Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for determining the three-dimensional position and attitude

US4639220A · kind A · utility

67Cited by
10References
2Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 29, 1983
Grant dateJan 27, 1987
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 29, 2003

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61C19/045
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An apparatus for measuring the three-dimensional position and attitude of upper and lower clutches attached on patient's maxillary and mandibular teeth for computerized measurement of the mandibular movements necessary for the fabrication of dental prostheses is disclosed. The apparatus includes a part of a sphere that is fixed to the mandible and which is marked with a reference line and a part of another sphere of substantially the same radius as that of the above sphere, which is fixed to the maxilla and which is also marked with a reference line. The surfaces of the two spheres are caused to slide against each other, with their centers being in alignment, thereby achieving the measurement of the relative attitude of the two spheres.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.