Systems and methods for removing gingiva from computer tooth models
AssigneeAlign Technology, Inc.
InventorsElena Pavlovskaia, Venkata S. Sarva, Carmen Cheang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A computer-implemented method separates gingiva from a model of a tooth by defining a cutting surface along the gingiva; and applying the cutting surface to the tooth to separate the gingiva from the tooth.
Claims25
A computer-implemented method for separating a tooth from adjacent structure, comprising:
- defining a cutting surface;
- and
- applying the cutting surface between the tooth and the structure to separate the tooth from the structure in a single cut.
A system for separating a tooth from adjacent structure, comprising:
- means for defining a cutting surface;
- and
- means for applying the cutting surface betwee the tooth and the structure to separate the tooth from the structure in a single cut.
A computer program, residing on a tangible storage medium, for use in separating a computer model of a tooth from a computer model of a dental structure, the program comprising executable instructions operable to cause a computer to:
- define a cutting surface;
- and
- apply the cutting surface between the tooth and the structure to separate the tooth from the structure in a single cut.
A computer program, residing on a tangible storage medium, for use in separating a computer model of a tooth from a computer model of a dental structure, the program comprising executable instructions operable to cause a computer to:
- define a cutting surface, wherein the cutting surface is expressed as a spline function and a quadratic function;
- and
- apply the cutting surface between the computer model of the tooth and the computer model of the dental structure to separate the computer model in a single cut.
A computer, comprising:
- a processor;
- a data storage device coupled to the processor, the data storage device containing code for use in separating a computer model of a tooth from a computer model of an adjacent dental structure, the program comprising executable instructions operable to cause a computer to:
- define a cutting surface, wherein the cutting surface is expressed as a spline function and a quadratic function and wherein the cutting surface further comprises a plurality of surfaces and wherein the root of the tooth is modeled as a parabolic surface below a gingival line;
- and
- apply the cutting surface to the tooth to separate the tooth from the dental structure in a single cut.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.