Inspection device for mechanical instruments and uses thereof
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An inspection device for mechanical instruments, the inspection device comprising:
- (i) one or more cameras configured to acquire an image of a mechanical instrument or a section thereof;
(ii) one or more illuminators configured to illuminate the mechanical instrument or a section thereof;
(iii) a processor configured to trigger the one or more illuminators, receive the image from the one or more cameras and compute an output signal regarding the type of the inspected mechanical instrument; and
(iv) an inventory management system or software for sorting said inspected mechanical instruments based at least on the output signal provided by the processor,wherein computing the output signal further comprises;
applying an image edge detection algorithm to detect edges within the image;
selecting one or more image edges from the detected image edges, which represent mechanical cutting edges;
determining a level of wear of the one or more mechanical cutting edges; and
based at least on the detected level of wear, providing an indication regarding re-usability of the mechanical instrument wherein computing the output signal further comprises;
applying a texture segmentation algorithm to the image to determine the level of wear of the mechanical instrument or a section thereof; and
based at least on the detected level of wear, providing an indication regarding re-usability of the mechanical instrument;
measuring color variation along the image to determine an amount of residue contamination of the mechanical instrument or a section thereof; and
based at least on the detected amount of residue contamination, providing an indication regarding re-usability of the mechanical instrument.
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Abstract
Devices and methods for inspection of various mechanical instruments to determine their level of wear and re-usability, particularly surgical and dental instruments, are provided.
44 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An inspection device for mechanical instruments, the inspection device comprising:
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(i) one or more cameras configured to acquire an image of a mechanical instrument or a section thereof; (ii) one or more illuminators configured to illuminate the mechanical instrument or a section thereof; (iii) a processor configured to trigger the one or more illuminators, receive the image from the one or more cameras and compute an output signal regarding the type of the inspected mechanical instrument; and (iv) an inventory management system or software for sorting said inspected mechanical instruments based at least on the output signal provided by the processor, wherein computing the output signal further comprises; applying an image edge detection algorithm to detect edges within the image; selecting one or more image edges from the detected image edges, which represent mechanical cutting edges; determining a level of wear of the one or more mechanical cutting edges; and based at least on the detected level of wear, providing an indication regarding re-usability of the mechanical instrument wherein computing the output signal further comprises;
applying a texture segmentation algorithm to the image to determine the level of wear of the mechanical instrument or a section thereof; and
based at least on the detected level of wear, providing an indication regarding re-usability of the mechanical instrument;
measuring color variation along the image to determine an amount of residue contamination of the mechanical instrument or a section thereof; and
based at least on the detected amount of residue contamination, providing an indication regarding re-usability of the mechanical instrument. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for inspecting mechanical instruments, the method comprising:
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(i) acquiring an image of the mechanical instrument or a section thereof using one or more cameras accompanied with one or more illuminators; (ii) automatically setting the combination of cameras and illuminators by using an iterative multiple exposures process; (iii) operating a processor configured to receive the image from the one or more cameras and compute an output signal regarding the type of the inspected mechanical instrument; and (iv) sorting inspected mechanical instruments, using an inventory management system or software, based at least on the signal provided by the processor; wherein computing the output signal further comprises; applying an image edge detection algorithm to detect edges within the image; selecting one or more image edges from the detected image edges, which represent mechanical cutting edges; determining a level of wear of the one or more mechanical cutting edges; and based at least on the detected level of wear, providing an indication regarding re-usability of the mechanical instrument wherein computing the output signal further comprises;
applying a texture segmentation algorithm to the image to determine the level of wear of the mechanical instrument or a section thereof; and
based at least on the detected level of wear, providing an indication regarding re-usability of the mechanical instrument;
measuring color variation along the image to determine an amount of residue contamination of the mechanical instrument or a section thereof; and
based at least on the detected amount of residue contamination, providing an indication regarding re-usability of the mechanical instrument.
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Specification