiting the ability to create screw channels at angles other than parallel to registration elements, and restrict the use of lower precision tools in dental labs, making the process costly and inaccessible for forming complex shapes.

Innovation Solution

A dental prosthesis blank with a main body and registration portion at one end and an attachment portion at the other, allowing the blank to be mounted at an angle in a holder, enabling the formation of non-axial screw channels using lower precision tools, thus allowing flexibility in tool usage and reducing material requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional high precision machining techniques are used to form screw channels and registration elements, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of screw channel and registration element formationVSAvoidcomplexity of machining tools and processes

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The blank is divided into functionally distinct zones: a registration portion with high-precision elements (requiring 1/100th mm precision) and a main body portion with a screw channel that can be formed with lower precision. This segmentation allows different machining approaches for different regions, reducing overall process complexity while maintaining critical precision where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different precision requirements are applied to different parts of the blank. The registration portion receives high-precision machining to ensure proper alignment and fixation, while the screw channel can be formed with less stringent tolerances since it does not critically affect the functional performance of the dental prosthesis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If high precision machinery is used to form dental prostheses, then manufacturing precision is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates due to limited availability of specialized facilities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of dental prosthesis formationVSAvoidaccessibility of manufacturing process

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The manufacturing process is segmented into two stages: formation of the blank using lower precision equipment (accessible to dental labs), and subsequent high-precision machining of only the registration portion and outer shape. This allows dental laboratories without specialized high-precision machining facilities to produce blanks that can be finished with standard equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The blank is pre-formed with the screw channel and basic geometry using lower precision tools before the high-precision machining stage. This preliminary action transfers the complex high-precision requirements to a dedicated manufacturing step, allowing dental labs to perform simpler preparatory work with accessible equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If screw channels are formed axially aligned with registration elements, then manufacturing precision is simplified, but adaptability deteriorates as non-axial channels cannot be created

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment precision of screw channelVSAvoidflexibility in screw channel orientation

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The blank is designed to be mountable in multiple orientations on the holder, enabling the screw channel to be formed at various angles relative to the registration elements. The holder and blank interface allows rotational freedom, so the screw channel can be drilled at any required angle to match specific clinical needs while maintaining proper alignment through the holder's positioning features.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3852676B1Blank for production of a dental prosthesis and method of manufacturing a dental prosthesis

Publication Date: 2023.06.07 JADE FINANCE S A R L

Figure 1(a)~1(c)
Figure 2(a)~2(b)
Figure 3(a)~3(b)

AI summary

A blank (2') for fabricating a dental prosthesis (32), comprising a main body portion (4) having an axis of elongation (10), a registration portion (13) at the first end (11) of the main body portion (4), and an attachment portion (6') at the second end (17) including a first bore (34) for enabling secure attachment of the blank (2') to a holder (56) while the blank (2') is milled and/or machined and an attachment axis (36) is being defined by the first bore (34), said attachment axis (36) coinciding with the holder axis. The attachment axis (36) is at an angle to the axis of elongation (10). A method of manufacturing a dental prosthesis (32) form said providing a blank (2') is also disclosed.