ARTICULATOR

Abstract

An articulator is disclosed for simulation of a temporomandibular joint movement, the articulator including a first articulator element (1) and a second articulator element (2), wherein the first articulator element (1) includes an engagement means (3) and the second articulator element (2) includes a receiver (4) for the engagement means (3).

Claims

1. An articulator for simulation of a temporomandibular joint movement, the articulator comprising at least one first articulator element (1) and at least one second articulator element (2), wherein the first articulator element (1) comprises an engagement means (3) and the second articulator element (2) comprises a receiver (4) for the engagement means (3).

2. The articulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first articulator element (1) and the second articulator element (2) is formed as one piece.

3. The articulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first articulator element (1), connected to the second articulator element (2), can move in a protrusion direction relative to the second articulator element (2).

4. The articulator as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first articulator element (1), connected to the second articulator element (2), is rotatable relative to the second articulator element (2) about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the protrusion direction.

5. The articulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the engagement means (3) is spherical mounted in the receiver (4) in a self-retaining manner.

6. The articulator as claimed in claim 3, wherein the receiver (4) is elongate, parallel to the protrusion direction.

7. The articulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second articulator element (2) comprises an opening (5) and the engagement means is introduced into the receiver (4) via the opening (5).

8. The articulator as claimed in claim 7, wherein the opening (5) has a first opening diameter, adjacent to the receiver (4), which is smaller than a diameter of the engagement means (3) and a second opening diameter, spaced from the receiver (4), which is larger than the diameter of the engagement means (3).

9. The articulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first articulator element (1) and the second articulator element (2) is produced at least partially from elastic material.

10. The articulator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a first jaw partial model (6A, 6B) supported by the first articulator element (1).

11. The articulator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising two first articulator elements (1) and two second articulator elements (2).

12.-15. (canceled)

16. The articulator as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first jaw partial model (6A, 6B) is formed unitarily with the first articulator element (1).

17. The articulator as claimed in claim 16, further comprising a second jaw partial model (7A, 7B) supported by the second articulator element (2).

18. The articulator as claimed in claim 17, wherein the second jaw partial model (7A, 7B) is formed unitarily with the second articulator element (1).

19. The articulator as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one of the first articulator element (1) and the second articulator element (2) is formed by one or more of: 3D printing, and milling.

20. The articulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first articulator element (1), connected to the second articulator element (2), can move in a laterotrusion direction relative to the second articulator element (2).

21. The articulator as claimed in claim 20, wherein the first articulator element (1), connected to the second articulator element (2), can move in a protrusion direction relative to the second articulator element (2).

22. A computer-implemented method for production of an articulator, the method comprising: digitally modeling a first digital 3D articulator model; digitally modeling a second digital 3D articulator model; digitally modeling a first digital 3D jaw partial model; digitally modeling a second digital 3D jaw partial model; modifying the first digital 3D articualtor model to include the first digital 3D jaw partial model; modifying the second digital 3D articulator model to include the second digital 3D jaw partial model; producing a first articulator element based on the modified first 3D articulator model; and, producing a second articulator element based on the modified second 3D articulator model.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the producing the first articulator element uses 3D printing.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the first articulator element includes an engagement means and the second articulator element includes a receiver, the receiver being formed to receive the engagement means to allow the first articulator element to be movably coupled to the second articulator element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The invention will be described in more detail hereinafter with the aid of a number of preferred exemplified embodiments.

[0029] In the drawings:

[0030] FIGS. 1 and 5 show an articulator in a three-dimensional view,

[0031] FIGS. 2-4 and 10 each show a cross-sectional view of the articulator from the side,

[0032] FIG. 6 shows a side view of the articulator connected to a first and second jaw partial model,

[0033] FIG. 7 shows a three-dimensional view of the articulator connected to the [first] and second jaw partial model,

[0034] FIG. 8 shows a three-dimensional view of two articulators each connected to a first and second jaw partial model in the fully opened state,

[0035] FIG. 9 shows a three-dimensional view of two articulators each connected to the first and second jaw partial model in a partially opened state,

[0036] FIG. 11 shows a flow diagram of a method for production of an articulator and/or an articulator connected to one or a plurality of jaw models,

[0037] FIG. 12 shows a system for data-processing comprising means for carrying out the method.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0038] FIGS. 1-5 and 10 show an articulator for simulation of a temporomandibular joint movement. Like or similar features are provided with the same reference signs. The articulator comprises a first articulator element 1 and a second articulator element 2. For example, the articulator consists of the first and second articulator elements 1 and 2.

[0039] The first articulator element 1 comprises an engagement means 3. The engagement means 3 can be circular or spherical. The engagement means 3 can in particular be a spherical head. Furthermore, at least one cross-section of the engagement means 3 can be spherical or circular.

[0040] The first articulator element 1 and the second articulator element 2 are elongate. In particular, the first articulator element 1 and the second articulator element 2 each comprise an elongate portion. The respective elongate portions of the first articulator element 1 and of the second articulator element 2 can be orientated parallel to each other, in particular in each case parallel to a longitudinal direction of the articulator element 1 and/or of the articulator element 2 when the articulator elements are in the assembled state.

[0041] The second articulator element 2 comprises a receiver 4 to receive the engagement means 3. The receiver 4 is elongate. A longitudinal direction of the receiver 4 is inclined relative to a longitudinal direction of the first articulator element 1 and/or to a longitudinal direction of the second articulator element 2. In other words: the longitudinal direction of the receiver 4 forms an angle with the longitudinal direction of the first articulator element 1 and/or the longitudinal direction of the second articulator element 2. The angle is not equal to 0°, for example 30°.

[0042] The engagement means 3 can be mounted in the receiver 4. In particular, the engagement means 3 can be mounted in the receiver 4 in a self-retaining manner. In other words: the engagement means 3 can be retained within the receiver 4, in particular without further components, in any movement direction of the engagement means 3. To express this in another way: the engagement means 3 can be supported in any movement direction of the engagement means 3 within the receiver 4 on the receiver 4, in particular at a boundary of the receiver 4.

[0043] The engagement means 3 is able to move within the receiver 4, in particular is able to move in a translational manner in the longitudinal direction of the receiver 4. Furthermore, the engagement means 3 can rotate within the receiver 4. In other words: by means of a movement of the engagement means 3 within the receiver 4, the first articulator element 1 can move relative to the second articulator element 2. The first articulator element 1 can be connected to the second articulator element 2, in particular by means of an engagement of the engagement means 3 in the receiver 4.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 3, a translational movement of the engagement means 3 within the receiver 4, in particular in the longitudinal direction of the receiver 4, results in a translational movement or a protrusion movement of the first articulator element 1 relative to the second articulator element 2, i.e. a movement in a protrusion direction. The protrusion direction is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the receiver 4. The protrusion direction forms an angle with the longitudinal direction of the first articulator element 1 and/or the second articulator element 2.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 4, a rotational movement of the engagement means 3 within the receiver 4 results in a rotational movement of the first articulator element 1 relative to the second articulator element 2 about a first axis of rotation. The first axis of rotation is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the first articulator element 1 and/or the second articulator element 2. The first axis of rotation is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the receiver 4. In other words: the first axis of rotation protrudes out of the image plane of FIG. 4. The rotational movement of the first articulator element 1 relative to the second articulator element 2 results in opening of the articulator. The first articulator element 1 and the second articulator element 2, in particular the respective elongate portions of the first articulator element 1 and of the second articulator element 2, form an angle. This angle can be increased or reduced by means of the rotational movement of the first articulator element 1 relative to the second articulator element 2 about the first axis of rotation. The rotational movement of the first articulator element 1 relative to the second articulator element 2 can comprise or form an angular range of 0° to 180°.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 5, a further second rotational movement of the engagement means 3 within the receiver 4 further results in a lateral movement of the first articulator element 1 relative to the second articulator element 2, i.e. a movement of the first articulator element 1 relative to the second articulator element 2 in a laterotrusion direction. In other words: the first articulator element 1 can rotate relative to the second articulator element 2 about a second axis of rotation. The second axis of rotation is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the first articulator element 1 and/or of the second articulator element 2. Furthermore, the second axis of rotation is perpendicular to the first axis of rotation. In other words: the second axis of rotation lies in the image plane of FIGS. 2 to 4 and 10.

[0047] The first articulator element 1 and/or the second articulator element 2 can be produced by means of a 3D printing technique and/or milling technique. The first articulator element 1 and the second articulator element 2 are formed as one piece and can be produced as one piece by means of a 3D printing technique and/or milling technique.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 10, the second articulator element 2 has an opening 5. The opening 5 is physically connected to the receiver 4. The engagement means 3 can be introduced into the receiver 4 or mounted in the receiver 4 via the opening 5. The opening 5 can be e.g. funnel-shaped, in the shape of a truncated pyramid or of a truncated cone. The opening 5 has a first cross-section and a second cross-section. The opening 5 has a first size or diameter, e.g. the size or diameter of the first cross-section, and a second size or diameter, e.g. the size or diameter of the second cross-section. The first size or diameter is larger than a size or diameter of the engagement means 3. The second size or diameter is smaller than a size or diameter of the engagement means 3.

[0049] The first articulator element 1 and the second articulator element 2 can be produced wholly or partially from a flexible material. For example, the engagement means 3 is produced from a flexible material. For example, a part of the second articulator element 2 comprising the opening 5 and/or the receiver 4 is produced from a flexible material. The flexible material is e.g. a synthetic material, in particular a synthetic material suitable for 3D printing.

[0050] The engagement means 3 can be introduced into the receiver 4 or latched in the receiver 4 via the opening 5. In other words: the engagement means 3 can be pushed through the receiver 5 at the second cross-section. The opening 5 can be widened at the second cross-section by the introduction of the engagement means 3, in particular widened temporarily and/or with the application of force.

[0051] If the engagement means 3 is disposed within the receiver 4, the engagement means 3 is not able to move through the opening 5 at the second cross-section, or not able to move through without an additional application of force. In this way the engagement means 3 can be mounted in the receiver 4 in a self-retaining manner.

[0052] FIGS. 6 to 9 show the articulator connected to one or more jaw partial models. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the first articulator element 1 is connected, in particular connected as one piece, to a first jaw partial model 6A. The second articulator element 2 is connected, in particular connected as one piece, to a second jaw partial model 7A.

[0053] Furthermore, two first articulator elements 1 can be connected, or connected as one piece, to a third jaw partial model 7B. Furthermore, two second articulator elements 2 can be connected, or connected as one piece, to a fourth jaw partial model 7B, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. In each case, one of the two first articulator elements 1 is connected to a respective one of the two second articulator elements 2, e.g. as shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, by means of a respective engagement means 3 and a respective receiver 4.

[0054] FIG. 11 shows a flow diagram of a method for production of an articulator, in particular of an articulator described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10. The method is a computer-implemented method. The articulator to be produced comprises at least one first, or the first, articulator element 1 and one second, or the second, articulator element 2.

[0055] A first method step 110 comprises the production of at least one digital 3D articulator model. The method step 110 comprises e.g. the production of a first digital 3D articulator model and the production of a second 3D articulator model. The first digital 3D articulator model can be produced for the first articulator element 1 and the second digital 3D articulator model can be produced for the second articulator element 2. In other words: the first digital 3D articulator model corresponds to the first articulator element 1 and the second digital 3D articulator model corresponds to the second articulator element 2.

[0056] The method step 120 comprises the production of at least one digital 3D jaw partial model. The method step 120 comprises e.g. the production of a first digital 3D jaw partial model and/or of a second digital 3D jaw partial model. The first digital 3D jaw partial model can correspond to the first or third jaw partial model 6A, 6B. The second digital 3D jaw partial model can correspond to the second jaw partial model 7A, 7B.

[0057] The first digital 3D jaw partial model can be connected or connectible to the first digital 3D articulator model. The second digital 3D jaw partial model can be connected or connectible to the second digital 3D articulator model. The connection of the first and second digital 3D jaw partial model to the first and second digital 3D articulator model is effected digitally.

[0058] In an optional method step 130, the first and second digital 3D jaw partial model can be digitally connected to the first and second digital 3D articulator model. Alternatively, the first and second digital 3D jaw partial model can be, or can have been, produced digitally as one piece with the first and second digital 3D articulator model.

[0059] In method step 140, the first and/or second digital 3D articulator model is printed by means of a 3D printing technique. In method step 150, the first and/or second digital 3D jaw partial model is printed using a 3D printing technique. The method steps 140 and 150 can be connected or carried out in a common method step. In other words: the first digital 3D jaw partial model can be printed jointly, in particular as one piece, with the first digital 3D articulator model. The second digital 3D jaw partial model can be printed jointly, in particular as one piece, with the second digital 3D articulator model.

[0060] FIG. 12 shows a system 1000 for data-processing comprising means for carrying out the method shown in, and described with reference to, FIG. 11, i.e. a method for production of an articulator and/or an articulator connected to one or a plurality of jaw models. The system 1000 comprises computing means 1010. The computing means 1010 may comprise a processor 1011 configured to perform the method described with reference to FIG. 11, in particular steps 110-130. The computing means 1010 may further comprise a storage medium or a memory for storing instructions that, when carried out by the system 1000, cause the system 1000 to carry out the method described with reference to FIG. 11, in particular steps 110-130.

[0061] The system 1000 further comprises printing means 1020, such as a 3D printer, communicatively coupled with the computing means 1010. The printing means may be configured to perform method steps 140-150 of the method described with reference to FIG. 11. The storage medium may further store instructions that, when communicated to and carried out by the printing means 1020, cause the printing means carry out steps 140 and 150 of the method described with reference to FIG. 11.

Further Description

[0062] The following sets out a description which is supplementary to the statements above. Like or similar features are designated in a like or similar manner. Furthermore, the Latin letters used in the supplementary description correspond as follows to the reference signs used above: a=1, b=2, c-6A, d-7A, e-6B, f-7B, g-5, h=4:

[0063] Articulators are devices used to simulate temporomandibular joint movement. For this purpose, plaster models of the tooth quadrants of the upper and lower jaws are mounted in occlusion in the articulator. Then, the movement of the jaws with respect to each other can be simulated, which is indispensable in the production of artificial dentition, partial and total prostheses or mouthguards.

[0064] However, in modern dentistry, digital impressions are being taken ever more frequently. For this purpose, the dentist uses an intraoral scanner in order to generate 3 dimensional data sets. The dental laboratory can construct the artificial dentition digitally with special design and construction software using these data (usually *.stl format) and, in a further step, mill it by machine or print it (3D printer). However, in these cases jaw models are frequently also required in order to achieve a high-quality result for the artificial dentition. These models are then produced in most cases using a 3D printer. These printed whole jaw models or partial models must then be mounted in an articulator in the same way as the conventional plaster models.

[0065] FIG. 1 shows an articulator (artificial temporomandibular joint) which I have developed specifically for 3D-printed jaw models. This is stored as a data set in the dental software and can be attached as shown in FIG. 6 when the upper and lower jaw models have been produced virtually. In this case, it is of no significance whether this is a partial model as in FIG. 6, since, as shown in FIG. 8, I have also developed a solution for whole jaw models with 2 joints, which, at different distances from each other, are stored in the software in order to be able to vary them in the case of different jaw sizes.

[0066] The articulator consists of two elements a and b, FIG. 1, which, in the software, are in the correct position with respect to each other but are not connected. FIG. 6 shows upper jaw model (c) and lower jaw model (d) [which] in the software are likewise in the correct position with respect to each other and also not connected. FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 10 show the cross-section of the 3D-printable articulator in order to clarify the functions. The software is programmed such that the articulator can be connected to the models. Thus, two printable data sets are produced such as upper jaw partial model (c) with an attached element (a) and lower jaw partial model (d) with an attached element (b) as shown in FIG. 6. After production, the two model parts can be connected by means of a plug connection. The spherical head of element (a) can now be pivoted to and fro (laterotrusion) in an inclined half-round aperture (FIG. 5).

[0067] The lower jaw partial model can additionally move forwards and downwards (protrusion) through the inclined elongate aperture as shown by the cross-sectional view of FIG. 3. The advantage of this invention is that subsequent mounting in a conventional laboratory articulator is no longer necessary. In addition, the printed articulator can, by virtue of its innovative design, be opened so widely that both jaw models lie flat on the work table and the work of the dental technician is thus clearly facilitated as shown by the cross-sectional view of FIG. 4 and the inclined view of FIG. 8. FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 show whole jaw models which are fitted with 2 of my articulators (artificial temporomandibular joints) which more closely imitate the actual movements in the human skull. Quality is hereby improved once again and it is also a cost-effective solution since mounting in a commercially available articulator can also be dispensed with in this variation.

[0068] FIG. 7 shows the upper jaw partial model (c) in combination with the articulator element (a) and the lower jaw partial model (d) in combination with the articulator element (b). FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of how the articulator element (a) is pressed with its spherical head into the funnel-shaped aperture (g) in order to slide into the elongate and inclined aperture (h) in the articulator element (b). Its starting position is clear to see in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2. Claims 1 to 5 relate to the fact that there is currently still no printable or millable articulator allowing laterotrusion and protrusion movements. This problem is solved with the feature set out in claims 1 to 5. The invention ensures that any dental laboratory or dental practice which has the appropriate dental software can inexpensively produce printable and millable models without these still having to be mounted in a commercially available articulator after production.

[0069] In particular, an articulator (data set for a 3D printing and milling technique) consisting of an articulator element (a) and (b) is described, being characterised in that it is the first printable or millable articulator which permits the protrusion movement as shown in FIG. 3 and also the laterotrusion movement as shown in FIG. 5 after production.

[0070] An articulator (data set for a 3D printing and milling technique) consisting of an articulator element (a) and (b) is also described, being characterised in that it can be attached as a single joint as shown in FIG. 6 to a virtually produced upper and lower jaw partial model, which can then be produced by means of a 3D printer or milling machine.

[0071] An articulator (data set for a 3D printing and milling technique) consisting of an articulator element (a) and (b) is also described, being characterised in that it can also be attached in a double variation, as shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, to a virtually produced whole jaw model, which can then be produced by means of a 3D printer or milling machine.

[0072] An articulator (data set for a 3D printing and milling technique) consisting of an articulator element (a) and (b) is also described, being characterised in that the spherical head of the articulator element (a) can be pivoted to the side (lateral movement) in the elongate and inclined aperture (h) in element (b) after production by means of a 3D printer or by means of a milling machine, and forwards and downwards or backwards and upwards which is adapted from the protrusion movement (FIG. 3) in the human temporomandibular joint.

[0073] An articulator (data set for a 3D printing and milling technique) consisting of an articulator element (a) and (b) is also described, being characterised in that a funnel-shaped aperture (g) is located in the articulator element (b) in FIG. 10, into which the spherical head of articulator element (a) is pressed with some force until it latches in the elongate and inclined aperture (h) for a guided protrusion.