Methods and apparatuses for forming a three-dimensional volumetric model of a subject's teeth

• US 10,509,838 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2019
• Issued: 12/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Align Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Align Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Elbaz, Gilad, Lampert, Erez, Atiya, Yossef, Kopelman, Avi, Saphier, Ofer, Moshe, Maayan, Ayal, Shai
• Primary Examiner(s): Matt, Marnie A
• Application Number:
  US16/370,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20190258690A1
• Time in Patent Office: 263 Days
• Field of Search: 433 29, 433215
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/24 for the mouth, i.e. stomatoscopes, e.g. with tongue depressors tongue depressors per se A61B13/00; Instruments for opening or keeping open the mouth combined with saliva removers A61C17/00; mouth openers for animals A61D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0223 of calibration, e.g. protocols for calibrating sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0062 Arrangements for scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0086 using infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0088 for oral or dental tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7203 for noise prevention, reduction or removal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7435 Displaying user selection data, e.g. icons in a graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/088 Illuminating devices or attachments for examination of the mouth A61B1/24 and A61B1/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 9/0053 Optical means or methods, e.g. scanning the teeth by a laser or light beam
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/08 Volume rendering
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/00 Three dimensional [3D] modelling, e.g. data description of 3D objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30036 Dental; Teeth
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30244 Camera pose
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2210/41 Medical
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/55 from multiple images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/75 involving models
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/221 using the relative movement between cameras and objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/246 Calibration of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/254 : in combination with electromagnetic radiation sources for illuminating objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/257 : Colour aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/271 : wherein the generated image signals comprise depth maps or disparity maps

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.

Claims

1. A sleeve device for an intraoral scanner, the device comprising:

a sleeve body configured to couple with a wand of an intraoral scanner, the sleeve body comprising a light-passing region at a distal end of the sleeve body configured to allow near-infrared (near-IR) light to pass;

a first wing extending from the distal end of the sleeve body adjacent to the light-passing region;

a second wing extending from the distal end of the sleeve body adjacent to the light-passing region;

one or more near-IR light sources in the first wing configured to emit near-IR light; and

one or more electrical contacts within the sleeve and configured to make an electrical contact with the wand to receive energy from the wand to power the one or more near-IR light sources.

2. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein the sleeve body is rigid.

3. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein the first and second wings are opposite from each other and extend in a proximal to distal direction adjacent to the light-passing region.

4. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein the sleeve comprises circuitry connected to the one or more near-IR light sources.

5. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein at least one of the near-IR light sources in the first wing is at least partially encapsulated in the first wing to block a portion of the near-IR light source.

6. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein the one or more near-IR light sources on the first wing are between about 6.5 and 11.5 mm from the light-passing region at the distal end of the sleeve body.

7. The sleeve of claim 1, further comprising one or more additional near-IR light sources on the second wing.

8. The sleeve of claim 1, further comprising a near-IR sensor on the first wing or the second wing.

9. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein the sleeve housing is configured to be held on a distal end of the wand by an attachment.

10. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein the sleeve housing is configured to be held on a distal end of the wand by friction.

11. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein the light-passing region comprises an opening through the sleeve.

12. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein the first wing and the second wing extend perpendicular to the light-passing region.

13. A sleeve device for an intraoral scanner, the device comprising:

a sleeve body configured to couple with a wand of an intraoral scanner, the sleeve body comprising a light-passing region at a distal end of the sleeve body that is configured to allow near-infrared (near-IR) light to pass;

a first wing extending from the distal end of the sleeve body adjacent to the light-passing region;

a second wing extending from the distal end of the sleeve body adjacent to the light-passing region, wherein the first and second wings are opposite from each other and extend in a proximal to distal direction adjacent to the light-passing region;

one or more near-IR light sources in a surface of the first wing that is opposite from a surface of the second wing; and

one or more electrical contacts in the sleeve and configured to make an electrical contact with the wand to receive energy from the wand to power the one or more near-IR light sources.

14. The sleeve of claim 13, wherein the sleeve body is rigid.

15. The sleeve of claim 13, wherein the sleeve comprises circuitry connected to the one or more near-IR light sources.

16. The sleeve of claim 13, wherein at least one of the near-IR light sources in the first wing is at least partially encapsulated in the first wing to block a portion of the near-IR light source.

17. The sleeve of claim 13, wherein the one or more near-IR light sources on the first wing are between about 6.5 and 11.5 mm from the light-passing region at the distal end of the sleeve body.

18. The sleeve of claim 13, further comprising one or more additional near-IR light sources on the second wing.

19. The sleeve of claim 13, further comprising a near-IR sensor on the first wing or the second wing.

20. The sleeve of claim 13, wherein the sleeve housing is configured to be held on a distal end of the wand by an attachment.

21. The sleeve of claim 13, wherein the sleeve housing is configured to be held on a distal end of the wand by friction.

22. The sleeve of claim 13, wherein the light-passing region comprises an opening through the sleeve.

23. The sleeve of claim 13, wherein the first wing and the second wing extend perpendicular to the light-passing region.

24. A sleeve device for an intraoral scanner, the device comprising:

a sleeve body configured to fit onto the distal end of a wand of an intraoral scanner, the sleeve body comprising a light-passing region at a distal end of the sleeve body configured to allow near-infrared (near-IR) light to pass;

a first wing extending from the distal end of the sleeve body adjacent to the light-passing region;

a second wing extending from the distal end of the sleeve body adjacent to the light-passing region, wherein the first and second wings are opposite from each other and extend in a proximal to distal direction adjacent to the light-passing region;

one or more near-IR light sources in a surface of the first wing that is opposite from a surface of the second wing; and

one or more electrical contacts at a proximal end of the sleeve body and configured to make an electrical contact with the wand to receive energy from the wand to power the one or more near-IR light sources.