Impression Taking Or Bite Determination Patents (Class 433/214)
  • Patent number: 11974892
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for manufacturing a physical dental model. A virtual model is provided representative of at least a portion of the intra-oral cavity including at least one dental implant implanted therein, and the virtual model includes a virtual portion representative of each dental implant. The virtual spatial disposition of each such virtual portion is determined with respect to the virtual model, corresponding to a real spatial disposition of the respective implant with respect to the intra oral cavity. A physical model is then manufactured based on the virtual model, the physical model including a physical analog corresponding to each implant at a respective physical spatial disposition with respect to the physical model corresponding to the respective virtual spatial disposition of the respective virtual portion with respect to the first virtual model as already determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Avi Kopelman
  • Patent number: 11974940
    Abstract: Provided is a mandibular advancement system including: an upper teeth seating part on which upper teeth of a user is placed; a lower teeth seating part on which lower teeth of the user is placed; a driver connected to the upper teeth seating part and the lower teeth seating part and configured to change a relative location of the lower teeth seating part with respect to the upper teeth seating part; a detector configured to detect biometric information of the user; and a controller configured to control driving of the driver based on the biometric information provided by the detector, wherein the driver is disposed outside an oral cavity of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY R&DB FOUNDATION
    Inventor: Hyun Woo Shin
  • Patent number: 11805991
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems that utilize a cheek retractor and/or a mobile device holder. The cheek retractor includes a first and a second lip holder to hold a cheek away from a mouth of a user to expose teeth of the user. A mobile device holder can receive a mobile device to capture images of the patient's teeth. These systems may be useful for case assessment and/or dental treatments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Meyer, Roman A. Roschin, Tzishing Jesse Lim, Palak Mittal, Stephan Albert Alexandre Dumothier, Norman C. Su, Huameng Ivan Chu
  • Patent number: 11763522
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a 3D reconstruction method based on an on-site edge-cloud collaboration for a cultivated land. An edge-cloud collaborative computing architecture is used, such that the edge computing device performs advance calculations after image data is acquired. The edge computing device measures performances of itself and a cloud data center, and arranges and deploys multiple 3D reconstruction containers in the cloud data center for the 3D reconstruction. Multiple reconstruction containers in the cloud data center perform reconstruction tasks in parallel to quickly obtain 3D reconstruction results, and provide them to the edge computing device for retrieval and download. This method is mainly oriented to agricultural project monitoring scenes, to reduce reconstruction time and a data transmission amount of 3D models, in order to improve a response speed and a quality of 3D reconstruction results, for large-scale on-site monitoring, acceptance, and review purposes of agricultural projects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: South China Academy of Natural Resources S&T
    Inventors: Yueming Hu, Chun Chen, Chi Xu, Rui Zhang
  • Patent number: 11744451
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, computing device readable medium, devices, and systems that utilize a cheek retractor and/or a mobile device holder for case assessment and/or dental treatments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Meyer, Roman A. Roschin, Tzishing Jesse Lim, Palak Mittal, Stephan Albert Alexandre Dumothier, Norman C. Su, Huameng Ivan Chu
  • Patent number: 11589743
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, computing device readable medium, devices, and systems that utilize a cheek retractor and/or a mobile device holder for case assessment and/or dental treatments. One cheek retractor includes a first and a second lip holder, both including imaging markers of a predetermined size to determine a scale of teeth of a user, where each imaging marker is located a predefined distance from the remaining imaging markers, and where the lip holder is to hold a cheek away from a mouth of a user to expose teeth of the user. A mobile device holder can include elements to receive a mobile device to capture images of the patient's teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Meyer, Roman A. Roschin, Tzishing Jesse Lim, Palak Mittal, Stephan Albert Alexandre Dumothier, Norman C. Su, Huameng Ivan Chu
  • Patent number: 11564774
    Abstract: A method for monitoring the positioning of the teeth including production of a three-dimensional digital initial reference model of the arches of the patient and, for each tooth, definition, from the initial reference model, of a three-dimensional digital reference tooth model; acquisition of updated image of at least one two-dimensional image of the arches in actual acquisition conditions; analysis of each updated image and production, for each updated image, of an updated map; optionally, determination, for each updated image, of rough virtual acquisition conditions approximating the actual acquisition conditions; searching, for each updated image, for a final reference model corresponding to the positioning of the teeth during the acquisition of the updated image, for each tooth model, comparison of the positionings of the tooth model in the initial reference model and in the reference model obtained at the end of the preceding steps to determine the movement of the teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: DENTAL MONITORING
    Inventors: Philippe Salah, William Ayache, Laurent Debraux, Guillaume Ghyselinck, Thomas Pellissard
  • Patent number: 11529047
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, computing device readable medium, devices, and systems that utilize a cheek retractor and/or a mobile device holder for case assessment and/or dental treatments. One cheek retractor includes a first and a second lip holder, both including imaging markers of a predetermined size to determine a scale of teeth of a user, where each imaging marker is located a predefined distance from the remaining imaging markers, and where the lip holder is to hold a cheek away from a mouth of a user to expose teeth of the user. A mobile device holder can include elements to receive a mobile device to capture images of the patient's teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Meyer, Roman A. Roschin, Tzishing Jesse Lim, Palak Mittal, Stephan Albert Alexandre Dumothier, Norman C. Su, Huameng Ivan Chu
  • Patent number: 11510763
    Abstract: A method is used to provide a dental prosthetic with an upper boundary that cannot be seen when a patient smiles with the dental prosthetic installed. The method includes tracing a smile line on a dental appliance while the dental appliance is in the patient's mouth and while the patient is smiling. The method then includes transferring that smile line from the dental appliance to a study cast of the patient's mouth. The study cast is then scanned to create a three-dimensional digital model that includes the transferred smile line. The three-dimensional digital model is used to generate a surgical plan and surgical hardware for installation of the dental prosthetic. The dental prosthetic may include a full arch restoration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: NATIONAL DENTEX, LLC
    Inventor: Armand C. Jusuf
  • Patent number: 11291533
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for manufacturing a physical dental model. A virtual model is provided representative of at least a portion of the intra-oral cavity including at least one dental implant implanted therein, and the virtual model includes a virtual portion representative of each dental implant. The virtual spatial disposition of each such virtual portion is determined with respect to the virtual model, corresponding to a real spatial disposition of the respective implant with respect to the intra oral cavity. A physical model is then manufactured based on the virtual model, the physical model including a physical analog corresponding to each implant at a respective physical spatial disposition with respect to the physical model corresponding to the respective virtual spatial disposition of the respective virtual portion with respect to the first virtual model as already determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Avi Kopelman
  • Patent number: 11160639
    Abstract: A dental alignment guide system for dental implant placement has an anatomical guide, a tooth supported guide and a surgical guide. The system further can have an articulation piece, a prosthetic seat, an analog anatomical model and artificial teeth. The system has a plurality of implants, the implants being abutments, preferably multiunit abutments, a plurality of screws for attaching the anatomical guide to bone, pins to removably attach the various guides and the artificial teeth to the anatomical guide as assemblies during the method of practicing the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Inventor: Mark Elliot Palmer
  • Patent number: 11065090
    Abstract: A dental implant for insertion into bone within a patient's mouth comprises a body and a scannable code. The body includes a bone-engaging exterior surface, an anti-rotational feature for non-rotationally mating with an abutment, and an upper region. The upper region includes an upper surface for engaging the abutment. The scannable code on the upper surface provides information concerning the dental implant. The information includes at least two features of the dental implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Biom et 3I, LLC
    Inventors: Ross W. Towse, Zachary B. Suttin
  • Patent number: 11045166
    Abstract: This invention concerns an ultrasonic dental imaging probe (1), typically comprising several transducers (4) arranged to operate as a transmitter and a receiver, and in particular arranged to transmit ultrasonic waves at a frequency of at least 10 MHz, and optionally several transducers (4) arranged to operate as a transmitter and a receiver and arranged to transmit ultrasonic waves at a frequency of less than 4 MHz. The transducers are mounted on a flexible support (3), secured to a rigid frame (2) typically in a ā€œUā€ shape. The invention also concerns a device comprising one such probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Gerbaulet, Jean-Marc Gregoire, Franck Levassort
  • Patent number: 11033362
    Abstract: Methods and systems for generating a three-dimensional occlusogram are disclosed. One method includes determining a virtual three dimensional (3D) mesh model object of at least one tooth of a patient and displaying the determined virtual 3D mesh model object of at least one tooth of a patient wherein the 3D mesh model object includes a plurality of data sets associated with a set of occlusal information for the at least one tooth of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Vadim Matov, Jihua Cheng, Fuming Wu, Kenji Tan
  • Patent number: 10959816
    Abstract: A method of designing a patient-specific prosthesis for a current patient includes receiving scan data of a mouth of the current patient to identify conditions at a location at which the patient-specific prosthesis is to be placed on a dental implant, and determining at least two clinical factors for the current patient. The method further includes identifying a desired outcome for soft tissue for the current patient at the location, and accessing a database having soft-tissue-outcome information for each of a plurality of previous patients. The database further includes clinical-factor information for each of the plurality of previous patients. Based on the soft-tissue-outcome information and the clinical-factor information for at least one of the plurality of previous patients being related to the current patient's desired outcome and the current patient's at least two clinical factors, the method includes developing a design for the patient-specific prosthesis for the current patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Biomet 3I, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen M. Herrington, Zachary B Suttin
  • Patent number: 10954343
    Abstract: Compositions containing ?-ketocarbonyl-functional organopolysiloxanes, aminoalkyl-functional organopolysiloxanes, and optionally an organometallic compound provide textiles with high and lasting water repellency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: WACKER CHEMIE AG
    Inventors: Anton Heller, Christof Brehm
  • Patent number: 10918458
    Abstract: A method for validating a preparation of at least one tooth in a prepared set of teeth for determining whether the prepared tooth is capable of accepting a dental restoration includes obtaining a virtual dental preparation guide configured for validating the preparation of the at least one tooth; obtaining a digital 3D representation of the prepared set of teeth; visualizing the virtual dental preparation guide together with the digital 3D representation of the prepared set of teeth; and validating from the visualization of the virtual dental preparation guide together with the digital 3D representation of the prepared set of teeth whether the prepared at least one tooth is shaped such that it can accept the dental restoration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: 3Shape A/S
    Inventors: Rune Fisker, Nikolaj Deichmann
  • Patent number: 10595969
    Abstract: Anatomical healing abutments, kits and methods for promoting healing of gingival tissue around a subgingival void of a given tooth position. The abutment includes a cuff body having an anatomical subgingival portion extending from an implant end to the gingival margin of the patient, and an emergent crown portion extending occlusally from the subgingival portion beyond the gingival margin. A directional alignment body may be disposed on the cuff body and configured to extend bucally beyond an outer perimeter of the cuff body when the cuff body is anatomically aligned relative to the void. The subgingival portion has an asymmetric cross-section and is occlusally flared to anatomically fill the void and support gingival tissue around the void to minimize slump of tissue into the void. The crown portion has a mesial-distal width that spans a width of the gingival margin and an occlusal height to extend beyond the gingival margin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Esthetic Implant Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Todd C. Liston, Mark H. Blaisdell
  • Patent number: 10568723
    Abstract: The present application describes a method for designing and manufacturing a denture device for a patient. A method is described for designing a virtual denture and manufacturing a functional fitting replica denture from the virtual denture. An apparatus comprising a functional fitting replica denture is prepared having denture teeth having a fit substantially similar to the final denture. The methods and apparatus described herein reduce the number of visits required to manufacture the final denture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: James R. Glidewell Dental Ceramics, Inc.
    Inventors: David Morales, Gilbert A. Rivera, Nhung T. Truong Campbell
  • Patent number: 10467746
    Abstract: A method or computer program for forming a digital model of a patient's teeth. The method includes the steps of: obtaining a plurality of projection images acquired by scanning a negative impression of the patient's teeth using a computed tomographic imaging apparatus; generating, from the plurality of projection images, an air volume model of the air that surrounds the negative impression; defining a transition surface along edges of the air volume model that touch the negative impression; forming the digital model of the patient's teeth according to the defined transition surface; and displaying, storing, or transmitting at least a portion of the digital model of the teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: CARESTREAM DENTAL TECHNOLOGY TOPCO LIMITED
    Inventors: Colombe Maury, Xavier Ripoche, Vincent Loustauneau, Sylvie M. Bothorel, Jean-Marc Inglese, Edward R. Shellard
  • Patent number: 10383712
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for computer-aided planning of a repair or adjustment of a dental partial prosthesis with the following method steps: generation of a first digital 3D model of a jaw with the partial prosthesis positioned on the jaw as a prosthesis reference model (M1), generation of a second digital 3D model of the jaw, without the partial prosthesis, as a jaw model (M2), determination of a positional relationship of the prosthesis reference model (M1) to the jaw model (M2), generation of a digital prosthesis model (P) by subtracting the jaw model (M2) from the prosthesis reference model (M2) while taking the positional relationship into account, automatic identification and/or identification carried out by a user of holding and/or support elements in the prosthesis model (P), calculation of an insertion axis of the partial prosthesis on the basis of the prosthesis model (P), calculation of undercut depths, resulting from the insertion axis, of the holding and/or support elements in the pros
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: DENTSPLY SIRONA INC.
    Inventor: Thomas Oskam
  • Patent number: 10363121
    Abstract: The kit for measuring vertical dimension for dental impression provides a tool for measuring a difference between a dental patient's desired vertical dimension and the patient's vertical dimension prior to a dental restoration procedure. The kit includes a base, a plurality of measurement sheets, and dental impression wax. The base includes a planar member having first and second longitudinally opposed ends and opposed upper and lower surfaces. The upper surface has at least one longitudinally extending groove defined therein. First and second legs are secured to the first and second longitudinally opposed ends of the planar member and extend downward from the lower surface. Each measurement sheet has opposed upper and lower surfaces and at least one longitudinally extending rib formed on the lower surface and at least one longitudinally extending groove defined in the upper surface. Each of the plurality of measurement sheets has a known thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: King Saud University
    Inventor: Sara Mohammad Al Taweel
  • Patent number: 10258439
    Abstract: A computational device determines a representation of one or more anatomical features, and based on the determined representation of the one or more anatomical features, a three-dimensional model is oriented in a three-dimensional space in an anatomically accurate manner. Thereafter, an orthodontic device design is created using the oriented three dimensional model and an orthodontic device is manufactured based at least in part on the orthodontic device design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Ormco Corporation
    Inventors: Ian D. Kitching, Evan Yifeng Tsai
  • Patent number: 10098713
    Abstract: Provided are a system, method, and computer readable storage medium for generating an intra-oral scan of a dentition. A contiguous scan of an occlusal surface of at least a part of one arch of the dentition is generated. At least one additional surface is associated to the contiguous scan of the occlusal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: ORMCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert F. Dillon, Craig A. Andreiko, Andrew F. Vesper, Neil H. K. Judell, Timothy I. Fillion
  • Patent number: 10092378
    Abstract: For producing dentures, a new method and device render it possible to evaluate and shape movements generated by the individual jaw joints of the patient such that work with appropriate articulators becomes possible, which employ the individual jaw joints as articulation joints and thus carry out the identical movements. The known articulators are equipped with joint-space duplicates such that they can be employed with optimal equipment for the respective patient. The support pin is moved back as fixing pin in the retral space of the articulator such that it does not constitute an impediment when working on and when inspecting the jaw models arranged on the frame upper part and the frame base part. Moreover, setting different biting positions is made significantly easier, because the frame upper part is fixed to a swivel arch of the frame base part by an adjustable position stabilizer but can also be detached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: AVO SAX-GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Vogel
  • Patent number: 10007987
    Abstract: A system for the color matching of dental restorations with teeth using a high degree of color correction followed by a display of maps showing the distribution of shades and values over the face of a tooth. The system can further utilize filters to output shade maps consisting of a predetermined number of shades and allow a technician to perform a virtual try in of the restoration in the patient's mouth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Inventor: Dennis Braunston
  • Patent number: 9867683
    Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a method of creating an impression of structures of the human oral cavity comprises: preparing impression trays; creating a first, or base, impression; grinding out portions of the base impression; and using the void(s) in the ground out base impression to take a second, or wash, impression. The base impression is taken with an excess of a high-density impression material which is positioned to extend beyond the structures of interest (of which the impression is being taken). The base impression is removed and all fine structure surrounding the structure(s) of interest is ground out. A wash impression is then taken using a low-density impression material. The base impression creates a seal around the structure(s) of interest (a closed system), thereby producing omnidirectional hydraulic pressure on the low-density material. Such omnidirectional hydraulic pressure produces a highly detailed final impression from which a high-quality model (e.g., cast) can be made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Evolve Dental Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Rodger Kurthy
  • Patent number: 9839500
    Abstract: An apparatus for treatment of teeth, including one or more dental treatment applicators having at least two walls and a floor, the walls and floor defining a well configured to accommodate at least one human dental arcade and an active agent, one or more energy-applying element located on at least one of the walls and wherein the improvement of the apparatus comprises paired dental treatment applicators configured to be applied to both upper and lower dental arcades concurrently and a number of dental treatment accelerating elements and fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY
    Inventors: Lion Flyash, Kamal Khawaled
  • Patent number: 9770218
    Abstract: A radiographic guide that can be used as a surgical guide is provided. The radiographic guide uses a provisional dental implant instead of a denture tooth or a custom made diagnostic tooth. The provisional dental implant, which can be integrated or selectively interconnected to the radiographic guide, may have a through-hole or a tapped hole that facilitates location of a dental implant. If the planned implant location is acceptable, the radiographic guide can be used as a surgical guide, wherein the hole guides surgical tools used to modify a patient's maxilla or jaw so it can receive the implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: PROVISIONAL IMPLANT TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventors: Russell Casement, Kelley Casement, Ricardo Gapski
  • Patent number: 9726431
    Abstract: The invention relates to a dental furnace (10) for dental restorations comprising a firing chamber into which, in particular between a furnace bottom part (14) and a furnace upper part (12), the dental restoration, in particular within a muffle, can be introduced, and a sensor that is connected with a control device (52) for the dental furnace (10), characterized in that the sensor, in particular the temperature sensor (22), is arranged outside the firing chamber and comprises a detection range (40) that also extends outside the firing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Ivoclar Vivadent AG
    Inventors: Rudolf Jussel, Harald BĆ¼rke
  • Patent number: 9668836
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device (1) for editing a virtual 3-D model (2) of teeth (2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4) positioned in a dental arch (9, 11) by means of a virtual tool (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 50). The tool (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 50) can be used on a first tooth (2.1, 2.3) of the 3-D model (2), whereby the corresponding application is carried out on a second mirrored tooth (2.2, 2.4), contralateral to the first tooth with respect to a plane of symmetry (12), that is, on the tooth on the other side of the plane of symmetry (12), which is positioned as a mirror image of the first tooth (2.1, 2.3) with respect to the plane of symmetry (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Sirona Dental Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Ulf Willers
  • Patent number: 9662187
    Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a method of creating an impression of structures of the human oral cavity comprises: preparing impression trays; creating a first, or base, impression; grinding out portions of the base impression; and using the void(s) in the ground out base impression to take a second, or wash, impression. The base impression is taken with an excess of a high-density impression material which is positioned to extend beyond the structures of interest (of which the impression is being taken). The base impression is removed and all fine structure surrounding the structure(s) of interest is ground out. A wash impression is then taken using a low-density impression material. The base impression creates a seal around the structure(s) of interest (a closed system), thereby producing omnidirectional hydraulic pressure on the low-density material. Such omnidirectional hydraulic pressure produces a highly detailed final impression from which a high-quality model (e.g., cast) can be made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Evolve Dental Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Rodger Kurthy
  • Patent number: 9642681
    Abstract: Disclosed are a dental plaster and a method for manufacturing the same. The dental plaster includes a gypsum body. The gypsum body has a horseshoe shaped upper body which matches with a predetermined teeth shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: DK MUNGYO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Doo Suek Nam
  • Patent number: 9636129
    Abstract: A method, device and system for modifying the gingival margin of a patient is disclosed. A method includes obtaining an electronic model of the dentition of a patient, determining an incision path along the gingival surface based on the electronic model, generating and fabricating a guide arrangement to assist in cutting the gingival surface of the patient, mounting the guide arrangement to the dentition of the patient, and cutting the gingival surface of the patient with the assistance of the guide arrangement. A guide arrangement includes a mounting portion and a template portion coupled to the mounting portion along the gingival surface of the guide arrangement and positioned to provide a desired incision path. A system includes a three dimensional scanner, a computer system and a fabricating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Inventors: Bruce Willard Hultgren, Michael Craig Marshall
  • Patent number: 9585732
    Abstract: Mobile orthodontic device of a functional type comprises a pair of posterior lateral bites (2) in the form of metal plates connected together by means of a metal wire (4). The posterior bites (2) are designed to be set freely floating between the upper dental arch and the lower dental arch. The device also comprise a pair of vestibular shields (3), made, for example, of synthetic material, associated, respectively, to the two posterior lateral bites (2). The device is without palatal plate, so that the metal wire (4) constitutes the only connection between the posterior lateral bites (2). The device can comprise an anterior bite (6) in the form of a metal plate connected to the two vestibular shields (3) through a second metal wire (5). There may moreover be present one or more lateral expansion springs (7), designed to act on the molars, and one or more anterior expansion springs (8), which act on the incisors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Inventor: Maria Grazia Piancino
  • Patent number: 9572638
    Abstract: A prosthodontic casting is formed from an implant osseointegrated within a bone and an impression coping coupled with the implant. An impression coping spacer circumscribes a supra-mucosal portion of the impression coping. A relatively high viscosity casting composition is applied to openings in a tray, and then the tray and relatively high viscosity casting composition placed to encompass the supra-mucosal portion of the impression coping and the impression coping spacer. The relatively high viscosity casting composition is at least partially cured, and then the impression coping spacer is extracted from the casting composition. This creates a void about the impression coping. An impression casting composition is then injected into the void and cured to form the prosthodontic casting. The now substantially cured combination casting composition and impression casting composition is removed from the implant, and subsequently used to guide the formation of a dental prosthesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Inventor: Lloyd T. Anderson
  • Patent number: 9554872
    Abstract: The invention relates to an intraoral device for automated preparation of the teeth with a view to performing partial or peripheral dental restoration, which includes: a splint (1) suitable for being positioned in the mouth of a patient, said splint including a means (13) for maintaining the position thereof inside said mouth; at least one mobile cutting tool (2) combined with said splint; and an electronic management unit which makes it possible to control said cutting tool, characterized in that: said cutting tool (2) is configured so as to cut at least the labial surface of the tooth (D1) to be prepared, said tool being mounted on a mobile carriage (23) moving along a rail (24) attached to the splint (1), opposite the labial surface of the tooth (D1) to be prepared, said rail having a curvature that matches the dentition (D) of the patient; said splint (1) includes at least one 3D digitization tool (4) arranged such as to digitize at least the labial surface of said tooth to be prepared, said digitization
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Inventors: Stephen Koubi, Galip Gurel
  • Patent number: 9539115
    Abstract: In order to position an ankle prosthesis including a tibial implant and a talus implant provided with a talo-calcaneal anchoring keel, the invention proposes a surgical instrumentation assembly including: a tibial phantom (60) of the tibial implant, adapted so as to be attached to the tibia (T) of a patient, and an aiming guide (80) adapted for setting into place an instrumentation element (90) through the talus (A) and the calcaneus (C) of the patient, along an axis (Z-Z) for implanting the talo-calcaneal anchoring keel, the tibial phantom and the aiming guide mechanically cooperating with each other to restrict movement of the tibial phantom and the aiming guide relative to each other along vertical and medio-lateral directions, wherein the aiming guide is configured to guide placement of the instrumentation element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Integra LifeSciences Corporation
    Inventors: Vincent Coulange, Sophie Genna, Yann Brunnarius, Emmanuel Lizee, Christophe Perineau, Michel Bonnin, Christiaan Coetzee, Jean-Alain Colombier, Thierry Judet, Mark Myerson
  • Patent number: 9144479
    Abstract: A method for light-curing polymerizable materials to form a dental device is provided. A light-curing apparatus having at least one integrated lighting and heating source, a curing volume, and a temperature controller, preferably a fan, is used in the method. The light source and temperature controller are used to heat a first polymerizable material to temperatures within a first temperature range. A second polymerizable material is applied on or adjacent to the first polymerizable material. The light source and temperature controller are used to heat the second polymerizable material to temperatures within a second temperature range. The first temperature range has a first midpoint and the second temperature range has a second midpoint. The first midpoint temperature is at least 10Ā° C. apart from the second midpoint temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: DENTSPLY International Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Sun, Andrew Lichkus, Scott Shaffer
  • Patent number: 9138318
    Abstract: Implants for repairing tissue defects, such as cartilage tissue defects, and methods of their preparation and use are disclosed. A mold of a tissue defect is prepared by pressing upon the defect a substrate having shape memory, such as aluminum foil. The mold, which has contours substantially conforming to those of the defect, is removed from the defect, and tissue particles are added to the mold ex vivo. A biological carrier such as biocompatible glue is also added to the mold. The combination of tissue particles and the biological carrier thereby form an implant, which retains its shape after separation from the mold. The implant can be transferred to the tissue defect, with contours of the mold matching corresponding contours of the defect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Zimmer, Inc.
    Inventors: Jian Q. Yao, Ben Walthall, Jizong Gao, Victor Zaporojan
  • Patent number: 9078723
    Abstract: An oral shield system for protecting an area in a patient's mouth, the system including an oral shield device having a molded body that forms a contoured surface and a pair of wings that extend from the body, and an elongate handle attached to the oral shield device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: ARMOR DENTAL, CORP.
    Inventor: Cherie Le Penske
  • Patent number: 9065718
    Abstract: A Coded Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (COFDM) communication systems is implemented in which each subcarrier data stream is individually FEC encoded instead of FEC encoding the overall input data stream as implemented in conventional COFDM systems. Specifically, each subcarrier is independently encoded using pseudo orthogonal QPSK M-QAM FEC modulators, transmitted, and decoded using pseudo orthogonal QPSK M-QAM FEC demodulators. Multiplexers and demultiplexers randomize subcarrier symbols across all subcarriers to prevent contiguous subcarrier data errors due to fading or corruption by narrowband interference. This technology can be applied to many wireless and wired communication systems including wireless underwater RF communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Inventor: Gregory Hubert Piesinger
  • Publication number: 20150140514
    Abstract: Provided is a scanning jig capable of improving replacement accuracy of three-dimensional data. Provided is a scanning jig 10 for attaching to an analog 20 embedded in a model or to an artificial tooth root 30 embedded inside an oral cavity, the scanning jig including: a main body 11 formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape provided with a bottom to one end portion; a fixation member 12 of which one end side is inserted inside the cylindrical shape of the main body and the other end side is fixated to the analog or the artificial tooth root; and a magnet 13 arranged inside the cylindrical shape of the main body, wherein the main body is not provided with a hole or a groove on one end surface on a bottom side of the bottomed cylindrical shape, and the end surface is provided with an inclined surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Katsuya Mori, Naoto Fujii
  • Publication number: 20150132716
    Abstract: A method for generating a virtual jaw image includes performing a movement recording method to obtain a movement record which comprises producing at least one position data record over a defined time. A position data record describes a spatial position of a lower jaw to an upper jaw at a specific time. Surface sections of the upper and lower jaw are scanned at the defined time during the movement recording method to obtain a spatial relation of the surface sections during the defined time. Digital upper and lower jaw images are recorded. A position data record of a virtual position of the digital lower jaw image is assigned to the digital upper jaw image. A position data record is selected to obtain a selected position data record. The digital lower and upper jaw images are virtually aligned based on the selected position data record to produce the virtual jaw image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Jochen Kusch, Nils Hanssen
  • Publication number: 20150132718
    Abstract: A method for preparing a partial or full dental prosthesis comprising 1.1. acquiring a patient's oral situation by taking an impression or by digital recording; 1.2. if required, digitizing the patient's oral situation; 1.3. selecting the teeth forming the dental prosthesis from a library of teeth or groups of teeth to obtain a virtual set-up of the teeth, which is positioned virtually in a space that takes the acquired patient's situation into account; 1.3.1 said library contains designs of dental arches, tooth shapes, tooth sizes 1.3.2 said library contains designs of the gingiva, and 1.3.3 said library contains total set-ups and/or modular set-ups for all of Angle's bite classes; 1.4. if required, modifying the set-up obtained from the library; 1.5. virtually embedding the teeth arranged in the virtual set-up in a virtual gingiva; 1.6 producing the real prosthesis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Eva Kerschensteiner, Urban Christen
  • Publication number: 20150118640
    Abstract: An intra oral dental device and method for recording the 3D envelope of motion of a patient and translating the recording into digital information used to diagnose, computer design and manufacture dental restorations. The dental device is comprised of upper and lower tracing members having tracing pins on one member and complementary recording material on the other. The method includes forming a set of intra oral gothic arch tracings to define the 3D envelope of motion, converting the tracings to a digital data set reproducing the motion, and using the data to create a virtual model of the patient and the jaw motion. The data is used to mill articulator housings to reproduce jaw motion, to virtually position and shape virtual teeth in conformity with the patient's jaw motion, and to mill the completed dental prosthesis insuring teeth contacting surfaces are in harmony with the patient's jaw motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventor: Stephen Michael Schmitt
  • Patent number: 8998609
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for imaging an oral cavity of a subject include a bracket comprising a mouthpiece and a camera mount. The mouthpiece has upper and lower bite guides disposed on a posterior side and separated by an opening through the mouthpiece. The bite guides are spaced apart so a subject biting on the guides opens the oral cavity to inspection through the opening. The mount is disposed on an anterior side of the mouthpiece; and has a flange to engage and slide along the opening and an optical path for light to pass through the mount and mouthpiece. A clip on an anterior side of the mount is configured to removeably hold a camera to record light passing through the optical path from the posterior side of the mount. In one embodiment, the camera is a programmable cell phone with digital camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Jr. University
    Inventors: Manu Prakash, Dhruv Boddupalli, James Clements, Aditya Gande
  • Patent number: 8998615
    Abstract: In a method of obtaining a gum impression of a patient's mouth and measuring jaw relations, a dental impression tray assembly including a lower tray and an upper tray to fabricate a denture, is used. The lower tray includes a first piece and a pair of second pieces and the upper tray includes a third piece and fourth piece. The method includes inserting the lower tray loaded with an impression material into the mouth to take an impression; taking out the lower tray from the mouth and cutting the impression material along a borderline between the first piece and the pair of second pieces; separating the first piece from the pair of second pieces; attaching an intra-oral tracer to the first piece and inserting the first piece, to which the intra-oral tracer is attached, and the third piece into the mouth to measure the jaw relations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Dentca, Inc.
    Inventor: Tae Hyung Kim
  • Patent number: 8995732
    Abstract: Method and system for managing multiple impressions of a patient's jaw for an orthodontic treatment is provided. The method includes scanning at least a first impression and a second impression of same jaw for the orthodontic treatment; determining if the first jaw impression and the second jaw impression have distortion in different areas; selecting the first jaw impression or the second jaw impression as a base impression; and replacing a distorted tooth data from the base impression with data for the same tooth from a non-base impression. The method also includes scanning at least a first jaw impression for the orthodontic treatment; scanning a bite impression for the orthodontic treatment; matching the scanned first jaw impression with the scanned bite impression; comparing bite information with a tooth occlusal surface; and determining if reconstruction is to be performed on the tooth occlusal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivas Kaza, Bob Grove
  • Publication number: 20150079543
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hardenable dental composition comprising component (A) comprising a cationically hardenable compound, component (B) comprising an initiator being able to initiate the hardening reaction of the cationically hardenable compound, and component (C) comprising a filler, wherein the filler comprises a filler body and a filler surface, the filler surface comprising side groups with polar moieties. The invention also relates to a process of producing the dental composition, to the use of the dental composition as dental impression material and to a method of taking an impression of dental tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: JOACHIM W. ZECH, THOMAS KLETTKE, SABASTIAN ZELLER, BERND KUPPERMANN, HENDRIK GRUPP