Interactive orthodontic care system based on intra-oral scanning of teeth

• US 20050043837A1
• Filed: 09/27/2004
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Friedrich Riemeier, Peer Sporbert, Rohit C.L. Sachdeva, Rudger Rubbert, Thomas Weise
• Original Assignee: Friedrich Riemeier, Peer Sporbert, Rohit C.L. Sachdeva, Rudger Rubbert, Thomas Weise
• Inventors: Weise, Thomas, Riemeier, Friedrich, Sporbert, Peer, Sachdeva, Rohit, Rubbert, Rudger
• Granted Patent: US 7,013,191 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/98
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/00 Orthodontics, i.e. obtaining or maintaining the desired position of teeth, e.g. by straightening, evening, regulating, separating, or by correcting malocclusions
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/002 Orthodontic computer assisted systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/12 Brackets; Arch wires; Combinations thereof; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/14 Brackets A61C7/28 takes precedence; Fixing brackets to teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/146 Positioning or placement of brackets; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/28 Securing arch wire to bracket
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 9/0046 Data acquisition means or methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30953 using a remote computer network, e.g. Internet
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 50/00 Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/00 Three dimensional [3D] modelling, e.g. data description of 3D objects
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/00 ICT specially adapted for therapies or health-improving plans, e.g. for handling prescriptions, for steering therapy or for monitoring patient compliance
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/50 for simulation or modelling of medical disorders
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 80/00 ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring

Abstract

Interactive, computer based orthodontist treatment planning, appliance design and appliance manufacturing is described. A scanner is described which acquires images of the dentition which are converted to three-dimensional frames of data. The data from the several frames are registered to each other to provide a complete three-dimensional virtual model of the dentition. Individual tooth objects are obtained from the virtual model. A computer-interactive software program provides for treatment planning, diagnosis and appliance from the virtual tooth models. A desired occlusion for the patient is obtained from the treatment planning software. The virtual model of the desired occlusion and the virtual model of the original dentition provide a base of information for custom manufacture of an orthodontic appliance. A variety of possible appliance and appliance manufacturing systems are contemplated, including customized archwires and customized devices for placement of off-the shelf brackets on the archwires, and removable orthodontic appliances.

Claims

1-43. -43. (canceled)

44. An orthodontic appliance manufacturing system, comprising:

a machine readable memory storing digital data representing a three-dimensional virtual model of a malocclusion of a patient and digital information representing the location of orthodontic brackets to be placed on the malocclusion, said memory further storing digital data representing a three-dimensional virtual model of the patient'"'"'s teeth and the dentition and location of orthodontic brackets at a target situation in three dimensions;

a wire bending robot;

an instrument for generating a three-dimensional physical model of the malocclusion with the brackets placed on the malocclusion; and

a forming device forming a bracket placement tray matching the geometry of the physical model of the malocclusion with the brackets;

wherein the bracket placement tray may be removed from the physical model, said tray formed with spaces for placement of brackets and enabling bonding of the brackets to the teeth at a desired location based on the virtual model of the dentition and the placement of orthodontic brackets on the malocclusion.

45. The system of claim 45, wherein the wire bending robot comprises a six axis robot having a fixed gripping tool and a moveable gripping tool mounted to the end of a moveable arm.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the instrument for generating the three-dimensional model comprises a stereolithographic instrument.

47. The system of claim 45, further comprising equipment for manufacturing a customized bracket bonding pad based on the placement of a three-dimensional virtual orthodontic bracket on the surface of a three-dimensional virtual model of the dentition of a patient.

48. A system for manufacture of a customized bracket bonding pad for a bracket, the bracket having a base, comprising:

a memory storing a three-dimensional virtual model of the dentition and a three-dimensional virtual model of an orthodontic bracket as placed on the surface of a tooth in the three-dimensional virtual model of the dentition;

a processing unit deriving from said three-dimensional virtual models the three-dimensional shape of a bracket bonding pad; and

a machine system for manufacturing a bracket bonding pad according to said derived three-dimensional shape.