# US 11,896,459 B2 · Methods for placing an implant analog in a physical model of the patient's mouth > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,896,459 B2 - Document ID: US11896459B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/553,400 - Filed: 2021-12-16 - Published: 2022-04-07 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2005-10-24 - Assignees: Biomet 3i, LLC - Applicants: Biomet 3I, LLC - Inventors: Zachary B. Suttin; Bruce Berckmans, III; Dan P Rogers; T. Tait Robb; Alexis C. Goolik - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11896459B2 ## CPC - A61C 8/0089: {Implanting tools or instruments} - A61C 8/0001: {Impression means for implants, e.g. impression coping} - A61C 8/008: {Healing caps or the like} - A61C 13/0019: {using three dimensional printing} - A61C 13/34: Making or working of models, e.g. preliminary castings, trial dentures; Dowel pins [4] - G16H 30/40: for processing medical images, e.g. editing - G16H 50/50: for simulation or modelling of medical disorders - A61C 9/0053: {Optical means or methods, e.g. scanning the teeth by a laser or light beam} - B33Y 50/00: Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing - B33Y 80/00: Products made by additive manufacturing - G16H 20/40: relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture - A61C: DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE (non-driven toothbrushes A46B; {tongue scrapers A61B17/24;} preparations for dentistry A61K6/00; preparations for cleaning the teeth or mouth A61K8/00, A61Q11/00) - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA - B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING ## Abstract A method of placing a dental implant analog in a physical model for use in creating a dental prosthesis is provided. The physical model, which is usually based on an impression of the patient's mouth or a scan of the patient's mouth, is prepared. The model is scanned. A three-dimensional computer model of the physical model is created and is used to develop the location of the dental implant. A robot then modifies the physical model to create an opening for the implant analog. The robot then places the implant analog within the opening at the location dictated by the three-dimensional computer model. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of creating a three-dimensional virtual model of a patient's mouth, the method comprising: receiving scan data of the patient's mouth; electronically transferring the scan data to a computer program; creating a three-dimensional model of at least a portion of the patient's mouth on the computer program using the scan data, wherein the three-dimensional model comprises a representation of an abutment; developing a surgical plan based on the scan data, the surgical plan including at least one virtual implant; based on the surgical plan and with the computer program, developing a modified three-dimensional model of at least the portion of the patient's mouth including at least a portion of the at least one virtual implant, wherein the modified three-dimensional model comprises the abutment removed therefrom; and displaying an image of the modified three-dimensional model. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the at least one virtual implant in the modified three-dimensional model corresponds to a location and orientation of the at least one virtual implant in the surgical plan. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the portion of the at least one virtual implant includes at least a seating surface of the virtual implant. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the modified three-dimensional model is a first modified three-dimensional model, the method further including: developing a second modified three-dimensional model. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein developing the second modified three-dimensional model includes placing an implant analog receptacle at a location of a seating surface of the virtual implant, the method further includes: developing dimensional information of the second modified three-dimensional model for fabrication. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein developing the second modified three-dimensional model includes placing a three-dimensional model of a portion of an implant analog at a location of a seating surface of the virtual implant, the method further including: developing dimensional information of the second modified three-dimensional model for fabrication. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the three-dimensional model of the portion of the implant analog includes a mating geometry of the at least one virtual implant in the surgical plan. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the second modified three-dimensional model includes a three-dimensional model of a portion of a dental restoration. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the dental restoration is one of a patient-specific abutment, a stock abutment, and a crown. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein developing the second modified three-dimensional model includes designing the dental restoration to be integral with the first modified three-dimensional model, the method further including: developing dimensional information of the second modified three-dimensional model. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein developing the second modified three-dimensional model includes designing the dental restoration as a separate component configured to be coupled to the first modified three-dimensional model, the method further including: developing dimensional information of the second modified three-dimensional model; and developing dimensional information of the dental restoration. ### Claim 12 The method of 4, wherein the second modified three-dimensional model further includes a contoured opening that is sized and shaped based on a size and shape of an abutment to be installed on an implant in the patient's mouth. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing information describing the modified three-dimensional model to a manufacturing device thereby enabling the manufacturing device to produce an object using the information describing the modified three-dimensional model. ### Claim 14 A system for creating a three-dimensional virtual model of a patient's mouth comprising: at least one processor; a storage device comprising instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, configure the at least one processor to perform operations comprising: receiving scan data of the patient's mouth; transferring the scan data to a computer program; creating a three-dimensional model of at least a portion of the patient's mouth on the computer program using the scan data, wherein the three-dimensional model comprises a representation of an abutment; developing a surgical plan based on the scan data, the surgical plan including at least one virtual implant; and based on the surgical plan, developing a modified three-dimensional model of at least the portion of the patient's mouth including at least a portion of the at least one virtual implant, wherein the modified three-dimensional model comprises the abutment removed therefrom. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the portion of the at least one virtual implant in the modified three-dimensional model corresponds to a location and orientation of the at least one virtual implant in the surgical plan. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the portion of the at least one virtual implant includes at least a seating surface of the virtual implant. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the modified three-dimensional model is a first modified three-dimensional model, the at least one processor further developing a second modified three-dimensional model. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the second modified three-dimensional model includes at least one of: (i) an implant analog receptacle, (ii) a three-dimensional model of a portion of an implant analog, and (iii) a three-dimensional model of a portion of a dental restoration. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, further including: developing dimensional information of the second modified three-dimensional model. ### Claim 20 A non-transitory computer readable medium for creating a three-dimensional virtual model of a patient's mouth, the non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions, which when executed by at least one processor, configure the at least one processor to perform operations comprising: receiving scan data of the patient's mouth; transferring the scan data to a computer program; creating a three-dimensional model of at least a portion of the patient's mouth on the computer program using the scan data, wherein the three-dimensional model comprises a representation of an abutment; developing a surgical plan based on the scan data, the surgical plan including at least one virtual implant; and based on the surgical plan, developing a modified three-dimensional model of at least the portion of the patient's mouth including at least a portion of the at least one virtual implant wherein the modified three-dimensional model comprises the abutment removed therefrom. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The computer readable medium of claim 20, wherein the modified three-dimensional model is a first modified three-dimensional model, the at least one processor further developing a second modified three-dimensional model including at least one of: (i) an implant analog receptacle, (ii) a three-dimensional model of a portion of an implant analog, and (iii) a three-dimensional model of a portion of a dental restoration.