Glue-free dental articulator and method of use
US6318998A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 10, 2000 |
| Grant date | Nov 20, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 10, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61C11/084
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention provides a low-cost, durable dental articulator that does not require the use of toxic or messy glues. The articulator is composed of a pair of bands that encircle and are attached to the plaster upper and lower teeth bases of the model, a pair of spheres that mechanically attach to the bands at any of several positions corresponding to the rear of the mouth on the dental model, and a hinge assembly simulating movement of the jaw and made of two arcs attached to each other at their ends by a hinge mechanism and having clamps at their apexes for attaching to the spheres. The dental model can be adjusted to mimic the occlusion of the patient by adjusting the position at which the spheres are attached to the bands and the position of the spheres in the clamps.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.