257 results about "Articulator" patented technology

An expansible ear canal insert for treating TMJ disorders and headaches which acts directly on the TMJ and associated ligament and muscle structures to reduce stress and loads placed on the articulator disc located between the temporal bone and the mandible, as well as supportive muscles and ligaments near the TMJ. The insert is adapted to expand by application of body heat. In the expanded condition, the insert provides support to the TMJ and associated ligament and muscle structures.

The invention includes an assembly having a handle for articulating an articulator in an ergonomically improved manner. The handle can be adapted to articulate a distal portion of the articulator when squeezed. The handle can have at least one accessible attachment mechanism useful for reattachably attaching the articulator and the handle during a medical procedure. The invention also includes methods of making and using such a handle.

A digitally-based method is described for the design and production of customized removable dental appliances. The plastic component of custom appliances is designed using software, and milled directly over a plaster model of the dentition. A patient's upper, lower, and bite-registered arches are digitized, registered to a bite or centric occlusion position, and articulated in software using either an average geometry or the geometry of a specific articulator. Appliance design is performed by defining the desired plastic surfaces and margins as dictated by the relative movement and positions of the arches as functionally required for a specific appliance. Standard CAM software is used to read the design file and command a multiaxis machine center to mill the plastic while directly on a plaster model.

The systems and methods disclosed herein employ a combination of digital three-dimensional modeling and rapid fabrication technologies to provide pre-indexed, pre-registered, and / or precut components for articulated dental models. Dental articulators and components of dental models as described herein use a positioning key to encode positional information for components of the dental model, and / or a reference grid on mounting surfaces to enforce local accuracy of fabricated parts against a fixed reference array.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods for treating oral functions are shown and described. An orthotic dental system for treating oral functions includes an upper dentition orthotic, a lower dentition orthotic, and an articulator system. The articulator system extends between the upper and lower dentition orthotics and can have at least one rigid connector pivotally coupled to the upper dentition orthotic and the lower dentition orthotic. A spacer can be positioned and configured to spatially separate the upper dentition orthotic and the lower dentition orthotic a desired minimum distance. The orthotic dental system can improve various types of oral functions.

Use of computer technology for image-assisted risk assessment / evaluation of proposed dental treatments is described, in particular a method and apparatus for determining the impact of a proposed dental modification on the temporomandibular joint(s), e.g. to obtain information relating to that impact. Use of a virtual articulator is described to determine the impact of a proposed dental modification on the temporomandibular joint(s). This dental modification includes, but is not limited to, the replacement of one or more teeth by artificial teeth, the replacement of one or more parts of a tooth by a prosthetic reconstruction such as a dental crown or veneer, the rearrangement of one or more existing teeth (orthodontic treatment), the distraction of one or both jaws in order to reposition the teeth (orthognatic treatment) and / or modifications of the occlusal surfaces of the teeth.

A medical device (10) includes an articulating shaft (20, 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d, 20e, or 20f) with a pair of slat assemblies (31, 33). By moving an articulator (37), the slat assemblies (31, 33) are configured to concurrently push while the other pulls in order to bend the articulating shaft (20). The articulating shaft (20) includes a series of pivot members (26, 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d, 126e and 226e, or 126f and 226f). The pivot members (26) may include inner links (126e, 126f) and outer links (226e, 226f) . A method for articulating a shaft of a medical device is also provided.

Disclosed is a computer-implemented method of using a dynamic virtual articulator for simulating occlusion of teeth, when performing computer-aided designing of one or more dental restorations for a patient, where the method comprises the steps of:providing the virtual articulator comprising a virtual three-dimensional model of the upper jaw and a virtual three-dimensional model of the lower jaw resembling the upper jaw and lower jaw, respectively, of the patient's mouth;providing movement of the virtual upper jaw and the virtual lower jaw relative to each other for simulating dynamic occlusion, whereby collisions between teeth in the virtual upper and virtual lower jaw occur;wherein the method further comprises:providing that the teeth in the virtual upper jaw and virtual lower jaw are blocked from penetrating each other's virtual surfaces in the collisions.

Systems and methods for a vehicle mounted articulator are described. A vehicle conveniently allows an articulator to be moved to various remote work sites. In one embodiment, the articulator can be mounted on a movable base, thereby increasing the flexibility of use and / or reach of the articulator. Such vehicle-mounted articulators can be subjected to various potentially damaging situations due to motion of the vehicle. Various features that allow safe operation of the vehicle and the articulator are disclosed.

A medical device includes an articulating shaft with a pair of slat assemblies. By moving an articulator, the slat assemblies are configured to concurrently push while the other pulls in order to bend the articulating shaft. The articulating shaft includes a series of alternating pins and pivot members. Each pin defines an aperture that collectively forms a passageway for receiving an actuator or a tube. The pair of slat assemblies extend generally parallel to each other on opposite sides of the pins. A method for articulating a shaft of a medical device is also provided.

A biometric-sensor assembly, e.g., for acoustic reflectometry of the vocal tract. In one embodiment, the sensor assembly includes a dental appliance for in-mouth mounting, an acoustic sensor attached to the dental appliance, and an optional headset. The dental appliance enables secure placement of the acoustic sensor in the mouth of the user, e.g., for tracking movements of the tongue and / or other internal articulators of the vocal tract. A boom arm of the headset can be used for holding an additional acoustic sensor and / or a miniature video camera, e.g., for tracking movements of the lips.

A system for confirming that a subject is the source of spoken audio and the identity of the subject providing the spoken audio is described. The system includes at least one motion sensor operable to capture physical motion of at least one articulator that contributes to the production of speech, at least one acoustic signal sensor to receive acoustic signals, and a processing device comprising a memory and communicatively coupled to the at least one motion sensor and the at least one acoustic signal sensor. The processing device is programmed to correlate physical motion data with acoustical signal data to uniquely characterize the subject for purposes of verifying the subject is the source of the acoustical signal data and the identity of the subject.

Methods and devices for performing minimally invasive surgical procedures are disclosed. An articulator in accordance with one exemplary embodiment comprises a first wire, a second wire, and a third wire. The third wire being disposed within a first lumen defined by the first wire and the second wire being disposed in a third lumen defined the third wire. A distal portion of the second wire is fixed to a distal portion of the second wire and a distal portion of the third wire is fixed to a distal portion of the first wire.

Methods and apparatus for introducing diagnostic and / or therapeutic agents and devices within a mammalian body are disclosed. One disclosed apparatus comprises a sheath having a proximate end, a distal end and a lumen extending therebetween. An articulator is disposed in the lumen of the sheath. A distal portion of the sheath is detachably attached to a distal portion of the articulator at a joint. A separator capable of severing the joint is also provided. One disclosed method comprises the step of providing a device comprising a sheath disposed about an articulator with a distal portion of the sheath being fixed to the articulator at a joint. The device is inserted into a lumen of a body. The joint is severed and the articulator is withdrawn from the sheath.

A craniofacial anatomic simulator with cephalometer is disclosed and omnidirectional osteogenesis is provided as an example thereof. The craniofacial anatomic simulator (CAS) includes an articulator in which a stereolithographic medical model is mounted. The medical model hereof is modified for this purpose so that the mandibular portion is mounted together with the craniomaxillary portion in a manner which simulates the excursive movement of the temporomandibular joint and the masseteric sling providing both rotational and translational motion. The cephalometer consists of three digital calipers that provide locational data—height, depth and lateral position for any point on the stereolithographic model.

A dental articulator (5) capable of reproducing or analyzing a physiological occlusion status by implementing a pressure receiving function and a traction function capable of operating in all the motion directions equivalently provided by a jaw joint function of a living body with a teeth plaster model fitted between upper and lower jaw frames, comprising an occlusal plane table (8) having the same anteversion angle as the occlusal plane oblique angle of a living body; a bite analysis plate (9) on which average positions of a spew center (91) and a posterior motion axis (92) are set at a plurality of positions and they are sketched in pairs with the average positions of the spew center on one side and those of the posterior motion axis on the other side of the plate; an incisal guidance plate (56) in which an inverted conical slope for mapping front-and-rear, right-and-left inclinations of the cusp is cut to allow the tip of an incisal guide to slide; and a transform plate (1) which is fitted using a lower jaw frame (52) as a base, wherein the teeth plaster model (7) of a lower jaw is mounted on and fitted to the transform plate (1) to effect a shift operation, thereby reproducing physiological occlusion status in conjunction with an intercuspal position and a posterior occlusion position of a living body.

A dental model base having a cast stone core and method for making same. The stone core is cast within an encasement member. The encasement member is adapted for connection to an articulator.

A dental articulating system to duplicate a patient's teeth for producing a dental prosthesis includes a pair of trays pivotally coupled together. A plurality of registration pins is disposable in a plurality of registration pin holes formed in at least one of the trays. A thin membrane is disposed across a registration pin hole to close off the registration pin hole and resist dental casting material from substantially filling the registration pin hole. The thin membrane is breakable by a registration pin inserted into the registration pin hole. A method for forming a dental model includes pressing a registration pin through a thin membrane extending across a registration pin hole on at least one of the trays of a dental articulator so that the registration pin breaks the thin membrane and extends through the thin membrane.

The invention is a three dimensional virtual articulator used for but not limited to diagnosing and treatment planning for dental and medical specialties, including orthodontics, prosthodontics, endodontics, periodontics, orthognathic surgery, implant positioning, crown and bridge and prosthesis design.The operator enters patient-specific anatomical measurements for condylar angles, Bennett angle and shift, lateral excursive and protrusive movements, and maximum mandibular opening, and a selection of preset or customizable intercondylar distances to simulate the unique mandibular range of motion.The patient-specific measurements create a customized complex polygon that illustrates the maximum limits of the mandibular range of motion. The operator is able to use onscreen controls to move the virtual mandible in relation to the virtual maxilla within the parameters described by the patient-specific measurements input by the operator.The first point of contact as well as surface interferences can be marked on the dynamic surfaces of the two virtual arches.

A system for confirming that a subject is the source of spoken audio and the identity of the subject providing the spoken audio is described. The system includes at least one motion sensor operable to capture physical motion of at least one articulator that contributes to the production of speech, at least one acoustic signal sensor to receive acoustic signals, and a processing device comprising a memory and communicatively coupled to the at least one motion sensor and the at least one acoustic signal sensor. The processing device is programmed to correlate physical motion data with acoustical signal data to uniquely characterize the subject for purposes of verifying the subject is the source of the acoustical signal data and the identity of the subject.

A cursor positioning device that can be sealed if the environment requires sealing, that can withstand harsh use, and can position the cursor easily and quickly. In operation the where the operator places their fingers on the positioning articulator and rocks or slides the articulator in the direction they want the cursor to move. And with movement signatures do single and double clicks, and character strings to the host computer, either through the mouse port or the keyboard port. The key and articulator interrupters block optical beams for key and mouse like positioning thus eliminating any physical contact or force from articulator to detecting optics. Cursor position is positioned by an interrupter disposed in a ring of optical emitters and detectors, whereas depending on the position of movement by the positioning interrupter emission is blocked, or partially blocked, between a particular pair or pairs of emitters and detectors, that particular pair or pairs being the direction of cursor movement. The amount of articulator movement is the distance the cursor moves.

A dental prostheses modeling system includes a molding tray for molding the base of a quadrant or full-arch dental model cast which has a longitudinally disposed partition panel disposed generally between upper and lower surfaces of the tray that forms therewithin an upper well for receiving liquid die stone to mold the base of a dental impression model, and a lower well shaped symmetrically to the upper well for providing clearance for optional manipulating pins installable in the bases of selected die segments modeling individual dental prostheses severed from the hardened die stone base of the model. The partition panel includes peripheral flanges for supporting the base of the dental model, and an openable central portion for enabling a hardened dental model to be ejected from the tray, and for providing access for manipulating pins depending downwardly from die segments. A pair of slide receptacles for slidably receiving a modeling tray is removably attachable to upper and lower arms of a laboratory articulator, from which a pair of molding trays holding a pair of dental models can be slidably removed and attached to a disposable hinge mechanism to comprise a articulateable full-mouth model for a dentist and patient.

Disclosed is a computer-implemented method of using a dynamic virtual articulator for simulating occlusion of teeth, when performing computer-aided designing of one or more dental restorations for a patient, where the method includes the steps of: providing the virtual articulator including a virtual three-dimensional model of the upper jaw and a virtual three-dimensional model of the lower jaw resembling the upper jaw and lower jaw, respectively, of the patient's mouth; providing movement of the virtual upper jaw and the virtual lower jaw relative to each other for simulating dynamic occlusion, whereby collisions between teeth in the virtual upper and virtual lower jaw occur; wherein the method further includes: providing that the teeth in the virtual upper jaw and virtual lower jaw are blocked from penetrating each other's virtual surfaces in the collisions.

An external orthopaedic fixator for elbow joints comprising: proximal anchoring means intended to be integrally associated to a proximal bone of a patient's upper limb; distal anchoring means intended to be integrally associated to a distal bone of a patient's upper limb; an articulator hinging together said proximal and distal anchoring means along a hinging axis, intended to be positioned in correspondence with an elbow joint connecting said proximal and distal bones; said articulator comprising a radiotransparent centering window intended to frame the elbow joint when positioning the external orthopaedic fixator, said hinging axis passing through said centering window.

A dental articulator is provided in which at least one of the two arms thereof has a base member that is articulated with respect to a bracket element onto which a dental model may be mounted, allowing independent movement of the dental model with respect to the pivot axis hingedly linking the arms.

The present invention provides methods for designing dental articulator inserts from 3d dental data (4d datasets). These 4d datasets may be used directly to provide a jaw motion model suitable for enhanced CAD or, they may be used to derive mathematical expressions that are then used to design dental articulator inserts. The methods of the invention are based on acquiring time-based 3d data representing the upper and lower teeth. Each datum in the 4d dataset may therefore contain an accurate record of the relationship between the upper and lower arch in three dimensions.

The invention includes an assembly having a handle for articulating an articulator in an ergonomically improved manner. The handle can be adapted to articulate a distal portion of the articulator when squeezed. The handle can have at least one accessible attachment mechanism useful for reattachably attaching the articulator and the handle during a medical procedure. The invention also includes methods of making and using such a handle.

Disclosed is a method for virtually designing the attachment of a manufactured dental model of a patient's set of teeth in a physical dental articulator by means of one or more kinds of spacer elements, where the method comprises:obtaining a virtual 3D dental model of the patient's set of teeth, where the virtual 3D dental model is provided by means of 3D scanning;providing a virtual dental articulator type corresponding to a physical dental articulator, where the dental articulator comprises an upper arm and a lower arm and has a known articulator height, which is the distance between the upper arm and the lower arm in the static position of the dental articulator;providing a minimum height of the dental model, where the height of the dental model is the height of an upper part and the height of a lower part of the dental model;providing one or more kinds of virtual spacer elements with predetermined heights, where each kind of virtual spacer element corresponds to a physical spacer element;determining a manufacture height of the dental model and determining the number of each of the kinds of spacer elements to be used for the attachment of the manufactured dental model in the physical articulator,such that the manufacture height of the dental model and the total effective spacer element height, which is the added height of the determined spacer elements, equal the articulator height, and where the manufacture height of the dental model is not less than the minimum height of the dental model.