Milling Blank With Offset Feed Channel for Dental Abutment Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing milling blanks for abutment attachments with laterally offset or asymmetric adhesive bases face reduced adhesive surface and stability due to exposure of the central screw channel, which compromises the attachment's stability and surface area.

Innovation Solution

A milling blank with a conical screw channel and an angled feed channel that seamlessly merges, featuring a conical section for a conical neck fastening screw, providing a smooth transition and minimizing bacterial nesting sites, and a cylindrical milling section for increased stability and adhesive surface, along with optional coatings and design features for enhanced insertion and processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a central screw channel is used in the milling blank, then the fastening function is achieved, but the adhesive surface area is reduced and stability is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of abutment attachmentVSAvoidadhesive surface area
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The screw channel is segmented into two separate channels: a feed channel for inserting the screw and a screw channel for receiving it. This segmentation allows the adhesive base to be positioned laterally offset from the screw path, maximizing the adhesive surface area while maintaining fastening functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The feed channel is positioned in the edge region of the circular surface, utilizing the lateral dimension rather than the central axis. This dimensional relocation allows the screw insertion path to be separated from the central adhesive base area, increasing the effective adhesive surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Area of stationary object

If an angled feed channel is used to increase adhesive surface, then bonding surface is increased, but the transition complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesive surface areaVSAvoidchannel transition complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The transition between the feed channel and screw channel features a concave, inwardly curved shape rather than sharp corners. This curved transition reduces stress concentration and simplifies manufacturing while maintaining the angled configuration needed for increased adhesive surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The feed channel angle is specifically designed to correspond to half the opening angle of the conical section. This parameter optimization ensures a smooth, seamless transition that is both structurally sound and easy to manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If a conical section is added to the screw channel, then stability is increased, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of abutment attachmentVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The conical section is merged with the cylindrical screw channel to form a two-stage bore. This integrated design provides enhanced stability through the conical geometry while remaining manufacturable using standard drilling and tapering operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The conical section is pre-formed in the milling blank before the final abutment attachment is milled. This preliminary action ensures the stability-enhancing geometry is already in place, simplifying subsequent manufacturing steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2967769B1Milling blank for an abutment
Publication Date: 2020.04.29 SPINDLER BRUNO
  • EP2967769B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2967769B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2967769B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A milling blank for an abutment attachment which can be secured to a dental implant, including a securing section with a screw channel for a fixing screw for securing the milled abutment attachment to the dental implant; and a milling section having a feed channel at an angle with respect to the screw channel for feeding the fixing screw into the screw channel.