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US 4,478,580 AGranted
Process and apparatus for treating teeth
OwnerLuc P. Barrutinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process and apparatus for treating a tooth. A probing device probes the contours of the tooth while generating signals corresponding to both the position of the probing device and the pressure between the probing device and the tooth so as to generate an accurate indication of the contours of the tooth. A data processing device processes the signals and produces control signals for controlling various tools for machining or otherwise producing orthodontic appliances, particularly crowns.
Claims32
An apparatus for treating a tooth comprising:
- a fixed element fixed in a predetermined position relative to said tooth;
- rotary tool holding means movably interconnected with said fixed element;
- probe means interconnected with said rotary tool holding means such as to be driven by said rotary tool holding means to rotate about a predetermined axis;
- detector means interposed said rotary tool holding means and said probe means detecting the resistance force encountered by said probe means as said probe means is moved along the contours of said tooth and generating a first characteristic signal in response to said resistance force;
- measuring means measuring the movements of said rotary tool holding means as said probe means is moved along the contours of said tooth and generating a second characteristic signal in response to said movements;
- and
- automatic data processing means receiving said first characteristic signal and said second characteristic signal and storing said signals indicative of the shape of said tooth.
4 more elements
A method of preparing orthodontic appliances for a tooth comprising the steps of:
- placing a probing means adjacent said tooth;
- moving said probing means along the surface of said tooth;
- generating a first set of analog signals corresponding to the position of said probing means as said probing means moves along the surfaces of said tooth;
- generating a second analog signal corresponding to the pressure between said probing means and said tooth as said probe means moves along the surfaces of said tooth;
- processing said first set of analog signals and said second analog signal to generate a control signal;
- and
- transmitting said control signal to an appliance processing device to automatically control the operation of said appliance processing device to prepare said appliance for said tooth.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.