Adjustable fixator for scanning dental casts

An adjustable fixator for scanning dental casts, comprising:

• an upper plate having opposed front and rear ends and having opposed top and bottom surfaces;
• a lower plate having opposed front and rear ends and having opposed top and bottom surfaces;
• a cylindrical support mounted on said lower plate and extending upwardly therefrom;
• a cylindrical shell mounted on said upper plate and extending downwardly therefrom, said cylindrical support being slidably received within said cylindrical shell such that a height of said upper plate with respect to said lower plate is selectively adjustable, said cylindrical shell having a vertically extending slot and a plurality of horizontally extending slots formed therethrough, the plurality of horizontally extending slots each being in open communication on one end thereof with the vertically extending slot;
• and
• an engaging member mounted on said cylindrical support and extending radially therefrom, wherein in a first angular position of said cylindrical shell with respect to said cylindrical support, said engaging member is slidable within the vertically extending slot, and in a second angular position between said cylindrical shell with respect to said cylindrical support, said engaging member is received within a selected one of the plurality of horizontally extending slots to selectively and releasably lock the vertical position of said cylindrical shell with respect to said cylindrical support,
• whereby said upper plate and said lower plate are adapted for releasably securing a dental cast to be scanned therebetween, the bottom surface of said lower plate being adapted for releasable mounting in an optical scanner.