System and method for detecting deviations during the course of an orthodontic treatment to gradually reposition teeth

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10624716-B2
Application number	US-201514952642-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 25, 2015
Priority date	Jun 8, 2007
Publication date	Apr 21, 2020
Grant date	Apr 21, 2020

Abstract

Method and system for detecting and correcting deviation during an orthodontic treatment plan is provided. The method includes the steps of receiving an un-segmented current teeth image representing a patient's teeth after an orthodontic treatment plan has begun and before the plan ends for the patient; matching a previously segmented teeth model with the current teeth image; and generating at least one corrective stage to define an intermediate tooth arrangement, wherein the at least one corrective stage repositions a digital teeth image so that a prescribed tooth arrangement of the previously segmented teeth model can be used.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method for tracking movement of a patient's teeth, the computer-implemented method executed by a processing unit coupled to a memory storage device storing code, the computer-implemented method comprising:
receiving, at a receive module of an analysis module, a three-dimensional previously segmented teeth model of the patient's teeth;
receiving, at the receive module, a two-dimensional un-segmented teeth image representing a current arrangement of the patient's teeth;
matching, by a compare module of the analysis module, one or more teeth of the three-dimensional previously segmented teeth model to one or more corresponding teeth of the two-dimensional un-segmented teeth image, wherein the compare module is in communication with the receive module;
measuring, by the compare module, a distance between a location of a tooth in the two-dimensional un-segmented teeth image and a location of a corresponding tooth in the three-dimensional previously segmented teeth model, by adjusting a position of the tooth in the three-dimensional previously segmented teeth model to the location of the tooth in the two-dimensional un-segmented teeth image; and
tracking, using the analysis module, a deviation of the tooth in the two-dimensional un-segmented teeth image from an intended position of the tooth in the three-dimensional previously segmented teeth model in a stage of a patient's treatment plan if the distance between the location of the tooth in the two-dimensional un-segmented teeth image and the location of the corresponding tooth in the three-dimensional previously segmented teeth model exceed a pre-determined tolerance.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the two-dimensional un-segmented teeth image comprises a camera picture.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the two-dimensional un-segmented teeth image represents an arrangement of the patient's teeth after beginning orthodontic treatment.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the three-dimensional previously segmented teeth model is generated prior to receiving the two-dimensional un-segmented teeth image.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the three-dimensional previously segmented teeth model comprises scan data.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the matching step comprises overlaying the two-dimensional un-segmented teeth image and the three-dimensional previously segmented teeth model onto each other.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the matching step comprises rotating, scaling, and translating the three-dimensional previously segmented teeth model to represent the two-dimensional un-segmented teeth image.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the matching step comprises executing a surface matching algorithm.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the surface matching algorithm comprises:
creating a grid on the three-dimensional previously segmented teeth model; and
overlaying the grid onto the two-dimensional unsegmented teeth image.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the surface matching algorithm comprises:
selecting one or more sampling points from a tooth in the three-dimensional previously segmented teeth model; and
identifying one or more corresponding sampling points on the two-dimensional un-segmented teeth image.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising pre-processing the two-dimensional un-segmented teeth image by assigning a unique identifier to each tooth in the two-dimensional un-segmented teeth image.

12. A system for tracking movement of a patient's teeth, the system comprising:
a processing unit; and
a memory storage device comprising code that, when executed by the processing unit, causes the system to:
generate a three-dimensional previously segmented teeth model of the patient's teeth;
receive a two-dimensional un-segmented teeth image representing a current arrangement of the patient's teeth;
match one or more teeth of the three-dimensional previously segmented teeth model to one or more corresponding teeth of the two-dimensional un-segmented teeth image;
measure a distance between a location of a tooth in the two-dimensional un-segmented teeth image and a location of a corresponding tooth in the three-dimensional previously segmented teeth model, by adjusting a position of the tooth in the three-dimensional previously segmented teeth model to the location of the tooth in the two-dimensional un-segmented teeth image; and
tracking a deviation of the tooth in the two-dimensional un-segmented teeth image from an intended position of the tooth in the three-dimensional previously segmented teeth model in a stage of a patient's treatment plan if the distance between the location of the tooth in the two-dimensional un-segmented teeth image and the location of the corresponding tooth in the three-dimensional previously segmented teeth model exceed a pre-determined tolerance.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the two-dimensional un-segmented teeth image comprises a camera picture.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the two-dimensional un-segmented teeth image represents an arrangement of the patient's teeth after beginning orthodontic treatment.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the three-dimensional previously segmented teeth model is generated prior to receiving the two-dimensional un-segmented teeth image.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the three-dimensional previously segmented teeth model comprises scan data.

17. The system of claim 12 , wherein the match step comprises overlaying the two-dimensional un-segmented teeth image and the three-dimensional previously segmented teeth model onto each other.

18. The system of claim 12 , wherein the match step comprises rotating, scaling, and translating the three-dimensional previously segmented teeth model to represent the two-dimensional un-segmented teeth image.

19. The system of claim 12 , wherein the match step comprises executing a surface matching algorithm.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the surface matching algorithm comprises:
creating a grid on the three-dimensional previously segmented teeth model; and
overlaying the grid onto the two-dimensional unsegmented teeth image.

21. The system of claim 19 , wherein the surface matching algorithm comprises:
selecting one or more sampling points from a tooth in the three-dimensional previously segmented teeth model; and
identifying one or more corresponding sampling points on the two-dimensional un-segmented teeth image.

22. The system of claim 12 , wherein the code further causes the system to pre-process the two-dimensional un-segmented teeth image by assigning a unique identifier to each tooth in the two-dimensional un-segmented teeth image.

23. A computer-implemented method for tracking movement of a patient's teeth, the computer-implemented method executed by a processing unit coupled to a memory storage device storing code, the computer-implemented method comprising:
receiving, at a receive module of an analysis module, a three-dimensional previously segmented teeth model representing an intermediate arrangement of the patient's teeth before tracking movement of the patient's teeth;
receiving, at the receive module, a two-dimensional un-segmented teeth image representing a current arrangement of t

Assignees

• Align Technology Inc

Inventors

• Kitching Ian
• Cheang Ka M

Classifications

• A61C7/002 Primary

  Orthodontic computer assisted systems · CPC title

• G16H50/50

  for simulation or modelling of medical disorders · CPC title

• A61C7/00

  Orthodontics, i.e. obtaining or maintaining the desired position of teeth, e.g. by straightening, evening, regulating, separating, or by correcting malocclusions · CPC title

• G06F19/00

  Physics · mapped topic

• G16Z99/00

  Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass · CPC title