Bite Fork Recesses for Intraoral Scanner Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bite forks are inadequate for accurately recording and correlating partial tooth surfaces from intraoral 3D scanners with position measuring systems, particularly for larger sections of the dental arch, leading to position errors and limitations in animation and simulation of tooth movement.

Innovation Solution

A bite fork with recesses on the biting surface and position markers that can be used with intraoral 3D surface scanners to capture tooth surfaces, enabling accurate correlation of measurement data with SD positioning systems for precise visualization and simulation of tooth movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If bite forks are used with intraoral 3D surface scanners to capture tooth surfaces, then tooth surface data can be acquired, but position errors accumulate when combining multiple small tooth surfaces into larger sections

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition accuracyVSAvoidcoverage area
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The bite fork is divided into multiple separate components: a bite registration part and multiple position marker parts. Each position marker part can be independently positioned on different teeth or regions, allowing the system to capture large sections of the dental arch through multiple localized measurements rather than attempting to measure entire arches with single components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bite registration part serves as an intermediary component that connects multiple position marker parts to the intraoral scanner. This mediator enables the correlation between 3D surface scanner data and position determination system data by providing a common reference framework that links otherwise independent measurement systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple position markers are attached to the bite fork using separate components, then position data can be collected, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition marker configurationVSAvoidassembly structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bite registration part is designed with universal attachment capabilities that can accommodate multiple different position marker configurations. The same bite registration part can work with various numbers and arrangements of position marker parts, making the system versatile for different clinical situations without requiring multiple specialized components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The position marker parts are designed to be movable and reconfigurable rather than fixed. This dynamic design allows the position markers to be positioned optimally on different teeth or regions depending on the specific measurement requirements, providing flexibility without permanently increasing structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2964136B1Bite fork with recesses
Publication Date: 2021.03.10 ZEBRIS MEDICAL GMBH
  • EP2964136B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~2
  • EP2964136B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP2964136B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4D

AI summary

Bite fork for check-bite, especially with position marker elements for position determination in a position determination system, wherein the bite fork comprises recesses at the contact surface for partial visualization of the tooth surface to an image sensor placed into the mouth cavity of a patient and markers, which are detectable by said sensor.