Patent · US Expired

Simulation method for visualizing density of jawbone for dental implantation

US6224373A · kind A · utility

41Cited by
5References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 11, 1999
Grant dateMay 1, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 11, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61C1/084
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A simulation method and a computer readable medium therefor visualize in three dimensions the density of a jawbone at an implant area where an implant screw contacts the jawbone using information about the density of the jawbone obtained by computed tomography (CT) and a virtual implant screw. The simulation method includes the steps of forming a three-dimensional image of the jawbone, the image including information about the jawbone density. A color map corresponding to the density distribution of the jawbone is set, and a virtual implant screw is modeled by a plurality of brick elements. Then, the virtual implant screw is inserted into a surgical area of the jawbone image, and values of the jawbone density at the points where each brick element of the virtual implant screw contacts the jawbone, are calculated. Then, colors are searched in the color map corresponding to the density values of the jawbone image near each brick element, and faces of the virtual implant screw are colored. Using this invention, a dental surgeon can accurately ascertain the density of the jawbone at an implant area prior to actual implantation, thereby minimizing the side effects which may occur during…

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