Dental Implant Scanner Geometry for Precise Optical Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining the position and orientation of dental implants suffer from inaccuracies, leading to imprecise placement and fabrication of dental prostheses, which can impair functionality and long-term retention.
Innovation Solution
A detection aid with first and second detection surfaces, including a flat and curved surface, is used to precisely determine implant position and orientation, eliminating the need for scanning edges or corners, and ensuring a rotationally secure connection to the implant.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If edges or corners of a detection aid body are scanned to determine implant position and orientation, then the detection process can be performed, but insufficient accuracy is achieved in determining the position and orientation of the positioning aid
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces sharp edges and corners with smooth curved surfaces (cylindrical, conical, and spherical surfaces) on the detection aid body. These curved surfaces can be scanned with higher precision by optical scanners, eliminating the approximation errors associated with scanning sharp geometric features. The curved surfaces provide continuous, differentiable geometry that improves measurement accuracy while maintaining rotational security through asymmetric configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the detection aid from sharp edges and corners to smooth curved surfaces with specific radii and profiles. This parameter change transforms the scanning process from detecting discontinuous edge points to measuring continuous surface profiles, significantly improving the precision of position and orientation determination and subsequently enhancing manufacturing precision of the dental prosthesis.
2Measurement precision
If a detection aid with palpable edges or corners is used, then the detection process can be performed, but accuracy errors have a greater impact on the accuracy of determining the position and orientation of the implant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs smooth curved surfaces instead of sharp edges and corners on the detection aid body. These curved surfaces provide continuous, well-defined geometric features that can be reliably and precisely scanned by optical devices. The curvature eliminates approximation errors in scanning and triangulation, thereby improving both measurement precision and the reliability of implant position and orientation determination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses asymmetric curved surfaces on the detection aid body that provide unique geometric signatures. This asymmetry ensures that the scanning results unambiguously define the position and orientation of the detection aid relative to the implant, eliminating reliability issues associated with symmetric features that could be scanned in multiple equivalent orientations.
3Productivity
If edges and corners are approximated during triangulation, then the scanning process can be completed, but sharp imaging cannot be achieved and accuracy is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces sharp edges and corners with smooth curved surfaces that can be continuously and precisely imaged during scanning. These curved surfaces provide well-defined geometric features that maintain sharp imaging throughout the triangulation process, eliminating the need for approximation and preserving full measurement accuracy while completing the scanning process efficiently.
4Measurement precision
If surfaces are scanned and converted using triangulation, then a high degree of congruence with the actually scanned image is achieved, but the method requires abandoning traditional edge and corner scanning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adopts smooth curved surfaces (cylindrical, conical, spherical) on the detection aid body that are specifically designed to be scanned and converted with high congruence through triangulation. While the geometry is more complex than simple edges and corners, these curved surfaces provide superior scanning characteristics and image congruence, and can be manufactured using standard precision machining or additive manufacturing techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the geometric parameters of the detection aid from simple polyhedral edges and corners to smooth curved surfaces with controlled radii and profiles. This parameter change increases the manufacturing complexity slightly but dramatically improves the congruence between scanned images and the actual geometry, enabling highly accurate position and orientation determination through triangulation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The detection aid achieves significantly more precise determination of implant position and orientation, enhancing the accuracy of dental prosthesis fabrication and ensuring reliable connection and reproducibility.
Implementation Method 1
This is usually done by converting the data acquired through scanning/non-contact image acquisition into a representation of the acquisition aid body using triangulation and corresponding further calculation of the acquisition aid body thus represented in its state connected to the implant.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a detection aid for the digital geometric detection of the implant position and the implantation site of a dental implant, comprising: a receiving section (10) by means of which the detection body can be assigned to a dental implant in a geometrically defined manner, a detection section (30) connected to the receiving section, which is designed to be detected by a non-contact image acquisition device. Furthermore, the invention includes the detection section extending from the receiving section in a direction of extension (100) and having a first planar detection surface (31).whose surface normal is perpendicular to the extension direction of the detection section and has a curved detection surface (40) and is provided by a channel (20) extending through the detection section and the receiving section for receiving a screw for fastening the detection aid body to an implant, wherein the channel is formed with a shoulder serving as a support for a screw head.