Automated Maximum Intercuspation Alignment for Dental Models

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Solution Overview

Problem

Manual alignment of digital dental arches for orthodontic treatment planning is tedious and time-consuming, often resulting in loss of important alignment information.

Innovation Solution

A system that includes a database and server with processing circuitry to receive virtual modeling geometries of opposing dental models, detect intersection regions, and apply simulated physics rules to automatically align the models at maximum intercuspation, marking and outputting the alignment for optimized dental structure imaging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual alignment of digital dental arches is performed using existing CAD software, then the alignment process can be completed, but the process is tedious and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment process efficiencyVSAvoidtime required for manual alignment
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical alignment operations with an automated computer-implemented method. The system automatically detects intersection regions between upper and lower dental models and performs simulations to determine maximum intercuspation alignment, eliminating the need for tedious manual manipulation of digital models by orthodontists.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The alignment system performs self-alignment by automatically detecting intersection regions and computing the maximum intercuspation position without requiring continuous manual intervention. The computer-implemented method autonomously processes the dental models to achieve precise alignment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If manual alignment of digital dental arches is performed, then alignment can be achieved, but important information regarding arch alignments may be lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment accuracyVSAvoidloss of arch alignment information
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual alignment with an automated simulation-based system that preserves all alignment information. The computer-implemented method detects intersection regions and performs physics-based simulations to accurately determine maximum intercuspation, ensuring no important alignment data is lost during the alignment process.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a digital copy of the physical dental models and performs virtual alignment simulations on these copies. This digital replication allows for precise measurement and analysis of arch alignments without altering or losing the original data, enabling multiple analyses from the same source material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Measurement precision

If automated simulation with physics rules is applied to detect intersection regions and align dental models, then alignment accuracy is improved, but computational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaximum intercuspation alignment accuracyVSAvoidcomputational system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses computer-based physics simulations to replace complex manual alignment procedures. The system applies simulated physics rules to detect intersection regions and determine maximum intercuspation, achieving high precision through automated computational methods rather than manual manipulation.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary simulation layer between the raw dental model data and the final alignment result. The physics-based simulation acts as a mediator that processes the intersection region data and translates it into accurate maximum intercuspation alignment, simplifying the overall process despite the intermediate computational steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3471658B1System and method for maximum intercuspation articulation
Publication Date: 2020.08.05 CLEARCORRECT OPERATING LLC
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  • EP3471658B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system for maximum intercuspation articulation, including a database including patient records and images, and a server in communication with the database and including processing circuitry configured to receive virtual modeling geometries of two opposing dental models as an input, wherein the two opposing dental models include an upper dental model and a lower dental model of the patient. The processing circuitry is also configured to detect intersection regions between the upper dental model and the lower dental model and perform a simulation on the two opposing dental models, wherein the simulation includes applying simulated physics rules at the two opposing dental models. The processing circuitry is further configured to repeat the detection of the intersection regions and the simulation to generate a maximum intercuspation alignment of the two opposing dental models, mark the intersection regions on the maximum intercuspation alignment, and output the maximum intercuspation alignment.