Image based dentition record digitization

• US 20060127854A1
• 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:
  US11/013,153
• Publication Number:
  US 20060127854A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 433/213
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4547 Evaluating teeth
• 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 9/0053 Optical means or methods, e.g. scanning the teeth by a laser or light beam

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for generating a 3D model of an object using one or more cameras by: calibrating each camera; establishing a coordinate system and environment for the one or more cameras; registering one or more fiducials on the object; and capturing one or more images and constructing a 3D model from images.

Claims

1. A method for generating a 3D model of an object using one or more cameras, comprising:

calibrating each camera;

establishing a coordinate system and environment for the one or more cameras;

registering one or more fiducials on the object; and

capturing one or more images and constructing a 3D model from images.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the model is used for one of the following:

measurement of 3 D geometry for teeth/gingival/face/jaw;

measurement of position, orientation and size of teeth/gingival/face/jaw;

determination of the type of malocclusion for treatment;

recognition of tooth features;

recognition of gingiva feature;

extraction of teeth from jaw scans;

registration with marks or sparkles to identify features of interest;

facial profile analysis;

filling in gaps in 3 D models from photogrammetry using preacquired models based on prior information about teeth/jaw/face, and creating a facial/orthodontic model.

3. The method of claim 1, 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.

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

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

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

polyhedrons and voxels.

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

8. The method of claim 7, comprising generating a virtual treatment for the patient and generating a post-treatment 3D model.

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

10. The method of claim 1, comprising:

identifying one or more common features on the tooth model;

detecting the position of the common features on the tooth model at the first position;

detecting the position of the common features on the tooth model at the second position; and

determining a difference between the position of each common feature at the first and second positions.

11. A system for generating a 3D model of an object, comprising:

one or more calibrated cameras;

means for establishing a coordinate system and environment for the one or more cameras;

means for registering one or more fiducials on the object; and

means for capturing one or more images and constructing a 3D model from images.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the model is used for one of the following:

measurement of 3 D geometry for teeth/gingival/face/jaw;

measurement of position, orientation and size of teeth/gingival/face/jaw;

determination of the type of malocclusion for treatment;

recognition of tooth features;

recognition of gingiva feature;

extraction of teeth from jaw scans;

registration with marks or sparkles to identify features of interest;

facial profile analysis;

filling in gaps in 3 D models from photogrammetry using preacquired models based on prior information about teeth/jaw/face, and creating a facial/orthodontic model.

13. The system of claim 11, comprising means for:

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

b. determining a target 3D model; and

c. generating one or more intermediate 3D models.

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

15. The system of claim 11, comprising means for rendering one or more images of the model.

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

polyhedrons and voxels.

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

18. The system of claim 17, comprising means for generating a virtual treatment for the patient and generating a post-treatment 3D 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:

identifying one or more common features on the tooth model;

detecting the position of the common features on the tooth model at the first position;

detecting the position of the common features on the tooth model at the second position; and

determining a difference between the position of each common feature at the first and second positions.