Apparatus and method for measuring the color of teeth

• US 20010049083A1
• Filed: 07/12/2001
• Published: 12/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: JJL Technologies, L.L.C.
• Inventors: Jung, Russell W., Loudermilk, Alan R., Jung, Wayne D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,244,122 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 433/29
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0233 Optical standards
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/247 Hygienic covers, i.e. for covering the sensor or apparatus during use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4547 Evaluating teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/04 Measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C5/44 takes precedence; testing vitality of teeth A61B5/0534; radiation diagnosis specially adapted for dentistry A61B6/51
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/10 Supports for artificial teeth for transport or for comparison of the colour
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0218 using optical fibers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/46 Measurement of colour; Colour measuring devices, e.g. colorimeters measuring colour temperature G01J5/60
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/463 Colour matching
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/50 using electric radiation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/508 measuring the colour of teeth
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/51 using colour filters
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/513 having fixed filter-detector pairs
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/474 Details of optical heads therefor, e.g. using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/57 Measuring gloss

Abstract

Color measuring systems and methods such as for determining the color or other characteristics of teeth are disclosed. Perimeter receiver fiber optics are spaced apart from a central source fiber optic and receive light reflected from the surface of the object/tooth being measured. Light from the perimeter fiber optics pass to a variety of filters. The system utilizes the perimeter receiver fiber optics to determine information regarding the height and angle of the probe with respect to the object/tooth being measured. Under processor control, the color measurement may be made at a predetermined height and angle. Various color spectral photometer arrangements are disclosed. Translucency, fluorescence and/or surface texture data also may be obtained. Audio feedback may be provided to guide operator use of the system. The probe may have a removable or shielded tip for contamination prevention. A method of producing dental prostheses based on measured data also is disclosed. Measured data also may be stored and/or organized as part of a patient data base.

Claims

1. A method for producing a dental prosthesis for a patient, comprising the steps of:

measuring a tooth of the patient, the measuring step comprising moving a probe towards and away from the tooth, wherein the probe provides light to the surface of the tooth, and receives light reflected from the tooth through a plurality of receiving fiber optics, wherein the tooth is measured when the light received from the plurality of receiving fiber optics peak substantially simultaneously, wherein the measuring produces data indicative of the characteristics of the tooth;

generating data for the dental prosthesis based on the measured data; and

preparing the dental prosthesis.

2. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the step of generating data for the dental prosthesis comprises generating data determinative of a match between the measured data and a shade guide value.