Methods for determining optical characteristics of dental objects using an imaging element and a spectrometer apparatus
First Claim
1. A method of determining the optical characteristics of a dental object with an integrated system including a camera and a spectrophotometer, comprising the steps of:
- generating an image of the dental object with the camera of the integrated system;
software processing the image of the dental object to determine a plurality of regions of the dental object that have different optical characteristics; and
generating optical characteristics data indicative of the optical characteristics of the dental object in one or more of the plurality of regions with the spectrophotometer of the integrated system.
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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
120 Claims
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1. A method of determining the optical characteristics of a dental object with an integrated system including a camera and a spectrophotometer, comprising the steps of:
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generating an image of the dental object with the camera of the integrated system;
software processing the image of the dental object to determine a plurality of regions of the dental object that have different optical characteristics; and
generating optical characteristics data indicative of the optical characteristics of the dental object in one or more of the plurality of regions with the spectrophotometer of the integrated system. - 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)
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41. A method of determining the optical characteristics of a dental object with an integrated system including a camera and a spectrophotometer, comprising the steps of:
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generating an image of the dental object with the camera of the integrated system;
software processing the image of the dental object; and
generating optical characteristics data indicative of the optical characteristics of the dental object in one or more of regions of the dental object with the spectrophotometer of the integrated system. - View Dependent Claims (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)
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81. A method of determining the optical characteristics of a dental object with an apparatus that includes an imaging element and a spectrometer apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:
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generating an image of the dental object with the imaging element; and
generating optical characteristics data indicative of optical characteristics of the dental object including at least color characteristics with the spectrometer apparatus;
wherein, under software control a determination is made of a plurality of regions of the dental object having different color characteristics;
wherein optical characteristics of the dental object including at least color characteristics are determined in the plurality of regions based on the optical characteristics data generated with the spectrometer apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (82, 83, 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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Specification