Apparatus and method for measuring optical characteristics of teeth
First Claim
1. A method comprising the steps of:
- moving a probe in proximity to a dental object, wherein the probe provides light to a surface of the object from one or more light sources, and receives light from the object through a plurality of light receivers, wherein the plurality of light receivers comprise one or more first light receivers and one or more second light receivers, wherein the one or more first light receivers have a first numerical aperture and the one or more second light receivers have a second numerical aperture different from the first numerical aperture;
determining the intensity of light received by more than one of the light receivers; and
measuring the optical characteristics of the object, wherein the measurement produces data indicative of the optical characteristics of the object.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Optical characteristic measuring systems and methods such as for determining the color or other optical characteristics of teeth are disclosed. Perimeter receiver fiber optics are spaced apart from a source fiber optic and receive light 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 optical characteristics measurement may be made at a predetermined height and angle. Various color spectral photometer arrangements are disclosed. Translucency, fluorescence, gloss 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.
211 Citations
48 Claims
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1. A method comprising the steps of:
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moving a probe in proximity to a dental object, wherein the probe provides light to a surface of the object from one or more light sources, and receives light from the object through a plurality of light receivers, wherein the plurality of light receivers comprise one or more first light receivers and one or more second light receivers, wherein the one or more first light receivers have a first numerical aperture and the one or more second light receivers have a second numerical aperture different from the first numerical aperture; determining the intensity of light received by more than one of the light receivers; and measuring the optical characteristics of the object, wherein the measurement produces data indicative of the optical characteristics of the object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method comprising the steps of:
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moving a probe towards a surface of a dental object, wherein light is emitted by the probe onto the object, and light is received from the object by the probe; during the movement of the probe towards the surface of the object, taking one or more first measurements; when the probe is near the surface of the object, taking one or more second measurements; based on the first and second measurements, determining optical characteristics of the object including one or more of the characteristics of the group consisting of reflected surface color spectrum, bulk material color spectrum, gloss, translucency, fluorescence, and surface texture. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method comprising the steps of:
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moving a probe towards a surface of a dental object, wherein light from one or more light sources is directed from the probe to the object; during the movement of the probe towards the surface of the object, taking one or more first measurements; when the probe is near the surface of the object, taking one or more second measurements; based on the first and second measurements, determining optical characteristics of the object including one or more of the characteristics of the group consisting of reflected surface color spectrum, bulk material color spectrum, gloss, translucency, fluorescence, and surface texture; and storing data indicative of the determined optical characteristics in a data base. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method comprising the steps of:
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moving a probe towards a dental object, wherein light from one or more light sources is emitted from the probe to the object; receiving light from the object with a plurality of light receivers on the probe, wherein the receivers have numerical apertures and sizes to receive light indicative of a specular-included spectrum and a specular-excluded spectrum, wherein the specular-included spectrum substantially includes light specularly reflected from the object, and wherein the specular-excluded substantially excludes light specularly reflected from the object.
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32. An apparatus for measuring optical characteristics of a dental object with a probe as the probe is moved towards a surface of the object, comprising:
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a probe having one or more light sources and a plurality of light receivers, wherein the probe provides light to the surface of the object from the one or more light sources, and receives light from the object through the plurality of light receivers, wherein the plurality of light receivers comprise one or more first light receivers and one or more second light receivers, wherein the one or more first light receivers have a first numerical aperture and the one or more second light receivers have a second numerical aperture different from the first numerical aperture; sensors coupled to receive light from the light receivers; a processor coupled to receive data from the sensors; wherein the processor makes a plurality of measurements and determines data indicative of the optical characteristics of the object based on the data received from the sensors. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A method comprising the steps of:
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moving a probe towards a dental object, wherein light from one or more light sources is emitted from the probe to the object; receiving light from the object with a plurality of light receivers on the probe, wherein the receivers have numerical apertures and sizes to receive light indicative of a specular-included spectrum and a specular-only spectrum, wherein the specular-included spectrum substantially includes light specularly and diffusely reflected from the object, and wherein the specular-only spectrum substantially consists of light specularly reflected from the object.
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47. A method of quantifying the color of a dental object comprising the steps of positioning a probe near the dental object, wherein light from one or more light sources is emitted from the probe to the object, and receiving light from the object with a plurality of light receivers on the probe of at least two different numerical apertures, wherein a reflected color spectrum of the object is measured and translucency and gloss of the object are measured, wherein the translucency and gloss measurement are used to adjust the color spectrum measurement to compensate for translucency of the object, wherein the translucency and gloss are measured based on the probe being positioned near the dental object and without requiring the positioning of an optical implement behind the dental object.
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48. A method of quantifying the color of a dental object comprising the steps of positioning a probe near the dental object, wherein light from one or more light sources is emitted from the probe to the object, and receiving light from the object with a plurality of light receivers on the probe of at least two different numerical apertures, wherein a reflected color spectrum of the object is measured and gloss of the object is measured, wherein the gloss measurement is used to adjust the color spectrum measurement to compensate for gloss of the object.
Specification