Method for manipulating a dental virtual model, method for creating physical entities based on a dental virtual model thus manipulated, and dental models thus created

• US 10,709,527 B1
• Filed: 02/21/2020
• Issued: 07/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Align Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Align Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Kopelman, Avi, Taub, Eldad
• Primary Examiner(s): Bahta, Kidest
• Application Number:
  US16/798,182
• Publication Number:
  US 20200205941A1
• Time in Patent Office: 144 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 13/0004 Computer-assisted sizing or machining of dental prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 13/34 Making or working of models, e.g. preliminary castings, trial dentures; Dowel pins [4]
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 5/77 Methods or devices for making crowns
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 9/004 Means or methods for taking digitized impressions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/00 Computer-aided design [CAD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/20 Editing of 3D images, e.g. changing shapes or colours, aligning objects or positioning parts
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/2004 Aligning objects, relative positioning of parts
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/50 for simulation or modelling of medical disorders
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49567 Dental appliance making

Abstract

A 3D virtual model of an intra oral cavity in which at least a part of a finish line of a preparation is obscured is manipulated in virtual space by means of a computer or the like to create, recreate or reconstruct finish line data and other geometrical corresponding to the obscured part. Trimmed virtual models, and trimmed physical models, can then be created utilizing data thus created. The virtual models and/or the physical models may be used in the design and manufacture of copings or of prostheses.

Claims

1. A method for scanning obstructed intraoral structures of a patient, the method comprising:

providing a hand-held intraoral scanner, wherein the hand-held intraoral scanner is configured to focus light onto an intraoral structure;

scanning, using the hand-held intraoral scanner, the intraoral structure of the patient to generate first 3D data of a surface of the intraoral structure of the patient;

generating a 3D virtual model of the intraoral structure of the patient based on the first 3D data;

determining a missing portion of the 3D virtual model that are missing a portion of the intraoral structure of the patient;

generating second 3D data representing the intraoral structure of the missing portion of the 3D virtual model;

combining the second 3D data with the 3D virtual model such that the 3D virtual model includes a representation of the intraoral structure in place of the missing portion.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the light is an array of light beams and the hand-held intraoral scanner is configured to focus the array of light beams onto the intraoral structure.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the hand-held intraoral scanner uses confocal focusing to focus the light.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the missing portion forms an incomplete closed geometrical form.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the missing portion includes determining that a portion of the 3D virtual model does not complete a close geometrical form.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating the second 3D data includes extrapolating the 3D virtual model.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the second 3D data includes interpolating between points in the 3D virtual model.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second 3D data is generated based on the 3D virtual model.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second 3D data is generated based on a cross-sectional profile of the 3D virtual model.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the combining the second 3D data with the 3D virtual model includes generating a second 3D virtual model based on the second 3D data and combining the second 3D virtual model with the 3D virtual model.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the missing portion of the 3D virtual model includes 3D data of obscuring material.

12. A system for scanning obstructed intraoral structures of a patient, the system comprising:

a hand-held intraoral scanner, wherein the hand-held intraoral scanner is configured to focus light onto an intraoral structure;

a computer having instructions that, when executed, cause the system to;

scan, using the hand-held intraoral scanner, the intraoral structure of a patient to generate first 3D data of the surface of the intraoral structure of the patient;

generate a 3D virtual model of the intraoral structure of the patient based on the first 3D data;

determine a missing portion of the 3D virtual model that are missing a portion of the intraoral structure of the patient;

generate second 3D data representing the intraoral structure of the missing portion of the 3D virtual model;

combine the second 3D data with the 3D virtual model such that the 3D virtual model includes a representation of the intraoral structure in place of the missing portion.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the light is an array of light beams and the hand-held intraoral scanner is configured to focus the array of light beams onto the intraoral structure.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the hand-held intraoral scanner uses confocal focusing to focus the light.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the missing portion forms an incomplete closed geometrical form.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the instructions that cause the system to determine the missing portion includes instructions to determine that a portion of the 3D virtual model does not complete a close geometrical form.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the instructions that cause the system to generate second 3D data includes instructions that cause the system to extrapolate the 3D virtual model.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the instructions that cause the system to generate the second 3D data includes instructions that cause the system to interpolate between points in the 3D virtual model.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the second 3D data is generated based on the 3D virtual model.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the second 3D data is generated based on a cross-sectional profile of the 3D virtual model.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein the instructions that cause the system to combine the second 3D data with the 3D virtual model includes instructions that cause the system to generate a second 3D virtual model based on the second 3D data and combine the second 3D virtual model with the 3D virtual model.

22. The system of claim 12, wherein the missing portion of the 3D virtual model includes 3D data of obscuring material.