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US 11,304,784 B2Granted
Virtual dental articulator and system
AssigneeTesoro IP Holding, LLC
InventorDavid D. Richter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for creating a model of a patient's mandible and any teeth supported from the mandible and manipulating the mandible relative to anatomical features of the patient's maxilla. The system uses markers positioned on the mandible and on the maxilla to create a functional mandibular axis that approximates an axis through the condyles of the patient. The functional mandibular axis and geometric and anatomical information about the patient's upper and lower jaw are then used to create prostheses for the patient. The system is also used for making corrections to the prosthesis.
Claims17
A method, comprising:
- recording a spatial relationship between a reference marker on a maxillary arch of a maxilla and a reference marker on a mandibular arch of a mandible, said mandibular arch in mating contact with said maxillary arch;
- tracking said spatial relationship between said reference marker on said maxillary arch and said reference marker on said mandibular arch during lateral excursion of said mandible in a first direction;
- determining an approximate center of rotation of a first functional condyle of said mandible;
- tracking said spatial relationship between said reference marker on said maxillary arch and said reference marker on said mandibular arch during lateral excursion of said mandible in a second direction;
- determining an approximate center of rotation of a second functional condyle of said mandible;
- and
- defining a functional condylar axis between the first functional condyle and the second functional condyle of said mandible based upon determination of said approximate center of rotation of said first and second condyle of said mandible.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.