Dental Surgical Guide Verification Using Stylus Imaging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dental implant surgical guides face challenges in accurately verifying their placement and geometry within the patient's mouth, particularly due to changes in bone structure over time and potential inaccuracies in data collection and fabrication, which can lead to complications such as nerve damage, sinus penetration, and aesthetic issues.

Innovation Solution

A method and device using a stylus and imager to collect measurements in vivo, comparing them with pre-planned models to verify the surgical guide's position and geometry, allowing for real-time adjustments and corrections to ensure accurate alignment with patient anatomy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If surgical guides are fabricated based on pre-planned models, then surgical precision is improved, but inaccuracies in data collection and fabrication can still lead to misalignment with actual patient anatomy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurgical guide fabrication accuracyVSAvoidalignment accuracy with patient anatomy
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary verification of the surgical guide in the patient's mouth before the actual implant surgery. The stylus collects measurement data from the patient's anatomy through the surgical guide, and the processor compares this data with the pre-planned model to verify alignment. This preliminary action detects potential misalignment issues before surgery begins, allowing for corrections to be made.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides feedback by comparing measured anatomical data with the pre-planned surgical model. The processor analyzes whether the surgical guide is properly aligned with the patient's actual anatomy and provides information about any deviations. This feedback loop allows clinicians to verify and adjust the surgical guide positioning to ensure accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If surgical guides are used without verification, then surgical workflow is simplified, but complications such as nerve damage, sinus penetration, and aesthetic issues can occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurgical workflow simplicityVSAvoidsurgical safety and accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The verification system performs a preliminary check of the surgical guide positioning before the actual surgery begins. The stylus collects data through the guide, and the processor compares it with the planned model to ensure proper alignment. This preliminary verification prevents complications by detecting misalignment issues before drilling or implant placement occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides a safety mechanism by verifying surgical guide alignment before the critical surgical steps are performed. This beforehand verification acts as a cushion against potential errors, preventing nerve damage, sinus penetration, and aesthetic issues by ensuring the guide is correctly positioned prior to surgery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Measurement precision

If in vivo measurements are collected using a stylus and imager, then verification accuracy is improved, but additional time and complexity are introduced to the surgical process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurgical guide verification accuracyVSAvoidsurgical preparation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces complex mechanical measurement systems with a stylus and imager combination. The imager captures images of the stylus position, and the processor calculates spatial coordinates from these images. This substitution simplifies the measurement process while maintaining high precision, reducing the time required compared to traditional mechanical measurement systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3870103B1Method and apparatus for dental surgical guide verification
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 DENTLYTEC G P L LTD
  • EP3870103B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3870103B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3870103B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

An in-vivo dental surgical guide verification method including: receiving first information including: dental surgical guide information of a dental surgical guide, and hard structure information of a hard structure of a patient's mouth; positioning the surgical guide within the patient's mouth; contacting a stylus to a surface of the hard structure of the patient mouth; acquiring image information corresponding to an image which includes at least a portion of the stylus and a portion of the dental surgical guide therein using an imager; and comparing the image information with the first information.