Apparatus for producing dental prostheses
OwnerV. Kim Kutsch, Robert J. Bowersinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed are an apparatus, materials, devices and methods for the use of a variety of thermoplastic resins in fabricating dental prostheses without the use of expensive hot-press equipment unavailable to most dental laboratories. The prostheses made by the process and materials disclosed herein provide more attractive and longer lasting prostheses with significant savings in both costs and materials. Among the aims of the technology disclosed is to save time and money for the dental industry (dentists, dental labs) and the dental consumer/patient.
Claims17
A cold press injection molding apparatus for fabricating dental prostheses from thermoplastic resinous materials comprising:
- a) a piston that pushes a plunger to activate the injection molding operation;
- b) a quantity of thermoplastic resin out of which the prosthesis is made;
- c) a flexible containment and delivery means selected from the group consisting of a flexible metal foil bag, a foil burst pouch, a syringe, an ingot, a resin cylinder, fiberglass, metal, polyester film, fabric, a disc, and woven material that holds said thermoplastic resin until delivery into an injection tube which is pre-measured and independently heated in an amount appropriate to the prosthesis being fabricated;
- d) an injection tube which acts as a heat sink made from material able to withstand the fusion temperature of the thermoplastic resin;
- e) a nozzle on the end of said injection tube which delivers the fused thermoplastic resin into a dental flask, and made from a material able to withstand the fusion temperature of the thermoplastic resin;
- f) a mold in the flask from which the prosthesis is formed from fused thermoplastic resin whereby the fabricated prosthesis is identical in shape and dimensions to the mold from which it was made.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.