Digital dental system and method
First Claim
1. A digital dental system for real time display of a patient'"'"'s dental image to detect changes with respect to at least one previous dental image of the patient, comprising:
- imaging means for obtaining a dental image from the patient in real time and providing said dental image as electrical signals;
converting means for converting said electrical signals to digital signals;
input means for inputting further digital signals corresponding to said at least one previous dental image of the patient;
processing means for processing said digital signals and said further digital signals to develop corresponding display signals and further display signals; and
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Abstract
A digital dental system and method for real time display of a patient'"'"'s dental image to detect changes with respect to at least one previous dental image of the patient. The system comprises an imaging unit for obtaining a real time dental image from the patient, a converter for converting the real time dental image to digital form, an input device for inputting further digital signals corresponding to at least one previous dental image of the patient, a processor for processing the digital signals and the further digital signals to develop corresponding display signals and further display signals, and a display unit and at least one further display unit for simultaneously and in real time displaying the dental image and the at least one previous dental image, respectively, of the patient. A preferred embodiment of the invention involves whole picture processing of the present and previous dental images to determine changes or differences therebetween. Further features of the present invention include the provision of an alignment motion controller for aligning an image intensifier and an X-ray tube (forming the imaging unit), as well as the provision of a capability for selective display, on one of the display units, of either the current X-ray image or a previously obtained (and stored) X-ray image.
37 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A digital dental system for real time display of a patient'"'"'s dental image to detect changes with respect to at least one previous dental image of the patient, comprising:
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imaging means for obtaining a dental image from the patient in real time and providing said dental image as electrical signals; converting means for converting said electrical signals to digital signals; input means for inputting further digital signals corresponding to said at least one previous dental image of the patient; processing means for processing said digital signals and said further digital signals to develop corresponding display signals and further display signals; and - View Dependent Claims (3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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- 2. display means comprising a display unit and at least one further display unit responsive to said display signals and said further display signals, respectively, for simultaneously and in real time displaying said dental image and said at least one previous dental image, respectively of said patient wherein said processing means comprises a plurality of memories, one for each said display unit and said at least one further display unit, and a video crossbar switch connecting said converting means to said plurality of memories, said plurality of memories storing said digital signals and said further digital signals, respectively, said processing means further comprises a video processor connected to said video crossbar switch, said video crossbar switch being actuable for routing digital signals from said plurality of memories to said video processor, said video processor operating to whole picture process said digital signals to determine changes in the patient'"'"'s dental image with respect to the at least one previous dental image of the patient.
Specification