Patents by Inventor Patrick C. Bell

Patrick C. Bell has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11963829
    Abstract: Example fiducial markers include features that make them particularly useful in dental scanning methods for analyzing jaws of a patient, wherein the dental scanning methods involve taking multiple scans of the jaws, and/or models thereof, and then shifting the image of one scan to match that of another. Prior to scanning, the fiducial markers are attached to the patient's jaws to accurately identify and track the relative position of the jaws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Inventors: Patrick C. Bell, Leo J. Malin, Thomas J. Arendt
  • Patent number: 11744530
    Abstract: Example radiographic dental jigs include a generally vertical post traversed by a generally horizontal beam to create a cross that can be used for marking a dental patient's midline (vertical line centered between the eyes), incisal edge plane, and forward lip position. The jig is radiographically scanned along with multiple fiducial markers on the patient's jaw to generate a first scan result. In some examples, physical models of the patient's jaws are also scanned to generate upper and lower jaw images. The upper and lower jaw images are shifted to coincide with the first scan result. Portions of the first scan result, including an image of the dental jig, are superimposed onto the properly shifted upper and lower jaw images to create a composite image. The composite image shows the dental jig in proper relation to the patient's upper and lower jaws, thereby rendering a conventional stick bite virtually obsolete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Inventors: Patrick C. Bell, Leo J. Malin, Thomas J. Arendt
  • Patent number: 11612451
    Abstract: Example dental scanning methods for analyzing jaws of a patient involve taking multiple scans of the jaws, and/or models thereof, and then shifting the image of one scan to match that of another. In some examples, fiducial markers are attached to the patient's jaws beforehand to accurately identify and track the relative position of the jaws. The methods provide a way for creating a precise image of an upper jaw and a lower jaw in their proper bite registration, even though the resulting image may show an insufficient number of teeth to readily do so. The final, properly shifted image serves as a virtual 3D jaw model that can be manipulated and analyzed to aid in various orthodontic and other dental treatments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Inventors: Patrick C. Bell, Leo J. Malin, Thomas J. Arendt
  • Publication number: 20220079533
    Abstract: Example radiographic dental jigs include a generally vertical post traversed by a generally horizontal beam to create a cross that can be used for marking a dental patient's midline (vertical line centered between the eyes), incisal edge plane, and forward lip position. The jig is radiographically scanned along with multiple fiducial markers on the patient's jaw to generate a first scan result. In some examples, physical models of the patient's jaws are also scanned to generate upper and lower jaw images. The upper and lower jaw images are shifted to coincide with the first scan result. Portions of the first scan result, including an image of the dental jig, are superimposed onto the properly shifted upper and lower jaw images to create a composite image. The composite image shows the dental jig in proper relation to the patient's upper and lower jaws, thereby rendering a conventional stick bite virtually obsolete.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Patrick C. Bell, Leo J. Malin, Thomas J. Arendt
  • Publication number: 20210248740
    Abstract: Example dental scanning methods for analyzing jaws of a patient involve taking multiple radiographic scans of the jaws, and/or models thereof, and then applying digital image analytics to shift the image of one scan to match that of another. The resulting properly scaled and shifted image serves as a virtual 3D jaw model that can be manipulated and analyzed to aid in various orthodontic and other dental treatments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Patrick C. Bell, Leo J. Malin, Thomas J. Arendt
  • Publication number: 20210244515
    Abstract: Example dental scanning methods for analyzing jaws of a patient involve taking multiple scans of the jaws, and/or models thereof, and then shifting the image of one scan to match that of another. In some examples, fiducial markers are attached to the patient's jaws beforehand to accurately identify and track the relative position of the jaws. The methods provide a way for creating a precise image of an upper jaw and a lower jaw in their proper bite registration, even though the resulting image may show an insufficient number of teeth to readily do so. The final, properly shifted image serves as a virtual 3D jaw model that can be manipulated and analyzed to aid in various orthodontic and other dental treatments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Patrick C. Bell, Leo J. Malin, Thomas J. Arendt
  • Publication number: 20210244517
    Abstract: Example dental methods involve using a marker transfer jig that captures the location of one or more fiducial markers on a patient's jaw and then helps position an alternate marker, tool, fixture or some other chosen device on a cast model of the patient's jaw. The cast model with the attached alternate marker, tool, fixture or other chosen device is radiographically scanned and analyzed to aid in various orthodontic and other dental treatments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2020
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Patrick C. Bell, Leo J. Malin, Thomas J. Arendt
  • Publication number: 20210244516
    Abstract: Example fiducial markers include features that make them particularly useful in dental scanning methods for analyzing jaws of a patient, wherein the dental scanning methods involve taking multiple scans of the jaws, and/or models thereof, and then shifting the image of one scan to match that of another. Prior to scanning, the fiducial markers are attached to the patient's jaws to accurately identify and track the relative position of the jaws.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Patrick C. Bell, Leo J. Malin, Thomas J. Arendt