Particulate Dental Appliance Marking for Low-Energy Laser Contrast
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing techniques face difficulties in effectively marking dental appliances, such as orthodontic aligners, due to material limitations and the demanding intraoral environment, making it challenging to incorporate information, patterns, or advertising without compromising the appliance's functionality.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of dental appliances with a surface texture and additive materials that enhance laser marking, allowing for efficient energy use and high-resolution markings by incorporating particulate materials with increased laser energy absorption characteristics, which can be dispersed throughout the appliance or restricted to specific regions, and using surface textures to disperse laser energy effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional laser marking techniques are used on dental appliances, then marking can be performed, but high laser energy is required and marking efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the optical parameters of the dental appliance material by incorporating particulate materials with specific laser energy absorption characteristics. This allows the material to absorb laser energy more efficiently at reduced power levels, directly resolving the contradiction between energy consumption and marking speed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material by combining the base dental appliance material (transparent or translucent) with particulate materials that have enhanced laser energy absorption properties. This composite structure enables effective laser marking at lower energy levels while maintaining the appliance's optical properties
2Illumination intensity
If laser marking is performed on transparent or translucent dental appliance materials, then the appliance maintains its aesthetic properties, but marking efficiency is poor and energy consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by incorporating particulate materials specifically in regions where laser marking is needed, while other regions of the dental appliance remain transparent or translucent. This localized modification allows efficient energy absorption only where required, maintaining overall material transparency
Solution Approach 2:
The particulate materials act as intermediaries that facilitate laser energy absorption in transparent or translucent materials. These particles mediate between the laser beam and the base material, enabling efficient energy transfer without compromising the overall transparency of the dental appliance
3Loss of information
If laser marking is performed on dental appliances, then information can be marked, but the marking resolution and contrast are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the optical absorption parameters of the material through particulate incorporation, enabling higher contrast markings. The particulate materials provide stronger absorption contrast, which directly improves the resolution and readability of marked information
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces the energy required for laser marking, enhances marking speed, and improves the resolution and contrast of laser marks, ensuring durability and readability even in the intraoral environment.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one particulate material having laser energy absorption characteristics that are greater than that of the material used to form the body without the at least one particulate material
Implementation Method 2
using surface textures to disperse laser energy effectively
Data Source
AI summary
Dental appliances, materials, and methods of forming such appliances and materials for improved laser marking are provided herein including the use of a particulate material for enhancing laser marking.