TIP FOR AN OPTICAL SCANNER

• US 20200129275A1
• Filed: 10/31/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2015
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: 3shape A/S
• Original Assignee: 3shape A/S
• Inventors: VAN DER POEL, Mike, Rasmussen, Casper, Hansen, Finn, Jensen, Soren Greve
• Application Number:
  US16/669,843
• Publication Number:
  US 20200129275A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00096 Optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00101 the distal tip features being detachable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00177 for 90 degrees side-viewing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/053 being detachable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/121 provided with means for cleaning post-use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/253 with means for preventing fogging
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/16 Protecting caps for hand-pieces or angle-pieces
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 9/0053 Optical means or methods, e.g. scanning the teeth by a laser or light beam
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/047 Accessories, e.g. for positioning, for tool-setting, for measuring probes

Abstract

A tip for an optical scanner, where said tip includes a framework and an optical element. For some configurations the optical element is releasable attaching to the framework by a holding means of the tip. For some configurations the tip framework is formed in two materials of different thermal conductivities.

Claims

1. A handheld scanner for intraoral scanning, comprising:

a main body comprising a mounting part, wherein the mounting part is configured to mount a tip for the scanner;

an image sensor and a light source arranged in the main body;

electronic components for operating the scanner, and

a cooling system comprising an air circulation system, where the air circulation system comprises an inlet and an outlet, where the outlet and inlet are separate openings of the air circulation system and where the outlet and inlet are arranged such that the air exiting the outlet is not mixed with the air sucked into the inlet.

2. The handheld scanner according to claim 1, wherein the inlet and outlet are separated by at least 5 mm.

3. The handheld scanner according to claim 1, wherein the inlet and outlet are separated by 20 mm or more.

4. A removable tip configured to be mounted to the scanner according to claim 1.

5. The removable tip according to claim 4, wherein the tip comprises:

a framework; and

an optical element, wherein the optical element comprises a mirror.

6. The removable tip according to claim 5, wherein the mirror is arranged such that light from the light source is guided towards an object located outside the tip and light returning from the object is guided towards the image sensor.

7. The removable tip according to claim 6, wherein the tip comprises an opening at the distal end for mounting the tip to the scanner, and an opening at the proximal end that such that the light from the light source and the returning light from the object is via the opening at the proximal end.

8. A system comprising the handheld scanner of claim 1, and a removable tip configured to be mounted to the scanner.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the removable tip comprises:

a framework; and

an optical element, wherein the optical element comprises a mirror.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the mirror is arranged such that light from the light source is guided towards an object located outside the tip and light returning from the object is guided towards the image sensor.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the tip comprises an opening at the distal end for mounting the tip to the scanner, and an opening at the proximal end that such that the light from the light source and the returning light from the object is via the opening at the proximal end.

12. A handheld scanner for intraoral scanning, comprising:

a main body comprising a mounting part, wherein the mounting part is configured to mount a tip for the scanner;

an image sensor and a light source arranged in the main body;

electronic components for operating the scanner, and

a cooling system comprising an air circulation system, where the air circulation system comprises an inlet and an outlet, where the outlet and inlet are separate openings of the air circulation system, wherein the inlet and outlet are separated by at least 5 mm.

13. The handheld scanner according to claim 12, wherein the inlet and outlet are separated by 20 mm or more.

14. A system comprising the handheld scanner of claim 12, and a removable tip configured to be mounted to the scanner.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the removable tip comprises:

a framework; and

an optical element, wherein the optical element comprises a mirror.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the mirror is arranged such that light from the light source is guided towards an object located outside the tip and light returning from the object is guided towards the image sensor.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the tip comprises an opening at the distal end for mounting the tip to the scanner, and an opening at the proximal end that such that the light from the light source and the returning light from the object is via the opening at the proximal end.