Patents by Inventor Günter Hertlein

Günter Hertlein has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9026238
    Abstract: In general the invention is directed to computer implemented systems and methods for assessing the size of a dental restoration blank. In one embodiment, the invention provides a computer-readable medium comprising dental CAD application code which implements the following procedures: generating in a computer memory a three dimensional digital rendering of a dental restoration; generating in the computer a digital rendering of a blank volume, the blank volume corresponding in dimensions to the usable volume of a blank that is available for milling, and the blank volume having a boundary corresponding to its edges; calculating areas of the dental restoration which are beyond the boundary; and providing the calculated areas to a calling function, user, user interface, or module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Michael A. Kraemer, Guenter Hertlein
  • Patent number: 8597388
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for making a dental restoration is provided. The system includes a machine unit for processing a dental material to form the dental restoration, and a control unit for controlling the operation of the machine unit. An air channel for discharging a process-originated material from the machine unit provides an air connection between the machine unit and the control unit. Certain embodiments of invention are advantageous in that they help to increase the reliability of the machining operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Michael K. Schaaf, Christian A. Richter, Sebastian Guggenmos, Günter Hertlein, Erich Sendelbach
  • Publication number: 20110071798
    Abstract: In general the invention is directed to computer implemented systems and methods for assessing the size of a dental restoration blank. In one embodiment, the invention provides a computer-readable medium comprising dental CAD application code which implements the following procedures: generating in a computer memory a three dimensional digital rendering of a dental restoration; generating in the computer a digital rendering of a blank volume, the blank volume corresponding in dimensions to the usable volume of a blank that is available for milling, and the blank volume having a boundary corresponding to its edges; calculating areas of the dental restoration which are beyond the boundary; and providing the calculated areas to a calling function, user, user interface, or module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventors: Michael A. Kraemer, Guenter Hertlein
  • Publication number: 20110008756
    Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring device which is used to determine the end of the processing time of hardenable materials, especially dental molding materials, comprising a display unit and a sensor unit which detects a modification of at least one of the rheological properties of the material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Inventors: Gerd Brandhorst, Günter Hertlein, Hermann Nirschl, Marc Peuker, Ingo Wagner, Erich Wanek
  • Patent number: 7856286
    Abstract: The invention relates to the processing of data regarding the three dimensional shape of a dental prosthesis, having two prosthesis sections and a connector section, wherein the connector section is connected to the two prosthesis sections and is less stable than the two prosthesis sections. The method includes the steps of (a) determining a stability parameter and a stability criterion for the connector section, (b) calculating the actual value for the stability parameter from the data, (c) checking the connector section to determine whether the actual value fulfills the stability criterion, and if not, generating a warning signal is to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Michael A. Kraemer, Bernd K. Burger, Holger Hauptmann, Guenter Hertlein, Stefan Hoescheler, Markus P. Salex
  • Patent number: 7822581
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method based on a CAD system consisting of producing a skeleton (14) satisfying pre-defined stability specifications on the basis of a positive template. For this purpose, the control surfaces, which are calculated on the basis of predetermined coordinates of said positive template, are represented on an output device together with the modified surface shape of an implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Michael A. Kraemer, Guenter Hertlein, Bernd K. Burger
  • Publication number: 20090135182
    Abstract: The invention relates to the processing of data regarding the three dimensional shape of a dental prosthesis, having two prosthesis sections and a connector section, wherein the connector section is connected to the two prosthesis sections and is less stable than the two prosthesis sections. The method includes the steps of (a) determining a stability parameter and a stability criterion for the connector section, (b) calculating the actual value for the stability parameter from the data, (c) checking the connector section to determine whether the actual value fulfills the stability criterion, and if not, generating a warning signal is to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventors: Michael A. Kraemer, Bernd K. Burger, Holger Hauptmann, Guenter Hertlein, Stefan Hoescheler, Markus P. Salex
  • Patent number: 7431545
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing dentures by milling a workpiece. The inventive method is characterized in that in the event of a change in the load on the workpiece or on the milling tool, or on the workpiece and on the milling tool, determined before the milling begins and occurring during the milling, the relative speed between the milling tool and the workplace is varied without using a regulation technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: 3M ESPE AG
    Inventors: Daniel Suttor, Thomas Sprengart, Michael Schaaf, Guenter Hertlein
  • Publication number: 20060246402
    Abstract: The invention relates to the processing of data regarding the three dimensional shape of a dental prosthesis, which has two prosthesis sections and a connector section, said connector section being connected to the two prosthesis sections and less stable than the two prosthesis sections, comprising the steps that:—a stability parameter and a stability criterion are determined for the connector section;—for the stability parameter, the actual value is calculated from the data;—it is checked for the connector section as to whether the actual value fulfills the stability criterion, and if not, that a warning signal is generated, wherein the determination of the stability criterion is dependent on at least one of the following prosthesis attributes:—the configuration of the prosthesis;—the position of the prosthesis inside the mouth;—the material and/or the cross-sectional profile of the connector section;—the type of the prosthesis sections adjoining the connector section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Publication date: November 2, 2006
    Inventors: Michael Kraemer, Bernd Burger, Holger Hauptmann, Guenter Hertlein, Stefan Hoeschefer, Markus Salex
  • Publication number: 20060199154
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method based on a CAD system consisting of producing a skeleton (14) satisfying pre-defined stability specifications on the basis of a positive template. For this purpose, the control surfaces, which are calculated on the basis of predetermined coordinates of said positive template, are represented on an output device together with the modified surface shape of an implant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Publication date: September 7, 2006
    Inventors: Michael Kraemer, Guenter Hertlein, Bernd Burger
  • Publication number: 20050019121
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing dentures by milling a workpiece. The inventive method is characterized in that in the event of a change in the load on the workpiece or on the milling tool, or on the workpiece and on the milling tool, determined before the milling begins and occurring during the milling, the relative speed between the milling tool and the workplace is varied without using a regulation technique.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Inventors: Daniel Suttor, Thomas Sprengart, Michael Schaaf, Guenter Hertlein