Production process of varying thickness osteosynthesis plates
AssigneeAnna Magrini
InventorsAnna Magrini, Maurizio Carta
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Abstract
The invention concerns a process for the production of osteosynthesis plates with a varying thickness to whatever degree. The plates are manufactured by a metal cutting process carried out on a composite structure made by a layer of the material which will form the osteosynthesis plate, bound through a layer of adhesive to a supporting layer with high thermal conductivity and mechanical strength. When the cutting process terminates, the osteosynthesis plate is separated from the supporting layer by heating the composite structure until the adhesive melts or by using a thinner suitable for the adopted adhesive.
Claims1
A process for maufacturing an osteosynthesis plate with a varying thickness profile comprising the following steps:
- a) joining a metallic biocompatible plate to a metallic bearing plate using a structural adhesive to make a composite structure, the structural adhesive having a melting point greater than 80° C. and the metallic bearing plate having a thermal conductivity sufficient to dissipate heat generated by cutting the metallic biocompatible plate of the composite structure such that the temperature of the structural adhesive during cutting is kept below 80° C.;
- b) machining the metallic biocompatible plate of the composite structure by a metal cutting process that uses drilling and end milling operations to cut the metallic biocompatible plate into the osteosynthesis plate of varying thickness profile, wherein the metallic bearing plate dissipates heat generated during the metal cutting process to keep the temperature of the structural adhesive of the composite structure below 80° C.;
- and
- c) heating the structural adhesive of the composite structure to a temperature greater than 80° C. to melt the structural adhesive to separate the osteosynthesis plate from the metallic bearing plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.