KIT OF DENTAL INSTRUMENTS FOR INTRAORAL SCANNING

Abstract

A kit of dental instruments for intraoral scanning includes first instrument and second instruments for a patient’s left and right side lower arches, respectively, at least a third instrument for the upper arch. The first instrument includes a first handle with rectangular profile and rounded edges and two arms, the latter being a first left lateral arm on whose body a scanner slides, and a second front arm, the arms being extractible and interchangeable. The first lateral arm inserts in the handle through holes, the second instrument being the mirrored copy of the first instrument and including a second handle analogous to the first handle and with rounded edges and two arms, the latter being a first right lateral arm and a second front arm analogous to the second front arm for the left side, the kit further including at least a third instrument for the upper mouth arch.

Claims

1. Kit of dental instruments for intraoral scanning, comprising at least a first instrument for the left side lower arch of the patient, at least a second instrument for the right side lower arch of the patient, at least a third instrument for the upper arch of the patient, said first instrument comprising a first handle with rectangular profile and with rounded edges and two arms, the two arms being at least a first left lateral arm, on whose body a scanner is made to slide, and at least a second front arm, said arms being extractible and interchangeable, said first lateral arm being insertable in the handle by means of a plurality of holes, said second instrument being the mirrored copy of said first instrument and comprising a second handle analogous to said first handle and with rounded edges and a pair of arms, the pair of arms being a first right lateral arm and a second front arm analogous to the second front arm for the left side, said kit further comprising at least a third instrument for the upper mouth arch comprising a third handle with parallelepiped shape with slightly rounded edges, at one of whose ends two arms are applied, both directed outward respectively towards the right and left side of the mouth apparatus of the patient, said arms being adapted to spread open the cheeks and allow the sliding of a scanner on the body thereof.

2. The kit according to claim 1, wherein the holes in which the arms are inserted in an interchangeable manner — on said first handle, second handle and third handle - have rectangular profile.

3. The kit according to claim 1, wherein said first instrument for the left side lower arch of the patient and second instrument for the right side lower arch of the patient have total length comprised between 150 mm and 154 mm and wherein the first left arm of the patient and the first right lateral arm have length comprised between 55 and 71 mm, while said first front arm for the left side and second front arm for the right side have length comprised between 62 and 68 mm.

4. The kit of dental instruments according to claim 3, wherein said first instrument for the left side lower arch of the patient and second instrument for the right side lower arch of the patient have total length of 152 mm and wherein the first left lateral arm of the patient and the first right lateral arm have length of 63 mm, while said first front arm for the left side and second front arm for the right side have length of 66 mm.

5. The kit of dental instruments according to claim 1, wherein the right and left lateral arms of the third instrument for the upper mouth arch have length comprised between 45 mm and 60 mm and wherein the distance between the free ends of said arms is comprised between 58 mm and 70 mm.

6. The kit of dental instruments according to claim 5, wherein the right and left lateral arms of the third instrument for the upper mouth arch have length of 55 mm and wherein the distance between the free ends of said arms is 64 mm.

7. The kit of dental instruments according to claim 1, wherein for said third instrument, an attachment mechanism is provided for attaching the right and left arms, which provides for the insertion of said arms in a single hole for the insertion in the handle.

8. The kit of dental instruments according to claim 1, wherein on each of the arms of each of said first instrument, second instrument and third instrument, indicator signals are present that indicate the scanning direction of a scanner adapted to execute the scanning of the arches of the mouth apparatus of the patient.

9. The kit of dental instruments according to claim 1, wherein the signals indicating the scanning direction of the scanner are reversed in the case of left-handed operators.

10. The kit of dental instruments according to claim 1, wherein for the instrument relative to the upper arch as well as for those relative to the lower arch, a child version is provided for, in which the relative arms have length and height reduced by 35%.

11. The kit according to claim 1, wherein at least a front arm for the left side lower arch or arm for the right side lower arch is traversed by a tunnel-shaped cavity which opens with 2 mm diameter holes on the lower side thereof, said cavity being adapted to be connected to the terminal of a saliva sucker.

12. The kit according to claim 1, wherein at least an arm of the instruments of said kit is provided with sensors for the tip of a scanner.

13. The kit according to claim 1, wherein an apparatus is further comprised for the automatic guiding of the scanner for the intraoral scanning.

14. The kit of dental instruments according to any claim 1, suitable for use in the treatment of mouth apparatuses of patients with edentulous arches.

15. The kit according to claim 2, wherein said first instrument for the left side lower arch of the patient and second instrument for the right side lower arch of the patient have total length comprised between 150 mm and 154 mm and wherein the first left arm of the patient and the first right lateral arm have length comprised between 55 and 71 mm, while said first front arm for the left side and second front arm for the right side have length comprised between 62 and 68 mm.

16. The kit of dental instruments according to claim 2, wherein the right and left lateral arms of the third instrument for the upper mouth arch have length comprised between 45 mm and 60 mm and wherein the distance between the free ends of said arms is comprised between 58 mm and 70 mm.

17. The kit of dental instruments according to claim 3, wherein the right and left lateral arms of the third instrument for the upper mouth arch have length comprised between 45 mm and 60 mm and wherein the distance between the free ends of said arms is comprised between 58 mm and 70 mm.

18. The kit of dental instruments according to claim 4, wherein the right and left lateral arms of the third instrument for the upper mouth arch have length comprised between 45 mm and 60 mm and wherein the distance between the free ends of said arms is comprised between 58 mm and 70 mm.

19. The kit of dental instruments according to claim 2, wherein for said third instrument, an attachment mechanism is provided for attaching the right and left arms, which provides for the insertion of said arms in a single hole for the insertion in the handle.

20. The kit of dental instruments according to claim 3, wherein for said third instrument, an attachment mechanism is provided for attaching the right and left arms, which provides for the insertion of said arms in a single hole for the insertion in the handle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The invention will be described hereinbelow in detail with reference to the enclosed figures in which:

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the first instrument 1 for the left side lower arch of the patient of the kit according to the present invention. FIG. 1(a) shows an upper view thereof. FIG. 1(b) shows a front view thereof and FIG. 1(c) shows a side view and in particular the angle of divergence of the lateral arm with respect to the vertical plane.

[0030] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the pair of instruments for the edentulous lower arch and in particular FIG. 2(a) shows the second instrument 10 for an edentulous lower arch, right side of the patient and which is the mirrored copy of the first instrument 1 for an edentulous lower arch left side of the patient (FIG. 2(b)).

[0031] FIG. 3 shows the travels that the tip of the scanner is made to undergo and the respective sequence indicated with arrows indicated with letters A, B, C, D.

[0032] FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the third instrument 100 for the upper arch. FIG. 4(a) shows its upper view; FIG. 4(b) shows its frontal view; FIG. 4(c) shows its side view with indication of the angle of divergence of the lateral arms with respect to the vertical plan.

[0033] FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the third instrument 100 for the upper arch and in particular the scanning strategy for the edentulous upper arch. More in detail, in said figure, the travels that the tip of the scanner is made to undergo and the respective sequence are indicated with the arrows A′, B′, C′, D′.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0034] In all embodiments thereof and in order to attain specific objectives of the present invention, and in consideration of the anatomic characteristics of the upper and lower edentulous arches of the patient, the dental instruments of the present kit have a shape that is optimized and specific for the upper arch and a different shape for the lower arch; in particular, for the lower arch, two mirrored shapes are necessary, one for the right side and one for the left side. This particular assembly allows providing one portion suitable for the upper arch, one for the right side of the lower arch and one for the left side of the lower arch.

[0035] Finally, the object of the present description is a kit of instruments 1, 10, 100 respectively for: the left side lower arch of the patient, the right side lower arch of the patient, and the upper arch.

[0036] With reference to FIG. 1, and in particular to FIG. 1(a), the first instrument 1 for the left side lower arch of the patient comprises: a first handle 2 with parallelepiped shape and with slightly rounded edges 2', at one of whose ends, first end 1' and second end 1", and in particular on said second end 1", two arms are applied: a first left lateral arm 3 (the lateral arm) directed outward which serves for spreading open the cheek, and on which the body of the tip of the scanner can be rested and made to slide, and another arm, the second arm 4, i.e. the front arm, directed in front direction as if it was the extension of the handle, and which serves to support and control the tongue and simultaneously to provide a stop at the end of the tip of the scanner. Both said arms can be extracted so as to allow the interchangeability with the arms of the opposite side, as well as with arms of different size, necessary for the adaptation to the individual variability between the patients. Said first left lateral arm 3 is inserted in the handle by means of through holes with section typically but not exclusively rectangular, which allow the alternating insertion of the right or left arm, each entering the hole from its own side. On said handle 2, in the direction of its length, at least one, preferably at least two and still more preferably a plurality of holes are present for connecting said second lateral arm 3, i.e. so as to allow modifying the distance between the arms, a characteristic which optimizes the use in relation to the width of the edentulous arch. Both said second lateral arm 3 and second front arm for the left front side 4, in order to be better adapted to the anatomy of the patient, are suitably shaped in the three spatial dimensions according to the schemes reported in FIGS. 1(a), (1b) and 1(c).

[0037] The second instrument 10 for the right side lower arch of the patient is the mirrored copy of that of the left side of the patient, i.e. of the aforesaid first instrument 1. Thus, with reference to FIG. 2 and in particular to FIG. 2(a), said second instrument 10 for the right side lower arch of the patient likewise comprises a second handle 20, analogous to said first handle 2, with rounded edges 20' and a pair of arms, i.e. a first lateral arm for the right lower arch 30 and a second front arm for the right side 40 analogous to the second front arm for the left side 4 of said first instrument 1.

[0038] The pair of said first instrument 1 for the left side lower arch and second instrument 10 for the right side lower arch, in addition to allowing the spreading of the tissues, their retraction and stabilization during the scanning process, constitutes an actual guide aimed to simplify and facilitate the movement of the tip of the scanner. Indeed, during the scanning process, the tip of the scanner can be physically rested on the arms that constitute the instrument and it can be simply moved thereon, like on a track, with a fluid movement and without being obstructed, also enabling the maintenance of an optimal distance from the tissues.

[0039] All this facilitates the scanning process and allows maintaining the acquisition tip of the scanner always in the range of the depth of field and focus of the scanner, which improves and also simplifies the stitching process, i.e. for software processing and joining of the 3D images acquired for the purpose of reconstructing the shape of the surface subjected to scanning. Therefore the kit of dental instruments has been designed in a manner such to guide and support the intraoral scanning, integrating and incorporating the most suitable scanning strategies therein. In other words, the strategies of intraoral scanning, i.e. the mode with which the intraoral scanning is executed and the path that the tip of the scanner must follow so to be able to acquire the edentulous arches with accuracy and in their entirety, have been developed, elaborated and tested together with the kit, and the shape of its instruments has been optimized so as to facilitate and support the preferred execution of such scanning strategies.

[0040] Such scanning strategies for the edentulous lower arch are reported in FIG. 3. In practice, the intraoral scanning of the edentulous lower arch starts from the left side of the patient. The acquisition starts from the posterior region (i.e. left retromolar trigone of the patient), by keeping the tip of the scanner moved lingually with respect to the center of the crest and slightly rotated towards the lingual slope of the crest itself so as to optimize the orientation thereof towards the surface to be acquired; simultaneously, the tip of the scanner touches the front arm of the instrument, which prevents it from being moved away from the crest, and rests on the lateral arm that supports it. The tip of the scanner is thus moved in a manner such that by sliding along the surface of the front arm of the instrument, it can complete the travel indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 3, which allows acquiring the entire occlusal-lingual side of the edentulous crest.

[0041] Once the path indicated with the arrow A has been completed, the acquisition continues by moving the tip of the scanner according to the travel indicated with the arrow B, keeping it rested on the lateral arm of the instrument.

[0042] Once this is done, the instrument for the left side is removed and the instrument for the right side of the patient is introduced and positioned.

[0043] The acquisition starts again from the median region, by keeping the tip of the scanner moved lingually with respect to the center of the crest and slightly rotated toward the lingual slope of the crest itself in a manner so as to optimize the orientation thereof towards the surface to be acquired; simultaneously, the tip of the scanner touches the front arm of the instrument, which prevents it from being moved away from the crest, and rests on the lateral arm that supports it. The tip of the scanner is then moved in a manner such that by sliding along the surface of the front arm of the instrument, it can complete the travel indicated by the arrow C (FIG. 3). Once the posterior region has been reached (i.e. right retromolar trigone of the patient), the acquisition continues, by moving the tip of the scanner according to the travel indicated with the arrow D, keeping it rested on the lateral arm of the instrument.

[0044] Such scanning sequence is optimal for the right-handed operators, while for left-handed operators it is preferable to reverse, in a mirrored manner, the sequences reported in FIG. 3. With regard to the edentulous upper arch, said kit can, as stated above, further comprise a third instrument 100 for the edentulous upper arch. For the latter, given its anatomic shape, it is thus possible to make the intraoral scanning by using only one instrument as aid.

[0045] With reference to FIG. 4, the aid instrument for the intraoral scanning of the upper arch comprises a third handle 200 with parallelepiped shape with slightly rounded edges 200', at one of whose ends two arms 300 being applied that are both directed outward, respectively towards the right and towards the left; such arms serve for spreading open the cheeks, and the tip of the scanner can be rested and made to slide on such arms.

[0046] With reference to FIG. 4, it is indicated that both said symmetric arms 300 are extractible so as to allow the interchangeability with arms of different sizes, necessary for the adaptation to the individual variability between the patients. The symmetric arms 300 are inserted in the handle by means of through holes with rectangular section that allow the insertion of the right and left arm, each entering a hole from its own side. On the handle, in the direction of its length, different holes are present for connecting the lateral arms.

[0047] The symmetric arms, in order to be better adapted to the anatomy, are suitably shaped in the three spatial dimensions.

[0048] Said third instrument 100 of the kit, object of the present invention, in addition to allowing the spreading open of the tissues, their retraction and stabilization during the scanning process, constitutes an actual guide aimed to simplify and facilitate the movement of the tip of the scanner. Indeed, during the scanning process, the tip of the scanner can be physically rested on the symmetric arms 300 and it can be simply moved thereon, like on a track, with a fluid movement and without being obstructed, also enabling the maintenance of an optimal distance between the tissues. All this facilitates the scanning process and allows maintaining the acquisition tip of the scanner always in the range of the depth of field and focus of the scanner, which also improves and simplifies the stitching process, i.e. for software processing and joining of the 3D images acquired for the purpose of reconstructing the shape of the surface subjected to scanning. Therefore, said third instrument 300 was designed in a manner such to guide and support the intraoral scanning, integrating and incorporating the most suitable scanning strategies. In other words, the strategies of intraoral scanning, i.e. the mode with which the intraoral scanning is executed and the path that the tip of the scanner must follow so to be able to acquire the edentulous arches with accuracy and in their entirety, have been developed, elaborated and tested together with the instrument. Such scanning strategies for the edentulous upper arch are reported in FIG. 5 which shows the travels that the tip of the scanner is made to complete and the respective sequence, and which are indicated with the arrows.

[0049] In practice, the intraoral scanning of the edentulous upper arch starts from the left side of the patient. The acquisition starts from the posterior region (i.e. left maxillary tuberosity of the patient) by keeping the tip of the scanner at the center of the crest. The tip of the scanner is moved by following the crest center, in a manner such to complete the travel indicated with the arrow A′ (FIG. 5).

[0050] After having completed the path indicated with the arrow A′, the acquisition continues by moving the tip of the scanner according to the travel indicated with the arrow B′, which will allow acquiring the palate in its entirety.

[0051] Once this is done, the acquisition restarts from the region of the right maxillary tuberosity of the patient, by keeping the tip of the scanner moved vestibularly with respect to the center of the crest and slightly rotated towards the vestibular slope of the crest itself in a manner so as to optimize the orientation thereof towards the surface to be acquired; simultaneously, the tip of the scanner rests on the lateral arm of the instrument which supports it and guides it. The tip of the scanner is thus moved, in a manner such that by sliding along the surface of the arm of the instrument it can complete the travel indicated with the arrow C′ (FIG. 5) and acquire the external side of the edentulous crest up to the bottom of the corresponding arch. Once the median region is reached, the acquisition is interrupted in order to start again from the region of the left maxillary tuberosity of the patient, by undergoing the travel indicated with the arrow D′ and with the same modes described for the travel C′.

[0052] The kit according to the present invention makes use of the aid of, or it can further comprise in some preferred embodiments thereof, an apparatus for the automatic guiding of the scanner during the intraoral scanning.

[0053] Such apparatus consists of a body within which a through cavity is present, similar to the hole of a doughnut; such cavity constitutes the housing for the intraoral scanner which is inserted therein on one side such that the tip of the scanner exits from the opposite side. Such housing, in addition to supporting the scanner, is movable in the three spatial directions, thus allowing the movement of the scanner.

[0054] At the side where the tip of the scanner exits outward, the housings are present for the handles of the above-indicated guide instruments. Such holes are coordinated with the housing of the scanner in a manner such that the tip of the scanner can make contact with the arms of the corresponding guide instruments (in a manner analogous to when the scanner is managed manually). The data coming from the sensors on the guide instruments, as well as the data deriving from the gyroscope of the scanner, can be suitably integrated and processed in order to allow the unit for controlling the movement of the housing of the scanner to make the latter carry out the movement necessary for completing the scanning.

[0055] In its preferred embodiment, said kit comprises at least a first handle 2, or at least a second handle 20, or at least a third handle 200 and arms shaped for the various arches: i.e. at least a first left lateral arm 3 and first right lateral arm 30 for the left and right lower arch, respectively, and at least a second front arm left side 4 or second front arm right side 40. At least two symmetric arms 300 for the edentulous upper arch are also comprised. Thus, all the shapes, i.e. those for the upper arch and two (right and left) for the lower arch, share the same handle. Reference can be reported on the arms which indicate the scanning direction.

[0056] The variant for left-handed operators is provided only for the instruments relative to the lower arch and differs from the standard version due to the fact that the indication on the arms of the instruments, regarding the paths relative to the scanning strategy, has been reversed.

[0057] In addition, the left arm of the instrument relative to the upper arch can be attained in a variant that provides for a small rear extension, that allows the arm to be inserted in the hole of the handle subsequent to the hole there the right arm is housed, in order to allow the same identical position of the free end of the two arms, in the direction of the length.

[0058] An attachment mechanism can also be attained for attaching the two arms, right and left, in a manner such that both engage a single hole for the insertion in the handle.

[0059] Both for the instrument relative to the upper arch and for those relative to the lower arch, a child version is provided for, in which the relative arms have length and height reduced by 35%. The handle, as well as the relative mechanisms for connecting between the handle and the arms, remain unchanged.

[0060] In addition, several embodiments provide that the front arm has been traversed by a tunnel-shaped cavity which opens with 2 mm diameter holes on the lower side thereof. Such cavity continues with an analogous cavity present in the handle and the aim thereof is to be connected to the terminal of a sucker so to be able to carry out the suction and removal of the saliva during the use of the instrument.

[0061] A further version provides that the lateral arm and the internal arm are provided with sensors for the tip of the scanner such to assist the automated movement unit in producing a fluid and controlled movement.

[0062] Preferably, but not exclusively, in all embodiments thereof, said kit of dental instruments is such that its instruments have the following dimensions: said first instrument 1 for the left side lower arch of the patient and second instrument 10 for the right side lower arch of the patient have total length comprised between 150 mm and 154 mm, preferably is 152 mm; the first left arm 3 of the patient and the first right lateral arm have length comprised between 55 and 71 mm, preferably is 63 mm; said first front arm 4 for the left side and second front arm 40 for the right side have length comprised between 62 and 68 mm, preferably is 66 mm. Said third instrument 100 is such that its arms 300 have length comprised between 45 and 60 mm, preferably is 55 mm and that the distance between the free ends of said arms is comprised between 58 and 70 mm, and preferably is 64 mm.