SE510955C2 - Method, device and use at implant distances - Google Patents

Abstract

In a method for making available a selection of spacers (42-44) for implants, four production stages are used for the greater part of the spacer selection. First, powder preparations (3-6) are chosen from among a number of possible powder preparations comprising titanium or metal powder, ceramic powder, plastic powder and/or alloy powder. In a second stage, the chosen powder preparations are placed in tools (12-15) with mould cavities for units (31-33) forming semi-finished products. In a third stage, the tools, with their powder-filled mould cavities, are placed in high-pressure-generating arrangements (21-23) in which the powders are compressed so that units with solid consistencies are formed. Finally, the units are mechanically worked to give the final shapes of the spacers, if appropriate after an intermediate stage of heat treatment in an oven (ovens).

Description

The 510 955 test site may have means for compiling test results and sending them to a manufacturing site. The transmission preferably takes place via telecommunications and / or data networks (which may consist of or include the Internet). The invention also relates to an arrangement for producing spacers included in an assortment of spacers which are applied to or at said implant surfaces on one or more patients.

There are different requirements for the distances from a strength point of view, aesthetic points of view, etc.

The invention also relates to a device for the assortment of spacers intended to be applicable to implant surfaces in said tooth bone. The invention also encompasses the use of units consisting of high-pressure compressible powder compositions or powder sets consisting of titanium or metal particles, ceramic particles, plastic particles and / or alloy particles.

PRIOR ART It is previously known to make spacers from metal blanks that are machined (milled), whereby a large number of spacers are provided on the market and can be purchased by users (dentists, dental technicians, etc). Each user then acquires a set of distances that he / she uses in the daily work. The distances can then be made of alloys and metals, e.g. titanium, plastics and ceramics.

It is per se known to perform a distance of said kind with powder particles of said kind which are compressed with high pressures. It can be mentioned here that distances in compressed ceramic powder and plastic powder are previously known. 3 510 955 It is also previously known to centralize production and execute orders from various testing or processing points to a central manufacturing unit via the public telecommunications and data networks. It is referred to e.g. to the Swedish patent application 9701309-8 filed 1997-04-09 by the same applicant and which relates to advanced ordering and manufacturing arrangements and methods with a high degree of computerization of the PROCERA type. Through this arrangement and other advanced equipment of the type PROCERA, a highly efficient manufacturing function can be effected for dental products.

It is previously known to provide the test or ordering site with computerized test devices, in connection with which models, implant placements, sensing arrangements, etc. can be taken from the ordering station's computer equipment 'can. in this case, they are connected to the place of manufacture in computer equipment and ordering and requesting procedures, including interactive ones, can be established.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION TEmIKEN'S POSITION There is a need to be able to streamline the provision of a large selection of distances on the open market. It must be possible to refine the ordering functions for the users. The invention intends to solve e.g. these problems.

It is also important that the more efficient supply can be incorporated into the handling and manufacture of already existing dental products. products (such as dental caps, bridges, implants, etc.). The invention also solves this problem. 510 955 It is also important that the streamlined provision be able to be incorporated in the handling and manufacture of already existing dental products (such as dental caps, bridges, implants, etc.). The invention also solves this problem.

In order to achieve a high degree of freedom of manufacture, it is essential to be able to use pressing methods and pressing devices in which different powder sets or powder compositions are used. It must thus be possible to utilize and compress high-pressure titanium or other metal powder by means of pressure-generating devices known per se. Selection or designation of the powder sets intended for the various dental situations must be possible in a simple and efficient manner. The invention also solves these problems.

It is important that the distances, despite their small external dimensions, can be manufactured with the required high precision (0.02 mm tolerances). The invention also solves this problem.

There is also a desire for the dentist / dental technician to be able to individually adapt the respective distance function or distance structure and execute orders for the distances adapted to the dental situations in question, ie the said individual range can be reduced or even eliminated. The invention also solves this problem and thus gives the dentist / dental technician the choice to assemble the distance function from existing base distance elements or to perform the individually adapted distance at each time by means of his or her testing devices. The invention also solves this problem. 510 955 THE SOLUTION That which. mainly can be considered characteristic of a method of providing assortment of distances is that the main part of the abutment assortment or the assortment assortments is produced in mainly four production steps. In a first step, powder sets (powder compositions) are selected from a number of possible powder sets formed of or comprising titanium or metal powders, ceramic powders, plastic powders and / or alloy powders. In a second step, the selected powder sets (powder compositions) are applied in tools with mold spaces for semi-finished forming units. In a third step, the tools are placed. with powder-filled mold cavities in one or more high or high pressure generating devices, in which the powders in said spaces are compressed so that units with fixed consistencies (mechanically machinable) are formed during the cutting of the tools after the compression step performed. In a fourth step, the units are machined / milled / / ground, etc., to the final shapes of the spacers.

A method of manufacturing different types of spacers can mainly be considered to be characterized by the fact that semi-finished products forming units based on the different shapes of the spacers are ordered at a manufacturing site serving several test sites. At the place of manufacture, powder sets (powder compositions) ordered or designated by the respective test site are provided consisting of titanium or metal powder, ceramic powder, plastic powder and / or alloy powder. Tools with the molds forming units of the units are applied in one or more high or high pressure generating devices which in activated or activated conditions compress the powders in the mold spaces and enable semi-finished units with fixed consistencies (ie they are mechanically machinable) when the tools removed from devices and devices, respectively, and separated. The semi-finished units are then machined / / milled in a processing equipment (eg milling equipment). The processing equipment can be located e.g. at the place of manufacture and / or the test site concerned. Through the processing equipment, the final shape of the spacers is assigned to the semi-finished units. The distances are thus formed by compressed powder sets. In one embodiment, sintering is included as a sub-step in the method.

An arrangement for ordering included in a range of spacers is mainly characterized by the fact that the manufacturing site provides powder compositions that meet requirements set on the spacers in the various dental situations, primarily with regard to the strength requirements and / or the aesthetic requirements. Additional characteristics are that the manufacturing site provides tool sets and / or * tool manufacturing for tools with mold spaces that correspond to units that form semi-finished products based on the distances final or desired shapes. The manufacturing site also provides high or high pressure devices or devices arranged to receive said tools with powder-filled spaces and expose the powders to such high pressures that solid consistency units (mechanically machinable) are formed after pressure action or pressure effects and tool disassembly. In addition, processing equipment is included, which may be located at the place of manufacture or at some other place, and which is arranged to mechanically machine the semi-finished units into the final shapes of the 510 955 spacers. Examples of the mentioned processing equipment are those of the type PROCERA. The semi-finished units can be subjected to heat treatment in an intermediate stage.

An arrangement for producing spacers included in an assortment of spacers can mainly be considered to be characterized in that a number of high pressure effecting devices are arranged to serve each powder set (powder composition) among powder sets consisting of metal or titanium powder, ceramic powder. , plastic powder and alloy powder.

Receiving means are then arranged to receive information about the powder compositions or powder sets and shapes of units forming semi-finished products based on the spacer shapes. The means are then arranged to, depending on the information received, point out or select the powder compositions and to point out or specify tools with mold spaces which correspond to the shapes of the units. A processing equipment is further arranged to mechanically process the units into the final shapes of the spacers after the tools with powder-filled mold spaces are subjected to the said high pressure and wounded. Arrangements (ovens) for sintering can also be included (metal products).

A device for assortment of spacers is mainly characterized in that main parts of the spacer range consist of spacers with through holes for screws for holding the spacers to the implants. The spacers further consist of high-pressure compressed particles of titanium, ceramic, plastic and / or alloys. The spacers are arranged with shapes that enable production by means of divisible tools. 510 955 The use of units consisting of high-pressure compressible powder sets is mainly characterized by the units being used as mechanically machinable (eg millable) semi-finished products with shapes son1 are 'based on spacers for' application to implant surfaces in jaws / jaws / tooth bones on one or more patients.

The use of units consisting of high-pressure compressible powder compositions can mainly be characterized in that the units after mechanical processing / milling / grinding are used to form assortments of spacers intended for application to (usually standardized) implant surfaces in the jaw / / jaws / tooth bone on one or more patients.

BENEFITS The above provides a significantly cheaper handling of distances to be provided on the open market. A great freedom of choice regarding access for distances for different dental situations, which can vary considerably with each other, is available for using dentist / dental technician / doctor, etc. Existing equipment and principles used for other dental products can be used and incorporated in the management of ' even distances such as. manufactured by means of pressing procedure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A presently proposed embodiment of the net method, arrangement, device and use of the present invention will be described in. Below with simultaneous reference to the accompanying drawings where Figures 1-10 in side views show different types of spacers handled in the indicated assembly. manhang, figure 2 in principle diagram form shows different manufacturing steps of distance assortment usable for connections to implant surfaces in dentin, figure 3 in principle diagram form shows an arrangement for manufacturing distance assortment, figure 4 in vertical section shows a current type of spacers produced by the methods and arrangements / devices indicated in Figures 2 and 3, and Figure 5 in perspective shows connection surfaces on implants in dental bones of two patients.

DETAILED EMBODIMENT EXAMPLES Figures 1-11 show examples of spacers and accessories that can be manufactured in accordance with the methods and devices described below. Regarding the distance types and accessory types, reference is made to e.g. to the BRÅNEMARK system specified above. In accordance with the figure, the distances can occur in different basic designs that can be varied in power. Thus, figure 1 shows a distance with substantially a cylindrical shape 1 which at the bottom has a conical part 2. The cylindrical part has a height H and the conical part 2 has a height h.

Dessutonx has' the distance. a diameter- D. The diameter can be of the order of 4-5 mm, e.g. 4.5 mm. The heights H and h can be varied and in the case shown the height H is about 6 mm and the height h 1 mm. Figure 1a shows another embodiment where the diameter is indicated by D 'and the height of a conical part with H'. The diameter D 'can have a value of 4.5 mm. Since the distances and accessories are in and of themselves not well known, they will not be described in more detail here.

Figure 2 indicates with 3, 4, 5 and 6 different powder sets (also referred to here as powder compositions).

A selection mechanism for selecting the powder sets for the dental distances in question which apply to the different dental situations is indicated by 7 and arrows 8, 9, 10 and 11. The powder sets in the present embodiment consist of titanium or metal powder 3, ceramic powder 4, plastic powder 5 and alloy powders 6.

The powder sets shall be assigned to tools 12, 13, 14 and 15 below. different mold spaces l2a, 13a, 14a and 15a. The tools are manufactured or designated from a warehouse by means of a function symbolized by arrow groups 17, 18, 19 and 20. Each arrow group comprises a number of alternative choices indicated by 17a, 17b, 17c and 17d. Corresponding alternative options are available for other arrow groups 18, 19 and 20.

Through the selection possibilities, the respective powder set 3, 4, 5, 6 can be assigned different or desired shapes 12a, 13a, 14a, 15a, ie a shape / a spacer.

The mold spaces l2a, 13a, 14a, 15a of the tools are thus filled with current powders from currently selected powder sets. Respective tools can then be applied in high pressure generating devices 21, 11 510 955 22, 23 which are provided with spaces 2la, 22a, 23a in which a number of tools can be placed for powder compression. The high pressure generating devices are known per se and can work with principles known per se. The devices 21, 22 and 23 can generate pressures between 1000-10000 bar. In this case, the different devices can be assigned different powder sets, work with different pressures, and so on. A number of tools 24, 25 and 26 are set in the spaces 2la, 22a and 23a, respectively. The selection mechanism for the placement of the tools in spaces 2la, 22a and 23a is symbolized by arrow groups 27, 28, 29 and 30. Each arrow group has a selection mechanism which is symbolized by 27a, 27b and 27c. The compression procedure itself is well known per se and takes place in a manner known per se.

After the treatment in the respective devices 21, 22 and 23, the respective tools are taken out and separated so that the assembly parts 24a and 24b of the tool enable the exposure of the compressed unit 31. The shape of the unit 31 is based on the basic design of the distance in question. The compression is of such an order of magnitude that the unit 31 retains a solid consistency so that it can be mechanically machined (millable or sandable, etc.) in a manner known per se.

The units from the tools in other pressure furnaces are symbolized by 32 and 33, respectively. It should be noted that titanium and metal powders need significantly higher compression pressures to be able to form a mechanically machinable unit compared with the establishment of corresponding fixed textures for units in ceramic or plastic powder. The compression pressure of the titanium or metal powder is in the upper region of said press pressure range. The compression pressure for e.g. plastic powder particles are in 510 955 12 the lower of the specified range for the compression pressure.

The units thus exposed of different compressed powder sets can then be processed in processing equipment 36, 37 and 38. In e.g. powder sets comprising metal or titanium powder are primarily machined in the form of mechanical milling. The ceramic units are processed e.g. by grinding. The plastic units can be mechanically machined / milled, which also applies to the alloy powder compositions. In connection with the processing equipment, ovens 36a, 37a and 38a can be arranged integrated or separately. The ovens can work with temperatures of 1600-1800 ° C. In the mentioned ovens, the semi-finished units are sintered / homogenized / heat-treated. It should be noted that not all types of semi-finished products need to be sintered. During sintering, pressure resistances of 900 MPa and densities of 91% can be achieved in the metal material as above.

Arrangements and designation systems for the ovens i. Depending on current products, temperatures, material selection, etc. can take place in the same way as described above. Known sintering methods can be used.

The processing equipment 36, 37 and 38 are specialized in their respective functions and so e.g. For example, the equipment 36 may be of sewing equipment, the equipment 37 of grinding equipment, and the equipment 38 of other types of processing equipment. Processing equipment parks 36, 37 and 38 can also be divided in other ways. Sá e.g. the processing equipment 36 can effect all the treatment of units with powder compositions of titanium or metal powder, the processing equipment can effect all the treatment of units in ceramic powder, and so on. The options for the units' different treatments are symbolized by arrow groups 39, 40 and 41. 13 510 955 The respective arrow groups have different options 39a, 39b and 39c. The treatment or processing in the processing equipment 36, 37 and 38 results in pre-formed spacers 42, 43 and 44 which thus consist of compressed powder particles of the actual material in accordance with the above.

Figure 3 shows a number of test or treatment sites 45, 46 and 47. Each site may be more or less advanced and e.g. be equipped with computer-aided testing and sensing equipment 48.

Said computer equipment may be connectable by means of a modem 48a to a telecommunications or data network 49 which may be constituted by the public telecommunications and data network. The said network can also include the Internet. The test or treatment site can be more or less advanced also with regard to the ordered product. In accordance with the above, the units 31, 32 and 33 (see Figure 2) are semi-finished products to be processed in the treatment equipment 36, 37 and 38 (see Figure 2) to obtain the final product, i.e. the distance 42, 43 and 44, respectively. or the treatment center can then order a finished spacer or a unit that constitutes a semi-finished product for the spacer. The test site can then have access to its own processing equipment station 50.

Said test or treatment sites 45, 46 and 47 are served by a manufacturing site 51 for spacers and / or units (ie semi-finished products). The manufacturing site 51 may be provided with its own computer equipment 52, to which the computer equipment 48 of said testing or treatment sites may be connectable. Order and questionnaires can be sent from the test or treatment sites and received and answered from the manufacturing site in a manner known to 14 510 955. The manufacturing site may then comprise said powder sets 53, tools 54 and processing or processing equipment 55.

In addition, said high pressure effecting devices 56 may be included. In one embodiment, heat treatment furnaces 56a may also be provided adjacent to or separately from the pressure effecting means 56. Ordering or requesting information il is thus transmitted from the respective test or processing site and received in receiving means 57 at the manufacturing site. Depending on the information received, the receiving means 57 initiates current selection mechanisms for selecting powder sets and tools, respectively, in accordance with the above. Thus, the powder sets with information i2 'and the tools with information i2 "are selected. Selection of high pressure generating device or devices is initiated with i2"' and selection of current processing equipment with information i2 "". Direct connection 58 may also be present between the equipment 55 and 56 (and possibly 56a). The information i2 is thus divided into or includes the information i2 '- i2 "".

Depending on the information received, the product completed at the place of manufacture must result in a unit / semi-finished product or a finished distance. The finished distance and the unit, respectively, are delivered in a manner known per se to the relevant test or treatment site.

In accordance with Figure 4, the respective spacer or corresponding unit may consist of a powder compression of the kind indicated above. The design is then also preferably such that the manufacture can take place by means of a divisible tool 59 with tool parts 59a and 59b which are vulnerable to the exposure of the compressed unit 510 955 60. The unit or spacer is then preferably of the type which has a through-going channel 61 for holding the finished spacer in the current implant.

The finished spacers must be able to be applied in implants 62 and 63, respectively, in tooth bones. 64, 65 in one or more patients. The application of the ready-made. the distances must then take place via connection surfaces 62a, 63a which are preferably of a finished or standardized type. Characteristic of the invention are i.a. that the entire range of spacers can be produced by the technique specified above, regardless of whether the powder composition consists of titanium, ceramic, plastic or alloy. A use of units which consist of powder compositions compressible by means of high pressure consists of the units being used as mechanically machinable, e.g. millable semi-finished products with shapes that are based on the distances final shapes. After the mechanical processing, e.g. milling, grinding, etc., the units are used to form said range of 'spacers. The uses can also be characterized by the fact that it is heat-treated products that are to be processed.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown above by way of example, but may be subject to modifications within the scope of the appended claims and the inventive concept.

Claims (16)

51o 955 16 PATENT REQUIREMENTS Method of providing a range of spacers (42-44) which are intended to be applied to or at finished and usually standardized implant surfaces (62a, 63a) in the jaw / tooth bone (64, 65) and characterized by a small exterior dimensions, feel e- 1: eck 11 ad thereof, that the main part of the distance assortment (-n) is produced by means of the following manufacturing steps; a) in a first step, powder sets (3-6) are selected from a number of possible powder sets formed of or including titanium or metal powder, ceramic powder, plastic powder and / or alloy powder, b) in a second step the selected powder sets are applied in tools ( 12-15) with mold cavities (12a, 13a, 14a, 15a) for semi-finished forming units (31-33), c) in a third step the tools with powder-filled mold cavities are placed in one or more high ((aa) pressure generating devices (21-23), in which the powders in said spaces are compressed so that units with solid consistencies are obtained when the tools are cut after said compression step, and d) in a fourth step the units are mechanically machined (milled, ground, etc.) to the spacers (42- 44) final forms. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the units are heat-treated (sintered) after the mechanical processing. Method of making different types of spacers (42-44) that are applicable to implants with completed and usually standardized connection surfaces (62a, 63a) in tooth bone / jaw (s) (64, 65) on one or more patients 17 510 955 enter, wherein one or more test devices for the different shapes and / or compositions of the distances are arranged at a test site (45), e.g. at a dentist, at a hospital, etc., characterized in that semi-finished units (31-33) or finished distances (42-44) based on the different shapes of the distances are ordered at a manufacturing site serving several test sites, that at the manufacturing site is provided by the respective test site ordered or designated powder compositions (3-6) consisting of titanium or metal powder, ceramic powder, plastic powder and / or alloy powder, that tools (12-15) having the shapes of the units having mold spaces are applied in one or more several high-pressure generating devices (21-23) which, when activated (-de), compress the powders in the mold spaces and enable semi-finished units with fixed consistencies (ie they are mechanically machinable) when the tools are removed from the device (s) and separated, and that the semi-finished units are mechanically machined (milled, ground, etc.) in machining equipment (36-37) located e.g. at the place of manufacture and / or the test site concerned, for the production of the final or desired shapes of the spacers. A method according to claim 3, wherein the semi-finished units are applied in heat treatment furnaces for heat treatment. Method according to claim 23 or 4, characterized in that the powder sets (3-6) and / or the shapes of the units (31-33) or the distances (42- 44) are ordered via public telecommunications and / or or data network (49) by means of order form. 18 510 955 Method according to claim 3, 4 or 5, characterized in that when ordering the powder sets and / or the units or spacers forms a first computerized equipment (48a) at the test site (45) is activated for contact with a second computerized equipment (52) at the place of manufacture (51) or the processing equipment (55) via the telecommunications and / or data network (Internet), and that the order is effected through the established contact, e.g. through an interactive dialogue via the first and second computer equipment (48 and 52 respectively). Arrangements for leaving a test site (45), e.g. at a dentist, a hospital, the university, etc., order in a range of included distances (42-44) applicable to implant surfaces (62a, 63a) on the tooth bone / jaw (s) of one or more patients where the test site comprises one or more test devices (48) for the distance designs, assemblies and / or material compositions and where the test site has means (48) for compiling test results and transmitting them, preferably via telecommunications and / or data networks (49), to a manufacturing site (51), characterized in that the manufacturing site provides powder sets (53) that meet the requirements set at the distances in the various dental situations, mainly with respect to durability requirements and / or aesthetic requirements, that the manufacturing site (51 ) provides tool sets (54) and / or tool manufacturing for tools with mold spaces (l2a, l3a, 14a, 15a) corresponding to units (31- 33) as b semi-finished products based on the final or desired shapes of the spacers (42-44), that the manufacturing site provides with high pressure working device (s) (56) arranged to receive said tool with powder-filled spaces and subjecting the powders to such high pressures that solid consistency units are obtained after the pressure application (s) and disassembly of the tools, and that a. processing equipment (55), preferably located at the manufacturing site and / or test site concerned, are arranged to mechanically machine the semi-finished units into the final shapes of the spacers after possible sintering or heat treatment in a heating furnace or furnaces. Arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that at the manufacturing site (51) is arranged first means (57) for designating or initiating the actual powder composition from the testing site (45) which preferably has a first computer equipment (48). ) which can be connected to a second computer equipment located at the manufacturing site or processing equipment (52), the designations or initiations being feasible by preferably interactive interaction between the computer equipment. Arrangement according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that said first means are arranged for selecting or ordering the shapes of the semi-finished units from the point of designation. Arrangement for the production of spacers included in an assortment of spacers that are applicable to or at implant surfaces (62a, 63a) in the jaw (s) / tooth bone (64, 65) of one or more patients, wherein different requirements exist on the spacers from the point of view of solidity, aesthetic point of view, etc., is characterized in that a number of high pressure effecting devices (21, 23) are arranged to serve their powder composition among powder compositions consisting of of metal or titanium powder, ceramic powder, plastic powder and alloy powder, that receiving means are arranged to receive information (il) about the powder sets and shapes of units forming semi-finished products based on the shapes of the spacers or on the distances' own shapes, and that the means (57 ) are arranged to designate or select powder sets, depending on the information received (il) and to designate or specify tools with mold spaces corresponding to the shapes of the units, and that a b machining equipment (55) is arranged to mechanically process the units into the final shapes of the spacers after the tools (54) with powder-filled mold spaces have been subjected to said high pressure and separated and possibly heat-treated / sintered. 11. ll. Device 'in the range of' spacers (42-44) intended to be applicable to implant surfaces (62a, 63a) in the jaw (s) / tooth bone of one or more patients, characterized in that the main part of the spacer range consists of spacers with through holes (61) for screws for holding the distances to the implants (62, 63), that the distances consist of high-pressure compressed powder particles of titanium, ceramic, plastic and / or alloys, and that the spacers are arranged (down shapes which enable production by means of divisible tools (59). Device according to claim 11, characterized in that the powder particle sets are selected in dependence on requirements placed on the distances from the point of view of solid strength and aesthetic point of view. 21 510 955 Device according to Claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the range of spacers consists of a number of unique pointable spacers consisting of a number of basic versions with different dimensional variants which function separately and / or in assembly configurations. . Device according to one of Claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the range of distances consists of individual spacer designs produced in different dental situations. Use of units (31-33) consisting of high-pressure compressible powder sets consisting of titanium or metal particles, ceramic particles, plastic particles and / or alloy particles, characterized in that the units are used as mechanically machinable (millable, slip and possibly sintered semi-finished products with shapes that are placed on spacers (42-44) for application to implant surfaces (62a, 63a) in the jaw (s) / tooth bone of one or more patients. Use of units consisting of high-pressure compressible powder compositions (53) consisting of titanium or metal particles, ceramic particles, plastic particles and / or alloy particles, characterized in that the units after mechanical processing (milling, grinding, etc.) and any heat treatment (sintering) is used to form an assortment of spacers intended for application to (usually standardized) implant surfaces in the jaw (s) / tooth bone of one or more patients.