Concurrently measuring a force exerted upon each of a plurality of teeth
AssigneeAlign Technology, Inc.
InventorsRyan Kimura, Heng Cao, Jon Moss, Ken Wu, Li-Hung Su
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for concurrently measuring a force exerted upon a tooth is disclosed. In one aspect of the invention, the system includes a target tooth attached to a force gauge which is coupled to a motion module for adjusting the tooth to a reference position. The method includes utilizing a motion module of a force measurement device is utilized to adjust each target tooth of a plurality of target teeth to be located in a reference position. Next, each target tooth receives a dental appliance. Then an exerted force is measured by the dental appliance upon each target tooth utilizing a coordinate system of the force gauge.
Claims19
A force measurement device comprising:
- a force gauge, said force gauge configured for measuring a force exerted upon a target tooth coupled to said force gauge;
- a motion module coupled to said force gauge, said motion module configured for adjusting said target tooth to a reference position;
- and
- a force translation assembly coupled to said force gauge, said force translation assembly configured for transferring forces acting upon said target tooth to said force gauge such that said forces can be quantitatively measured and wherein said force translation assembly is configured to receive a first end of a support rod, wherein said second end of said support rod is configured for being coupled to said target tooth.
A system for concurrently measuring a force exerted upon each of a plurality of teeth, said system comprising:
- a base board;
- a plurality of force measurement devices coupled to said base board, each of said plurality of force measurement devices comprising:
- a force gauge, said force gauge configured for measuring a force exerted upon a target tooth coupled to said force gauge;
- and
- a motion module coupled to said force gauge, said motion module configured for adjusting said target tooth to a reference position;
- a frame coupled to said base board, wherein said frame is configured to secure a cut jaw proximate said force measurement devices, said cut jaw configured to receive at least one target tooth therein;
- and
- an output indicator coupled to a plurality of said force gauges, said output indicator configured to provide a measure of force exerted on said at least one target tooth.
A method for concurrently measuring a force exerted upon each of a plurality of teeth by a dental appliance, said method comprising:
- utilizing a motion module of a force measurement device for adjusting each target tooth of a plurality of target teeth to be located in a reference position;
- receiving a dental appliance upon said each said target tooth;
- and
- measuring a force exerted by said dental appliance upon said each said target tooth utilizing a coordinate system of said force gauge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.