Articulator And Articulator Auxiliary Device

Abstract

An articulator having a maxillary member and a mandibular member, which are connected to each other via condylar articulations, wherein a maxillary adaptor is attachable or attached at the maxillary member and a mandibular adaptor at the mandibular member, wherein a maxillary alignment member especially is form-fittingly connected to the maxillary adaptor and a mandibular alignment member is especially form-fittingly connected with the mandibular adaptor, and wherein the alignment members are automatically alignable to each other and comprising scanning members, by means of which the arrangement of alignment members and adaptors is scannable in a scanner and especially the relative position thereof moreover is detectable in relation to the articulator via the scanner.

Claims

1. An articulator comprising a maxillary member (12) and a mandibular member (14), wherein the maxillary and mandibular members are connected to each other via condylar articulations (16,18), a maxillary adaptor (50) attachable or attached to the maxillary member (12) and a mandibular adaptor (52) attachable or attached to the mandibular member (14), a maxillary alignment member (70) form-fittingly connected to the maxillary adaptor (50) and a mandibular alignment member (72) form-fittingly connected to the mandibular adaptor (52), wherein the alignment members (70,72) are automatically alignable against each other, scanning members or indicators (75,77,80) for indication of an arrangement resulting from the alignment members (70,72) and the adaptors (50,52) and wherein a relative position of the arrangement in relation to the articulator (10) is detectable via a scanner.

2. The articulator according to claim 1, comprising a casting compound as a fixing material that is curable, for form-fitting alignment between the maxillary adaptor (50) and the maxillary alignment member (70) or between the mandibular adaptor (52) and the mandibular alignment member (72).

3. The articulator according to claim 1, wherein the adaptor (50,52) or the alignment member (70,72) are pot-shaped and wherein after introducing a liquid casting compound, the adapter is fixed to the alignment members.

4. The articulator according to claim 1, wherein an adaptor (50) and an alignment member (70) that is free of casting compound, form-fittingly abut each other and/or that the pair of adaptor (50) and alignment member (70) that is free of casting compound is form-fittingly connected to each other by a screwable clamping assembly (96).

5. The articulator according to claim 1, wherein the alignment members (70,72), upon alignment to each other, form at least one flush surface.

6. The articulator according to claim 1, wherein at least one scanning member (75,77,80) is formed by a line or edge at an alignment member (70,72).

7. The articulator according to claim 1, wherein at least one scanning member (75,77,80) is formed by a dividing line (80) between the maxillary alignment member (70) and the mandibular alignment member (72), which extends in an occlusal plane (94) or a plane of a Bonwill's triangle (95).

8. The articulator according to claim 1, wherein the alignment members (70,72) in the form-fitting connection adhere to each other by magnetic promotion, and form a geometric three-dimensional basic shape comprising a cube, a pyramid or a shape that is composed of geometrical three-dimensional basic shapes.

9. The articulator according to claim 1, wherein an attachment extension (64,66) of each adapter (50,52) immerses into a pot-shaped associated alignment member (70,72) and is attachable therein.

10. The articulator according to claim 1, wherein the maxillary adaptor (50) is releasably attached to the maxillary member (12), by a magnetic connection, and the mandibular member (14) is releasably attached to the mandibular adaptor (52) by a magnetic connection, and/or wherein the maxillary adaptor (50) is magnetically connected to the mandibular member (14) via the maxillary member (12) and/or the mandibular adaptor (52).

11. The articulator according to claim 1, wherein a releasable fixed connection is provided between the alignment members (70,72), which are form fit and firmly connectable.

12. The articulator according to claim 6, wherein at least one scanning member (75,77,80) is formed by a vertical groove extending in the sagittal plane at a line or edge at an alignment member (70,72).

13. An articulator accessory device comprising a maxillary alignment member (70) form-fittingly connected to a maxillary adaptor (50), a mandibular alignment member (72) form-fittingly connected to a mandibular adaptor (52) and wherein the alignment members (70,72) are automatically alignable against each other, and are alignable to grooves and form-fittingly engaging protrusions.

14. The articulator accessory device according to claim 13, wherein the maxillary adaptor comprises a ball clamping member (96), wherein said maxillary adaptor may be clamped in the maxillary alignment member (70), and wherein the mandibular adaptor (52) is castable in the mandibular alignment member (72), following turn of the articulator (10).

15. An articulator scanning system comprising an articulator according to claim 1, and a scanner, wherein the scanner comprises a mounting area that is compatible to the maxillary adaptor (50) and/or the mandible adaptor (52) and wherein an arrangement of alignment members (70,72) and adaptors (50,52) is storable in or at the scanner for scanning.

16. The articulator scan system according to claim 15, wherein the articulator (10) comprises a first retention plate (38) at the maxillary member (12) and a second retention plate (40) at the mandibular member (14) and wherein the first and second retention plates (38,40) each cooperate with counter retention plates (41,42), which are each formed with an adaptor (50,52), and wherein the mounting area comprises at least one of the first and second retention plates that form-fittingly matches at least one of the counter retention plates (41,42) of one of the adaptors (50,52).

17. A process for calibrating a scanner to an articulator (10), comprising providing a maxillary adaptor (50) clamped in a maxillary alignment member (70), magnetically attaching the clamped maxillary adaptor (50) and maxillary alignment member (70) to a maxillary member (12) of the articulator (10), bringing the articulator (10) into a zero position of an incisal pin (22), prior to or following closing centric brackets (20), turning the articulator (10) and inserting a mandibular adaptor (52) into a mandibular alignment member (72), aligning the maxillary alignment member (70,72) to each other, by form fitting, magnetically attaching the mandibular adaptor (52) at the mandibular member (72), casting an articulation between the mandibular alignment member (52) and the mandibular adaptor (72) with a casting compound as a fixing material and curing the casting compound, and attaching scanning members (75,77,80) at the alignment member (70) or the alignment members (70,72), scanning an arrangement of alignment members (70,72) and adaptors (50,52) in a scanner and acquiring a relative position of the arrangement in relation to the articulator (10).

18. The process according to claim 17, further comprising providing the articulator with a first retention plate (38) at the maxillary member (12) and a second retention plate (40) at the mandibular member (14), wherein first and second retention plates each cooperate with a counter retention plate (41,42) that is formed at the associated adaptor (50, 52), and wherein the first or second retention plate is attached in or at the scanner, said first or second retention plate form-fittingly matches at least one counter retention plate (41,42) of an adaptor (50, 52).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] Further details, advantages and features will arise from the following description of a working example of the invention by way of the figures, wherein:

[0039] FIG. 1 is an embodiment of an articulator according to the invention having arrangements of alignment members and adaptors, in a perspective representation;

[0040] FIG. 2 is a side view of the articulator according to FIG. 1;

[0041] FIG. 3 is the articulator according to FIGS. 1 and 2, but having inserted the mandibular prosthesis in schematic representation;

[0042] FIG. 4a is a front view of an arrangement of alignment members and adaptors for an articulator according to the invention;

[0043] FIG. 4b is the view according to FIG. 4a in a side view, and

[0044] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a scanner in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] The articulator 10 represented in FIG. 1 comprises a maxillary member 12 and a mandibular member 14. Said members are hinged to each other via condyle articulations 16 and 18 known per se. Corresponding to the human condyles, with the condylar articulations 16 and 18, different movements, for example protrusion, retrusion or laterotrusion movements may be simulated, but also for example a side shift.

[0046] However, each condyle articulation comprises a centric bracket, of which the centric bracket 20 is to be seen in FIG. 1. With said bracket, the respective condylar articulation 16 or 18 may be fixed such that only one pivoting movement remains to be possible.

[0047] The condylar articulations cooperate with an incisal pin 22, which is attached at the maxillary member 12 in the front region in a manner known per se and is vertically adjustable in a manner known per se. The incisal pin 22, upon horizontal alignment of the articulator 10, rests in an incisal plate 24 in the front region at the mandibular member 14.

[0048] Moreover, the incisal pin 22 has an incisal pointer 26 in the occlusal plane. Both the incisal pin 22 and the incisal pointer 26 extend in the sagittal plane.

[0049] The members of an articulator so far described in the description of the Figures are known per se, for example from the Articulator Stratos 300 of the present applicant.

[0050] According to the invention, the maxillary member 12 comprises a specifically formed retention plate 38, and the mandibular member comprises a retention plate 40 symmetrical thereto. Each retention plate, in the represented embodiment, is circular and comprises grooves 32 and/or 34, which have inclined flanks.

[0051] The retention plates 38 and 40 cooperate with counter retention plates 41 and 42. The counter retention plates having projections 44 and 46, fitting into the grooves 32 and 34.

[0052] The counter retention plate 41 is part of a maxillary adaptor 50 and the counter retention plate 42 is part of a mandibular adaptor 52.

[0053] The retention plates 38 and 40 each magnetically attract with the counter retention plates 41 and 42. Due to the inclined sidewalls of the projections and grooves, a self-centering is done.

[0054] The maxillary adaptor 50 comprises a supporting leg 60 obliquely extending forward, and the mandibular adaptor 52 comprises a supporting leg 62 obliquely extending forward. They terminate into an attachment extension 64 and/or 66, which may be seen in FIGS. 4a and 4b. The function thereof is described in detail further below, also by way of FIGS. 4a and 4b.

[0055] The maxillary adaptor 50 therein immerses into a maxillary alignment member 70a, and, accordingly, the mandibular adaptor 52 immerses into a mandibular alignment member 72. Those alignment members 70 and 72 each are essentially pot-shaped having an essentially square cross section. They each comprise occlusal planes 74 and 76, where they abut each other.

[0056] Both the maxillary alignment member 70 and the mandibular alignment member 72 each comprise scanning members 75, 77. In the represented working example, the scanning members 75 and 77 are notches or grooves vertically extending in the sagittal plane. Moreover, the transition from the occlusal plane 74 to occlusal plane 76 is formed by a line of vision 80. This dividing line between the maxillary adaptor 50 and the mandibular adaptor 52 is also visible from the outside and as a scanning member is scannable by the scanner. Scanning members may include any type of indicator that a scanner can read to assist in providing alignment information of the alignment members.

[0057] In total, the body formed of the adaptors 50 and 52 essentially form a cube with flat side surfaces. Therefore, the side surface of the adaptors 50 and 52 are flush to each other.

[0058] The occlusal planes 74 and 76 are profiled per se, similar to the cooperation of the retention plates with the counter retention plates, and the adaptors are also magnetically connected to each other.

[0059] From FIG. 2 it may be seen, that the edge of vision 80 is arranged at the same height level as the incisal pointer 26. As it is apparent from FIG. 2, the retention plates 38 and 40 are releasably attached via knurled nuts or knurled screws 82 and 84 to the members 12 and 14. With this, the unit of the adaptors 50 and 52, the alignment members 70 and 72 and the retention plates 38 and 40 may smoothly also be transferred into another articulator 10.

[0060] When the alignment members 70 and 72, corresponding to the figurative represented screw connection 86, are screwed to each other, the said parts also form a firm unit, so that they may serve as centering pin for the classical synchronization of articulators.

[0061] From FIG. 3 it may be seen, at which height level a mandibular prosthesis 88 becomes located in the articulator 10. Due to the height, level offset between the condyle articulation 16 and the incisal pointer 26 the Bonwill's triangle 90 results in a manner known per se, having the Baikwill's angle 92 in relation to the occlusal plane 94.

[0062] From FIG. 4a, the maxillary and mandibular adaptors 50 and 52 including the alignment members 70 and 72 may be seen. The maxillary adaptor 50 terminates on top with the counter retention plate 41, and the adaptor 52 terminates at the bottom with the counter retention plate 42. The maxillary adaptor 50 immerses into the maxillary alignment member with the attachment extension 64. A ball clamping connection 92 is formed therein, allowing safely locking between the adaptor 50 and alignment member 70 by spreading out balls.

[0063] Following attachment of the adapters 50 at the alignment member 70 now the articulator with the adapter/alignment member arrangement being inserted is briefly turned. In this case, the pot-shaped alignment member 72 is arranged such that the open side thereof is on top. The attachment extension 66 of the adaptor 52 protrudes into this open side. The peripheral gap thereof towards the alignment member 72 is briefly cast with epoxide resin. The epoxide resin cures so that a tight and aligned connection between the alignment member 72 and the adaptor 52 results.

[0064] With this, even minimal variances between the different articulators may be detected through the alignment member according to the invention and the scanning members 75 and 77 according to the invention and may be stored through the scanner, so that the relative position of the arrangement is obtained from alignment members and adaptors and is detectable in relation to the articulator, thereby being storable.

[0065] FIG. 5 is directed to a scanner 100 having an mounting segments or areas 102 and 104 for mounting an arrangement of adaptors and/or alignment members. The mounting area is preferably compatible in shape to the respective retention plate at the maxillary member or the mandibular member.

[0066] The articulator including the adaptor and the alignment members, or the combination of adaptor and alignment member can be three-dimensionally scanned following insertion into the scanner, thereby acquiring the spatial position of the alignment members and thus of the Bonwill's triangle. This corresponds to the mandibular incisal point that is marked by the alignment members in the spatial plane corresponding to the position of the occlusal planes of the alignment members.

[0067] Although preferred embodiments have been depicted and described in detail herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that various modifications, additions, substitutions, and the like can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and these are therefore considered to be within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims which follow.