US 12,186,154 B2
Dental methods with fiducial marker transfer jigs
Patrick C. Bell, La Crosse, WI (US); Leo J. Malin, La Crosse, WI (US); and Thomas J. Arendt, Norwalk, WI (US)
Filed by Patrick C. Bell, La Crosse, WI (US); Leo J. Malin, La Crosse, WI (US); and Thomas J. Arendt, Norwalk, WI (US)
Filed on Oct. 18, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/073,359.
Application 17/073,359 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/783,678, filed on Feb. 6, 2020, granted, now 11,612,451.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/978,778, filed on Feb. 19, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0244517 A1, Aug. 12, 2021
Int. Cl. A61C 9/00 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01); A61C 13/20 (2006.01)
CPC A61C 9/0053 (2013.01) [A61B 90/39 (2016.02); A61C 9/0006 (2013.01); A61C 13/20 (2013.01); A61B 2090/3912 (2016.02); A61B 2090/3916 (2016.02); A61B 2090/3991 (2016.02)] 4 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for analyzing a jaw of a patient, the method comprising:
attaching a fiducial marker to the jaw;
scanning the jaw and the fiducial marker attached thereto;
providing a marker transfer jig that includes a first end and a second end;
attaching the first end of the marker transfer jig to the fiducial marker such that the first end is in direct contact with the fiducial marker;
after attaching the first end of the marker transfer jig to the fiducial marker, applying a molding material to the jaw and to the second end of the marker transfer jig while the first end of the marker transfer jig is directly attached to the fiducial marker;
allowing the molding material to set while on the jaw, thereby creating a mold that defines a mold cavity;
at least partially encasing the second end of the marker transfer jig within the molding material while allowing the molding material to set;
separating the first end of the marker transfer jig from the fiducial marker by removing the molding material and the marker transfer jig from the jaw while the second end of the marker transfer jig remains at least partially encased within the molding material;
attaching a marker body model to the first end of the marker transfer jig while the second end of the marker transfer jig remains at least partially encased within the molding material;
filling the mold cavity with a casting material;
at least partially encasing the marker body model within the casting material while filling the mold cavity with the casting material;
allowing the casting material to set;
removing the casting material from within the mold cavity while the marker body model remains at least partially encased within the casting material; and
separating the marker transfer jig from the marker body model.