Methods and systems for dental procedures

• US 9,668,829 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2013
• Issued: 06/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Align Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Align Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Kopelman, Avi
• Primary Examiner(s): Bella, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): TORRES, JOSE
• Application Number:
  US13/787,634
• Publication Number:
  US 20140170587A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,553 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/000095 for image enhancement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00045 Display arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/24 for the mouth, i.e. stomatoscopes, e.g. with tongue depressors tongue depressors per se A61B13/00; Instruments for opening or keeping open the mouth combined with saliva removers A61C17/00; mouth openers for animals A61D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3937 Visible markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/90 Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 13/0004 Computer-assisted sizing or machining of dental prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/04 Measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C5/44 takes precedence; testing vitality of teeth A61B5/0534; radiation diagnosis specially adapted for dentistry A61B6/51
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/045 for recording mandibular movement, e.g. face bows
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/002 Orthodontic computer assisted systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 9/0053 Optical means or methods, e.g. scanning the teeth by a laser or light beam
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 9/0066 Depth determination through adaptive focusing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture

Abstract

A device including a coded pattern for use in dental procedures is provided. Related methods and systems are also provided.

Claims

1. A device for use in dental scanning procedures of a patient, the device comprising:

an occlusal portion and a non-occlusal portion coupled to the occlusal portion, the occlusal portion comprising a bite plate for securing the device positioned in a mouth of the patient during an optical scan of exposed teeth, the non-occlusal portion comprising a ring structure having a coded pattern for aligning scanned optical images of the patient, the occlusal portion and the non-occlusal portion being coupled together and arranged at an angle in order to capture the coded pattern in the optical scan of the exposed teeth.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the occlusal portion and the non-occlusal portion are coupled together at an angle that is adjustable around an axis formed by the coupling of the occlusal portion and the non-occlusal portion.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a lip displacement attachment configured to move a lip of the patient so as to expose at least some of the patient'"'"'s teeth and allow scanning of the coded pattern in relation at least some of the patient'"'"'s teeth.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the coded pattern comprises a plurality of bars oriented in the coded pattern at predetermined distances from each other, intersecting at predetermined angles, or both.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the coded pattern comprises horizontal bars intersecting vertically oriented bars disposed at different angles with respect to the horizontal bars.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the coded pattern comprises bars in a radial pattern, a crosshatch pattern or a honeycomb pattern.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the coded pattern comprises at least one portion that comprises a lengthwise portion forming a reference line for aligning images acquired during the scanning procedure.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises at least one extension portion capable of being aligned with the sagittal plane of the patient, a plane orthogonal to the sagittal plane, or both.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the extension portion is fixedly connected to the coded pattern.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the ring structure comprises an oval, circle, square, or rectangular shape.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the ring structure comprises an open ring structure.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the ring structure comprises a closed ring structure.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the coded pattern is formed within the ring structure.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the ring structure is positioned in front of the exposed teeth when the device is positioned in the mouth of the patient.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the coded pattern further comprises an alignment feature configured to facilitate orienting the coded pattern with a reference on the patient.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the reference comprises one or more teeth of the patient.