# US 8,465,291 B2 · Dental patient models > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,465,291 B2 - Document ID: US8465291B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/623,449 - Filed: 2007-01-16 - Published: 2007-08-02 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2006-01-27 - Assignees: Zimmer Dental, Inc. - Applicants: Fred A. Bell - Inventors: Fred A. Bell - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465291B2 ## CPC - G09B 23/283: {for dentistry or oral hygiene (G09B23/286 takes precedence)} - G09B: EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS (devices for psychotechnics or for testing reaction times A61B5/16; games, sports, amusements A63; projectors, projector screens G03B) ## Abstract A model head including a jaw insert having layers of varying materials replicating the anatomical features of a human jaw. The jaw may include a mock nerve system that provides a signal to indicate the condition of the nerve. The jaw also may include a circulatory system including vessels that simulate the bleeding that occurs when a vessel in a human has been damaged. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A dental patient model comprising: a jaw corresponding to a human jaw and being configured to be cut or drilled by a surgical tool to imitate a dental surgery on the jaw, the jaw including: a mandible having a mandibular bone layer defining a mandibular tooth socket, the mandibular bone layer including a mandibular cortical layer and a mandibular cancellous layer, a mandibular tooth coupled to the mandibular tooth socket, a mandibular gingival layer disposed over the mandibular bone layer, and a mandibular lip/buccal mucosa layer extending over the mandibular gingival layer; and a maxilla having a maxillary bone layer defining a maxillary tooth socket, the maxillary bone layer including a maxillary cortical layer and a maxillary cancellous layer, a maxillary tooth coupled to the maxillary tooth socket, a maxillary gingival layer disposed over the mandibular bone layer, and a maxillary lip/buccal mucosa layer extending over the maxillary gingival layer, wherein the mandibular lip/buccal mucosa layer and the maxillary lip/buccal mucosa layer form a jaw opening; and a nerve system having a simulated nerve associated with the jaw for corresponding to a human nerve, and an indicator operatively connected to the simulated nerve to indicate a condition of the simulated nerve. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The dental patient model of claim 1 wherein the simulated nerve is disposed at the jaw in a position approximating one of a plurality of possible positions of a human nerve of a human jaw. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The dental patient model of claim 1 wherein the simulated nerve includes a conductor configured and arranged at the jaw to carry current so that contact of the simulated nerve by a surgical tool affects a current flow through the conductor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The dental patient model of claim 1 wherein the indicator emits a first signal to indicate a normal condition for the nerve system and a second signal to indicate a condition deviating from the normal condition for the nerve system. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The dental patient model of claim 4 wherein the first signal is a first color light emission and the second signal is a second color light emission. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The dental patient model of claim 1 wherein the indicator includes at least light emitting that is continuously lit to indicate a first condition for the nerve system and flashes to indicate a second condition for the nerve system. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The dental patient model of claim 1 further comprising: a circulatory system having a simulated vessel disposed in the mandible generally in a position corresponding to a position of a human blood vessel and being configured for expelling fluid when the simulated vessel is ruptured. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The dental patient model of claim 1, in which the simulated nerve comprises an insulated wire formed in a wire bundle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The dental patient model of claim 1, in which the mandibular bone layer and the maxillary bone layer are formed of a relatively hard materials and the mandibular gingival layer and the maxillary gingival layer are formed of relatively soft materials. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The dental patient model of claim 1, in which the mandibular cortical layer and the maxillary cortical layer are formed of a relatively dense and rigid material, and the mandibular cancellous layer and the maxillary cancellous layer are formed of a relatively porous and less rigid material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The dental patient model of claim 1, further comprising a frame, in which the mandible and maxillary are independently coupled to the frame. ### Claim 12 A dental patient model, comprising: a jaw generally corresponding to a human jaw and being configured to be cut or drilled by a surgical tool to imitate a dental surgery on the jaw, the jaw including: a mandible having a mandibular bone layer defining a pair of mandibular tooth sockets, the mandibular bone layer including a mandibular cortical layer and a mandibular cancellous layer, a mandibular tooth coupled to each of the mandibular tooth sockets, a mandibular gingival layer disposed over the mandibular bone layer, and a mandibular lip/buccal mucosa layer extending over the mandibular gingival layer; and a maxilla having a maxillary bone layer defining a maxillary tooth socket, the maxillary bone layer including a maxillary cortical layer and a maxillary cancellous layer, a maxillary tooth coupled to the maxillary tooth socket, a maxillary gingival layer disposed over the mandibular bone layer, and a maxillary lip/buccal mucosa layer extending over the maxillary gingival layer, wherein the mandibular lip/buccal mucosa layer and the maxillary lip/buccal mucosa layer form a jaw opening; and a circulatory system having a vessel disposed in the mandible to generally correspond to a human blood vessel, the vessel being configured to expel fluid upon being ruptured. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The dental patient model of claim 12 further comprising: a support for the jaw, the support having a top surface defining an opening; the jaw being mounted on the support over the opening so that the vessel receives fluid from the opening of the support; and a fluid passage extending along the support to communicate fluid to the opening. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The dental patient model of claim 13 wherein the circulatory system further comprises a valve operably connected to the fluid passage to control fluid flow through the fluid passage. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The dental patient model of claim 13 comprising a plurality of fluid passages and each fluid passage communicates fluid to a different position of the jaw. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The dental patient model of claim 13 wherein the fluid passage extends within the support. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The dental patient model of claim 13 wherein the support at least partially defines the fluid passage. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The dental patient model of claim 13 further comprising a seal disposed between the opening and the vessel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The dental patient model of claim 12, in which the vessel is positioned between the pair of mandibular tooth sockets. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The dental patient model of claim 12, in which the mandibular bone layer and the maxillary bone layer are formed of a relatively hard materials and the mandibular gingival layer and the maxillary gingival layer are formed of relatively soft materials. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The dental patient model of claim 20, in which the mandibular cortical layer and the maxillary cortical layer are formed of a relatively dense and rigid material, and the mandibular cancellous layer and the maxillary cancellous layer are formed of a relatively porous and less rigid material. ### Claim 22 (depends on 12) The dental patient model of claim 12, further comprising a frame, in which the mandible and maxillary are independently coupled to the frame. ### Claim 23 A dental patient model comprising: a frame; a mandible coupled to the frame, the mandible including: a mandibular bone layer defining a mandibular tooth socket, the mandibular bone layer including a mandibular cortical layer and a mandibular cancellous layer; a mandibular tooth coupled to the mandibular tooth socket; a mandibular gingival layer disposed over the mandibular bone layer; and a mandibular lip/buccal mucosa layer extending over the mandibular gingival layer; and a maxilla coupled to the frame independent of the mandible, the maxilla including: a maxillary bone layer defining a maxillary tooth socket, the maxillary bone layer including a maxillary cortical layer and a maxillary cancellous layer; a maxillary tooth coupled to the maxillary tooth socket; a maxillary gingival layer disposed over the mandibular bone layer; and a maxillary lip/buccal mucosa layer extending over the maxillary gingival layer; wherein the mandibular lip/buccal mucosa layer and the maxillary lip/buccal mucosa layer form a jaw opening when the mandible and maxilla are coupled to the frame. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The dental patient model of claim 23, in which the mandibular bone layer and the maxillary bone layer are formed of a relatively hard materials and the mandibular gingival layer and the maxillary gingival layer are formed of relatively soft materials. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The dental patient model of claim 23, in which the mandibular cortical layer and the maxillary cortical layer are formed of a relatively dense and rigid material, and the mandibular cancellous layer and the maxillary cancellous layer are formed of a relatively porous and less rigid material. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The dental patient model of claim 23, in which the maxillary bone layer further comprises a pair of nasal passages and a pair of maxillary sinuses. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The dental patient model of claim 26, in which each of the nasal passages and maxillary sinuses are lined with a soft mucosa layer. ### Claim 28 (depends on 23) The dental patient model of claim 23, further comprising a nerve system having a nerve portion implanted in one of the mandible and maxilla, and an indicator operatively connected to the nerve portion for indicating a condition of the nerve portion. ### Claim 29 (depends on 23) The dental patient model of claim 23, further comprising a circulatory system having a vessel disposed in one of the mandible and maxilla and configured to expel fluid upon being ruptured. ### Claim 30 (depends on 23) The dental patient model of claim 23, in which the mandible further comprises a riser coupled to a medial side of a lateral aspect of the mandibular bone layer.