Attachment members with internally located radiopaque information markers for CT scan
Inventors
Suttin, Zachary B. • Porter, Stephen S.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11890164-B2
Publication Date
2024-02-06
Expiration Date
Abstract
An attachment member for mating with a dental implant includes a non-rotational structure and a body. The non-rotational structure is configured to mate with a corresponding non-rotational feature of the dental implant. The body extends from the non-rotational structure. The body has (i) an exterior side surface configured to at least partially engage gingival tissue adjacent to the dental implant, (ii) an exterior top surface that is exposed through the gingival tissue, (iii) a screw access bore for receiving a screw that attaches the attachment member to the dental implant in a removable fashion, and (iv) a set of radiopaque information markers that is located internal to the exterior side surface and the exterior top surface. The set of radiopaque information markers indicates information regarding the dental implant that is revealed in response to a scan from a computerized tomography (CT) scanner.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to manufacturing a patient-specific prosthesis using a dental-implant attachment member that contains radiopaque information markers. The attachment member includes a body with radiopaque marker cavities, and at least two radiopaque information markers are positioned internally to an exterior side surface and underneath a top surface of the attachment member, substantially equidistant from a central axis, to indicate information regarding the dental implant.
Scan data of a patient's mouth including gingival tissue and an attachment member coupled to a dental implant is acquired via a computer system. A three-dimensional computer model is created from the scan data and then modified based on information indicated from the radiopaque information markers, and a three-dimensional computer model of at least a portion of the patient-specific prosthesis is designed using the modified three-dimensional computer model.
The internal radiopaque markers provide implant and attachment information without being located on exterior scanning surfaces of the attachment member. Marker information can indicate a location of a central axis and a location of one or more flats of a nonrotational dental implant structure, and the modified three-dimensional computer model can be used to improve restorative flexibility during design and installation.
Claims Coverage
The document contains two independent claims directed to manufacturing a patient-specific prosthesis using radiopaque information markers within a dental-implant attachment member to modify and provide three-dimensional computer models for prosthesis design and attachment.
Radiopaque markers internal to attachment surfaces for implant-indicating information
Acquiring scan data of a patient's mouth including gingival tissue and an attachment member coupled to a dental implant installed in the patient's mouth, wherein the attachment member has a body with at least two radiopaque information markers within respective radiopaque marker cavities positioned within the body at locations internal to an exterior side surface and underneath a top surface of the attachment member, the at least two radiopaque information markers being substantially equidistant from a central axis of the attachment member, and configured to indicate information regarding the dental implant.
Model creation and modification based on marker-indicated implant information
Creating a three-dimensional computer model from the scan data, modifying the three-dimensional computer model based on the information indicated from the at least two radiopaque information markers, and designing a three-dimensional computer model of at least a portion of the patient-specific prosthesis using the modified three-dimensional computer model.
Attaching the attachment member using a removable cap and marker-defined cap space
Attaching the attachment member to the dental implant installed in the patient's mouth by inserting a fastener through an insert portion of the attachment member, engaging the dental implant with the fastener, and removably connecting a cap portion of the attachment member to the insert portion, wherein the at least two radiopaque information markers are located within a space defined at least in part by the exterior side surface and the top surface of the cap portion.
Attachment-member data plus scan data using markers to create an improved restorative design model
Receiving attachment member data and scan data of a patient's mouth including at least gingival tissue and an attachment member coupled to a dental implant installed in the patient's mouth, modifying a three-dimensional computer model of the attachment member based on information indicated from the attachment member data and the scan data, and providing a three-dimensional computer model of at least a portion of the patient-specific prosthesis using the modified three-dimensional computer model, wherein the providing improves restorative flexibility during design and installation.
Across the independent claims, the core coverage is manufacturing a patient-specific prosthesis by acquiring scan data of a mouth with a dental-implant attachment member containing internal radiopaque information markers, using marker-indicated information to modify a three-dimensional computer model, designing or providing a modified model for the prosthesis, and attaching the attachment member to the dental implant via a fastener and a removably connected cap.
Stated Advantages
The providing of the three-dimensional computer model of at least a portion of the patient-specific prosthesis improves restorative flexibility during design and installation of the patient-specific prosthesis.
Documented Applications
Designing and manufacturing a patient-specific prosthesis based on scan data of a patient's mouth including gingival tissue and an attachment member coupled to a dental implant installed in the patient's mouth, with marker-based modification of three-dimensional computer models.
Generating and using three-dimensional computer models for restorative flexibility during design and installation of a patient-specific prosthesis.
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