Image based orthodontic treatment viewing system

• US 20060127852A1
• Filed: 12/14/2004
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Align Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Align Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Wen, Huafeng
• Application Number:
  US11/013,146
• Publication Number:
  US 20060127852A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 433/213
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/00 Orthodontics, i.e. obtaining or maintaining the desired position of teeth, e.g. by straightening, evening, regulating, separating, or by correcting malocclusions
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 9/004 Means or methods for taking digitized impressions
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 9/0046 Data acquisition means or methods

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for visualizing changes in a three dimensional (3D) model by receiving an initial 3D model for the patient; determining a target 3D model; and generating one or more intermediate 3D models by morphing one or more of the 3D models.

Claims

1. A method for visualizing changes in a three dimensional (3D) model, comprising:

a. receiving an initial 3D model for the patient;

b. determining a target 3D model; and

c. generating one or more intermediate 3D models by morphing one or more of the 3D models.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising extracting environment information from the model.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising rendering one or more images of the model.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the model is represented using one of:

polyhedrons and voxels.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the model is a patient model

6. The method of claim 5, comprising generating a virtual treatment for the patient.

7. The method of claim 5, comprising generating a post-treatment 3D model.

8. The method of claim 5, comprising rendering an image of the model.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising geometry subdividing and tessellating the model.

10. The method of claim 1, comprising generating an inside model of the 3D model.

13. The system of claim 1, comprising means for rendering one or more images of the model.

11. A visualization system, comprising:

a. means for receiving an initial three dimensional (3D) model for the patient;

b. means for determining a target 3D model; and

c. means for generating one or more intermediate 3D models by morphing one or more of the 3D models.

12. The system of claim 11, comprising means for extracting environment information from the model.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the model is represented using one of:

polyhedrons and voxels.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the model is a patient model

16. The system of claim 15, comprising means for generating a virtual treatment for the patient.

17. The system of claim 15, comprising means for generating a post-treatment 3D model.

18. The system of claim 15, comprising means for rendering an image of the model.

19. The system of claim 11, comprising means for geometry subdividing and tessellating the model.

20. The system of claim 11, comprising means for generating an inside model of the 3D model.