Method and apparatus for measuring a location and orientation of a plurality of implants

1. An apparatus for measuring a location and orientation of each of a plurality of dental implants, comprising:

a base; and

a plurality of extension members protruding from the base, wherein each of the plurality of extension members is movable in relation to the base, each extension member comprising:

a proximal end connected to the base,

a distal end, and

a coping connected to the distal end, wherein the coping is movable in relation to a corresponding extension member, and wherein the coping is adapted to be mechanically locked in a selected location and orientation; and

a plurality of clamps, wherein each of the plurality of clamps is adapted to lock a corresponding extension member to the base;

wherein each extension member comprises an elongate upper portion and an elongate lower portion, and

wherein each of the plurality of clamps is adapted to urge one of the upper and lower portions toward the other of the upper and lower portions of a corresponding extension member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of clamps is adapted to lock a corresponding coping in the selected location and orientation.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein each coping is at least partially received in a corresponding spherical member, and

wherein each of the plurality of clamps is adapted to urge the upper and lower portions of the corresponding extension member against an external surface of the corresponding spherical member to lock a location and orientation of the corresponding spherical member with respect to the extension member.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 ,

wherein each coping is at least partially received in a through-hole of the corresponding spherical member, wherein the through-hole is defined by an interior surface of the spherical member, and

wherein each of the plurality of clamps is adapted to urge the upper and lower portions of the corresponding extension member against the external surface of the corresponding spherical member to reduce a diameter of the through-hole of the corresponding spherical member, thereby urging the interior surface of the corresponding spherical member against the corresponding coping, to lock the location and orientation of the coping with respect to the base.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the coping is connected to the corresponding extension member by a ball joint.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein the base comprises at least one slot;

wherein each of the plurality of clamps passes through one of the at least one slot; and

wherein each of the plurality of clamps is adapted to lock the corresponding extension member relative to the corresponding slot.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

each coping defines a through-hole adapted to receive a screw connected to one of the plurality of dental implants.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein

the through-hole of each coping is sized to receive a measurement target detectable by a control measurement device.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the location and orientation of each coping is fixed with respect to the corresponding extension member;

each coping is rotatable about the corresponding extension member in at least two orthogonal axes; and

each clamp is adapted to resist rotation of the corresponding coping relative to the corresponding extension member.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein

at least one extension member is positionable along a plane, and

each extension member is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the plane, the axis being concentric with the corresponding clamp.

11. An apparatus for replicating a location and orientation of each of a plurality of dental implants, comprising:

a base; and

a plurality of extension members protruding from the base, wherein each of the plurality of extension members is movable in relation to the base, each extension member comprising:

a proximal end connected to the base,

a distal end, and

an implant analogue connected to the distal end, wherein the implant analogue is movable in relation to a corresponding extension member, and wherein the implant analogue is adapted to be mechanically locked in a selected location and orientation; and

a plurality of clamps, wherein each of the plurality of clamps is adapted to lock a corresponding extension member to the base;

wherein each extension member comprises an elongate upper portion and an elongate lower portion, and

wherein each of the plurality of clamps is adapted to urge one of the upper and lower portions toward the other of the upper and lower portions of a corresponding extension member.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of clamps is adapted to lock a corresponding implant analogue in the selected location and orientation.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 ,

wherein each implant analogue is at least partially received in a corresponding spherical member, and

wherein each of the plurality of clamps is adapted to urge the upper and lower portions of the corresponding extension member against an external surface of the corresponding spherical member to lock a location and orientation of the corresponding spherical member with respect to the extension member.

14. The apparatus of claim 13

wherein each implant analogue is at least partially received in a through-hole of the corresponding spherical member, wherein the through-hole is defined by an interior surface of the spherical member, and

wherein each of the plurality of clamps is adapted to urge the upper and lower portions of the corresponding extension member against the external surface of the corresponding spherical member to reduce a diameter of the through-hole of the corresponding spherical member thereby urging the interior surface of the corresponding spherical member against the corresponding implant analogue, to lock the location and orientation of the implant analogue with respect to the base.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the implant analogue is connected to the corresponding extension member by a ball joint.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 ,

wherein the base comprises at least one slot;

wherein each of the plurality of clamps passes through one of the at least one slot; and

wherein each of the plurality of clamps is adapted to lock the corresponding extension member relative to the corresponding slot.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein

the location and orientation of each implant analogue is fixed with respect to the corresponding extension member;

each implant analogue is rotatable about the corresponding extension member in at least two orthogonal axes; and

each clamp is adapted to resist rotation of the corresponding implant analogue relative to the corresponding extension member.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein

at least one extension member is positionable along a plane, and

each extension member is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the plane, the axis being concentric with the corresponding clamp.