Dental Surgery Robot Grounding Arm for Scan-Free Implant Modeling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dental implant procedures require intraoral scanning and replacement of healing abutments, causing patient discomfort and disrupting the gingival healing process, while coded healing abutments still necessitate expensive equipment.
Innovation Solution
A robotic system with a grounding arm and working arm, equipped with sensors, automatically installs dental implants and generates positional data to create virtual models without intraoral scanning, using a rigid grounding member to establish an origin for the robotic system relative to the patient's mouth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If intraoral scanning and replacement of healing abutments is performed, then precise virtual models can be created, but patient discomfort increases and gingival healing is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system performs implant placement with pre-planned precision before healing begins, establishing the exact position and orientation of the implant in the virtual model during the initial surgical procedure. This eliminates the need for later scanning and abutment replacement, as the implant position is already precisely documented in the virtual model from the outset.
2Ease of operation
If coded healing abutments with scannable features are used, then virtual models can be created without removing the healing abutment, but expensive intraoral scanning equipment is required
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system replaces the need for optical scanning equipment with a mechanically controlled robotic arm that physically measures implant position through coordinated movement and sensing. The robotic system uses mechanical positioning and force sensing to determine implant location and orientation, substituting complex optical scanning machinery with a controllable mechanical measurement system.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual dental procedures are performed, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but surgical accuracy and consistency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system combines programmed automated movements for high-precision tasks with the ability to transition to manual control when clinical judgment or adaptability is needed. The system dynamically switches between automated execution of pre-planned procedures and manual operation, allowing both precision and flexibility depending on the specific surgical requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A robotic system includes a base, a grounding arm, a working arm, and one or more sensors. The grounding arm extends from the base and is configured to be coupled to a fixed structure within the mouth of the patient for establishing an origin for the robotic system. The working arm extends from the base and is configured to be coupled with one or more tools for use during an installation of a dental implant in the mouth. The one or more sensors are for monitoring positions of the grounding arm and/or the working arm and to generate positional data that is used to create a post-operative virtual three-dimensional model of at least a portion of the mouth of the patient.