Scan Body Clip Assembly for Accurate Edentulous Implant Scanning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Intra-oral scanners struggle to accurately capture the depth, width, and angle of embedded female screws in dental implants due to the lack of recognizable landmarks in edentulous patients, leading to distorted imaging and inaccurate design of implant-supported dentures.
Innovation Solution
The use of clips coupled to scan bodies positioned at implant locations to reduce the effective distance between adjacent landmarks, allowing the intra-oral scanner to capture recognizable geometry by incorporating the clips as landmarks during scanning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If scan bodies are positioned at implant locations in edentulous patients, then the ability to capture implant geometry is improved, but the effective distance between adjacent landmarks remains too large for accurate scanning
Solution Approach 1:
The clip is divided into multiple segments that can be independently positioned and coupled to scan bodies. Each segment acts as an intermediate landmark, dividing the large distance between adjacent implant scan bodies into smaller, manageable segments that fall within the scanner's effective detection range.
Solution Approach 2:
The clip serves as an intermediary element between adjacent scan bodies. By coupling clips to multiple scan bodies, the clip creates additional intermediate landmarks that bridge the gap between distant scan bodies, enabling the scanner to accurately capture the geometry in between them.
2Measurement precision
If clips are coupled to scan bodies to reduce effective distance between landmarks, then scanning accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clip is designed as a universal component that can be coupled to multiple different scan bodies and positioned at various implant locations. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by using a single standardized component rather than requiring custom assemblies for each scan body configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The clip structure allows for nested coupling where multiple clips can be attached to a single scan body, and clips can be coupled to each other in a nested arrangement. This nesting capability enables compact organization of multiple landmarks while maintaining simplicity in the coupling mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
According to at least one embodiment, a method of performing intraoral scanning includes: positioning a first scan body at a location of a first implant; positioning a second scan body at a location of a second implant; coupling a first clip to the first scan body; and coupling a second clip to the second scan body. The coupled first clip extends from the positioned first scan body towards the location of the second implant, and the coupled second clip extends from the positioned second scan body towards the location of the first implant.