Apparatus and method for measuring the color of teeth
First Claim
1. A method, comprising the steps of:
- positioning a probe in proxity 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 one or more light receivers, wherein one or more of the light receivers are coupled to one or more first optical sensors for generating information indicative of spectral characteristics of the dental object, and wherein one or more of the light receivers are coupled to one or more second optical sensors for generating information indicative of translucence characteristics of the dental object;
taking a plurality of first and second measurements with the first and second optical sensors; and
determining optical characteristics of the dental object based on the first and second measurements.
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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.
90 Citations
158 Claims
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1. A method, comprising the steps of:
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positioning a probe in proxity 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 one or more light receivers, wherein one or more of the light receivers are coupled to one or more first optical sensors for generating information indicative of spectral characteristics of the dental object, and wherein one or more of the light receivers are coupled to one or more second optical sensors for generating information indicative of translucence characteristics of the dental object; taking a plurality of first and second measurements with the first and second optical sensors; and determining optical characteristics of the dental object based on the first and second measurements. - 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, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. 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 first and second measurements with the one or more optical sensors, wherein the first and second measurements include at least measurements taken at first and second distances from the surface of the dental object; and generating data indicative of translucence characteristics and color characteristics based on the first and second measurements. - View Dependent Claims (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, 82)
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83. A method, comprising the steps of:
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positioning a probe in proximity to a surface of a dental object, wherein the probe provides light to the surface of the dental object from one or more light sources, and receives light from the dental object through one or more light receivers, wherein light from the one or more light receivers is coupled to one or more optical sensors; taking a plurality of measurements with the one or more optical sensors, wherein the plurality of measurements include at least measurements taken at first and second distances from the surface of the dental object; and determining optical characteristics of the dental object based on the measurements. - View Dependent Claims (84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120)
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121. A method, comprising the steps of:
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position a probe in proximity to a surface of a dental object, wherein the probe provides light to the 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 sensor; taking a plurality of measurements with the one or more optical sensor, wherein the plurality of measurements include at least measurements taken a first and second distances from the surface of the dental object; determining second data based on measurements indicative of translucence characteristics of the object; and determining first data based on measurements indicative of color characteristics of the dental object, wherein the first data are adjusted based on the second data. - View Dependent Claims (122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158)
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Specification