Digital Arch Wire Insertion Conflict Simulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current orthodontic treatment planning lacks tools to check if a target virtual orthodontic arch wire can be inserted into virtual brackets on a patient's malocclusion dentition without conflicts, leading to potential effectiveness loss and increased treatment time and cost if conflicts arise.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for digitally simulating the insertion of a customized target virtual arch wire into virtual brackets, evaluating insertion quality, and redesigning the arch wire to prevent conflicts by modifying straight segment lengths, with a workstation for running the simulation and optimization software.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a customized target virtual arch wire is designed during treatment planning, then the orthodontic treatment can be tailored to the patient's specific needs, but there is no way to check if the arch wire can be inserted into virtual brackets without conflicts, leading to potential effectiveness loss and increased treatment time and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing a digital simulation of arch wire insertion into virtual brackets before actual manufacturing. The simulation checks for conflicts between the customized arch wire and bracket slots, allowing designers to identify and resolve insertion issues before the arch wire is physically created, thereby ensuring reliability without compromising customization.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual bending of arch wire by orthodontist is used, then customization is possible, but the process is time-consuming and lacks precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical bending process with a computer-based simulation system. The digital simulation automatically evaluates insertion quality and provides feedback for optimization, eliminating the time-consuming manual trial-and-error process while maintaining customization capability through software-controlled arch wire design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses virtual copies of the arch wire and brackets in a digital environment to simulate insertion before manufacturing. This virtual copying allows for repeated testing and optimization without consuming physical materials or time, enabling precise customization while reducing overall treatment planning time.
3Reliability
If conflicts occur during arch wire insertion, then treatment effectiveness is reduced, but detecting and resolving these conflicts after manufacturing increases treatment time and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs conflict detection in advance through digital simulation before arch wire manufacturing. By identifying potential insertion conflicts during the design phase rather than after manufacturing, the system prevents treatment effectiveness reduction and avoids the need for time-consuming corrective procedures during actual treatment.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus is provided for digitally checking the insertion quality of a target customized virtual arch wire designed during treatment planning prior to actually manufacturing the target arch wire. The method includes the steps of digitally simulating the insertion of the customized target virtual arch wire into the virtual brackets placed up on virtual teeth of a patient in an initial state of interest for checking if the arch wire could be inserted into the virtual brackets without conflicts or collisions. The initial state may be a malocclusion state or any intermediate treatment state of the patient. In the event the target virtual arch wire would cause conflicts, then the simulation optimizes the arch wire design in an attempt to eliminate the conflicts. In another aspect, a method is provided for selecting the recommended starting point for inserting the customized arch wire in the brackets placed on the dentition of the patient in the initial state.