System and method for scanning an intraoral cavity

• US 10,159,546 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2017
• Issued: 12/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Align Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Align Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Kopelman, Avi, Taub, Eldad, Babayoff, Noam
• Primary Examiner(s): Breene, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bermudez, Yaritza H Perez
• Application Number:
  US15/488,297
• Publication Number:
  US 20170215998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1077 Measuring of profiles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4547 Evaluating teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/743 Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 13/0004 Computer-assisted sizing or machining of dental prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 5/77 Methods or devices for making crowns
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/002 Orthodontic computer assisted systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 9/006 projecting one or more stripes or patterns on the teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 9/0066 Depth determination through adaptive focusing
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 9/008 Mechanical means or methods, e.g. a contact probe moving over the teeth
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/24 for measuring contours or curvatures
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/50 for simulation or modelling of medical disorders
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

According to the invention, a method and system are provided for scanning, and for facilitating scanning of, an intraoral cavity. The target parts of the intraoral cavity that it is desired to have scanned are identified, and the spatial s relationships between a scanning device and the target parts of the intraoral cavity suitable for enabling said target parts to be scanned by said scanning device, are also identified or otherwise determined. These relationships are then displayed, and the displayed relationships are used as a guide for scanning the intraoral cavity.

Claims

1. A method for providing scanning guidance for a scanning device, comprising:

(a) receiving, at a computer system, user input selecting target parts of an intraoral cavity to be subsequently scanned by said scanning device;

(b) determining, using the computer system, spatial relationships between the scanning device and said target parts of the intraoral cavity suitable for enabling said target parts to be subsequently scanned by said scanning device, wherein visual guide instructions for positioning and orienting said scanning device are generated by the computer system based on said spatial relationships; and

(c) displaying, with the computer system on a display, said visual guide instructions for positioning and orienting said scanning device relative to the intraoral cavity in a manner substantially conforming to said spatial relationships;

wherein said visual guide instructions comprise a symbol representative of a profile corresponding to an expected view of said target parts or of ancillary parts in said intraoral cavity associated with said target parts, the expected view corresponding to the determined spatial relationships, and the symbol comprising a line defining an interface between a plurality of image zones.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said scanning device provides 3D data of said target parts for use in a predetermined dental procedure.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein

said step (a) includes receiving user input identifying said ancillary parts in said intraoral cavity associated with said target parts, wherein 3D data of said ancillary parts is also provided for use in said predetermined dental procedure;

said step (b) comprises, for each said target part and each said ancillary part, determining for said scanning device a series of spatial parameters, each comprising scanning station data for enabling said scanning device to fully scan said corresponding target part or ancillary part;

wherein said scanning station data of said series of spatial parameters includes a proximity and a relative orientation of said scanning device with respect to said target part or ancillary part such as to enable said scanning device to obtain 3D topographical data of an area of said target part or ancillary part;

wherein said series provides 3D topographical data for a corresponding plurality of said areas, wherein said spatial parameters of said series are determined such that at least some adjacent said areas overlap one another.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein step (c) comprises displaying a nominal image comprising an image of at least a portion of a nominal intraoral cavity comprising corresponding said target parts and said ancillary parts, and an image of a nominal scanning device, wherein the nominal intraoral cavity and the image of the nominal scanning device are displayed in a spatial relationship with respect to one another corresponding to the spatial relationship as determined in step (b) for at least one spatial parameter of said series of spatial parameters.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein a series of said nominal images are provided, each image in said series corresponding to a different one of said spatial parameters of said series of spatial parameters.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said series of nominal images is displayed in a predetermined sequence.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein said nominal image comprises 3D attributes, and wherein said nominal image comprises said nominal intraoral cavity at any desired orientation with respect to a predetermined coordinate system.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said orientation corresponds to a real life view of the intraoral cavity of a patient from the vantage point of a dental practitioner.

9. The method according to claim 3, wherein step (c) comprises displaying indicia on a viewfinder capable of providing a video image of a field of view of said scanning device, said indicia being indicative of a desired position for associating a predetermined portion of said target parts or ancillary parts in a particular manner with respect therewith.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said expected view comprises a view from said viewfinder.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein optical recognition methods are applied to said video image for providing a profile of the image, said symbol comprising said profile.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said profile comprises a shaped line shaped as an outline of a tooth as seen by said viewfinder.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein said symbol comprises a shaped line shaped as an outline of a tooth seen in any one of a top view, buccal view or lingual view.

14. The method according to claim 3, wherein said procedure comprises a prosthodontic procedure for a crown with respect to a preparation, said target parts comprising said preparation, and said ancillary parts comprising at least a portion of the teeth adjacent to said preparation and facing said preparation from the opposed jaw.

15. The method according to claim 3, wherein said procedure comprises a prosthodontic procedure for a bridge with respect to a plurality of preparations, said target parts comprising said plurality of preparations, and said ancillary parts comprising at least a portion of the teeth adjacent to a furthermost distal preparation and adjacent a furthermost mesial preparation, and at least a portion of the teeth facing said plurality of preparations from the opposed jaw.

16. The method according to claim 2, wherein said procedure comprises an orthodontic procedure, and said target parts comprise the full dentition of at least one jaw of said intraoral cavity.

17. A system for scanning of an intraoral cavity, the system comprising:

a scanning device;

an input module configured to receive a user input selecting target parts of the intraoral cavity to be subsequently scanned by said scanning device;

a processing module configured to determine spatial relationships between the scanning device and said target parts of the intraoral cavity suitable for enabling said target parts to be subsequently scanned by said scanning device and to generate, based on said spatial relationships, visual guide instructions for positioning and orienting said scanning device relative to the intraoral cavity in a manner substantially conforming to said spatial relationships; and

a display module comprising a display configured to display said spatial relationships so as to provide a visual guide protocol for a user to position and orient said scanning device relative to the intraoral cavity in a manner substantially conforming to said spatial relationships during scanning of said intraoral cavity, thereby providing guidance for subsequent scanning of said target parts by said scanning device; and

wherein said visual guide instructions comprise a symbol representative of a profile corresponding to an expected view of said target parts or of ancillary parts in said intraoral cavity associated with said target parts, the expected view corresponding to the determined spatial relationships, and the symbol comprising a line defining an interface between a plurality of image zones.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said scanning device is configured for scanning according to said spatial relationships.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein said scanning device comprises a probe for scanning according to said spatial relationships.

20. The system according to claim 17, wherein said scanning device is configured to provide 3D data of said target parts for use in a predetermined dental procedure.