Patents Assigned to Planmeca Oy
  • Patent number: 12263025
    Abstract: A dental or medical CT imaging apparatus including a first longitudinally extending frame part. A support construction extends substantially perpendicularly from the longitudinally extending frame part. An X-ray source and an image detector which together form an X-ray imaging assembly are mounted to the support construction. A first driving mechanism is provided to move the X-ray imaging assembly about a virtual or physical rotation axis. A control system having at least one operation mode that simultaneously controls the first driving mechanism and the X-ray imaging assembly is provided. The support construction includes at least one guiding mechanism configured to enable laterally moving at least one of the X-ray source and the image detector in relation to the support construction. A range of the lateral movement of at least one of the X-ray source and the image detector includes a base position and a first and a second extreme position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Planmeca OY
    Inventors: Lauri Seppälä, Timo Müller, Tommi Syrjälä
  • Patent number: 12213815
    Abstract: The invention relates, in particular, to structures of dental and medical cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging apparatus. The basic construction of the apparatus includes a substantially vertically extending frame part (11) which supports via a horizontally extending support construction (12) the X-ray imaging means (14, 15) of the apparatus. The apparatus includes a patient support structure (18) which extends substantially in parallel with and is essentially of the same length as the substantially vertically extending frame part (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: PLANMECA OY
    Inventors: Tommi Syrjälä, Lauri Seppälä, Timo Müller, Kari Malmén
  • Publication number: 20250025036
    Abstract: The invention relates to a dental care unit having, among other things, a dental operating light configured to generate a light pattern of a desired shape at a desired distance from the dental operating light to illuminate a patient's oral cavity, and where the dental operating light comprises structurally integrated optical cameras configured to operatively work with a light control system of the dental operating light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2024
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Applicant: PLANMECA OY
    Inventors: Kustaa Nyholm, Christian De Godzinsky
  • Patent number: 12193893
    Abstract: The invention relates to a projector construction (86) arranged both structurally and operatively integrated into a dental operating light (8) so as to be a part of the dental operating light (8) and wherein the dental operating light (8) illuminates a first area on a surface whereas the projector construction (86) is configured to project graphics, pictures and/or video in essentially the same direction as the operating light (8) on the surface, on a second area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: PLANMECA OY
    Inventors: Antti Kettu, Ari Forsberg
  • Patent number: 12167985
    Abstract: The invention relates to a treatment chair (1) comprising a headrest (2), connected to the chair (1) with a headrest arm (4), and a position adjustment member (3) for the headrest (2). The position adjustment member (3) comprises at least one ratchet mechanism (5) to lock the headrest (2) in a wanted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: Planmeca OY
    Inventor: Pentti Hyvärinen
  • Patent number: 12144691
    Abstract: Structures of a dental care unit used in dental care work are disclosed. A frame part of the dental care unit has one or more components to attach a vertically extending support part, and a cover structure of the frame part has at least a first and a second cover part. The support part extends vertically essentially from an area of a seam locus between the cover parts, whereto is arranged a seam element. The seam element is preferably arranged to emit light as controlled by a control system of the dental care unit. A dental care unit like this is specifically applicable for use in a dental care room or premises having several dental care units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Planmeca Oy
    Inventors: Timo Silvonen, Christian De Godzinsky, Marko Vuorinen
  • Patent number: 11684319
    Abstract: A dental or medical CT imaging apparatus including a first longitudinally extending frame part. A support, construction extends substantially perpendicularly from the longitudinally extending frame part. An X-ray source and an image detector which together form an X-ray imaging assembly are mounted to the support construction. A first driving mechanism is provided to move the X-ray imaging assembly about a virtual or physical rotation axis. A control system having at least one operation mode that simultaneously controls the first driving mechanism and the X-ray imaging assembly is provided. The support construction includes at least one guiding mechanism configured to enable laterally moving at least one of the X-ray source and the image detector in relation to the support construction. A range of the lateral movement of at least one of the X-ray source and the image detector includes a base position and a first and a second extreme position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Planmeca Oy
    Inventors: Lauri Seppala, Timo Muller, Tommi Syrjala
  • Patent number: 11583235
    Abstract: The invention relates to a problem of setting mutual position of an anatomy being imaged and imaging means of a computed tomography imaging apparatus so that specifically the very volume of the anatomy desired to be imaged actually is imaged. To further the positioning, a positioning tool in a form of a three-dimensional virtual positioning model (40), generated from the anatomy to be imaged, is shown on a display from which the volume (41) of the anatomy desired to be imaged can be pointed, selected or defined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: PLANMECA OY
    Inventors: Mikko Jarva, Kustaa Nyholm
  • Publication number: 20210401539
    Abstract: The invention relates to structures of a dental care unit used in dental care work. In the invention, a frame part of the dental care unit comprises a means to attach a vertically extending support part, and a cover structure (22) of the frame part comprises at least a first and a second cover part (22?, 22?). The support part extends vertically essentially from an area of a seam locus (23) between the cover parts, whereto is arranged a seam element (24). The seam element (24) is preferably arranged to emit light as controlled by a control system of the dental care unit. A dental care unit like this is specifically applicable for use in a dental care room or premises comprising several dental care units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Applicant: Planmeca Oy
    Inventors: Timo SILVONEN, Christian DE GODZINSKY, Marko VUORINEN
  • Patent number: 11096637
    Abstract: The invention concerns an X-ray imaging apparatus for imaging a skull or a partial area of the skull, which apparatus comprises between the X-ray source and detector a patient support means (17). The patient support means (17) comprise a rear rest structure (170) containing a support part (171) arranged to get positioned at occipital area and a safety mechanism (173) in an area between its mounting point to the X-ray imaging apparatus (10) and said support pan (171). The safety mechanism (173) is arranged to go off when a force greater titan predetermined is acting on said support pan (171) and to release said support part (171) from its patient support position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: PLANMECA OY
    Inventors: Mikko Jarva, Kari Malmen, Lauri Seppala, Tero Pihlajamaki, Pentti Hyvarinen, Timo Muller
  • Patent number: 10881374
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tomosynthesis process in the context of mammography, in which several individual images of a breast are taken at different projection angles and in which of information thus acquired, tomographic images are synthesized with the help of an applicable image processing software. The mutual geometry of the imaging means of the imaging apparatus when taking these individual images is determined according to the invention by arranging in the imaging apparatus a calibration structure (20), which includes balls (21) or other small objects absorbing X-radiation which are such placed that their projections will become imaged on said individual images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Planmeca OY
    Inventors: Leo Aspelund, Tapio Laukkanen, Kustaa Nyholm, Jaakko Lahelma
  • Patent number: 10863951
    Abstract: The invention relates to a problem of setting mutual position of an anatomy being imaged and imaging means of a computed tomography imaging apparatus so that specifically the very volume of the anatomy desired to be imaged actually is imaged. To further the positioning, a positioning tool in a form of a three-dimensional virtual positioning model (40), generated from the anatomy to be imaged, is shown on a display from which the volume (41) of the anatomy desired to be imaged can be pointed, selected or defined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Planmeca OY
    Inventors: Mikko Jarva, Kustaa Nyholm
  • Patent number: 10849714
    Abstract: A medical or a dental instrument comprises an operative portion (101) for operations according to the purpose of use of the instrument, a center portion (103) mechanically connecting to the operative portion, and a radio frequency identifier (106) located on the center portion and capable of being read from a distance of the instrument. The instrument further comprises a tubular handle portion (104) provided to surround the radio frequency identifier and at least a part of the center portion, the tubular handle portion being cast on the instrument so that the material of the tubular handle portion is adhered to the material of the center portion. Thus, the tubular handle portion acts not only as the handle portion but also as at least a part of a fixation system attaching the radio frequency identifier to the instrument. An instrument of such construction is easy to keep hygienic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Planmeca OY
    Inventor: Kari Lehtonen
  • Patent number: 10687773
    Abstract: The invention relates to mammography apparatuses, especially to the user interfaces of mammography apparatuses. A mammography apparatus according to the invention comprises a certain basic structure and a user interface arrangement placed to this basic structure, the user interface arrangement being implemented to enable aligning of the view of the user interface both such that the view is only visible to the operator of the apparatus and such that a patient positioned for imaging can see it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Planmeca OY
    Inventor: Tapio Laukkanen
  • Patent number: 10636179
    Abstract: A patient movement correction method for cone-beam computed tomography wherein a set of X-ray projection images of the patient is acquired using the X-ray imaging means. An initial projection geometry estimate describing the spatial positions and orientation of the X-ray source and the X-ray detector during the acquisition of an X-ray projection images is defined. An intermediate CBCT reconstruction using the X-ray projection images and the initial projection geometry estimate is computed. Projection-image-specific corrective geometric transformations are determined for the initial projection geometry estimate and the intermediate CBCT reconstruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Planmeca OY
    Inventors: Mikko Lilja, Kalle Karhu, Jaakko Lahelma, Kustaa Nyholm, Ari Hietanen, Timo Muller, Sakari Kettunen
  • Patent number: 10575805
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement in connection with a mammography apparatus, in the invention, a screen or a user interface with a screen is attached to the mammography apparatus, which attachment is realized such that the screen or the user interface with a screen is aligned or can be aligned at least partly towards a lower tray structure of the mammography apparatus. Such screen or a user interface with a screen can be arranged in a functional connection with an information system and patient images recorded earlier in the information system can be displayed on the screen or the user interface with a screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Planmeca OY
    Inventors: Tapio Laukkanen, Leo Aspelund
  • Patent number: 10265039
    Abstract: The invention relates to tracking motion of a patient's jaw, wherein motion of a tracking item which represents motion of the jaw is followed by at least one camera arranged to a medical x-ray imaging apparatus and wherein the motion detected by the at least one camera is applied on a digital model depicting hard tissue of the jaw. The moving digital model of the hard tissue of the jaw thus generated is shown on a display to visualize movement of the hard tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: PLANMECA OY
    Inventors: Kustaa Nyholm, Lasse Toimela
  • Patent number: D851771
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Planmeca OY
    Inventor: Kari Lehtonen
  • Patent number: D859046
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Planmeca OY
    Inventor: Kari Malmén
  • Patent number: D928966
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Planmeca OY
    Inventor: Kari Lehtonen