발생일자 2015.03.25 

사건번호 0:15-cv-01591 

법원국가 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

관할법원명 D.C.Minnesota(지방법원) 

침해권리 특허 

원고명 3M Company/ 3M Innovative Properties Company ( 미국 / NPEs )  

피고명 Danville Materials, LLC ( 미국 / 외국기업 )  

소송유형 침해금지 

[3M Company et al v. Danville Materials, LLC] 사건번호 0:15-cv-01591에 따르면 원고 3M Company/ 3M Innovative Properties Company는 피고 Danville Materials, LLC을 상대로 특허 US6572693을 침해하였다는 이유로 미국 미네소타 지방법원에 소를 제기하였다. 

분쟁결과 분쟁중 

산업분류 화학∙바이오 > 의약품 

계쟁제품 ZNano universal nanocomposite - ZNano product 

지재권번호/명칭

US6572693   Aesthetic dental materials 

The invention provides for a material comprising(a) a hardenable resin; and (b) a filler comprising (i) clusters of nano-sized particles, the clusters comprising non-beavy metal oxide particles and heavy metal oxides, and being not fully densified particles and (ii) non-agglomerated nano-sized particles selected from the group consisting of non-heavy metal oxide particles, heavy metal oxide particles, and combinations thereof. The material is suitable for use as dental materials. 

1. A material comprising: (a) a hardenable resin; and (b) a filler comprising (i) clusters of nano-sized particles, said clusters comprising non-heavy metal oxide particles and heavy metal oxides and being not fully densified and (ii) non-agglomerated nano-sized particles selected from the group consisting of non-heavy metal oxide particles, heavy metal oxide particles, and combinations thereof, wherein said material is a dental material. 

2. The material of claim 1, wherein said non-heavy metal oxide particles are selected from the group consisting of silica, titanium dioxide, aluminum oxide, and combinations thereof. 

3. The material of claim 1, wherein said heavy metal oxide comprises a heavy metal having an atomic number greater than 30. 

4. The material of claim 1, wherein said heavy metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of zirconium oxide, cerium oxide, tin oxide, yttrium oxide, strontium oxide, barium oxide, lanthanum oxide, zinc oxide, ytterbium oxide, bismuth oxide, and combinations thereof. 

5. The material of claim 1, wherein said clusters have an average diameter of less than about 1 micrometer. 

6. The material of claim 1, wherein said non-agglomerated nano-sized particles have an average diameter of less than about 100 nanometers. 

7. The material of claim 1, wherein said filler comprises at least about 60% by weight of said clusters and at most about 40% by weight of said nano-sized particles, based on the total filler. 

8. The material of claim 1, wherein said hardenable resin is selected from the group consisting of acrylates, methacrylates, epoxies, and combinations thereof. 

9. The material of claim 1, wherein said material is selected from the group consisting of dental resotratives, dental adhesives, dental mill blanks, dental cements, dental prostheses, orthodontic devices and adhesives, dental casting materials, and dental coatings. 

10. The material of claim 1, wherein the material, after hardening, has a visual opacity of less than about 0.35 as measured on a MacBeth transmission densitometer Model TD-903. 

11. A method of making a dental material comprising: providing a hardenable resin; providing a filler comprising (i) clusters of nano-sized particles, said clusters comprising non-heavy metal oxide particles and heavy metal oxides and being not fully densified and (ii) non-agglomerated nano-sized particles selected from the group consisting of non-heavy metal oxide particles, heavy metal oxide particles, and combinations thereof; surface treating said filler to yield surface-treated filler particles; and mixing said surface treated filler particles with said hardenable resin. 

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said non-heavy metal oxide particles are selected from the group consisting of silica, titanium dioxide, aluminum oxide, and combinations thereof. 

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said heavy metal oxide comprises a heavy metal having an atomic number greater than 30. 

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said heavy metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of zirconium oxide, cerium oxide, tin oxide, yttrium oxide, strontium oxide, barium oxide, lanthanum oxide, zinc oxide, ytterbium oxide, bismuth oxide, and combinations thereof. 

15. The method of claim 11, wherein said clusters have an average diameter of less than about 1 micrometer. 

16. The method of claim 11, wherein said non-agglomerated nano-sized particles have an average diameter of less than about 100 nanometers. 

17. The method of claim 11, wherein said filler comprises at least about 60% by weight of said clusters and at most about 40% by weight of said nano-sized particles, based on the total filler. 

18. The method of claim 11, wherein said hardenable resin is selected from the group consisting of acrylates, methacrylates, epoxies, and combinations thereof. 

19. The method of claim 11, wherein said dental material is selected from the group consisting of dental resotratives, dental adhesives, dental mill blanks, dental cements, dental prostheses, orthodontic devices and adhesives, dental casting materials, and dental coatings. 

20. The method of claim 11, wherein said dental material, after hardening, has a visual opacity of less than about 0.35 as measured on a MacBeth transmission densitometer Model TD-903. 

21. A method of using a dental material comprising: placing the material near or on a tooth surface; changing the topography of the material; and hardening the material, wherein the dental material comprises a hardenable resin and a filler comprising (i) clusters of nano-sized particles, said clusters comprising non-heavy metal oxide particles and heavy metal oxides and being not fully densified and (ii) non-agglomerated nano-sized particles selected from the group consisting of non-heavy metal oxide particles, heavy metal oxide particles, and combinations thereof. 

22. The method of claim 21, wherein placing, changing, and hardening are performed sequentially. 

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising finishing the surface of the hardened material. 

24. The method of claim 21 wherein the hardened material forms a dental article selected from the group consisting of dental mill blanks, dental prostheses, orthodontic devices, artificial crowns, anterior fillings, posterior fillings, and cavity liners. 

25. A dental article preparable by a method comprising: hardening a dental material comprising a hardenable resin and a filler comprising (i) clusters of nano-sized particles, said clusters comprising non-heavy metal oxide particles and heavy metal oxides and being not fully densified and (ii) non-agglomerated nano-sized particles selected from the group consisting of non-heavy metal oxide particles, heavy metal oxide particles, and combinations thereof; and fabricating a dental article selected from the group consisting of dental mill blanks, dental prostheses, orthodontic devices, artificial crowns, anterior fillings, posterior fillings, and cavity liners.