Abstract: Direct slicing of CAD models to generate process planning instructions for solid freeform fabrication may overcome inherent disadvantages of using STL format in terms of the process accuracy, ease of file management, and incorporation of multiple materials. This paper will present the results of our development of a direct slicing algorithm for layered freeform fabrication. The direct slicing algorithm was based on a neutral, international standard (ISO 10303) STEP-formatted NURBS geometric representation and is intended to be independent of any commercial CAD software. The following aspects of the development effort will be presented: 1) Determination of optimal build direction based upon STEP-based NURBS models; 2) Adaptive subdivision of NURBS data for geometric refinement; and 3) Ray-casting slice generation into sets of raster patterns.

Abstract: A device for controlling or altering the temperature of a liquid at the point of dispensing. A temperature-altering device is thermally coupled to a dispensing device to compensate for heat dissipated into the liquid as it passes through the dispensing device during dispensing. The dispensing device may be for example, a miniature solenoid valve (microvalve), a piezoelectric printhead, or the like. According to aspects of the invention, a temperature-altering device provides or reduces heat at the point of dispensing in order to alter, control or maintain a constant temperature of the dispensed liquid. As a result, improvement is obtained in the consistency of the fluid regime of the dispensed droplet stream. The temperature-altering device may be a thermoelectric device capable of moving heat either from or to the dispensing structure, or may be a heater.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for use in three-dimensional printing are shown and described. Various embodiments of the invention allow for more precise and controlled delivery of heat to achieve interlayer drying; isolation of the working region from the outside for reasons of cleanliness and in connection with the vapors of organic solvents; better control of the temperature of the working region; better accuracy in the flowrates of binder fluid dispensed; matching of delivered flowrates for multiple dispensers; verification of delivered flowrate or drops; provision for easier changeover of the machine from one powder to another; cleanability; and other needs.

Abstract: A bone graft that is made at least partially of synthetic material or demineralized bone matrix and is manufactured in suitable shape and/or dimensions to augment an alveolar ridge. The bone graft may be such as to augment both a portion of the crest of the alveolar ridge and a portion of at least one side of the alveolar ridge. The graft may include at least one hole for the intended position of an implant base, and/or at least one hole for attachment hardware. The graft may be manufactured to standard dimensions or it may be manufactured to patient-unique dimensions which may be determined radiographically prior to surgery and prior to manufacturing of the bone graft. The bone graft may be able to be carved for dimensional adjustment during surgery. The bone graft may have composition and/or local geometry which varies from one place to another, and may have a particular composition and/or local geometry at places intended to adjoin natural bone.

Abstract: The invention includes a three-dimensional printing (3DP) machine that has at least one ultraviolet (UV) light source directed at powder or slurry being processed by the 3DP machine and/or directed at any of various surfaces or machine components, in a manner suitable to kill or damage microorganisms to a desired extent. The UV light sources may be either stationary or movable, and may be either pulsed or substantially continuous, and may operate in any desired sequence and timing with respect to other operations performed by the machine. The invention may include ultraviolet illumination in such a way as to interact with powder to sterilize or disinfect powder either while the powder is stationary or, alternatively, as powder is being moved from one place to another within the 3DP machine, or both. The invention also includes methods of performing three-dimensional printing using such illumination.

Abstract: Bone void filler pieces that are conducive to packing or nesting when a plurality of pieces are located in a cavity in random orientation. The bone void filler of the present invention includes a higher bulk packing density and a porosity of less than 80% to provide a better match native bone ingrowth rate. Further, the bone void filler includes a bi-modal pore distribution with a high frequency of smaller pores to enhance the density characteristic of the bone void filler pieces. A method of manufacturing the bone void filler pieces includes a precursor powder composition suitable to form a ceramic matrix; the preform is converted by chemical reaction to a final composition. The preform further includes the use of a porogen that decomposes to gaseous decomposition products upon heating.

Abstract: A bone graft that is made at least partially of synthetic material or demineralized bone matrix and is of a suitable shape to fill a lower portion of a patient's maxillary sinus. The graft may be manufactured to patient-unique dimensions that may be determined radiographically prior to surgery and prior to manufacturing of the bone graft. Other aspects of the invention are a method of manufacture of the bone graft, and methods of installing the bone graft. The installation may make use of patient-unique templates to guide certain cutting operations. Another aspect of the invention is a kit comprising the bone graft, tools for its installation, templates and possibly other surgical items.

Abstract: A bone graft that is made at least partially of synthetic material and is of a suitable shape to fill a recess around the base of an ailing/failing endosseous implant. The bone graft may be pre-manufactured in the suitable shape. The invention also comprises a method of installing either such a bone graft or any other type of filler. The invention also comprises various types of bone graft profiler tools suitable for preparing the recess, and optionally an alignment post to assist in the use of the bone graft profiler tool(s). The dimensions of the bone graft profiler tool(s) and the dimensions of the bone graft and the dimensions of the alignment post may be chosen to have defined geometric relationships with respect to each other, with respect to the dimensions of the existing implant base, and with respect to the extent of bone deterioration at a particular implant site in a particular patient.

Abstract: A composition having an electrical conductivity sufficient to enable droplets to be easily charged when printing through a continuous jet with deflection printhead. The composition may include a halogenated hydrocarbon solvent, a co-solvent that is miscible with the halogenated hydrocarbon solvent, and a conductivity enhancing substance. The halogenated hydrocarbon solvent may be chloroform, and the co-solvent may be an alcohol, such as methanol or ethanol. The conductivity enhancing substance may be a salt that dissociates upon dissolution to form ions, or may be an acid or a polymer. The conductivity enhancing substance may be chosen to be benign if left in a printed product. The conductivity enhancing substance may be chosen to be volatile so as to be able to evaporate from whatever it is printed upon, and specifically may be chosen to be a liquid at room temperature.

Abstract: A biostructure including a porous matrix, the interstitial pores of the matrix selectively infused with an interpenetrant such that portions of the matrix remain uninfused. The biostructure may include a ceramic matrix and a polymer interpenetrant. The biostructure may be an implantable bone substitute including a bone repair device, a cranioplasty device, a burr hole cover or cap, a mandibular repair device, other craniofacial repair device, an alveolar ridge augmentation, bone void filler, a spinal fusion or other spinal repair device, or other substitute for either a portion of a bone or an entire bone. The biostructure, or its corresponding matrix, may have dimensions which may be customized for a particular patient and which may be based on medical imaging data and may further include geometric features not present in the medical imaging data. The biostructure may be used in culturing cells outside the body of a patient.

Abstract: The rapid design and manufacture of biomedical devices such as implants, oral dosage pills and implantable pharmaceuticals employs electronic data and modeling transmissions via a computer network. Patient information and patient-specific radiological data is captured and transmitted via a computer network to a design and/or manufacturing site. A multi-dimensional digital model is created based on the radiological data and patient information. Communications interchanges between a clinical/diagnostic site and a design/manufacturing site permit modification of the digital model until approved. The approved digital model is converted into machine instructions to construct the biomedical device. Alternatively, the digital model is employed in a best fit selection of a biomedical device from a pre-existing set of biomedical devices or machine-instructions. Transmittal of data over computer networks is further directed to the use of a Website to perform various client-interaction and follow-up tasks.

Abstract: Various elements and alloys selected to achieve both biocompatibility and low melting point for use in infiltrating a porous matrix. The infiltrated porous matrix may be made of ceramic, metal, bioglass, or other suitable material. The infiltrated matrix may be used as a biomedical implant, such as for bone repair and regeneration. The matrix may be manufactured using solid free form fabrication techniques such as three-dimensional printing.

Abstract: The rapid design and manufacture of biomedical devices such as implants, oral dosage pills and implantable pharmaceuticals employs electronic data and modeling transmissions via a computer network. Patient information and patient-specific radiological data is captured and transmitted via a computer network to a design and/or manufacturing site. A multi-dimensional digital model is created based on the radiological data and patient information. Communications interchanges between a clinical/diagnostic site and a design/manufacturing site permit modification of the digital model until approved. The approved digital model is converted into machine instructions to construct the biomedical device. Alternatively, the digital model is employed in a best fit selection of a biomedical device from a pre-existing set of biomedical devices or machine-instructions. Transmittal of data over computer networks is further directed to the use of a Website to perform various client-interaction and follow-up tasks.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for use in three-dimensional printing are shown and described. Various embodiments of the invention allow for more precise and controlled delivery of heat to achieve interlayer drying; isolation of the working region from the outside for reasons of cleanliness and in connection with the vapors of organic solvents; better control of the temperature of the working region; better accuracy in the flowrates of binder fluid dispensed; matching of delivered flowrates for multiple dispensers; verification of delivered flowrate or drops; provision for easier changeover of the machine from one powder to another; cleanability; and other needs.

Abstract: The invention includes dispensing a suspension containing solid particles for use in manufacturing a dosage form or other biomedical article by 3DP. The suspension contains solid particles suspended in a liquid. The solid particles may be one or more Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients. The solid particles may be particles of material that are insoluble in the liquid, or they may be particles of a substance that have already dissolved in the liquid up to the saturation level and are present in a concentration beyond what can be dissolved. In addition to solid particles, the liquid may also contain other substances dissolved in it, either substances containing Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) or substances without API. One aspect of the invention includes prevention of agglomeration by adding one or more of several categories of additives to the suspending liquid.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the migration of binder liquid in a bulk powder. The bulk powder may be deposited in a powder bed and contains at least two different substances, each in powder form. One substance gives the printed part its bulk properties, forms most of the powder, and preferably is either insoluble or not significantly soluble in the binder liquid. The other powder substance is a migration control substance. Upon interaction with the binder liquid, this substance may absorb the binder liquid and form a gel or dissolve into the binder liquid increasing viscosity thereby inhibiting binder migration. No chemical reactions occur between the binder liquid and any of the substances in the powder bed. In another embodiment of the instant invention, binder migration may be further controlled by first printing a barrier region in the powder bed containing the migration control substance.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for use in three-dimensional printing are shown and described. Various embodiments of the invention allow for more precise and controlled delivery of heat to achieve interlayer drying; isolation of the working region from the outside for reasons of cleanliness and in connection with the vapors of organic solvents; better control of the temperature of the working region; better accuracy in the flowrates of binder fluid dispensed; matching of delivered flowrates for multiple dispensers; verification of delivered flowrate or drops; provision for easier changeover of the machine from one powder to another; cleanability; and other needs.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for use in three-dimensional printing are shown and described. Various embodiments of the invention allow for more precise and controlled delivery of heat to achieve interlayer drying; isolation of the working region from the outside for reasons of cleanliness and in connection with the vapors of organic solvents; better control of the temperature of the working region; better accuracy in the flowrates of binder fluid dispensed; matching of delivered flowrates for multiple dispensers; verification of delivered flowrate or drops; provision for easier changeover of the machine from one powder to another; cleanability; and other needs.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for use in three-dimensional printing are shown and described. Various embodiments of the invention allow for more precise and controlled delivery of heat to achieve interlayer drying; isolation of the working region from the outside for reasons of cleanliness and in connection with the vapors of organic solvents; better control of the temperature of the working region; better accuracy in the flowrates of binder fluid dispensed; matching of delivered flowrates for multiple dispensers; verification of delivered flowrate or drops; provision for easier changeover of the machine from one powder to another; cleanability; and other needs.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for use in three-dimensional printing are shown and described. Various embodiments of the invention allow for more precise and controlled delivery of heat to achieve interlayer drying; isolation of the working region from the outside for reasons of cleanliness and in connection with the vapors of organic solvents; better control of the temperature of the working region; better accuracy in the flowrates of binder fluid dispensed; matching of delivered flowrates for multiple dispensers; verification of delivered flowrate or drops; provision for easier changeover of the machine from one powder to another; cleanability; and other needs.