Method and apparatus for generating a 3D model of an object
Inventors
RADJOU, Sidarth • MORA ESPINOSA, Mayra Guadalupe
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-10976722-B2
Publication Date
2021-04-13
Expiration Date
Abstract
A method for generating a 3D model for fabricating a multi-material object using additive manufacturing. The method comprises providing a first volumetric model of an object in a deformed configuration, generating a second volumetric model from the first volumetric model and assigning materials to the second volumetric model by: a) defining a cluster of elementary volumetric elements of the second volumetric model, b) selecting a cluster object material in the database of object materials by minimizing a cost function determined by computing a deformed configuration of the second volumetric model under a set of predefined loads and constraints, c) partitioning the elementary volumetric elements of the cluster in two sub-clusters based on the deformed configuration, d) repeating step b) for each sub-clusters. The method further comprises generating a 3D model for fabricating an object from the second volumetric model and the assigned materials.
Core Innovation
The invention generates a three-dimensional model for fabricating a multi-material anatomical object using additive manufacturing by using a first volumetric model of an anatomic object in at least a deformed configuration. The first volumetric model includes a plurality of three-dimensional first nodes that define first elementary volumetric elements partitioning a first space region modeled by the first volumetric model. A second volumetric model is generated from the first volumetric model and includes a plurality of three-dimensional second nodes defining second elementary volumetric elements.
Materials are assigned to each second elementary volumetric element of the second volumetric model from a database of M object materials through a clustered selection procedure. A cluster of second elementary volumetric elements is defined, and a cluster object material is selected by minimizing a cost function of the cluster. The cost function is computed by assigning identical intrinsic material properties associated to the selected material to each second elementary volumetric element of the cluster, determining a deformed configuration of the second volumetric model under predefined loads and constraints, and computing the cost function as a function of the deformed configuration of the cluster and the deformed configuration of the first volumetric model, wherein the cost function depends on at least one of stress and strain error.
The clustered procedure partitions the second elementary volumetric elements of the cluster into at least two sub-clusters based on the deformed configuration of the cluster, and repeats the cost-function-based selection at least once for each sub-cluster. This recursive cluster partitioning and material selection continues to assign materials to elementary volumetric elements. The resulting second volumetric model together with the materials assigned to each elementary volumetric element generates a three-dimensional model for fabricating the anatomic object, and fabrication produces a multi-material three-dimensional anatomic object having the deformed configuration of the first volumetric model.
Claims Coverage
The provided partial set includes three independent claims: a method claim, a second method claim with surface mesh interface and finite-element volumetric model generation details, and a system claim. Across these independent claims, the coverage centers on clustered, cost-function-minimizing material assignment on a second volumetric model while matching deformed configurations of a first volumetric model, including stress and strain error in the cost function.
Clustered, cost-function-based material assignment by deformed-configuration matching
Selecting a cluster object material in a database of M object materials by minimizing a cost function of a defined cluster, where the cost function is computed by assigning identical intrinsic material properties to cluster elements, determining a deformed configuration under predefined loads and constraints, and computing the cost function as a function of the deformed configuration of the cluster and the deformed configuration of the first volumetric model, with the cost function depending on at least one of stress and strain error.
Recursive partitioning into sub-clusters based on the deformed configuration
Partitioning second elementary volumetric elements of the cluster into at least two sub-clusters based on the deformed configuration of the cluster, and repeating the clustered cost-function material selection for each of the at least two sub-clusters.
3D model generation for additive manufacturing of a multi-material anatomic object from the deformed configuration
Generating a three-dimensional model for fabricating the anatomic object from the second volumetric model and the materials assigned to each elementary volumetric element of the second volumetric model, and fabricating a multi-material three-dimensional anatomic object having the deformed configuration of the first volumetric model.
Finite-element volumetric model generation from a surface mesh interface
Receiving a three-dimensional model comprising at least one surface mesh representative of an interface associated to a discontinuity in the physical properties of the anatomic object, and generating the first volumetric model from the three-dimensional surface mesh by performing a finite-element volumetric model generation.
Compensating predefined loads and constraints for mechanical interactions
Partitioning a surface of the first volumetric element into segments and, for each segment, assigning intrinsic mechanical properties and predefined loads and constraints which compensate for mechanical interactions with a surrounding environment.
System architecture for clustered deformed-configuration material assignment and fabrication
A system comprising a memory unit operative to store at least a first volumetric model, predefined loads and constraints, and a deformed configuration; a processing unit operative to generate a second volumetric model, assign materials to elements from a database of M object materials by cluster definition, cost-function minimization using intrinsic material properties and deformed configuration matching, partitioning into sub-clusters, and repeating, and generating the three-dimensional model for fabrication and fabricating the multi-material three-dimensional anatomic object having the deformed configuration of the first volumetric model.
Across the independent claims, the principal inventive concept is the clustered selection of materials from a database for elementary volumetric elements of a second volumetric model using a minimized cost function computed from deformed configurations relative to a first volumetric model, with stress and/or strain error. Coverage further includes recursive sub-cluster partitioning, generation of a fabrication-ready three-dimensional model, optional compensation via predefined loads and constraints on segmented surfaces, and interface-to-finite-element volumetric model generation in the second independent method claim.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
Surgical training using realistic deformation targeting, and medical device development/testing using realistic deformation targeting.
Interested in licensing this patent?