US 12,307,918 B2
Automated measurement apparatus and method for quantifying dimensions of dental preparation
Yaser Maddahi, Winnipeg (CA); Maryam Kalvandi, Winnipeg (CA); Ali Maddahi, Winnipeg (CA); and Pruthvinath Rao Dhannapuneni, Winnipeg (CA)
Assigned to Tactile Robotics Ltd., Winnipeg (CA)
Filed by TACTILE ROBOTICS LTD., Winnipeg (CA)
Filed on Mar. 22, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/700,823.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/164,759, filed on Mar. 23, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0309953 A1, Sep. 29, 2022
Int. Cl. G09B 23/28 (2006.01)
CPC G09B 23/283 (2013.01) [G06T 2207/30036 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An automated measurement apparatus for measuring dimensions of a tooth having a plurality of surfaces, the apparatus comprising:
a base frame;
a tooth holder supported on the base frame and arranged to support the tooth therein;
a measurement sensor supported on the base frame and arranged to sense a measured distance along a measurement axis of the sensor between the measurement sensor and a corresponding surface portion of one of the surfaces of the tooth;
a first actuation assembly supporting the measurement sensor for translating movement relative to the tooth holder along two different translating axes within a measurement plane oriented perpendicularly to the measurement axis;
a second actuation assembly supporting the tooth holder for angular movement relative to the measurement sensor about at least one rotational axis oriented parallel to the measurement plane between a plurality of different angular orientations corresponding to different ones of the surfaces of the tooth to be measured respectively;
a controller operatively connected to the measurement sensor, the first actuation assembly and the second actuation assembly, whereby the controller is arranged to:
(i) operate the second actuation assembly to locate the tooth holder relative to the measurement sensor in at least one of the angular orientations of the second actuation assembly; and
(ii) for said at least one of the angular orientations of the second actuation assembly, operate the first actuation assembly to displace the measurement sensor relative to the tooth holder through an array of measurement locations within the measurement plane to capture the measured distance to the corresponding surface portion at each measurement location for the respective surface of the tooth and thereby define a geometry of the respective surface of the tooth.