Method and apparatus for treating an orthodontic patient

• US 6,540,512 B1
• Filed: 11/30/1999
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Orametrix Incorporated (Astrazeneca PLC)
• Original Assignee: Orametrix Incorporated (Astrazeneca PLC)
• Inventors: Schaller, David M., Sadow, Gary, Jennings, Ron, Weise, Thomas, Riemeier, Friedrich, Sachdeva, Rohit, Rubbert, Rudger
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis; Ralph A.
• Application Number:
  US09/451,560
• Time in Patent Office: 1,218 Days
• Field of Search: 433/2,3,24
• US Class Current: 433/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 3/00 Dental tools or instruments implanting tools A61C8/00; tools for fastening artificial teeth A61C13/12; visual inspection devices, e.g. dental mirrors, A61B1/24
• 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

Abstract

A method and apparatus for treating an orthodontic patient include processing that begins by generating digital information regarding the orthodontic patient by a site orthodontic system. The site orthodontic system then transmits the digital information to an orthodontic server, which creates an electronic patient record therefrom. The orthodontic server then generates an initial treatment from the electronic patient record, wherein the initial treatment plan includes precise steps to obtain a desired orthodontic structure. The orthodontic server then transmits a digital version of the initial treatment plan to the site orthodontic system. Upon confirmation from the site orthodontic system, the orthodontic server designs an orthodontic apparatus for one of the precise steps based on the treatment plan. The orthodontic apparatus is then fabricated and provided to the site orthodontic system. At predetermined points in time after installation of the orthodontic apparatus in accordance with the treatment plan, the patient'"'"'s mouth is electronically scanned to obtain updated digital information. The site orthodontic system provides the updated digital information to the orthodontic server, which uses the updated digital information to update the electronic patient record. From the updated electronic patient record, the orthodontic server determines whether the actual movement of the patient'"'"'s teeth is as predicted. If so, the next step of the initial treatment plan is executed. If, however, the actual movement is not as predicted, the orthodontic server adjusts the treatment plan to obtain the desired results. After the treatment plan has been adjusted, the next step of the revised treatment plan is executed. This monitoring of a patient'"'"'s progress and revising the treatment plan, when necessary, continues throughout the treatment.

Claims

1. A method for treating an orthodontic patient, the method comprising the steps of:

a) generating digital information regarding the orthodontic patient by a site orthodontic system;

b) transmitting the digital information from the site orthodontic system to an orthodontic server;

c) creating, by the orthodontic server, an electronic patient record from the digital information;

d) generating, by the orthodontic server, an initial treatment plan from the electronic patient record, wherein the initial treatment plan includes a plurality of tooth movement steps to obtain a desired orthodontic structure;

e) transmitting, by the orthodontic server, a digital version of the initial treatment plan to the site orthodontic system;

f) designing, by the orthodontic server, an orthodontic apparatus for one of the plurality of tooth movement steps upon receipt of treatment plan confirmation from the site orthodontic system and

g) fabricating the orthodontic apparatus.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating the digital information by the site orthodontic system after placement of a portion of the orthodontic apparatus;

providing by the site orthodontic system, the updated digital information to the orthodontic server;

determining, by the orthodontic server, whether the placement of the portion of the orthodontic apparatus has been placed within a given tolerance; and

fabricating a second portion of the orthodontic apparatus to provide passive or active three-dimensional displacement in relation to the placement of the portion of the orthodontic structure in accordance with the one of the plurality of tooth movement steps when the placement of the portion of the orthodontic apparatus has been placed within the given tolerance.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

further updating the digital information after replacement of the orthodontic apparatus when the placement of at least one of the portion of the orthodontic apparatus exceeds the given tolerance.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) further comprises transmitting the digital information to the orthodontic server via at least one of:

an internet connection, a local area network connection, a wide area network connection, a direct connection, and a modem connection.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) further comprises:

obtaining supplemental treatment information when special treatment is required;

obtaining orthodontic parameters for the orthodontic patient from a database of orthodontic parameters, wherein the orthodontic parameters are identified by cross-matching at least some characteristics of the electronic patient record with orthodontic parameters of other electronic patient records;

generating a first pass treatment plan based on the orthodontic parameters and the electronic patient record; and

integrating the special treatment information with the first pass treatment plan to produce the initial treatment plan.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) further comprises:

obtaining orthodontic parameters for the orthodontic patient from a database of orthodontic parameters, wherein the orthodontic parameters are identified by cross-matching at least some characteristics of the electronic patient record with orthodontic parameters of other electronic patient records; and

generating the initial treatment plan based on the orthodontic parameters and the electronic patient record.

7. A method for treating an orthodontic patient, the method comprising:

scanning the orthodontic patient'"'"'s mouth to derive digital information indicative of an orthodontic structure;

creating an initial treatment plan for the orthodontic patient;

designing and fabricating an orthodontic apparatus responsive to the initial treatment plan;

determining whether an actual orthodontic structure for the orthodontic apparatus substantially matches an estimated orthodontic structure, wherein the estimated orthodontic structure is derived in accordance with at least one of the initial treatment plan including a plurality of tooth movement steps, and a revised treatment plan; and

when the actual orthodontic structure does not substantially match the estimated orthodontic structure, adjusting the at least one of initial treatment plan, and the revised treatment plan, to obtain the desired orthodontic structure.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising when the actual orthodontic structure substantially matches the estimated orthodontic structure, generating a next corresponding orthodontic structure for a next step of the plurality of tooth movement steps of the initial treatment plan.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the orthodontic apparatus further comprises at least one of:

brackets, bands, a wire, head gear, rubber band placement, auxiliary appliances, and a retaining structure.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of scanning the orthodontic patient'"'"'s mouth to derive digital information further comprises generating the digital information to include a three-dimensional image of the orthodontic patient'"'"'s orthodontic structure, and wherein the method further comprises the step of obtaining data indicative of the orthodontic patient.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

scanning the orthodontic patient'"'"'s mouth and obtaining video data of the patient'"'"'s orthodontic structure; and

converting the video data into the three-dimensional image.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising, for each application of a corresponding apparatus of the initial treatment plan,

generating a three-dimensional image of the orthodontic patient'"'"'s current orthodontic structure;

and

providing the three-dimensional image to the orthodontic server.

13. The method of claim 7, further comprising designing, by the orthodontic server, a retaining device for the orthodontic patient at or near completion of the initial treatment plan.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of designing and fabricating an orthodontic apparatus further comprises receiving, by the orthodontic server, design inputs from a diagnostic computer.

15. A system for treating an orthodontic patient, the system comprising in combination:

a scanner operable to obtain video data of an orthodontic structure of a patient;

a site orthodontic system operably coupled to the scanner, wherein the site orthodontic system receives the video data and produces therefrom a three-dimensional image of the orthodontic structure, wherein the site orthodontic system retains a two-dimensional image of the orthodontic structure, and patient data, and wherein the three-dimensional image, the two-dimensional image, and the patient data constitutes patient orthodontic information;

an orthodontic server operably coupled to the site orthodontic system over a communication link to receive the patient orthodontic information and to produce therefrom an electronic patient record, wherein the orthodontic server generates an initial treatment plan for the patient based on the electronic patient record and orthodontic parameters, wherein the initial treatment plan includes a plurality of tooth movement steps to obtain a desired orthodontic structure, and wherein the orthodontic server designs an orthodontic apparatus in accordance with one of the plurality of tooth movement steps; and

a wire bending device operably coupled to the orthodontic server to produce a wire of the orthodontic apparatus based on the design of the orthodontic apparatus, wherein the wire is designed to produce three-dimensional displacement of at least one tooth of the orthodontic structure.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the orthodontic server further comprises a software module for:

determining whether an actual orthodontic structure for the orthodontic apparatus substantially matches an estimated orthodontic structure, wherein the estimated orthodontic structure is derived in accordance with the initial treatment plan; and

when the actual orthodontic structure does not substantially match the estimated orthodontic structure, adjusting the initial treatment plan to obtain the desired orthodontics structure.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the orthodontic apparatus further comprises at least one of:

brackets, a wire, head gear, rubber band placement, and a retaining structure.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the scanner further comprises:

a light imaging transitive; and

an image processing module operably coupled to the light imaging transceiver to generate a topography of the orthodontic structure and to produce therefrom the video data.

19. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a database of orthodontic parameters operably coupled to the orthodontic server, wherein the orthodontic server;

obtains special treatment information when special treatment is required;

obtains orthodontic parameters for the orthodontic patient from a database of orthodontic parameters, wherein the orthodontic parameters are identified by cross-matching at least some characteristics of the electronic patient record with orthodontic parameters of other electronic patient records;

generates a first pass treatment plan based on the orthodontic parameters and the electronic patient records; and

integrates the special treatment information with the first pass treatment plan to produce the initial treatment plan.

20. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a database of orthodontic parameters operably coupled to the orthodontic server, wherein the orthodontic server;

obtains orthodontic parameters for the orthodontic patient from a database of orthodontic parameters, wherein the orthodontic parameters are identified by cross-matching at least some characteristics of the electronic patient record with orthodontic parameters of other electronic patient records; and

generates the initial treatment plan based on the orthodontic parameters and the electronic patient record.

21. The system of claim 15, further comprising a diagnostic computer that provides design inputs to the orthodontic server.

22. A system for treating an orthodontic patient, the system comprising in combination:

at least one processing module; and

memory operably coupled to the at least one processing module, wherein the memory stores operational instructions that cause the at least one processing module to;

create an electronic patient record from digital information regarding a patient'"'"'s orthodontic structure;

generate an initial treatment plan from the electronic patient record, wherein the initial treatment plan includes a plurality of tooth movement steps to obtain a desired orthodontic structure; and

design an orthodontic apparatus for one of the plurality of tooth movement steps upon receipt of a treatment plan confirmation.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the at least one processing module to adjust the initial treatment plan when an actual orthodontic structure does not substantially match the orthodontic structure estimated by the initial treatment plan.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the at least one processing module to:

update the digital information after placement of an orthodontic apparatus, such as brackets, of the orthodontic structure after rescanning the patient'"'"'s orthodontic structure; and

determine whether the placement of the brackets is within a given tolerance.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the at least one processing module to:

obtain special treatment information when special treatment is required;

obtain orthodontic parameters for the orthodontic patient from a database of orthodontic parameters, wherein the orthodontic parameters are identified by cross-matching at least some characteristics of the electronic patient record with orthodontic parameters of other electronic patient records;

generate a first pass treatment plan based on the orthodontic parameters and the electronic patient record; and

integrate the special treatment information with the first pass treatment plan to produce the initial treatment plan.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein the memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the at least one processing module to:

obtain orthodontic parameters for the orthodontic patient from a database of orthodontic parameters, wherein the orthodontic parameters are identified by cross-matching at least some characteristics of the electronic patient record with orthodontic parameters of other electronic patient records; and

generate the initial treatment plan based on the orthodontic parameters and the electronic patient record.

27. The system of claim 22, wherein the memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the at least one processing module to, for each application of a corresponding apparatus of the initial treatment plan,

generate a three-dimensional image of the orthodontic patient'"'"'s current orthodontic structure;

and

store the three-dimensional image.

28. The system of claim 22, wherein the memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the at least one processing module to design a retaining device for the orthodontic patient at least one of at and near completion of the initial treatment plan.