Scanning device for use in manufacturing implants
AssigneeNobel Biocare AB
InventorsMatts Andersson, Lennart Carlsson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sensing device senses a contour (3a) of a model (3) and generates, in response to the sensing, a representation (i1). The representation is used to control tool equipment for producing, for example, dental implants, support members, etc. or tools for producing such implants, members, etc. The representation (i1) is fed to computer equipment (23) which generates a signal array (i13). This latter effectuates or is included in the control of the tool equipment. The signal array (i13) is selected or compressed so that it will be sufficient to enable the tool equipment to perform with its expected degree of accuracy/tolerance in production.
Claims9
A scanning apparatus for controlling tool equipment used in production of three-dimensional bodies such as human body restorations, comprising:
- sensing means for sensing a contour of a model to obtain selected representation data based on said sensed contour in the form of at least one data signal, said sensing means being located at a first site;
- movement effecting means for effecting rotational movement of said model simultaneously with relative displacement movement between said model and said sensing means while said sensing means is simultaneously sensing the contour of the model;
- processing means for receiving and processing said representation data signals;
- computer equipment for obtaining input signals based on said processed representation signals and for generating output signals to be used in controlling of said tool equipment;
- means for controlling operation of said tool equipment at a second reproduction site;
- and
- means for transmitting output signal data from said first site to said second reproduction site.
A method of controlling tool equipment used in production of three-dimensional bodies such as human body restorations, comprising:
- sensing a contour of a model to obtain selected representation data based on said sensed contour in the form of at least one data signal with sensing means being located at a first site;
- effecting rotational movement of said model simultaneously with relative displacement movement between said model and said sensing means while said sensing means is simultaneously sensing the contour of the model;
- processing said representation data signals in a processing means;
- supplying output signals from said processing means to computer equipment and generating output signals from said computer to be used in controlling of said tool equipment;
- transmitting output signal data from said first site to said second reproduction site;
- and
- controlling operation of said tool equipment at a second, reproduction site based on said output signal data.
An apparatus for controlling tool equipment used in manufacturing at least one three dimensional body, comprising:
- sensing means including a sensing device for sensing a contour of a model of an implant to obtain a representation of said contour in the form of at least one representation electrical signal;
- means for effecting rotational movement of said model simultaneously with relative displacement movement between said model and said sensing device while said sensing device is simultaneously sensing said contour;
- a signal processing unit for processing said representation electrical signals to obtain digital signals;
- a control unit for controlling operation of at least one of said signal processing unit and said sensing means;
- and
- data processing equipment for receiving signals from said control unit and for generating control signals used for operating said tool equipment;
- wherein said sensing means is inclined at a first angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of said model, said tool equipment is inclined at a second angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of said blank, and wherein said first and second angles of inclination are substantially the same.
A scanning apparatus for controlling tool equipment used in production of three-dimensional bodies such as human body restorations, comprising:
- sensing means for sensing a contour of a model to obtain selected representation data based on said sensed contour in the form of at least one signal;
- processing and controlling means for receiving and processing said representation data signals;
- computer equipment for obtaining input signals based on said processed representation signals and for generating output signals to be used in controlling of said tool equipment;
- and
- movement effecting means for effecting rotational movement of said model simultaneously with relative displacement movement between said model and said sensing device while simultaneously sensing the contour of the model, said movement effecting means being actuated and controlled by a control unit;
- and
- wherein characteristic parts of the representation and the control are selected prior to the transmission on a telecommunications medium;
- and wherein a replica is generated at a reception site based on the characteristic parts of the representation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.