Preventing interference between tooth models

• US 8,047,846 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Align Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Align Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Wen, Huafeng
• Primary Examiner(s): Manahan; Todd
• Assistant Examiner(s): NELSON, MATTHEW M
• Application Number:
  US11/933,350
• Publication Number:
  US 20080280258A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,462 Days
• Field of Search: 433/24, 433/74, 433213-215, 382/128, 382/154, 382/291, 700/95, 700/97, 700/98
• US Class Current: 433/213
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 13/34 Making or working of models, e.g. preliminary castings, trial dentures; Dowel pins [4]
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/002 Orthodontic computer assisted systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/04 plier-type, e.g. pincers
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 9/002 Means or methods for correctly replacing a dental model, e.g. dowel pins; Dowel pin positioning means or methods
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/00 Computer-aided design [CAD]

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed to prevent interference between two physical tooth models in a physical dental arch model by acquiring the coordinates of a plurality of points on the surfaces of each of the two physical tooth models and digitally representing the surfaces of each of the two physical tooth models by a mesh of points in three dimensions using the acquired coordinates. The meshes representing the surfaces of the two physical tooth models intersect at least at one point to form an overlapping portion. The method also includes calculating the depth of the overlapping portion between the two meshes to quantify the interference of the two physical tooth models.

Claims

1. A method for preventing interference between two physical tooth models coupled to a base about one or more pins so as to form a physical model of an arrangement of teeth, the method comprising:

digitally representing surfaces of each of the two physical tooth models, thereby providing digital representations of the two physical tooth models;

receiving a digital dental arch model configuration defining a positioning of the digital representations of two physical tooth models, wherein the digital representations of each of the two physical tooth models as positioned in the arch model intersect to form an overlapping portion;

using the overlapping portion between the digital representations to determine a predicted interference of the two physical tooth models; and

selecting an adjusted pin configuration for a physical model of an arrangement of teeth so as to avoid the predicted interference.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising acquiring coordinates of a plurality of points on the surfaces of each of the two physical tooth models.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said acquiring comprises measuring the positions of points on the surfaces of an impression representing a patient'"'"'s teeth.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said representing comprises generating digital meshes of points in three dimensions, wherein the meshes represent the surfaces of the two physical tooth models.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the meshes are generated using coordinates of a plurality of points on the surfaces of each of the two physical models.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the meshes are triangular meshes in three dimensions.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein at least one of the meshes comprises at least one mesh opening having three, four or five nodes.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising making an adjustment to eliminate the interference when the two physical tooth models are mounted to a base.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said making comprises adjusting the position or orientation of at least one of the two physical tooth models.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said using comprises calculating a depth of the overlapping portion between the digital representations, and wherein said making comprises adjusting the position or orientation of at least one the two physical tooth models in accordance with the calculated depth to prevent the interference between the physical tooth models.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said making comprises selecting the configurations of first features of the two physical tooth models.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising fabricating the physical tooth models having the first features having the selected configurations.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the configurations are selected in accordance with a depth of the overlapping portion between the two physical tooth models.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein buffer widths calculated for the two physical tooth models are used to determine the depth of the overlapping portion between the two physical tooth models.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the buffer widths are translated into a common coordinate system.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein said making comprises selecting the positions and orientations of second features on a base to prevent interference between the two physical tooth models when they are mounted to the base with the assistance of the second features.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising fabricating the base having the second features having the selected positions and orientations.

18. The method of claim 8, wherein said making comprises digitally adjusting at least one of the digital representations.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising adjusting the position or orientation of at least one of the two physical tooth models in accordance with the digital adjustment to the at least one of the digital representations.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising adjusting the configuration of at least one of the first features of the two physical tooth models in accordance with the digital adjustment to the at least one of the digital representations.