Orthodontic force measurement system for personalized treatments

1 . A fixture system for measuring orthodontic load systems on tooth models of teeth of a patient's dentition, comprising:

a frame;

a plurality of load cells mounted to the frame;

a plurality of fixture tooth models, each of the plurality of fixture tooth models including a tooth portion and an adapter portion;

one or more load cell tooth holders, wherein each load cell tooth holder is configured to support a fixture tooth model of the plurality of fixture tooth models with respect to one of the plurality of load cells at a position simulating a position of a corresponding tooth of the patient's dentition; and

one or more fixed tooth holders, wherein each fixed tooth holder, when mounted to the frame, is held in a fixed position relative to the frame and is configured to support a fixture tooth model of the plurality of fixture tooth models with respect to the frame at a position simulating a position of a corresponding tooth of the patient's dentition;

wherein the adapter portion of each fixture tooth model is coupled to and constructed in conjunction with the tooth portion of the fixture tooth model, the adapter portion being patient-specific such that when the fixture tooth model is supported by a corresponding load cell tooth holder, the adapter portion causes the tooth portion to be positioned at a position corresponding to an actual tooth of the patient's dentition.

2 . The fixture system of claim 1 wherein each load cell tooth holder is configured to removably support the fixture tooth model with respect to the one of the plurality of load cells.

3 . The fixture system of claim 2 wherein each fixed tooth holder is configured to removably support the fixture tooth model with respect to the frame.

4 . The fixture system of claim 3 wherein each fixed tooth holder includes:

a base configured to mount to the frame and a mount extending from the base; and

wherein the adapter portion of each fixture tooth model is configured to removably engage a corresponding mount.

5 . The fixture system of claim 4 wherein the fixed tooth holder is configured to be removably mounted to the frame.

6 . The fixture system of claim 1 wherein:

each load cell tooth holder includes a mount extending from the load cell tooth holder; and

the adapter portion of each fixture tooth model is configured to removably engage a corresponding mount.

7 . The fixture system of claim 6 wherein the load cell tooth holder is configured to be removably mounted to the load cell.

8 . The fixture system of claim 1 wherein each fixed tooth holder is configured to removably support the fixture tooth model with respect to the frame.

9 . The fixture system of claim 8 wherein each fixed tooth holder includes:

a base configured to mount to the frame and a mount extending from the base;

wherein the adapter portion of each fixture tooth model is configured to removably engage a corresponding mount.

10 . The fixture system of claim 9 wherein the fixed tooth holder is configured to be removably mounted to the frame.

11 . The fixture system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of load cells is located on the frame in a generally U-shaped arrangement.

12 . The fixture system of claim 11 wherein the frame includes:

a base, and wherein the plurality of load cells is mounted to the base; and

a support, and wherein the support is spaced from the base, defines a generally U-shaped edge aligned with a U-shaped arrangement of the plurality of load cells, and is configured to receive the one or more fixed tooth holders.

13 . The fixture system of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of load cells is a three-dimensional load cell.

14 . The fixture system of claim 1 , wherein the adapter portion of each fixture tooth model includes a locating groove and the frame includes a locating slice, the locating groove being configured to releasably receive and mate with the locating slice.

15 . The fixture system of claim 14 , wherein the frame further includes a shim, the shim being configured to cooperate with the locating slice and the locating groove to adjust a position of the fixture tooth model.

16 . A computing system for use in connection with the fixture system for measuring orthodontic load systems on tooth models of teeth of a patient's dentition of claim 1 , comprising:

memory that stores:

load cell position data defining positions of the plurality of load cells with respect to one another in a first coordinate system;

tooth model data representative of the fixture tooth models supported by the one or more load cell tooth holders and the one or more fixed tooth holders; and

dentition position data defining positions of the fixture tooth models with respect to one another in a second coordinate system; and

a processing system configured to:

receive load measurement data from each of the plurality of load cells supporting a fixture tooth model; and

determine load system data in the second coordinate system.

17 . The computing system of claim 16 wherein the processing system is configured to convert the load system data on the load cell to force/moment data on the teeth by:

determining the second coordinate system in the first coordinate system by coordinate transformation; and

determining the force/moment data in the second coordinate system.

18 . The computing system of claim 16 wherein the tooth model data comprises three-dimensional model data defining surfaces of the fixture tooth models to which treatment appliances can be applied.

19 . The computing system of claim 16 wherein the load system data comprises three-dimensional force data.

20 . A computer system for generating tooth models for use in connection with the fixture system for measuring orthodontic treatments on tooth models of teeth of a patient's dentition of claim 1 , comprising:

memory for storing data representative of relative locations of the plurality of load cells, the one or more load cell tooth holders, and/or the one or more fixed tooth holders;

one or more processors configured to:

receive dentition data representative of a patient's dentition, wherein the dentition data includes shape data defining three-dimensional shapes of the teeth and position data defining of positions of the teeth with respect to one another; and

create a digital tooth model for one or more teeth of the dentition, wherein the digital tooth model includes the tooth on an adapter, and wherein the adapter is configured to position the tooth portion of the fixture tooth model at the position of a corresponding tooth of the patient's dentition when mounted to the one or more load cell tooth holders, and/or the one or more fixed tooth holders.

21 . The computer system of claim 20 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

construct the fixture tooth model including the adapter based on the digital tooth model.