Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US9427916B2/en
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 15:09:37+00:00

Document:
2013-03-27 First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=32073395&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=US9427916(B2) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
2017-11-14 US case 1:17-cv-01646 filed litigation https://portal.unifiedpatents.com/litigation/Delaware%20District%20Court/case/1%3A17-cv-01646 Source: District Court Jurisdiction: Delaware District Court "Unified Patents Litigation Data" by Unified Patents is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Provided is a method for creating a physical teeth model. Further, the method includes providing a virtual three dimensional (3D) representation of a patient's dentition that includes at least a region of the teeth that includes a tooth stump on which a crown is to be fitted or a region on to which a bridge is to be fitted; and preparing a physical model of the jaws of a subject from a blank, based on information from said virtual 3D image.
This application is a Continuation application filed under 35 U.S.C. §120 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/633,417, filed on Dec. 5, 2006, which was a Continuation application filed under 35 U.S.C. §120 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/676,257, filed on Oct. 2, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,220,124, which was an application claiming the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/415,931, filed on Oct. 3, 2002, and which was an application claiming the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/422,782, filed on Oct. 31, 2002, the content of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
A virtual three-dimensional (3D) image is obtained e.g. in the manner as described in PCT publication No. WO97/03622 or PCT publication No. WO00/08415.
Digital data representing a virtual teeth model may be obtained by a variety of methods, such as that described in PCT Application No. PCT/IL96/00036 (publication No. WO97/03622) and in PCT Application No. PCT/IL99/00431 (publication No. WO00/08415). The virtual three-dimensional image may be manipulated, for example, in a manner described in PCT Application No. PCT/IL99/00577 (publication No. WO00/25677). In particular, the virtual three-dimensional (3D) image is obtained by utilizing a physical negative teeth model, e.g. a negative teeth model that comprises the teeth impression by means of an impression matrix. The physical negative teeth model may be used as such, thus providing digital negative representation of the patient's dentition, from which a digital positive representation of the patient's dentition may be digitally obtained. Alternatively, the physical negative teeth model may be used to prepare a physical positive teeth model, from which a digital positive teeth representation is provided.
After the virtual image is generated, the display is typically a computerized display, provided with software permitting the technician to visualize the virtual image from different angles. As will be appreciated, the invention is not limited to any specific display means and any means for presenting the image such as, for example, in a printed format, on a computer display screen, etc., may be employed in accordance with the invention.
Reference is now being made to FIG. 2 showing a system generally designated 40. In FIG. 2, like components to those shown in FIG. 1, are given the same reference numerals shifted by 20 (namely component 42, for example, is functionally identical to component 22 in FIG. 1). System 40 of FIG. 2 includes an apparatus 50 that is used to construct a physical model utilizing digital data received from software utility 48. For this purpose, a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) milling machine 50 may be used. However, the invention is not limited to the use of a CNC machine and any other CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) technology that can produce a physical model out of virtual data may be used.
It should be noted that the physical model generated by device 40 might be a positive model or alternatively, a negative model. FIG. 3 shows plaster cast members 100 and 102 fabricated according to the invention and representing the upper and lower jaws, respectively. The members 100 and 102 can be mounted on an articulator 104 to simulate the proper occlusion relation. For that both members have articulator engagement portions 106 with reference holes 108 that can be registered with holes 110 engagement bit 112 of articulator 104, which engagement is through pins 114. The engagement portion 106 with the reference holes 108, are initially defined in the virtual 3D image. In this model the proper inter-jaw occlusion are first defined, as explained above, and after the proper inter-jaw occlusion is determined, the virtual 3D model may be virtually combined with an articulator to define the articulator-engagement portion with its reference holes. This is then included in the digital file used to produce the plaster model. The reference holes may be produced automatically by the milling machine. However, the reference holes may be difficult to produce by the milling machine and may need to be produced after milling, as a separate step, for example, based on markings produced automatically during the milling procedure.
wherein one or more of a first plurality of first positioning reference components or a second plurality of second positioning reference components are formed to allow the first plurality of first positioning reference components to come into reversible contact with the second plurality of second positioning reference components in a fixed spatial relationship to thereby provide the occlusion alignment between the lower teeth of the lower arch model and the upper teeth of the upper arch model based on said modified virtual 3D representation.
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said model is a plaster model.
3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said model is a positive teeth model.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the virtual 3D representation comprises a dental region on which a dental appliance is to be fitted, and wherein the dental appliance is a crown or a bridge, and wherein said dental region includes a tooth stump on which the crown is to be fitted or a region on to which a bridge is to be fitted.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the virtual 3D representation comprises a dental region on which a dental appliance is to be fitted, and wherein the dental appliance is a crown, and wherein said dental region includes a tooth stump on which the crown is to be fitted.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the virtual 3D representation comprises a dental region on which a dental appliance is to be fitted, and wherein the dental appliance is a bridge, and wherein said dental region includes a tooth stump on which the bridge is to be fitted.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first alignment structure and the second alignment structure are arranged to place the upper teeth in contact with the lower teeth of the physical model upon engagement of the first plurality of first positioning reference components with the second plurality of second positioning reference components.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first alignment structure comprises three positioning reference components.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the second alignment structure comprises three positioning reference components.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of first positioning reference components and the second plurality of second positioning reference components comprise end abutments and matching recesses.
wherein each of the first plurality of positioning reference components is shaped to fit a corresponding second reference component of the second plurality of positioning reference components in order to define the occlusion alignment with the first plurality of integral alignment structures and the second plurality of corresponding integral alignment structures.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the dental appliance is a crown, and wherein said dental region includes a tooth stump on which the crown is to be fitted.
13. The system of claim 11, wherein the dental appliance is a bridge, and wherein said dental region includes a tooth stump on which the bridge is to be fitted.
14. The system of claim 11, wherein the first plurality of integral alignment structures and the second plurality of integral alignment structures are arranged to place the upper teeth in contact with the lower teeth of the physical model upon engagement of the first plurality of integral alignment structures with the second plurality of integral alignment structures.
15. The system of claim 11, wherein the first plurality of integral alignment structures comprises three positioning reference components.
16. The system of claim 11, wherein the second plurality of corresponding integral alignment structures comprises three positioning reference components.
17. The system of claim 11, wherein the first plurality of positioning reference components and the second plurality of positioning reference components comprise end abutments and matching recesses.
wherein the first plurality of positioning reference components and the second plurality of positioning reference components comprise end abutments and matching recesses.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein the first plurality of integral alignment arms and the second plurality of corresponding integral alignment arms are arranged to place the upper teeth in contact with the lower teeth of the physical model upon engagement of the first plurality of integral alignment arms with the second plurality of corresponding integral alignment arms.
20. The system of claim 18, wherein the first plurality of integral alignment arms comprises three positioning reference components.
21. The system of claim 18, wherein the second plurality of corresponding integral alignment arms comprises three positioning reference components.
Baumrind, "A System for Craniofacial Mapping Through the Integration of Data from Stereo X-Ray Films and Stereo Photographs," an invited paper submitted to the 1975 American Society of Photogram Symposium on Close-Range Photogram Systems, University of III, Aug. 26-30, 1975, pp. 142-166.
Bernard et al.," Computerized Diagnosis in Orthodontics for Epidemiological Studies: A ProgressReport," Abstract, J. Dental Res. Special Issue, vol. 67, p. 169, paper presented at International Association for Dental Research 66th General Session, Mar. 9-13, 1988, Montreal, Canada.
Futterling et al., "Automated Finite Element Modeling of a Human Mandible with Dental Implants," WSCG '98-Conference Program, retrieved from the Internet: , 8 pages.

References: §120
 §120
 §119
 Application No. 60
 §119
 Application No. 60