US6409504B1 — Manipulating a digital dentition model to form mo…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 97 words

A computer-implemented method for use in creating a digital model of an individual component from a digital model of a patient's dentition and adapted to generate one or more appliances used in treating the patient, the method comprising: obtaining a 3D digital model of the patient's dentition; identifying points in the digital model that lie on an inter-proximal margin between adjacent teeth in the patient's dentition; using the identified points to create a digital cutting surface; separating portions of the dentition model representing the adjacent teeth and; generating one or more appliances used in treating the patient.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 97 words

A computer-implemented method for use in creating a digital model of an individual component from a digital model of a patient's dentition and adapted to generate one or more appliances used in treating the patient, the method comprising: obtaining a 3D digital model of the patient's dentition; identifying points in the digital model that lie on an inter-proximal margin between adjacent teeth in the patient's dentition; using the identified points to create a digital cutting surface; separating portions of the dentition model representing the adjacent teeth and; generating one or more appliances used in treating the patient.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying 2D cross sections of the digital model and receiving input from a human operator identifying approximate points at which the interproximal margin between the adjacent teeth meets gingival tissue.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 2 , wherein the dentition model includes a 3D volumetric model of the patient's digital and the input from the human operator identifies two voxels in the volumetric model.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 3 , further comprising defining a neighborhood of voxels around each of the two voxels identified by the human operator, where each neighborhood includes voxels representing the digital model and voxels representing a background image.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 4 , further comprising applying a computer-implemented test to select a pair of voxels, both representing the background image, that lie closest together, where each neighborhood contains one of the voxels.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 3 , further comprising automatically identifying voxels on another 2D cross section that represent the interproximal margin.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 64 words

The method of claim 6 , wherein automatically identifying voxels on another 2D cross section includes: defining a neighborhood of voxels around each of the selected voxels, where each neighborhood includes voxels representing the digital model and voxels representing a background image; projecting the neighborhoods onto the other 2D cross section; and selecting two voxels in the projected neighborhoods that represent the inter-proximal margin.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 7 , wherein selecting two voxels in the projected neighborhoods includes selecting a pair of voxels, both representing the background image, that lie closest together, where each of the neighborhoods contains one of the voxels.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 96 words

A computer-implemented method for use in creating a digital model of an individual component of a patient's dentition, and for generating one or more appliances to treat the patient, the method comprising: displaying an image of a digital model; receiving input from a human operator identifying points in the image representing a gingival line at which a tooth in the digital model meets gingival tissue; using the identified points to create a cutting surface; separating the tooth from the gingival tissue in the dentition model and; generating one or more appliances used in treating the patient.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 96 words

A computer-implemented method for use in creating a digital model of an individual component of a patient's dentition, and for generating one or more appliances to treat the patient, the method comprising: displaying an image of a digital model; receiving input from a human operator identifying points in the image representing a gingival line at which a tooth in the digital model meets gingival tissue; using the identified points to create a cutting surface; separating the tooth from the gingival tissue in the dentition model and; generating one or more appliances used in treating the patient.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 9 , wherein the cutting surface extends roughly perpendicular to an occlusal plane in the digital model.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method of claim 10 , wherein creating the cutting surface includes projecting at least a portion of the gingival line onto a plane that is roughly parallel to the occlusal plane.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 11 , wherein creating the surface includes creating a surface that connects the gingival line to the projection.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 11 , further comprising creating the plane by fitting the plane among the points on the gingival line.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 13 , further comprising shifting the plane away from the tooth in a direction that is roughly normal to the plane.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 14 , wherein shifting the plane includes creating a line segment that includes a point near the center of the tooth and that is roughly perpendicular to the plane.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 15 , wherein the length of the line segment is approximately equal to the length of a tooth root.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 15 , further comprising creating a sphere that has a radius equal to the length of the line segment and that is centered on the point near the center of the tooth.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 17 , wherein shifting the plane includes moving the plane along the line segment so that the plane is tangential to the sphere.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 18 , further comprising receiving instructions from a human operator to slide the plane to a new position along the sphere.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 9 , wherein the cutting surface extends roughly parallel to an occlusal plane in the digital model.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 45 words

The method of claim 20 , wherein the input received from the human operator identifies points that form two 3D curves representing gingival lines at which teeth in the digital model meet gum tissue on both the buccal and lingual sides of the digital model.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 21 , wherein creating the cutting surface includes fitting a surface among the points lying on the two curves.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 21 , wherein creating the surface includes, for each tooth, identifying a point lying between the two curves and creating surface triangles having vertices at the identified point and at points on the two curves.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method of claim 23 , wherein identifying the point includes averaging, for each tooth, x, y and z coordinate values of the points on portions of the two curves adjacent to the tooth.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 21 , further comprising creating a surface that represents tooth roots.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 25 , wherein creating the surface representing tooth roots includes projecting points onto a plane that is roughly parallel to the occlusal plane.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 26 , wherein creating the surface includes connecting points on the two curves to the projected points.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 27 , further comprising using the surface to separate portions of the digital model representing the tooth roots from portions representing gingival tissue.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 28 , further comprising connecting the portions of the digital model representing the tooth roots to the portion representing the tooth.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 114 words

A computer program, stored on a tangible storage medium, for use in creating a digital model of an individual component from a digital model of a patient's dentition and adapted to generate one or more appliances used in treating the patient, the program comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to: obtain a 3D digital model of the patient's dentition; identify points in the digital model that lie on an inter-proximal margin between adjacent teeth in the patient's dentition; use the identified points to create a cutting surface; separate portions of the digital model representing the adjacent teeth and; generating one or more appliances used in treating the patient.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 114 words

A computer program, stored on a tangible storage medium, for use in creating a digital model of an individual component from a digital model of a patient's dentition and adapted to generate one or more appliances used in treating the patient, the program comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to: obtain a 3D digital model of the patient's dentition; identify points in the digital model that lie on an inter-proximal margin between adjacent teeth in the patient's dentition; use the identified points to create a cutting surface; separate portions of the digital model representing the adjacent teeth and; generating one or more appliances used in treating the patient.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 39 words

The program of claim 30 , wherein the computer displays 2D cross sections of the digital model and receives input from a human operator identifying approximate points at which the interproximal margin between the adjacent teeth meets gingival tissue.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 33 words

The program of claim 31 , wherein the dentition model includes a 3D volumetric model of the patient's digital and the input from the human operator identifies two voxels in 10 volumetric model.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 40 words

The program of claim 32 , wherein the computer defines a neighborhood of voxels around each of the two voxels identified by the human operator, where each neighborhood includes voxels representing the digital model and voxels representing a background image.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 32 words

The program of claim 33 , wherein the computer automatically selects a pair of voxels, both representing the background image, that lie closest together, where each neighborhood contains one of the voxels.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 22 words

The program of claim 32 , wherein the computer automatically identifies voxels on another 2D cross section that represent the interproximal margin.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 67 words

The program of claim 35 , wherein, in automatically identifying voxels on another 2D cross section, the computer: defines a neighborhood of voxels around each of the selected voxels, where each neighborhood includes voxels representing the digital model and voxels representing a background image; projects the neighborhoods onto the other 2D cross section; and selects two voxels in the projected neighborhoods that represent the inter-proximal 30 margin.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 41 words

The program of claim 36 , wherein, in selecting two voxels in the projected neighborhoods, the computer selects a pair of voxels, both representing the background image, that lie closest together, where each of the neighborhoods contains one of the voxels.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 117 words

A computer program, stored on a tangible storage medium, for use in creating a digital model of an individual component of a patient's dentition model and adapted to generate one or more appliances used in treating the patient, the program comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to: display an image of a digital model; receive input from a human operator identifying points in the image representing a gingival line at which a tooth in the digital model meets gingival tissue; use the identified points to create a cutting surface; separate the tooth from the gingival tissue in the digital model and; generating one or more appliances used in treating the patient.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 117 words

A computer program, stored on a tangible storage medium, for use in creating a digital model of an individual component of a patient's dentition model and adapted to generate one or more appliances used in treating the patient, the program comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to: display an image of a digital model; receive input from a human operator identifying points in the image representing a gingival line at which a tooth in the digital model meets gingival tissue; use the identified points to create a cutting surface; separate the tooth from the gingival tissue in the digital model and; generating one or more appliances used in treating the patient.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 21 words

The program of claim 38 , wherein the cutting surface extends roughly perpendicular to an occlusal plane in the digital model.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 34 words

The program of claim 39 , wherein, in creating the cutting surface, the computer projects at least a portion of the gingival line onto a plane that is roughly parallel to the occlusal plane.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 24 words

The program of claim 40 , wherein, in creating the surface, the computer creates a surface that connects the gingival line to the projection.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 23 words

The program of claim 40 , wherein the computer creates the plane by fitting the plane among the points on the gingival line.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 26 words

The program of claim 42 , wherein the computer shifts the plane away from the tooth in a direction that is roughly normal to the plane.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 35 words

The program of claim 43 , wherein, in shifting the plane, the computer creates a line segment that includes a point near the center of the tooth and that is roughly perpendicular to the plane.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 23 words

The program of claim 44 , wherein the length of the line segment is approximately equal to the length of a tooth root.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 37 words

The program of claim 44 , wherein the computer creates a sphere that has a radius equal to the length of the line segment and that is centered on the point near the center of the tooth.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 29 words

The program of claim 46 , wherein, in shifting the plane, the computer moves the plane along the line segment so that the plane is tangential to the sphere.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 26 words

The program of claim 47 , wherein the computer receives instructions from a human operator to slide the plane to a new position along the sphere.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 21 words

The program of claim 48 , wherein the cutting surface extends roughly parallel to an occlusal plane in the digital model.

Claim 54

Dependent Claim 45 words

The program of claim 49 , wherein the input received from the human operator identifies points that form two 3D curves representing gingival lines at which teeth in the digital model meet gum tissue on both the buccal and lingual sides of the digital model.

Claim 55

Dependent Claim 25 words

The program of claim 50 , wherein, in creating the cutting surface, the computer fits a surface among the points lying on the two curves.

Claim 56

Dependent Claim 41 words

The program of claim 50 , wherein, in creating the surface, the computer, for each tooth, identifies a point lying between the two curves and creates surface triangles having vertices at the identified point and at points on the two curves.

Claim 57

Dependent Claim 36 words

The program of claim 52 , wherein, in identifying the point, the computer averages, for each tooth, x, y and z coordinate values of the points on portions of the two curves adjacent to the tooth.

Claim 58

Dependent Claim 16 words

The program of claim 50 , wherein the computer creates a surface that represents tooth roots.

Claim 59

Dependent Claim 29 words

The program of claim 54 , wherein, in creating the surface representing tooth roots, the computer projects points onto a plane that is roughly parallel to the occlusal plane.

Claim 60

Dependent Claim 23 words

The program of claim 55 , wherein, in creating the surface, the computer connects points on the two curves to the projected points.

Claim 61

Dependent Claim 28 words

The program of claim 56 , wherein the computer uses the surface to separate portions of the digital model representing the tooth roots from portions representing gingival tissue.

Claim 62

Dependent Claim 26 words

The program of claim 57 , wherein the computer connects the portions of the digital model representing the tooth roots to the portion representing the tooth.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2005-06-24	2005-12-24	2006-06-25	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2009-06-24	2009-12-24	2010-06-25	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2013-06-24	2013-12-24	2014-06-25	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Manipulating a digital dentition model to form models of individual dentition components

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