Abstract: A method of controlling an agricultural facility for housing a plurality of animals includes the step of regulating the environment within the agricultural facility with an automated building operational system. An automated thermal event controller is operationally coupled with the automated building operational system and generates a thermal event signal in response to a thermal event in progress, whereby the automated thermal event controller, upon receipt of the thermal event signal indicating that the thermal event is in progress, activates an alarm state. In the alarm state, the automated thermal event controller: sends an alarm signal to a system administrator; places the automated building operational system in a safety-mode condition for a first predetermined time interval; and places the automated building operational system in a normal-mode operational condition after the first predetermined time interval and if a confirmatory signal is not yet then received from the system administrator.

Abstract: Systems and techniques are described for determining at least one of a translational force or a rotational force applied by a dental appliance to a tooth or teeth of a patient. A system includes model teeth configured to represent a portion of a dental arch and receive a dental appliance, a post extending from a first end coupled to a respective tooth to a second end coupled to a base, at least one strain gauge integrally formed on a surface of the post between the first end and the second end, and processor communicatively coupled to the at least one strain gauge and configured to determine at least one of a translational force or a rotational force applied by the dental appliance to the respective tooth.

Abstract: The invention relates to a removable dental appliance comprising an appliance body configured to at least partially surround a plurality of teeth of a patient. The appliance body defines a shell configured to receive a tooth of the plurality of teeth in an initial position and a bendable flap integrally formed with the appliance body to extend from a hinge axis of the shell. The bendable flap defines a boundary region extending from a first end of the hinge axis around the bendable flap to a second end of the hinge axis and including an arcuate member. In one specific embodiment, the arcuate member comprises a spring bellows extending away from a plane of the shell. The bendable flap and the arcuate member are configured to apply a force to the tooth to cause movement of the tooth toward a desired position when the removable dental appliance is worn by the patient.

Abstract: The invention relates to a removable dental appliance comprising an appliance body configured to at least partially surround a plurality of teeth of a patient. The appliance body defines a shell configured to receive a tooth of the plurality of teeth in an initial position and a bendable flap integrally formed with the appliance body to tether the flap to the shell. The bendable flap defines a boundary region around the bendable flap and includes abridge, wherein the bridge extends between the body and the flap at or adjacent the boundary region. In one specific embodiment, the bridge is an arcuate member and includes a spring bellows. The bendable flap and the bridge are configured to apply a force to the tooth to cause movement of the tooth toward a desired position when the removable dental appliance is worn by the patient.

Abstract: A method to combine dental anatomy data includes, by the use of a computing device: receiving volumetric dental data and superficial dental data; segmenting the crowns of the volumetric dental data from the roots of the volumetric dental data; segmenting the crowns of the superficial dental data from the gingiva of the superficial dental data; transforming superficial dental data of the crowns to substantially align with volumetric dental data of the crowns; stitching the transformed superficial dental data of the crowns to volumetric dental data of the crowns; and outputting for display an image data based on the combined dental data.

Abstract: A 3D imaging apparatus with enhanced depth of field to obtain electronic images of an object for use in generating a 3D digital model of the object. The apparatus includes a housing having mirrors positioned to receive an image from an object external to the housing and provide the image to an image sensor. The optical path between the object and the image sensor includes an aperture element having apertures for providing the image along multiple optical channels with a lens positioned within each of the optical channels. The apparatus also includes a transparent cover positioned within the optical path and having a plurality of fiducials. The depth of field of the apparatus includes the cover, allowing the fiducials to be used to calibrate the apparatus or verify and correct the existing calibration of it.

Abstract: A 3D imaging apparatus with enhanced depth of field to obtain electronic images of an object for use in generating a 3D digital model of the object. The apparatus includes a housing having mirrors positioned to receive an image from an object external to the housing and provide the image to an image sensor. The optical path between the object and the image sensor includes an aperture element having apertures for providing the image along multiple optical channels with a lens positioned within each of the optical channels. The apparatus also includes a transparent cover positioned within the optical path and having a plurality of fiducials. The depth of field of the apparatus includes the cover, allowing the fiducials to be used to calibrate the apparatus or verify and correct the existing calibration of it.

Abstract: A method for determining virtual articulation from dental scans. The method includes receiving digital 3D models of a person's maxillary and mandibular arches, and digital 3D models of a plurality of different bite poses of the arches. The digital 3D models of the maxillary and mandibular arches are registered with the bite poses to generate transforms defining spatial relationships between the arches for the bite poses. Based upon the digital 3D models and transforms, the method computes a pure rotation axis representation for each bite pose of the mandibular arch with respect to the maxillary arch. The virtual articulation can be used in making restorations or for diagnostic purposes.

Abstract: A method for determining virtual articulation from dental scans. The method includes receiving digital 3D models of a person's maxillary and mandibular arches, and digital 3D models of a plurality of different bite poses of the arches. The digital 3D models of the maxillary and mandibular arches are registered with the bite poses to generate transforms defining spatial relationships between the arches for the bite poses. Based upon the digital 3D models and transforms, the method computes a pure rotation axis representation for each bite pose of the mandibular arch with respect to the maxillary arch. The virtual articulation can be used in making restorations or for diagnostic purposes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are aqueous dental coating compositions and methods for enhancing contrast of intraoral surfaces for 3-dimensional digital scanning. The compositions include: an aqueous solvent system; a water soluble polymer present at no greater than 5 wt. %, based on the total weight of the aqueous dental coating composition; hydrophilic particles; and hydrophobic particles, wherein the aqueous dental coating composition is a dispersion or a dispersion of the hydrophilic particles and hydrophobic particles in the aqueous solvent system can be formed by shaking the composition for 30 seconds.

Abstract: A method for determining virtual articulation from dental scans. The method includes receiving digital 3D models of a person's maxillary and mandibular arches, and digital 3D models of a plurality of different bite poses of the arches. The digital 3D models of the maxillary and mandibular arches are registered with the bite poses to generate transforms defining spatial relationships between the arches for the bite poses. Based upon the digital 3D models and transforms, the method computes a pure rotation axis representation for each bite pose of the mandibular arch with respect to the maxillary arch. The virtual articulation can be used in making restorations or for diagnostic purposes.

Abstract: A method for determining virtual articulation from dental scans. The method includes receiving digital 3D models of a person's maxillary and mandibular arches, and digital 3D models of a plurality of different bite poses of the arches. The digital 3D models of the maxillary and mandibular arches are registered with the bite poses to generate transforms defining spatial relationships between the arches for the bite poses. Based upon the digital 3D models and transforms, the method computes a pure rotation axis representation for each bite pose of the mandibular arch with respect to the maxillary arch. The virtual articulation can be used in making restorations or for diagnostic purposes.

Abstract: A 3D imaging apparatus with enhanced depth of field to obtain electronic images of an object for use in generating a 3D digital model of the object. The apparatus includes a housing having mirrors positioned to receive an image from an object external to the housing and provide the image to an image sensor. The optical path between the object and the image sensor includes an aperture element having apertures for providing the image along multiple optical channels with a lens positioned within each of the optical channels. The apparatus also includes a transparent cover positioned within the optical path and having a plurality of fiducials. The depth of field of the apparatus includes the cover, allowing the fiducials to be used to calibrate the apparatus or verify and correct the existing calibration of it.

Abstract: A child safety seat anchorage is mechanically attached and welded to a robust support member, e.g., a tube or bracket, which in turn is secured to a vehicle seat or the vehicle frame. The welding of the wire rod is primarily for the purpose of positioning the wire rod at the prescribed location within a vehicle so that hooks, straps or other connectors from a child safety seat can be attached to the wire rod anchorage. The anchorage is located at and extends from a bite line between a seat cushion and a seat back. Alternative attachment designs include the use of a strap, alternative design wire rod anchorages and slots and holes to connect the wire rod anchorage to the tube or bracket.