Methods for determining optical characteristics of dental objects
First Claim
1. A method of determining the optical characteristics of a dental object, comprising the steps of:
- positioning a probe in proximity to the dental object;
taking a plurality of optical characteristics measurements of the dental object with a color measurement system, wherein light received by the probe from the dental object is coupled to the color measurement system, wherein the color measurement system includes at least a processor and a memory;
storing data resulting from the plurality of optical characteristics measurements in the memory;
analyzing the stored data resulting from the plurality of optical characteristics measurements with the processor, wherein the processor analyzes whether the probe was moved with respect to the dental object; and
based on the analysis of whether the probe was moved with respect to the dental object, selectively generating optical characteristics data representative of the optical characteristics of the dental object or rejecting the plurality of optical characteristics 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.
200 Citations
122 Claims
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1. A method of determining the optical characteristics of a dental object, comprising the steps of:
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positioning a probe in proximity to the dental object; taking a plurality of optical characteristics measurements of the dental object with a color measurement system, wherein light received by the probe from the dental object is coupled to the color measurement system, wherein the color measurement system includes at least a processor and a memory; storing data resulting from the plurality of optical characteristics measurements in the memory; analyzing the stored data resulting from the plurality of optical characteristics measurements with the processor, wherein the processor analyzes whether the probe was moved with respect to the dental object; and based on the analysis of whether the probe was moved with respect to the dental object, selectively generating optical characteristics data representative of the optical characteristics of the dental object or rejecting the plurality of optical characteristics 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)
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40. A method of determining the optical characteristics of a dental object, comprising the steps of:
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positioning a probe in proximity to the dental object; taking a plurality of optical characteristics measurements of the dental object with a color measurement system, wherein light received by the probe from the dental object is coupled to the color measurement system, wherein the color measurement system includes at least a processor and a memory; storing data resulting from the plurality of optical characteristics measurements in the memory; defining an acceptance range for data resulting from the optical characteristics measurements; analyzing the stored data resulting from the plurality of optical characteristics measurements with the processor, wherein the processor analyzes whether the data resulting from the optical characteristics measurements are within the acceptance range; and based on the analysis of whether the data resulting from the optical characteristics measurements are within the acceptance range, selectively generating optical characteristics data representative of the optical characteristics of the dental object or rejecting the plurality of optical characteristics measurements. - 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)
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79. A method of determining the optical characteristics of a dental object with a probe, a color measurement system, and a removably securable contamination-prevention implement adapted for the probe, wherein the color measurement system includes at least a processor and a memory, the method comprising the steps of:
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removably securing the contamination-prevention implement to the probe, wherein light is provided to the dental object through the implement, wherein light received from the dental object is coupled to the color measurement system through a hole in the implement, wherein the implement is adapted to prevent the probe from contacting the dental object; taking at least one optical characteristic measurement of a calibration standard with the implement removably secured to the probe, wherein the at least one optical characteristic measurement of the calibration standard serves to calibrate out possible distortion introduced by the implement; positioning the probe in proximity to the dental object, wherein the implement remains removably secured to the probe; taking a plurality of optical characteristics measurements of the dental object with the color measurement system; storing data resulting from the plurality of optical characteristics measurements in the memory; defining an acceptance range for data resulting from the optical characteristics measurements; analyzing the stored data resulting from the plurality of optical characteristics measurements with the processor, wherein the processor analyzes whether the data resulting from the optical characteristics measurements are within the acceptance range; and based on the analysis of whether the data resulting from the optical characteristics measurements are within the acceptance range, and based on the at least one optical characteristic measurement of a calibration standard, selectively generating optical characteristics data representative of the optical characteristics of the dental object or rejecting the plurality of optical characteristics measurements. - View Dependent Claims (80, 81, 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)
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117. A method of determining a shade of a dental object with an instrument including a color measurement system and a removably securable disposable implement adapted for the instrument, the method comprising the steps of:
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removably securing the disposable implement to the instrument, wherein light is provided to the dental object through the disposable implement, wherein light received from the dental object is coupled to the color measurement system through a hole in the disposable implement, wherein the disposable implement is adapted to prevent the instrument from contacting the dental object; taking at least one optical characteristic measurement of a calibration standard with the color measurement system, wherein the disposable implement is removably secured to the instrument during the at least one optical characteristic measurement of the calibration standard; storing data from the at least one optical characteristic measurement of the calibration standard; positioning the probe in proximity to the dental object, wherein the disposable implement remains removably secured to the probe; taking at least one optical characteristic measurement of the dental object with the color measurement system; storing data resulting from the at least one optical characteristic measurement of the dental object; processing the data resulting from the at least one optical characteristic measurement of the dental object based on the data resulting from the at least one optical characteristic measurement of the calibration standard; accessing stored data characteristic of a plurality of shades of at least one shade guide system and determining at least one closest matching shade of the plurality of shades of the at least one shade guide system; and displaying a representation of the at least one closest matching shade. - View Dependent Claims (118, 119, 120, 121, 122)
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Specification