Method and apparatus for electronically generating a color dental occlusion map within electronic model images

• US 20030214501A1
• Filed: 04/29/2003
• Published: 11/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Dentex Corporation (GDC Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Geodigm Corporation (GDC Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Marshall, Michael Craig, Hultgren, Bruce Willard, Vadnais, Timothy W., Isaacson, Robert J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,716,024 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/05 for determining occlusion
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/20 Editing of 3D images, e.g. changing shapes or colours, aligning objects or positioning parts
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2210/41 Medical
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/2012 Colour editing, changing, or manipulating; Use of colour codes

Abstract

ABSTRACT A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide a system for electronically generating a color dental occlusion map within electronic model images. With the advances recently made computational systems, these computer based image systems may be used to permit end users to replace paper and physical models with electronic images. A mechanism to capture image representations of physical objects accurately and with sufficient resolution is provided in a form that is both inexpensive to operate while providing rapid turn-around for users. Second, a mechanism to visually display interaction between parts of an object is also provided. These features are expressly addressed for impressions of human teeth that are scanned to allow electronic images of the models of a patient'"'"'s teeth to be represented and manipulated.

Claims

1. A method for electronically generating a color dental occlusion map within electronic model images, the method comprising:

generating an electronic model of an upper set of teeth and a lower set of teeth;

manipulating a spatial separation of the upper set of teeth relative to the lower set of teeth along a path defined by a point of rotation and a known radius of rotation;

for each triangle vertex in a polygonal mesh, calculating a distance to an opposing mesh surface; and

for each triangle in the polygonal mesh, painting a surface of the polygonal mesh within each triangle a color corresponding to the calculated distance between the triangle vertex and the opposing mesh surface.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the generating an electronic model comprises:

scanning a physical model of a set of teeth; and

generating a polygonal mesh corresponding to the scanned surface.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the manipulating the spatial separation of the teeth comprises manually moving a graphical representation of a set of teeth relative to an an opposing set of teeth.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the point of rotation is defined using an electronic image of a patient'"'"'s skull.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the electronic image corresponds to a digital representation of an x-ray.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the painting the surface of the polygonal mesh uses a flat single color chosen from a color map.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the painting the surface of the polygonal mesh uses a smooth surface shading applied to a color chosen from a color map.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the painting the surface of the polygonal mesh uses a Garound shading applied to a color chosen from a color map.

9. A system for electronically generating a color dental occlusion map within electronic model images, the method comprising:

means for generating a electronic model of an upper set of teeth and a lower set of teeth;

means for manipulating a spatial separation of the upper set of teeth relative to the lower set of teeth along a path defined by a point of rotation and a known radius of rotation;

means for calculating a distance to an opposing mesh surface for each triangle vertex in a polygonal mesh; and

means for painting a surface of the polygonal mesh within each triangle a color corresponding to the calculated distance between the triangle vertex and the opposing mesh surface for each triangle in the polygonal mesh.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the means for generating an electronic model comprises:

means for scanning a physical model of a set of teeth; and

means for generating a polygonal mesh corresponding to the scanned surface.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein the means for manipulating the spatial separation of the teeth comprises manually moving a graphical representation of a set of teeth relative to an an opposing set of teeth.

12. The system according to claim 9, wherein the point of rotation is defined using an electronic image of a patient'"'"'s skull and the electronic image corresponds to a digital representation of an x-ray.

13. The system according to claim 9, wherein the means for painting the surface of the polygonal mesh uses a flat single color chosen from a color map.

14. The system according to claim 9, wherein the means for painting the surface of the polygonal mesh uses a smooth surface shading applied to a color chosen from a color map.

15. The system according to claim 9, wherein the means for painting the surface of the polygonal mesh uses a Garound shading applied to a color chosen from a color map.

16. A computer program data product readable by a computing system and encoding instructions implementing a method for electronically generating a color dental occlusion map within electronic model images, the method comprising:

generating a electronic model of an upper set of teeth and a lower set of teeth;

manipulating a spatial separation of the upper set of teeth relative to the lower set of teeth along a path defined by a point of rotation and a known radius of rotation;

for each triangle vertex in a polygonal mesh, calculating a distance to an opposing mesh surface; and

for each triangle in the polygonal mesh, painting a surface of the polygonal mesh within each triangle a color corresponding to the calculated distance between the triangle vertex and the opposing mesh surface.

17. The computer program data product according to claim 16, wherein

the generating an electronic model comprises:

scanning a physical model of a set of teeth; and

generating a polygonal mesh corresponding to the scanned surface; and

the manipulating the spatial separation of the teeth comprises manually moving a graphical representation of a set of teeth relative to an an opposing set of teeth.

18. The computer program data product according to claim 17, wherein the point of rotation is defined using an electronic image of a patient'"'"'s skull and the electronic image corresponds to a digital representation of an x-ray.

19. The computer program data product according to claim 18, wherein the painting the surface of the polygonal mesh uses a flat single color chosen from a color map.

20. The computer program data product according to claim 18, wherein the painting the surface of the polygonal mesh uses a smooth surface shading applied to a color chosen from a color map.