Abstract: Disclosed is a dental LED curing light system for curing of dental photo-polymerization materials. The system comprises of a single LED source 310, a portable handheld body 520 with rechargeable batteries 580 and control circuit board 560, and a plurality of Fresnel lenses 321 and 541. The said LED source is powered and controlled by the circuit board and provides high power curing light in the range of 300 to 500 nm and optical power in the range of 100 to 800 mW. The said Fresnel lenses couple said curing light efficiently to a focused spot on a curing object.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a patient treatment plan includes processing that begins by providing a list of health care services to a patient and/or care provider. The processing continues by prompting for input of digital information regarding the patient when health care services applicable to addressing the patient's treatment needs have been concurrently selected. The processing continues by determining whether a sufficient amount of digital information has been received. If so, the processing continues by simulating treatment of a patient based on the digital information, a treatment objective, and normalized patient data. The processing then continues by generating the patient treatment plan in accordance with the simulating of the treatment when the simulated treatment results have been acknowledged.

Abstract: A method is described for taking a three-dimensional virtual model of the dentition and associated anatomical structures of a patient and isolating individual teeth from the rest of the anatomical structure, e.g. gums, to thereby produce individual, virtual three-dimensional tooth objects. The individual tooth objects can be displayed on the display of an orthodontic workstation and moved independently from each other, and thereby form the basis of planning treatment for the patient. The individual, virtual three-dimensional tooth objects are created by comparing the virtual model of the dentition to virtual, three-dimensional template teeth that are stored in memory in a process described in detail herein. The template teeth can include roots as well as crowns. The template teeth can be stored objects acquired from some external source or alternatively developed from a database of patient scans. Virtual three-dimensional brackets are also stored in the memory of the workstation.

Abstract: A robotic bending apparatus for bending archwires and other types of elongate, bendable medical devices into a desired configuration includes a first gripping tool and a moveable gripping tool. The first gripping tool can be either fixed with respect to a base or table for the robot or positioned at the end of robot am. The moveable gripping tool is mounted to the end of a moveable robot arm having a proximal portion also mounted to the base. The robot preferably comprises a six axis bending robot, in which the distal end of the moveable arm can move relative to the fixed gripping tool about three translational axes and three rotational axes. The gripping tools preferably incorporate force sensors which are used to determine overbends needed to get the desired final shape of the archwire. The robot may also include a resistive heating system in which current flows through the wire while the wire is held in a bent condition to heat the wire and thereby retain the bent shape of the wire.

Abstract: A robotic bending apparatus for bending archwires and other types of elongate, bendable medical devices into a desired configuration includes a first gripping tool and a moveable gripping tool. The first gripping tool can be either fixed with respect to a base or table for the robot or positioned at the end of robot am. The moveable gripping tool is mounted to the end of a moveable robot arm having a proximal portion also mounted to the base. The robot preferably comprises a six axis bending robot, in which the distal end of the moveable arm can move relative to the fixed gripping tool about three translational axes and three rotational axes. The gripping tools preferably incorporate force sensors which are used to determine overbends needed to get the desired final shape of the archwire. The robot may also include a resistive heating system in which current flows through the wire while the wire is held in a bent condition to heat the wire and thereby retain the bent shape of the wire.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a patient treatment plan includes processing that begins by providing a list of health care services to a patient and/or care provider. The processing continues by prompting for input of digital information regarding the patient when health care services applicable to addressing the patient's treatment needs have been concurrently selected. The processing continues by determining whether a sufficient amount of digital information has been received. If so, the processing continues by simulating treatment of a patient based on the digital information, a treatment objective, and normalized patient data. The processing then continues by generating the patient treatment plan in accordance with the simulating of the treatment when the simulated treatment results have been acknowledged.

Abstract: Interactive, computer based orthodontist treatment planning, appliance design and appliance manufacturing is described. A scanner is described which acquires images of the dentition which are converted to three-dimensional frames of data. The data from the several frames are registered to each other to provide a complete three-dimensional virtual model of the dentition. Individual tooth objects are obtained from the virtual model. A computer-interactive software program provides for treatment planning, diagnosis and appliance from the virtual tooth models. A desired occlusion for the patient is obtained from the treatment planning software. The virtual model of the desired occlusion and the virtual model of the original dentition provide a base of information for custom manufacture of an orthodontic appliance.

Abstract: Interactive, computer based orthodontist treatment planning, appliance design and appliance manufacturing is described. A scanner is described which acquires images of the dentition which are converted to three-dimensional frames of data. The data from the several frames are registered to each other to provide a complete three-dimensional virtual model of the dentition. Individual tooth objects are obtained from the virtual model. A computer-interactive software program provides for treatment planning, diagnosis and appliance from the virtual tooth models. A desired occlusion for the patient is obtained from the treatment planning software. The virtual model of the desired occlusion and the virtual model of the original dentition provide a base of information for custom manufacture of an orthodontic appliance.

Abstract: An orthodontic workstation stores a library of virtual three-dimensional brackets in a memory. Each of the virtual brackets has a unique three-dimensional configuration and prescription. Typically, the library of bracket comprises a library of commercially available, off-the-shelf brackets. The workstation further includes an interactive treatment planning program that permits a user to move teeth from a virtual model of the dentition to a proposed set-up. In one possible embodiment, the treatment planning program provides the ability to display a virtual bracket placed on a virtual tooth and change the prescription or configuration of the virtual bracket. The treatment program automatically compares the modified prescription with the prescription information of the virtual brackets in the library and selects a bracket from the library that most closely matches the virtual bracket displayed on the tooth. Thus, the user does not have to use customized brackets.

Abstract: Interactive, computer based orthodontist treatment planning, appliance design and appliance manufacturing is described. A scanner is described which acquires images of the dentition which are converted to three-dimensional frames of data. The data from the several frames are registered to each other to provide a complete three-dimensional virtual model of the dentition. Individual tooth objects are obtained from the virtual model. A computer-interactive software program provides for treatment planning, diagnosis and appliance from the virtual tooth models. A desired occlusion for the patient is obtained from the treatment planning software. The virtual model of the desired occlusion and the virtual model of the original dentition provide a base of information for custom manufacture of an orthodontic appliance.

Abstract: A method and system for orthodontic treatment planning, evaluation and quality measurement is provided comprising a workstation having computing platform, a graphical user interface, a processor and a computer storage medium containing digitized records pertaining to a patient. The digitized records include image and other types of data. The computer storage medium further includes a set of software instructions providing graphical user interface tools for providing a user with access to the digitized records for planning orthodontic treatment of a patient. Also provided are reference databases for aiding in the decision process during treatment selection, treatment planning and treatment delivery and progress monitoring and evaluation. Also provided are parameter or criteria measurement techniques and generally acceptable thresholds, which can be updated through learning process and through acquisition of patient data.

Abstract: An orthodontic workstation stores a library of virtual three-dimensional brackets in a memory. Each of the virtual brackets has a unique three-dimensional configuration and prescription. Typically, the library of bracket comprises a library of commercially available, off-the-shelf brackets. The workstation further includes an interactive treatment planning program that permits a user to move teeth from a virtual model of the dentition to a proposed set-up. In one possible embodiment, the treatment planning program provides the ability to display a virtual bracket placed on a virtual tooth and change the prescription or configuration of the virtual bracket. The treatment program automatically compares the modified prescription with the prescription information of the virtual brackets in the library and selects a bracket from the library that most closely matches the virtual bracket displayed on the tooth. Thus, the user does not have to use customized brackets.

Abstract: Templates are disclosed that permit an orthodontist to accurately place appliances such as bracket shims or brackets on a tooth or teeth at a desired position. The templates can be used for accurately locating the position of other dental or orthodontic procedures, such as varnishing, tooth etching and root canals. The templates are made from a flexible sheet of material adapted to be adhered directly to the surface of the tooth or teeth. The sheet of material is formed with the outline of the tooth or teeth or in the shape of the tooth to allow the template to be posited in a proper, reference position. The sheet of material is also formed with one or more marks indicating the location of the bracket on the tooth, for example one mark indicting the bracket base location and other marks indicating the orientation of the base and bracket slot.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a orthodontic template that assists in the placement of an orthodontic apparatus includes processing that begins by obtaining a digital model of an orthodontic structure of an orthodontic patient. The processing continues by obtaining a selection of one of a plurality of orthodontic apparatuses for the orthodontic structure to produce a selected orthodontic apparatus. The processing then continues by obtaining a digital model of placement of the selected orthodontic apparatus on the digital model of the orthodontic structure. The processing then continues by retrieving a digital image of a tooth mounting apparatus (e.g., a bracket, a band, a headgear tube, etc.) of the selected apparatus for a given tooth.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a orthodontic template that assists in the placement of an orthodontic apparatus includes processing that begins by obtaining a digital model of an orthodontic structure of an orthodontic patient. The processing continues by obtaining a selection of one of a plurality of orthodontic apparatuses for the orthodontic structure to produce a selected orthodontic apparatus. The processing then continues by obtaining a digital model of placement of the selected orthodontic apparatus on the digital model of the orthodontic structure. The processing then continues by retrieving a digital image of a tooth mounting apparatus (e.g., a bracket, a band, a headgear tube, etc.) of the selected apparatus for a given tooth.

Abstract: Occlusal contact between upper and lower virtual three-dimensional teeth of a patient when the upper and lower arches are in an occlused condition are determined and displayed to the user on a user interface of a general purpose computing device. Various techniques for determining occlusal contacts are described. The areas where occlusal contact occurs is displayed on the user interface in a readily perceptible manner, such as by showing the occlusal contacts in green. If the proposed set-up would result in a interpenetration of teeth in opposing arches, such locations of interpenetration are illustrated in a contrasting color or shading (e.g., red). The ability to calculate distances and display occlusal contacts in a proposed set-up assists the user in planning treatment for the patient. The process can be extended to interproximal contact detection as well. The concepts also apply to dental prosthetics, such as crowns, fillings and dentures.

Abstract: Templates are disclosed that permit an orthodontist to accurately place appliances such as bracket shims or brackets on a tooth or teeth at a desired position. The templates can be used for accurately locating the position of other dental or orthodontic procedures, such as varnishing, tooth etching and root canals. The templates are made from a flexible sheet of material adapted to be adhered directly to the surface of the tooth or teeth. The sheet of material is formed with the outline of the tooth or teeth or in the shape of the tooth to allow the template to be posited in a proper, reference position. The sheet of material is also formed with one or more marks indicating the location of the bracket on the tooth, for example one mark indicting the bracket base location and other marks indicating the orientation of the base and bracket slot.

Abstract: Occlusal contact between upper and lower virtual three-dimensional teeth of a patient when the upper and lower arches are in an occlused condition are determined and displayed to the user on a user interface of a general purpose computing device. Various techniques for determining occlusal contacts are described. The areas where occlusal contact occurs is displayed on the user interface in a readily perceptible manner, such as by showing the occlusal contacts in green. If the proposed set-up would result in a interpenetration of teeth in opposing arches, such locations of interpenetration are illustrated in a contrasting color or shading (e.g., red). The ability to calculate distances and display occlusal contacts in a proposed set-up assists the user in planning treatment for the patient. The process can be extended to interproximal contact detection as well. The concepts also apply to dental prosthetics, such as crowns, fillings and dentures.

Abstract: Occlusal contact between upper and lower virtual three-dimensional teeth of a patient when the upper and lower arches are in an occlused condition are determined and displayed to the user on a user interface of a general purpose computing device. Various techniques for determining occlusal contacts are described. The areas where occlusal contact occurs is displayed on the user interface in a readily perceptible manner, such as by showing the occlusal contacts in green. If the proposed set-up would result in a interpenetration of teeth in opposing arches, such locations of interpenetration are illustrated in a contrasting color or shading (e.g., red). The ability to calculate distances and display occlusal contacts in a proposed set-up assists the user in planning treatment for the patient. The process can be extended to interproximal contact detection as well. The concepts also apply to dental prosthetics, such as crowns, fillings and dentures.

Abstract: Occlusal contact between upper and lower virtual three-dimensional teeth of a patient when the upper and lower arches are in an occlused condition are determined and displayed to the user on a user interface of a general purpose computing device. Various techniques for determining occlusal contacts are described. The areas where occlusal contact occurs is displayed on the user interface in a readily perceptible manner, such as by showing the occlusal contacts in green. If the proposed set-up would result in a interpenetration of teeth in opposing arches, such locations of interpenetration are illustrated in a contrasting color or shading (e.g., red). The ability to calculate distances and display occlusal contacts in a proposed set-up assists the user in planning treatment for the patient. The process can be extended to interproximal contact detection as well. The concepts also apply to dental prosthetics, such as crowns, fillings and dentures.