DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE RELATIVE POSITIONS OF AN UPPER AND LOWER JAW

Abstract

A device for determining the relative positions of an upper and lower jaw has an upper carrier with an upper contact surface for the upper jaw and a lower carrier with a lower contact surface for the lower jaw, wherein the carriers in a position of use correspond to the device with an upper jaw and a lower jaw. In addition, the device has a system for detecting the relative spatial positions of the upper and lower carriers with respect to one another.

Claims

1. Device for determining the relative positions of an upper and lower jaw, wherein the device has an upper carrier with an upper contact surface for the upper jaw and a lower carrier with a lower contact surface for the lower jaw, wherein in a position of use of the device the carriers correspond with an upper jaw and a lower jaw, and wherein the device has a system for detecting the relative spatial positions of the upper and lower carriers with respect to one another.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the system has distance meters at at least three measuring points, which meters detect the distance between the carriers.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the carriers are connected to a multi-directional joint, and wherein the system detects a position of the ball joint.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the system has fluid-filled chambers, which are connected to one another at least in part, as well as a means for detecting movements of fluid between connected chambers.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the system is digital and has a means for transmitting the detected, relative, spatial position.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the carriers have recesses that correspond to intraoral structures in the respective jaw.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the carriers are spring cushioned with respect to one another.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the device has a means for detecting the spring load between the carriers.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the carriers can be locked with respect to one another in their relative positions.

10. The device according to claim 3, wherein the device has a means for transmitting data.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the device has a means for wireless data transmission.

12. The device according to claim 3, wherein the device has a data storage unit.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device includes at least one sensor for determining a change in position.

14. Computer-implemented method for operating a device with the features of claim 1 for determining the relative positions of an upper and lower jaw, wherein the method includes the following steps: a. Determining positional data of the spatial position of the carriers in the form of measurement data, b. Transmitting measurement data to a computer unit, c. Making available 3D models of an upper jaw and a lower jaw, d. Combining the measurement data and the 3D models of an upper jaw and lower jaw, which are made available to form a three-dimensional, relative, spatial position, and e. Depicting the upper jaw and lower jaw in the three-dimensional, relative, spatial position.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the 3D models are digital impressions of the upper jaw and/or lower jaw that are created with an intraoral 3D scanner.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the 3D models are physical impressions of the upper jaw and/or lower jaw that are digitized with a 3D scanner.

17. The device of claim 3, wherein the multi-directional joint is a ball joint.

18. The device according to claim 2, wherein the system is digital and has a means for transmitting the detected, relative, spatial position.

19. The device according to claim 3, wherein the system is digital and has a means for transmitting the detected, relative, spatial position.

20. The device according to claim 4, wherein the system is digital and has a means for transmitting the detected, relative, spatial position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] Below, a preferred embodiment of the invention is described in more detail based on the drawings. For the sake of greater clarity, similar components in various figures and/or embodiments are provided with the same reference numbers. Here:

[0039] FIGS. 1a-1d show a first embodiment of the device in a first position,

[0040] FIGS. 2a-2d show the first embodiment in a second position,

[0041] FIGS. 3a-3d show the first embodiment in a third position,

[0042] FIGS. 4a-4d show a second embodiment of the device in a first position,

[0043] FIGS. 5a-5d show the second embodiment in a second position,

[0044] FIGS. 6a-6d show the second embodiment in a third position,

[0045] FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment in a position as in FIGS. 2a-2d, and

[0046] FIG. 8 shows an implementation of the method according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0047] In the figures, two possible embodiments of the invention are shown in a roughly schematized way from various viewpoints and in various positions.

[0048] All depicted embodiments in each case have an upper carrier 1 with an upper contact surface 2 and a lower carrier 3 with a lower contact surface 4.

[0049] In FIGS. 1 to 3, a first embodiment is depicted, in which distance meters 5 are arranged between the carriers 1, 3 at three points. These distance meters 5 can be both analog and electronic. For a very simple implementation, for example, scales 6 (see FIG. 1) can be provided, which can be read by an operator.

[0050] The distance meters 5 can also operate electronically, however, for example with capacitive distance meters or based on piezoelectric crystals.

[0051] In FIGS. 4 to 6, a second embodiment is depicted, in which the carriers 1, 3 are connected to a ball joint 7. The latter is advantageously arranged eccentrically and connected via arms 8 to the carriers 1, 3.

[0052] When the position of the ball joint 7 is detected electronically, a power source, for example a battery or a accumulator, can be arranged in one or both carriers 1, 3, and the arms 8 can produce a connection between the power sources in the carriers 1, 3 and sensors in the ball joint 7.

[0053] In addition, it is clear that the ball joint 7 in the second embodiment is arranged far outside the geometric center of the device. As a result, the carriers 1, 3 are able to approach one another, which requires a correct detection of the relative positions of the upper and lower jaw.

[0054] The device that is shown in FIG. 7 is designed similar to that of FIGS. 1 to 3 and in a position and viewpoint as in FIG. 3a. However, the carriers 1, 3 are mounted so that a fluid can be displaced from the chambers between the carriers. The displaced fluid can then be measured with, for example, scales 9.

[0055] FIG. 7 further shows a recess 10 in the upper carrier. In this recess, for example, a remaining tooth can engage in the upper jaw. However, it is also possible, for example, for a healing abutment for an implant to be located at the corresponding point in the jaw.

[0056] FIG. 8 illustrates a method according to the invention. In step a, measurement data about the relative spatial position of the carriers are captured and then made available in step b for the subsequent process. In step c, in addition, data with respect to intraoral structures are made available. The latter can have been obtained with, for example, an intraoral scanner. There is also the possibility, however, that impressions created conventionally in an analog manner have been digitized in order to generate data for step c. In step d, the data made available in steps b and c are merged and combined. In this case, an extended model is produced, which model takes into consideration both the intraoral structures and their spatial ratio. In step e, the extended model is then depicted.