Abstract: An electronic 3D model of at least a portion of a maxillary arch of a patient is displayed. Inputs indicating a peak of a mesiobuccal cusp of a maxillary first molar are received for both the patient's right and left sides. In addition, an electronic 3D model of at least a portion of a mandibular arch of a patient is displayed. Inputs indicating relevant points on the mandibular first molar are received for both the patient's right and left sides. Side scores are generated for the patient's right and left sides based on the indicated points. A final occlusion score for the patient is displayed. The final occlusion score is based on the side score for the right side and the side score for the left side.

Abstract: A sprue former of the type used to produce a casting mold includes a generally hollow body or a body having hollow sections. The body includes an inlet forming member and at least one first interface member. The inlet forming member is configured to provide an inlet cavity in the casting mold to enable casting material to enter the casting mold. The first interface members are configured to couple to casting patterns. The casting patterns represent items to be cast. The body can also includes a reservoir forming member and at least one connecting member coupling the reservoir forming member to the inlet forming member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the addition of niobium to iron based glass forming alloys. More particularly, the present invention is related to changing the nature of crystallization resulting in glass formation that may remain stable at much higher temperatures, increasing the glass forming ability and increasing devitrified hardness of the nanocomposite structure.

Abstract: Locating desired placement locations of brackets for a patient's teeth includes obtaining an array of data points from a cast of the teeth and generating a virtual model from the array of scanned data points. Individual teeth from the virtual model can be manually severed or “cut” and manually dragged from a start position to a finished position to determine a treatment plan. The orthodontist virtually marks the position on the virtual model where a physical bracket is desired. Brackets can then be automatically placed onto a cast of the teeth at corresponding positions.

Abstract: A system and method for determining condyle displacement during jaw articulation includes a physical model with corresponding reference points. The physical model is positioned and scanned to obtain positional data representing a first and second bite position. This positional data is used to generate a transformation matrix. The position of at least one condyle is determined in reference to positional data scanned from the physical model. The transformation matrix is used to map the position of the condyle with respect to the second bite position.

Abstract: Dental appliances including multiple components and a system and method for constructing the same are disclosed herein. The dental components are designed to fit together to form the dental appliance. The components of the dental appliance are electronically modeled, printed, and pressed sequentially, separately, or as a unitary piece. Forming the dental appliance from multiple components enables each component of the dental appliance to be formed from a different material, each material having different features associated with it. In various embodiments, different materials have different colors, textures, opacities, and transformation factors associated with them. Furthermore, each component can be formed from multiple components. In some other embodiments, a support structure is designed and constructed in order to minimize deformation of a dental component during fabrication of the component.

Abstract: A system for generating an electronic model having a common coordinate system includes a scanning device; a first plate module; and a second plate module. Each of the plate modules is configured to separately couple to the scanning device. The plate modules also can be moveably coupled together using an articulation device. Each of the plate modules includes alignment structures (e.g., spheres) to facilitate determining a position and orientation of the plate modules within a coordinate system of the scanning device.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide a distributed computing system delivering and manipulating electronic model images to end users. One aspect of the present invention includes a method for providing electronic delivery of electronic model images. The method generates one or more electronic model images, a portion of the electronic model images being generated from scanned electronic data of a physical object, stores the electronic model images within computer readable memory of a server-based computing system, delivers the electronic model images to a remote client computer over a distributed communications network, manipulates the electronic model images upon the remote client computer, and performs analysis and a course of action using the manipulated electronic model images. The electronic model images comprise in part a polygonal mesh representation of the physical object.

Abstract: Dental appliances including multiple components and a system and method for constructing the same are disclosed herein. The dental components are designed to fit together to form the dental appliance. The components of the dental appliance are electronically modeled, printed, and pressed sequentially, separately, or as a unitary piece. Forming the dental appliance from multiple components enables each component of the dental appliance to be formed from a different material, each material having different features associated with it. In various embodiments, different materials have different colors, textures, opacities, and transformation factors associated with them. Furthermore, each component can be formed from multiple components. In some other embodiments, a support structure is designed and constructed in order to minimize deformation of a dental component during fabrication of the component.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide a system for electronically generating a color dental occlusion map within electronic model images. With the advances recently made computational systems, these computer based image systems may be used to permit end users to replace paper and physical models with electronic images. A mechanism to capture image representations of physical objects accurately and with sufficient resolution is provided in a form that is both inexpensive to operate while providing rapid turn-around for users. Second, a mechanism to visually display interaction between parts of an object is also provided. These features are expressly addressed for impressions of human teeth that are scanned to allow electronic images of the models of a patient's teeth to be represented and manipulated.

Abstract: A system for generating an electronic model having a common coordinate system includes a scanning device; a first plate module; and a second plate module. Each of the plate modules is configured to separately couple to the scanning device. The plate modules also can be moveably coupled together using an articulation device. Each of the plate modules includes alignment structures (e.g., spheres) to facilitate determining a position and orientation of the plate modules within a coordinate system of the scanning device.

Abstract: By matching a first data set including digital, three-dimensional, dental models with a second data set including digital, cranio-facial 3D medical scan records, missing or inaccurate portions of the cranio-facial 3D medical scan record can be improved. Example methods for matching the data sets include automatically positioning the dental model with respect to the 3D medical scan record and automatically eliminating common (i.e., overlapping) portions from one of the data sets. Two-dimensional images can be mapped onto images generated from either of the first and second data sets to enhance accuracy and/or photo-realism.

Abstract: An apparatus and method perform static timing analysis on an integrated circuit design. Certain pessimistic assumptions regarding slack when data launch and clock test signals are on opposite edges and derived from common logic blocks are improved by creating a dummy clock edge that is on the same edge as the data launch signal, and allowing the timing tool to compute the slack improvement using its native functions. The slack improvement is then multiplied by a conversion factor, and the result is used to adjust the slack. The apparatus and method give credit for slack in common blocks automatically, thereby allowing a large number of pessimistic slack values to be automatically corrected and reducing the workload of an integrated circuit designer in addressing the timing problems in an integrated circuit design.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the addition of niobium to iron based glass forming alloys and iron based Cr—Mo—W containing glasses. More particularly, the present invention is related to changing the nature of crystallization resulting in glass formation that may remain stable at much higher temperatures, increasing the glass forming ability and increasing devitrified hardness of the nanocomposite structure.

Abstract: Electronic models of components of dental appliances can be generated based on the outer surface of an electronic model of the dental appliance. The outer surface may be generated based on the dentition and anatomy of the patient. For example, automated processes may identify landmarks in the anatomy and define the outer surface based on the identified landmarks. Alternatively, the outer surface may be generated based on statistical data. A management system coordinates automated processes with interactive processes to facilitate collaboration of remotely located technicians and equipment in generating electronic models.

Abstract: Dental appliances including multiple components and a system and method for constructing the same are disclosed herein. The dental components are designed to fit together to form the dental appliance. The components of the dental appliance are electronically modeled, printed, and pressed sequentially, separately, or as a unitary piece. Forming the dental appliance from multiple components enables each component of the dental appliance to be formed from a different material, each material having different features associated with it. In various embodiments, different materials have different colors, textures, opacities, and transformation factors associated with them. Furthermore, each component can be formed from multiple components. In some other embodiments, a support structure is designed and constructed in order to minimize deformation of a dental component during fabrication of the component.

Abstract: Locating desired placement locations of brackets for a patient's teeth includes obtaining an array of data points from a cast of the teeth and generating a virtual model from the array of scanned data points. Individual teeth from the virtual model can be manually severed or “cut” and manually dragged from a start position to a finished position to determine a treatment plan. The orthodontist virtually marks the position on the virtual model where a physical bracket is desired. Brackets can then be automatically placed onto a cast of the teeth at corresponding positions.

Abstract: A sprue former of the type used to produce a casting mold includes a generally hollow body or a body having hollow sections. The body includes an inlet forming member and at least one first interface member. The inlet forming member is configured to provide an inlet cavity in the casting mold to enable casting material to enter the casting mold. The first interface members are configured to couple to casting patterns. The casting patterns represent items to be cast. The body can also includes a reservoir forming member and at least one connecting member coupling the reservoir forming member to the inlet forming member.

Abstract: Locating desired placement locations of brackets for a patient's teeth includes obtaining an array of data points from a cast of the teeth and generating a virtual model from the array of scanned data points. Individual teeth from the virtual model can be manually severed or “cut” and manually dragged from a start position to a finished position to determine a treatment plan. The orthodontist virtually marks the position on the virtual model where a physical bracket is desired. Brackets can then be automatically placed onto a cast of the teeth at corresponding positions.

Abstract: Dental appliances including multiple components and a system and method for constructing the same are disclosed herein. The dental components are designed to fit together to form the dental appliance. The components of the dental appliance are electronically modeled, printed, and pressed sequentially, separately, or as a unitary piece. Forming the dental appliance from multiple components enables each component of the dental appliance to be formed from a different material, each material having different features associated with it. In various embodiments, different materials have different colors, textures, opacities, and transformation factors associated with them. Furthermore, each component can be formed from multiple components. In some other embodiments, a support structure is designed and constructed in order to minimize deformation of a dental component during fabrication of the component.