Intraoral scanner with dental diagnostics capabilities
First Claim
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1. A method for generating a three-dimensional (3D) volumetric model of a subject'"'"'s teeth using an intraoral scanner, the method comprising:
- taking surface images of the subject'"'"'s teeth and forming a 3D surface model of at least a portion of the subject'"'"'s teeth using the intraoral scanner as the intraoral scanner is moved over the teeth;
taking a plurality of images into the teeth using a near-infrared (near-IR) wavelength with the intraoral scanner as the intraoral scanner is moved over the teeth, so that multiple images of a same internal region of the teeth are imaged, wherein taking the plurality of images into the teeth comprises emitting a near-IR light from the intraoral scanner in a first polarization, and detecting, in an image sensor in the intraoral scanner, the near-IR light returning to the intraoral scanner, wherein the near-IR light returning to the intraoral scanner is filtered to remove specular reflection by filtering near-IR light in the first polarization from the near-IR light returning to the intraoral scanner before it reaches the image sensor;
constructing grid points for an inner volume of the 3D surface model;
determining, for each of the plurality of images into the teeth, a position of the intraoral scanner relative to the subject'"'"'s teeth using the 3D surface model data;
using the position of the intraoral scanner to project the grid points on each of the plurality of images into the teeth;
determine a minimum scattering coefficient for the projected grid points from all of the plurality of images into the teeth; and
forming the 3D volumetric model of the subject'"'"'s teeth including internal features using the minimum scattering coefficient for the projected grid points.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatuses for generating a model of a subject'"'"'s teeth. Described herein are intraoral scanning methods and apparatuses for generating a three-dimensional model of a subject'"'"'s intraoral region (e.g., teeth) including both surface features and internal features. These methods and apparatuses may be used for identifying and evaluating lesions, caries and cracks in the teeth. Any of these methods and apparatuses may use minimum scattering coefficients and/or segmentation to form a volumetric model of the teeth.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for generating a three-dimensional (3D) volumetric model of a subject'"'"'s teeth using an intraoral scanner, the method comprising:
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taking surface images of the subject'"'"'s teeth and forming a 3D surface model of at least a portion of the subject'"'"'s teeth using the intraoral scanner as the intraoral scanner is moved over the teeth; taking a plurality of images into the teeth using a near-infrared (near-IR) wavelength with the intraoral scanner as the intraoral scanner is moved over the teeth, so that multiple images of a same internal region of the teeth are imaged, wherein taking the plurality of images into the teeth comprises emitting a near-IR light from the intraoral scanner in a first polarization, and detecting, in an image sensor in the intraoral scanner, the near-IR light returning to the intraoral scanner, wherein the near-IR light returning to the intraoral scanner is filtered to remove specular reflection by filtering near-IR light in the first polarization from the near-IR light returning to the intraoral scanner before it reaches the image sensor; constructing grid points for an inner volume of the 3D surface model; determining, for each of the plurality of images into the teeth, a position of the intraoral scanner relative to the subject'"'"'s teeth using the 3D surface model data;
using the position of the intraoral scanner to project the grid points on each of the plurality of images into the teeth;determine a minimum scattering coefficient for the projected grid points from all of the plurality of images into the teeth; and forming the 3D volumetric model of the subject'"'"'s teeth including internal features using the minimum scattering coefficient for the projected grid points. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for generating a three-dimensional (3D) volumetric model of a subject'"'"'s teeth using an intraoral scanner, the method comprising:
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taking surface images of the subject'"'"'s teeth and forming a 3D surface model of at least a portion of the subject'"'"'s teeth using the intraoral scanner as the intraoral scanner is moved over the teeth; taking a plurality of images into the teeth using a near-infrared (near-IR) wavelength as the intraoral scanner is moved over the teeth by emitting a near-IR light from the intraoral scanner in a first polarization, and detecting, in an image sensor in the intraoral scanner, the near-IR light returning to the intraoral scanner, wherein the near-IR light returning to the intraoral scanner is filtered to remove specular reflection by filtering near-IR light in the first polarization from the near-IR light returning to the intraoral scanner before it reaches the image sensor; constructing grid points for an inner volume of the 3D surface model; determining, for each of the plurality of images into the teeth, a position of the intraoral scanner relative to the subject'"'"'s teeth when each of the plurality of images is captured, using the 3D surface model data; using the position of the intraoral scanner to project the grid points on each of the plurality of images into the teeth; determine a minimum scattering coefficient for the projected grid points from all of the plurality of images into the teeth; and forming the 3D volumetric model of the subject'"'"'s teeth including internal features using the minimum scattering coefficient for the projected grid points.
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13. An intraoral scanning system for generating a three-dimensional (3D) volumetric model of a subject'"'"'s teeth, the system comprising:
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a hand-held wand having at least one image sensor and a plurality of light sources, wherein the light sources are configured to emit light at a first spectral range and a second spectral range, wherein the second spectral range is within near-infrared (near-IR) range of wavelengths; a filter in front of the image sensor configured to filter light in the second spectral range and a first polarization; and one or more processors operably connected to the hand-held wand, the one or more processors configured to; take surface images of the subject'"'"'s teeth and forming a 3D surface model of at least a portion of the subject'"'"'s teeth as the intraoral scanner is moved over the teeth; take a plurality of images into the teeth using light in the second spectral range as the intraoral scanner is moved over the teeth by emitting a near-IR light from the intraoral scanner in the first polarization, and detecting, in the at least one image sensor in the intraoral scanner, the near-IR light returning to the intraoral scanner, wherein the near-IR light returning to the intraoral scanner is filtered to remove specular reflection by filtering near-IR light in the first polarization from the near-IR light returning to the intraoral scanner before it reaches the image sensor; construct grid points for an inner volume of the 3D surface model; determine, for each of the plurality of images into the teeth, a position of the hand-held wand relative to the subject'"'"'s teeth using the 3D surface model data; use the position of the intraoral scanner to project the grid points on each of the plurality of images into the teeth; determine a minimum scattering coefficient for the projected grid points from all of the plurality of images into the teeth; and form the 3D volumetric model of the subject'"'"'s teeth including internal features using the minimum scattering coefficient for the projected grid points. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification