Apparatus and method for measuring the color of teeth
First Claim
1. A method, comprising the steps of:
- positioning a probe in proximity to a dental object, wherein the probe provides light to a surface of the dental object from one or more light sources, and receives light from the dental object through a plurality of light receivers, wherein light from the light receivers is coupled to one or more optical sensors;
taking a plurality of measurements with the one or more optical sensors; and
determining at least a peak intensity of received light based on the measurements as the probe is a distance away from the surface of the dental object, and determining at least an intensity of light as the probe is at or about the surface of the dental object, wherein translucence data and color data are generated based on at least the peak intensity and the intensity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Color measuring systems and methods such as for determining the color or other characteristics of teeth are disclosed. Perimeter receiver fiber optics are spaced apart from a central source fiber optic and receive light reflected from the surface of the object/tooth being measured. Light from the perimeter fiber optics pass to a variety of filters. The system utilizes the perimeter receiver fiber optics to determine information regarding the height and angle of the probe with respect to the object/tooth being measured. Under processor control, the color measurement may be made at a predetermined height and angle. Various color spectral photometer arrangements are disclosed. Translucency, fluorescence and/or surface texture data also may be obtained. Audio feedback may be provided to guide operator use of the system. The probe may have a removable or shielded tip for contamination prevention. A method of producing dental prostheses based on measured data also is disclosed. Measured data also may be stored and/or organized as part of a patient data base.
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Citations
123 Claims
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1. A method, comprising the steps of:
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positioning a probe in proximity to a dental object, wherein the probe provides light to a surface of the dental object from one or more light sources, and receives light from the dental object through a plurality of light receivers, wherein light from the light receivers is coupled to one or more optical sensors; taking a plurality of measurements with the one or more optical sensors; and determining at least a peak intensity of received light based on the measurements as the probe is a distance away from the surface of the dental object, and determining at least an intensity of light as the probe is at or about the surface of the dental object, wherein translucence data and color data are generated based on at least the peak intensity and the intensity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method, comprising the steps of:
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positioning a probe in proximity to a dental object, wherein the probe provides light to a surface of the dental object from one or more light sources, and receives light from the dental object through a plurality of light receivers; and determining the intensity of reflected light received by more than one of the light receivers with second sensors, and measuring the optical characteristics of the dental object with first sensors based on light received by one or more of the light receivers in response to the intensity determinations made by the second sensors, wherein the measurement produces data indicative of the optical characteristics of the dental object. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 107)
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82. A method, comprising the steps of:
- positioning a probe in proximity to a dental object, wherein the probe provides light to a surface of the dental object and receives light from the object, wherein the received light is coupled to one or more optical sensors for determining spectral and translucence characteristics of the dental object; and
taking of a plurality of first and second measurements with the optical sensors as the probe is positioned towards the surface of the dental object, wherein the first and second measurements measure light that is incident on the surface of the dental object and received from the dental object, wherein optical characteristics of the dental object are determined based on the first and second measurements. - View Dependent Claims (83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123)
- positioning a probe in proximity to a dental object, wherein the probe provides light to a surface of the dental object and receives light from the object, wherein the received light is coupled to one or more optical sensors for determining spectral and translucence characteristics of the dental object; and
Specification