Intraoral scanning using ultrasound and optical scan data

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10453269-B2
Application number	US-201414563714-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 8, 2014
Priority date	Dec 8, 2014
Publication date	Oct 22, 2019
Grant date	Oct 22, 2019

Abstract

Optical scan data including a first set of images representing a first portion of a three-dimensional object is received. A processing device receives ultrasound scan data including a second set of three-dimensional images representing a second portion of the three-dimensional object. The processing device performs image stitching between the second set of three-dimensional images using the optical scan data. The processing device then creates a virtual model of the three-dimensional object based on the stitched second set of three-dimensional images.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
performing an optical scan of a tooth of a patient;
generating three-dimensional (3D) optical scan data comprising a 3D optical image representing a coronal portion of the tooth;
performing an ultrasonic volumetric scan on the tooth;
generating 3D volumetric scan data comprising a 3D volumetric image representing a root portion of the tooth, wherein the root portion is below a gum line of the tooth;
performing image stitching between the 3D optical image representing the coronal portion of the tooth and the 3D volumetric image representing the root portion of the tooth; and
generating a virtual 3D model of the tooth based on the stitched 3D optical and 3D volumetric images.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a selection of a frequency at which to perform the ultrasonic volumetric scan, wherein the selected frequency influences a vibration of the tooth.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein a frequency at which the ultrasonic volumetric scan is performed influences a resolution of the 3D volumetric image.

Assignees

• Align Technology Inc

Inventors

• Furst Gilad

Classifications

• A61C9/0086

  Acoustic means or methods · CPC title

• A61B8/5261

  combining images from different diagnostic modalities, e.g. ultrasound and X-ray · CPC title

• G06T2219/2004

  Aligning objects, relative positioning of parts · CPC title

• A61B8/466

  adapted to display 3D data · CPC title

• G06T2210/41

  Medical · CPC title