# US 2014/0154638 A1 · Method and apparatus for measuring a location and orientation of a plurality of implants > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0154638 A1 - Document ID: US20140154638A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/692,262 - Filed: 2012-12-03 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-03 - Assignees: E.Kats Enterprises Ltd. - Applicants: E.Kats Enterprises Ltd. - Inventors: Eduard Kats - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140154638A1 ## CPC - A61C 8/0001: {Impression means for implants, e.g. impression coping} - A61C 9/0006: {Impression trays} - A61C 8/0048: {Connecting the upper structure to the implant, e.g. bridging bars (A61C8/0028 takes precedence)} - A61C 13/34: Making or working of models, e.g. preliminary castings, trial dentures; Dowel pins [4] - A61C 19/04: Measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry ({A61C5/44 takes precedence; testing vitality of teeth A61B5/0534;} radiation diagnosis specially adapted for dentistry A61B6/51) - 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) ## Abstract An apparatus is provided for measuring a location and orientation of each of a plurality of dental implants. The apparatus may include a base, and a plurality of extension members protruding from the base. Each of the plurality of extension members may be movable in relation to the base. Each extension member may include a proximal end connected to the base, a distal end, and a coping connected to the distal end. The coping may be movable in relation to a corresponding extension member. Furthermore, the coping may be adapted to be mechanically locked in a selected location and orientation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for measuring a location and orientation of each of a plurality of dental implants, comprising: a base; and a plurality of extension members protruding from the base, wherein each of the plurality of extension members is movable in relation to the base, each extension member comprising: a proximal end connected to the base, a distal end, and a coping connected to the distal end, wherein the coping is movable in relation to a corresponding extension member, and wherein the coping is adapted to be mechanically locked in a selected location and orientation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of clamps, wherein each of the plurality of clamps is adapted to lock a corresponding extension member to the base. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of clamps is adapted to lock a corresponding coping in the selected location and orientation. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each extension member comprises an elongate upper portion and an elongate lower portion, and wherein each of the plurality of clamps is adapted to urge one of the upper and lower portions toward the other of the upper and lower portions of a corresponding extension member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein each coping is at least partially received in a corresponding spherical member, and wherein each of the plurality of clamps is adapted to urge the upper and lower portions of the corresponding extension member against an external surface of the corresponding spherical member to lock a location and orientation of the corresponding spherical member with respect to the extension member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein each coping is at least partially received in a through-hole of the corresponding spherical member, wherein the through-hole is defined by an interior surface of the spherical member, and wherein each of the plurality of clamps is adapted to urge the upper and lower portions of the corresponding extension member against the external surface of the corresponding spherical member to reduce a diameter of the through-hole of the corresponding spherical member, thereby urging the interior surface of the corresponding spherical member against the corresponding coping, to lock the location and orientation of the coping with respect to the base. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the coping is connected to the corresponding extension member by a ball joint. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base comprises at least one slot; wherein each of the plurality of clamps passes through one of the at least one slot; and wherein each of the plurality of clamps is adapted to lock the corresponding extension member relative to the corresponding slot. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each coping defines a through-hole adapted to receive a screw connected to one of the plurality of dental implants. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the through-hole of each coping is sized to receive a measurement target detectable by a control measurement device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the location and orientation of each coping is fixed with respect to the corresponding extension member; each coping is rotatable about the corresponding extension member in at least two orthogonal axes; and each clamp is adapted to resist rotation of the corresponding coping relative to the corresponding extension member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein at least one extension member is positionable along a plane, and each extension member is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the plane, the axis being concentric with the corresponding clamp. ### Claim at position 13 13-20. (canceled) ### Claim 21 An apparatus for replicating a location and orientation of each of a plurality of dental implants, comprising: a base; and a plurality of extension members protruding from the base, wherein each of the plurality of extension members is movable in relation to the base, each extension member comprising: a proximal end connected to the base, a distal end, and an implant analogue connected to the distal end, wherein the implant analogue is movable in relation to a corresponding extension member, and wherein the implant analogue is adapted to be mechanically locked in a selected location and orientation. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a plurality of clamps, wherein each of the plurality of clamps is adapted to lock a corresponding extension member to the base. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein each of the plurality of clamps is adapted to lock a corresponding implant analogue in the selected location and orientation. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein each extension member comprises an elongate upper portion and an elongate lower portion, and wherein each of the plurality of clamps is adapted to urge one of the upper and lower portions toward the other of the upper and lower portions of a corresponding extension member. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The apparatus of claim 24, wherein each implant analogue is at least partially received in a corresponding spherical member, and wherein each of the plurality of clamps is adapted to urge the upper and lower portions of the corresponding extension member against an external surface of the corresponding spherical member to lock a location and orientation of the corresponding spherical member with respect to the extension member. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The apparatus of claim 25 wherein each implant analogue is at least partially received in a through-hole of the corresponding spherical member, wherein the through-hole is defined by an interior surface of the spherical member, and wherein each of the plurality of clamps is adapted to urge the upper and lower portions of the corresponding extension member against the external surface of the corresponding spherical member to reduce a diameter of the through-hole of the corresponding spherical member thereby urging the interior surface of the corresponding spherical member against the corresponding implant analogue, to lock the location and orientation of the implant analogue with respect to the base. ### Claim 27 (depends on 21) The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the implant analogue is connected to the corresponding extension member by a ball joint. ### Claim 28 (depends on 21) The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the base comprises at least one slot; wherein each of the plurality of clamps passes through one of the at least one slot; and wherein each of the plurality of clamps is adapted to lock the corresponding extension member relative to the corresponding slot. ### Claim 29 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the location and orientation of each implant analogue is fixed with respect to the corresponding extension member; each implant analogue is rotatable about the corresponding extension member in at least two orthogonal axes; and each clamp is adapted to resist rotation of the corresponding implant analogue relative to the corresponding extension member. ### Claim 30 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22 wherein at least one extension member is positionable along a plane, and each extension member is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the plane, the axis being concentric with the corresponding clamp.