Patents Assigned to Sirona Dental Systems GmbH
  • Patent number: 8480396
    Abstract: A system for a dental superstructure to be attached to an implant using a digital model description of a shape of the superstructure, the superstructure including first and second elements. The system comprises a computing device arranged to (a) analyze a recorded real clinical situation or shaped clinical situation of an implant axis and insertion axis, (b) compute a shape of the dental superstructure based at least in part on the determined implant axis, (c) generate digital data representing the shape of the superstructure, and (d) separate the computed shape into first digital data representing a shape of the first element to be connected to the implant and second digital data representing a shape of the second element to be connected to the first element, the shape of the first element being optimized, at least in part, based on a tilt angle between the determined implant axis and insertion axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Sirona Dental Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Gunter Saliger, Bernd Rothenberger, Reinhard Pieper
  • Publication number: 20130162645
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for creating a virtual dental image from a 3D volume (1) comprising volumetric image data. Firstly, a sub-volume (8, 12, 15, 18) of the 3D volume (1) is defined and then a virtual projection image (30, 41) is generated for said sub-volume (8, 12, 15, 18) from a specific X-ray imaging direction (11) by computation of the volumetric image data in said X-ray imaging direction (11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: SIRONA DENTAL SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventor: Johannes Ulrici
  • Publication number: 20130163718
    Abstract: The invention relates to a dental X-ray system for the creation of a radiograph (13), comprising an imaging unit (5) for surface detection. The imaging unit (5) has a light source (6), which produces a polychromatic beam of visible light (6?), a masking edge (7), which extends at least partially into the polychromatic beam of light (6?) between the light source (6) and the recording area (19) for the purpose of creating a shadow demarcation line (17) in said recording area (19), and an optical detector (8), wherein the light source (6), the masking edge (7) and the optical detector (8) are mounted directly on the supporting device (2) and/or on the X-ray source (3) and/or on the X-ray detector (4) and can be moved together therewith past the recording area (19) in circular motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: SIRONA DENTAL SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: Kai Lindenberg, Christian Beckhaus, Johannes Ulrici
  • Patent number: 8401690
    Abstract: In a method for processing a blank (1), in which the blank (1) can be densely sintered with shrinkage following machining and machining of the blank (1) is carried out in a machining device (7) allowing for an individual scale-up factor (F) relevant to the blank (1) for compensating for the shrinkage occurring during dense sintering, a linear measurement of the blank (1) is performed in one or more of the dimensions length, width, and height for determining the scale-up factor (F), wherein the measured linear measure (1) bears a known relationship to the scale-up factor (F), the type of blank (1) being known. Linear measurement of the blank (1) can be carried out in the machining device (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Sirona Dental Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Siegfried Gleditzsch, Franz Basler, David Figge
  • Publication number: 20120327192
    Abstract: A dental 3D camera for optically scanning a three-dimensional object, and a method for operating a dental 3D camera. The camera operates in accordance with a triangulation procedure to acquire a plurality of images of the object. The method comprises forming at least one comparative signal based on at least two images of the object acquired by the camera while at least one pattern is projected on the object, and determining at least one camera shake index based on the at least one comparative signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: SIRONA DENTAL SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: Joachim Pfeiffer, Konrad Klein
  • Patent number: 8334894
    Abstract: A dental 3D camera for optically scanning a three-dimensional object, and a method for operating a dental 3D camera. The camera operates in accordance with a triangulation procedure to acquire a plurality of images of the object. The method comprises forming at least one comparative signal based on at least two images of the object acquired by the camera while at least one pattern is projected on the object, and determining at least one camera shake index based on the at least one comparative signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Sirona Dental Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Pfeiffer, Konrad Klein
  • Patent number: 8320522
    Abstract: A method for creating a tomographic image in the manner of a dental X-ray panoramic tomographic image from a digital 3D volume exhibiting X-ray absorption values, comprising transradiating the 3D volume forming an object to be scanned virtually using a virtual X-ray source, recording the virtually produced image by a virtual detector, and moving the virtual source of X-rays and virtual detector virtually past the object to be scanned with formation of a sharp layer having a blurred area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Sirona Dental Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Ulrici, Erich Hell, Christian Beckhaus
  • Publication number: 20120282572
    Abstract: A procedure for creating a dental prosthetic includes registering three-dimensional (3D) dental impression image data of a tooth restoration site and 3D x-ray image data of the tooth restoration site, and removing image data corresponding to soft tissue in the tooth restoration site from the 3D dental impression image data. A system for producing a dental prosthetic includes at least one processor operable to register 3D dental impression image data of a tooth restoration site and 3D x-ray image data of the tooth restoration site and remove image data corresponding to soft tissue in the tooth restoration site from the 3D dental impression image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: SIRONA DENTAL SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: Roddy MacLeod, Daniel Michaeli, Volker Wedler
  • Patent number: 8290240
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, method, and computer program product for evaluating an object disposed on an upper surface of an object holder. At least one first frame representing a captured portion of the object is acquired, while the object holder is positioned at each of multiple locations. At least one second frame representing a captured portion of at least one other surface of the object holder is acquired, while the object holder is positioned at each of the locations. At least one spatial characteristic associated with the captured portion of the object is determined based on at least one of the acquired frames. Values of multiple optical markers captured in each second frame are determined, where at least two of the optical markers have different characteristics. At least one of coordinates associated with the values and an orientation of the captured portion of the at least one other surface are determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Sirona Dental Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Thiel, Björn Popilka, Gerrit Kocherscheidt
  • Patent number: 8280152
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for optically scanning the three-dimensional geometry of an object by means of triangulation, in which a pattern (9, 9?) is projected onto the object (7) to be scanned in order to obtain a 3D data set, and the projected pattern (9, 9?) is recorded in an image (40, 41). In a first step for the production of at least one first image (40), a first pattern (9) is projected and in a second step for the creation of at least one further image (40), a further pattern (9?) deviating from the first as regards position or shape is projected onto the object (7) to be scanned and the image (41) is created. The first image (40) and the further image (41) comprise at least one common point (44). The 3D data acquired from the images (40, 41) are merged in a subsequent step on the basis of the 3D data of the at least one common point (44) such that the 3D data acquired from said images (40, 41) agree at least with reference to the 3D data of the common point (44) in the 3D data set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Sirona Dental Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Thiel, Joachim Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 8275184
    Abstract: A measuring body for an implant, having a measuring geometry that can be captured by a measuring camera and a connection geometry on the implant. Said measuring geometry is arranged on a test part and the connection geometry is arranged on a bearing part, both parts being embodied as separate components. Said bearing part comprises a bearing for the test part and the test part comprises a counter bearing to the bearing and the measuring geometry is provided on a free end of the test part. Also provided is a method for capturing a 3D-measurement drawing of a measuring body that is arranged on an implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Sirona Dental Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Sascha Schneider, Frank Weber
  • Publication number: 20120203366
    Abstract: A system for a dental superstructure to be attached to an implant using a digital model description of a shape of the superstructure, the superstructure including first and second elements. The system comprises a computing device arranged to (a) analyze a recorded real clinical situation or shaped clinical situation of an implant axis and insertion axis, (b) compute a shape of the dental superstructure based at least in part on the determined implant axis, (c) generate digital data representing the shape of the superstructure, and (d) separate the computed shape into first digital data representing a shape of the first element to be connected to the implant and second digital data representing a shape of the second element to be connected to the first element, the shape of the first element being optimized, at least in part, based on a tilt angle between the determined implant axis and insertion axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: SIRONA DENTAL SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: Günter Saliger, Bernd Rothenberger, Reinhard Pieper
  • Patent number: 8235722
    Abstract: A method of producing a dental prosthetic item 3, wherein the dental prosthetic item 3 is attached, via an interior surface 5, to another dental prosthetic item 2 by means of an adhesive 9, and for adhesive 9 there is provided a gap 8 disposed between an interior surface of the dental prosthetic item 3 and the other dental prosthetic item 2, wherein interior surface 5 of the dental prosthetic item is designed to make allowance for the visual properties of adhesive 9. Furthermore, a dental prosthetic item 3 is produced on the above lines and a blank 41 for the production of such a dental prosthetic item 3 and the other dental prosthetic item 2 is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignees: Sirona Dental Systems GmbH, Vita Zahnfabrik H. Rauter GmbH Co. KG
    Inventors: Joachim Pfeiffer, Wilhelm Schneider, Norbert Thiel
  • Publication number: 20120189096
    Abstract: The invention relates to an X-ray device comprising an x-ray sensitive camera for creating tomograms, especially panoramic tomograms. Means for creating 3D shots of a partial volume of the mandibular arch are also provided, said 3D shots being created especially by a second image receiver for creating a 2D shot and means for taking a plurality of 2D shots from different directions and creating a 3D shot therefrom, preferably according to conebeam technology with the associated reconstruction algorithms. The x-ray sensitive camera comprises a first x-ray sensitive image receiver for creating a tomogram, and a second x-ray sensitive image receiver for creating plane shots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: SIRONA DENTAL SYSTEMS GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Erhardt, Werner Günther
  • Patent number: 8222610
    Abstract: An auxiliary component that is used with a medical device is modified to provide for additional or enhanced functionality. In one specific embodiment, a sheath surrounds an intraoral electronic image sensor, and is provided with signal conductors integrated therein. Electrical communication is provided between the sensor and the sheath, such as via a direct electrical connection, a capacitive or inductive coupling or an optical link. The sheath, and particularly the signal conductors integrated therein, connects to a cable which in turn connects to another device, such as a processing module or computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Sirona Dental Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Valeriy Armencha, Mark Abramovich
  • Publication number: 20120171642
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing denture parts or for tooth restoration. According to said method, to reconstruct a tooth requiring repair or a defective condition, at least some of the missing exterior surfaces of denture parts or tooth restoration are adapted to the existing residual tooth material and/or the opposing teeth and/or the position of the neighbouring tooth and/or the occlusion position, by means of the optimisation of a generic dental-model data record of the desired tooth type, thus varying the linear factors of at least the most important components, (determined from the electronic data records of a larger number of measured tooth surfaces by primary axis analysis methods), in such a way that the selected optimisation criteria are fulfilled by the minimisation of an error function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: SIRONA DENTAL SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventor: Albert Mehl
  • Publication number: 20120146645
    Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetic field unit (1) of an MRI system (18) for image capturing a head region as the region to be recorded, comprising at least one permanent magnet (2) for generating a main magnetic field, a device (3) for generating a gradient field, and at least one coil (4) for generating and receiving radio frequencies. The magnetic field unit (1) is fastened to a mounting (19) such that a longitudinal axis (A) of the magnetic field unit (1), together with a vertically extending axis, forms an angle of no more than +45° and that the magnetic field unit (1) and the patient (P) can be adjusted relative to each other such that the magnetic field unit (1) can be moved to a position surrounding the head of the patient (P).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: SIRONA DENTAL SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: Volker Rasche, Erich Hell, Johannes Ulrici
  • Publication number: 20120143364
    Abstract: A dental CAD/CAM system forms a custom dental preparation guide for guiding a dental tool that alters a shapes a tooth structure to which a custom prosthetic dental item is to be attached. The system acquires an optical measurement and an x-ray of at least one dental structure. The system correlates the acquired optical measurement and the x-ray to form a model of the at least one dental structure. The system generates a model of a reduced tooth structure based on the model of the at least one dental structure. The system also provides at least one dental preparation guide based on the model of the reduced tooth structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: Sirona Dental Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Roddy Mcleod, Daniel Michaeli, Volker Wedler
  • Patent number: 8186998
    Abstract: The invention relates to holding means for a blank for the production of dental fitted shells, including connection geometry for the blank and a shaft for attachment thereof in a chuck of a processing machine. The holding means has, above the shaft, survey geometry, the orientation of the connection geometry relative to the survey geometry being known.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Sirona Dental Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Rothenberger, Reinhard Pieper
  • Publication number: 20120115105
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gingiva former (1), which has a connecting geometry (5) to an implant (10) and comprises a tailor-made edge (2), a tapering lower part (4) that is located beneath and has a tailor-made shape, and a tapering upper part (8) having a lateral surface (9), wherein the lateral surface (9) has an angle of inclination (?) of between 0.5° and 30° with respect to a longitudinal axis (A) of the connecting geometry (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: SIRONA DENTAL SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventor: Sascha Schneider