Patent ID: 7677889
Filing Date: 2010-03-16
Classification: A61C,B33Y,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for forming a custom oral appliance, comprising: accessing a bite register for a particular user, the bite register comprising a bite register post, an upper impression of at least some of the particular user's upper teeth, and a lower impression of at least some of the particular user's lower teeth, wherein the upper impression and the lower impression are coupled to the bite register post; accessing an upper dental model of at least some of the particular user's upper teeth and a lower dental model of at least some of the particular user's lower teeth; accessing a fixture comprising an upper plate, a lower plate, and a clamp and configured to repeatably position and secure a post; coupling the bite register post to the fixture using the clamp of the fixture, such that the bite register post has a first orientation relative to the fixture; coupling the upper dental model and the lower dental model to the bite register, such that the upper dental model seats within the upper impression of the bite register and the lower dental model seats within the lower impression of the bite register; while the upper dental model is seated within the upper impression of the bite register and the bite register post is coupled to the fixture, coupling the upper dental model to the upper plate of the fixture; while the lower dental model is seated within the lower impression of the bite register and the bite register post is coupled to the fixture, coupling the lower dental model to the lower plate of the fixture; while the upper dental model is coupled to the upper plate of the fixture and the lower dental model is coupled to the lower plate of the fixture, uncoupling the bite register from the upper dental model, the lower dental model, and the fixture; coupling an oral appliance post to the fixture using the clamp of the fixture, such that the oral appliance post has a second orientation relative to the fixture, the second orientation of the oral appliance post being the same as the first orientation of the bite register post; while the upper dental model, the lower dental model, and the oral appliance post are coupled to the fixture, forming a custom oral appliance that is custom-fitted to the upper dental model and the lower dental model, such that the custom oral appliance couples to the oral appliance post and maintains the second orientation of the oral appliance post.