3D print portal to assist in revising, reviewing, and approving 3D printable files

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12487579-B2
Application number	US-202117196842-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 9, 2021
Priority date	Mar 9, 2021
Publication date	Dec 2, 2025
Grant date	Dec 2, 2025

Abstract

A 3D portal facilitates revision, review, and approval of 3D printable files prior to printing. A collection of one or more 3D printable files of an object to be printed is revised and reviewed until a version of the collection that is not only accurate but optimized for printing, is finalized. Healthcare professional users and application engineer users are able to communicate, collaborate, and plan requirements for the print.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method comprising:
interacting with an image viewer and segmentation tool executing in a requester computer via an API of the image viewer and segmentation tool to receive, by a manager computer, a request including print data of an object from the requester computer that is separate from the manager computer; associating, by the manager computer, the print data with an initial version of one or more 3D printable data for printing the object; electronically storing, by the manager computer, the print data and the initial version of the 3D printable data in a data repository; interacting with a modification tool executing in a reviewer computer via an API of the modification tool to transmit, by the manager computer over a network, the initial version of the 3D printable data from the data repository to the reviewer computer for modification by the reviewer computer, wherein the reviewer computer is separate from the manager computer and the requester computer; interacting, via an application programming interface (API), with the modification tool executing in the reviewer computer via the API of the modification tool, to receive, by the manager computer, a modified version of the 3D printable data from the reviewer computer, wherein the modified version of the 3D printable data differs from the initial version of the 3D printable data, the modified version of the 3D printable data comprising one or more modifications to the initial version of the 3D printable data made by the reviewer computer; electronically storing, by the manager computer, the modified version of the 3D printable data in the data repository; interacting with the image viewer and segmentation tool via the API of the image viewer and segmentation tool to transmit, by the manager computer over the network, the modified version of the 3D printable data from the data repository to the requester computer for approval; interacting with the image viewer and segmentation tool via the API of the image viewer and segmentation tool to receive, by the manager computer, an approval indication for a particular version of the 3D printable data from the requester computer, wherein the particular version of the 3D printable data is a version from a plurality of versions of the 3D printable data for printing the object that is electronically stored in the data repository, wherein the plurality of versions of the 3D printable data comprise the modified version of the 3D printable data; in response to receiving the approval indication, causing to 3D print the object according to the particular version of the one or more 3D printable data.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the initial version of the 3D printable data is generated from one or more DICOM segmentations.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the initial version of the 3D printable data is received from the requester computer, wherein the requester computer includes an image viewer and segmentation tool.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the initial version of the 3D printable data is generated by the manager computer.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating, by the manager computer, a notification regarding the modified version of the 3D printable data.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising causing to generate digital quote data that defines an electronic quote for printing the object.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving, by the manager computer, the request including the print data of the object from the requester computer comprises interfacing with an API of a segmentation tool executing in the requester computer.

8 . An apparatus comprising:
a manager computer; one or more processors; and one or more memories communicatively coupled to the one or more processors and storing instructions which, when processed by the one or more processors, cause: interacting with an image viewer and segmentation tool executing in a requester computer via an API of the image viewer and segmentation tool to receive, by a manager computer, a request including print data of an object from the requester computer that is separate from the manager computer; associating, by the manager computer, the print data with an initial version of 3D printable data for printing the object; electronically storing, by the manager computer, the print data and the initial version of the 3D printable data in a data repository; interacting with a modification tool executing in a reviewer computer via an API of the modification tool to transmit, by the manager computer over a network, the initial version of the 3D printable data from the data repository to the reviewer computer for modification by the reviewer computer, wherein the reviewer computer is separate from the manager computer and the requester computer; interfacing with an application programming interface (API) of a modification tool executing in the reviewer computer interacting with the modification via the API of the modification tool to receive, by the manager computer, a modified version of the 3D printable data from the reviewer computer, wherein the modified version of the 3D printable data differs from the initial version of the 3D printable data, the modified version of the 3D printable data comprising one or more modifications to the initial version of the 3D printable data made by the reviewer computer; electronically storing, by the manager computer, the modified version of the 3D printable data in the data repository; interacting with the image viewer and segmentation tool via the API of the image viewer and segmentation tool to transmitting transmit, by the manager computer over the network, the modified version of the 3D printable data from the data repository to the requester computer for approval; interacting with the image viewer and segmentation tool via the API of the image viewer and segmentation tool to receiving receive, by the manager computer, an approval indication for a particular version of the 3D printable data from the requester computer, wherein the particular version of the 3D printable data is a version from a plurality of versions of the 3D printable data for printing the object that is electronically stored in the data repository, wherein the plurality of versions of the 3D printable data comprise the modified version of the 3D printable data; and in response to receiving the approval indication, causing to 3D print the object according to the particular version of the 3D printable data.

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the initial version of the 3D printable data is generated from one or more DICOM segmentations.

10 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the initial version of the 3D printable data is received from the requester computer, wherein the requester computer includes an image viewer and segmentation tool.

11 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the initial version of the 3D printable data is generated by the manager computer.

12 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the print data includes printing specifications for printing the object.

13 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the instructions which, when processed by the one or more processors, further cause generating, by the manager computer, a notification regarding the modified version of the 3D printable data.

14 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the instructions which, when processed by the one or more processors, further cause causing to generate digital quote data that defines an electronic quote for printing the object.

15 . One or more non-transitory computer-readabl

Assignees

• Hess Ryan
• Herold Fred
• Nelson Steven A
• Turner Gary
• Gannon Patrick
• Wall Jeanette
• Gramlich John
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Hess Ryan
• Herold Fred
• Nelson Steven A
• Turner Gary
• Gannon Patrick
• Wall Jeanette
• Gramlich John

Classifications

• G06F21/44

  Program or device authentication · CPC title

• G05B2219/49023

  3-D printing, layer of powder, add drops of binder in layer, new powder · CPC title

• G05B19/4155

  characterised by program execution, i.e. part program or machine function execution, e.g. selection of a program · CPC title

• G05B19/4099 Primary

  Surface or curve machining, making three-dimensional [3D] objects, e.g. desktop manufacturing · CPC title