Laser digitizer system for producing orthotic and prosthetic devices
AssigneeClynch Technologies, Inc.
InventorsGeorge Clynch, Jeffrey B. Allan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for producing a device, such as a prosthetic or orthodontic structure, is provided, having an inner surface for engagement with a portion of the human body. The system produces a more accurately fitting socket and involves a less time-consuming process with less discomfort to the patient. In the socket made from the mold, processed by the present system, the areas of enlargements provide areas of relief in the surface of the structure and the areas of reductions provide higher pressure areas in the areas in the surface.
Claims38
A method of producing a structure for use in a prosthetic, orthotic having an inner surface for engagement with a portion of a human body comprising scanning said body portion with a laser digitizer to produce a plurality of contour coordinates representing an outer contour of said body portion along a plurality of closely spaced lines read by said laser digitizer, storing said contour coordinates representing a digital image of the contour of said body portion, generating a code from said digital image for controlling a cutting machine to produce a mold having an outer surface contoured in a shape of said body portion, and producing said structure from said mold, the improvement which takes into consideration loading effects on said body portion is characterized by:
- a) encasing and loading said body portion in a flexible support having a reflective outer surface for laser digitizing;
- b) inspecting said encased and loaded body portion and locating load bearing and non-load bearing, basic modification sites thereon;
- c) identifying said basic modification sites and discrete modification sites within said basic modification sites by means of a series of small, non-reflecting markings on said reflective surface;
- d) displaying said digital image of said contour graphically and identifying said discrete and basic modification sites as void-points produced by said non-reflecting markings;
- e) producing a modified digital image by selectively adjusting certain discrete modification sites within said basic modification sites positively to produce enlargements and adjusting discrete modification sites in other selected basic modification sites negatively to produce reductions;
- f) producing said mold from said modified data having a surface contoured in the shape of said body surface but including areas of enlargements and reductions;
- and
- g) producing said structure from said mold whereby the areas of enlargement correspond to non-load bearing basic modification sites and areas of reduction correspond to load bearing basic modification sites.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.