Patent ID: 8083012

Claim:
A method for making a diamond bonded construction comprising: forming a thermally stable diamond element from a polycrystalline diamond material, the polycrystalline diamond material comprising a plurality of bonded-together diamond grains with a catalyst material disposed within interstitial regions between the diamond grains, wherein the method of forming comprises removing the catalyst from the interstitial regions, and wherein the thermally stable diamond element has a predetermined configuration to form at least part of a working surface of the construction; combining the thermally stable diamond element with a volume of diamond grains to form an assembly; subjecting the assembly to high pressure/high temperature conditions to sinter the volume of diamond grains to form a polycrystalline diamond body; wherein the thermally stable diamond element is disposed within and bonded to the polycrystalline diamond body, and wherein the thermally stable diamond element forms at least a portion of the diamond bonded construction working surface.