Intraoral scanning apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12433723-B2
Application number	US-202418900492-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 27, 2024
Priority date	Jul 27, 2016
Publication date	Oct 7, 2025
Grant date	Oct 7, 2025

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for generating and displaying a model of a subject's teeth. Described herein are intraoral scanning methods and apparatuses for generating a three-dimensional model of a subject's intraoral region (e.g., teeth). These methods and apparatuses may be used for identifying and evaluating lesions, caries and cracks in the teeth.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An intraoral scanning system, the system comprising:
a hand-held wand having at least one camera image sensor and a plurality of light sources, wherein the light sources are configured to emit light at a first spectral range and a second spectral range, wherein the second spectral range is within near-infrared (near-IR) range of wavelengths; and
one or more processors operably connected to the hand-held wand, the one or more processors configured to:
receive scan data of a patient's dentition taken with the hand-held wand, wherein the scan data comprises surface scan data and near-IR scan data;
generate a three-dimensional (3D) model of one or more teeth using the surface scan data;
detect, from at least the near-IR scan data, one or more caries;
correlate the one or more caries to the 3D model to associate a location of the one or more caries with a corresponding location in the 3D model; and
display the 3D model and one or more near-IR images correlated with the 3D model showing one or more internal features including the one or more caries.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors is configured to detect the one or more caries by detecting one or more occlusive regions from the near-IR scan data.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors is configured to display the 3D model and the one or more near-IR images by displaying an overlay of the one or more near-IR images on the 3D model.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors is configured receive the scan data by scanning the patient's dentition with the hand-held wand.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the hand-held wand comprises a plurality of camera image sensors.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors is configured to display the 3D model and the one or more near-IR images by displaying the 3D model concurrently with the one or more near-IR images.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors is configured to determine and store the location and position of the at least one camera image sensor while capturing the near-IR scan data.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of light sources and the at least one camera image sensor are arranged on the hand-held wand so that light emitted in the second spectral range is reflected from a tooth and received by the at least one camera image sensor at an angle of between 0° and 15°.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the near-IR scan data and the surface scan data is captured and stored concurrently.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors is configured to segment the near-IR scan data.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors is configured to analyze and mark features on the 3D model and/or on the one or more near-IR images.

12. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a display in communication with the one or more processors.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors is configured to capture the surface scan data using structured light triangulation.

14. An intraoral scanning system, the system comprising:
a hand-held wand having at least one camera image sensor and a plurality of light sources, wherein the light sources are configured to emit light at a first spectral range and a second spectral range, wherein the second spectral range is within near-infrared (near-IR) range of wavelengths;
a display; and
one or more processors operably connected to the hand-held wand, the one or more processors configured to:
receive scan data of a patient's dentition taken with the hand-held wand, wherein the scan data comprises surface scan data and near-IR scan data;
generate a three-dimensional (3D) model of one or more teeth using the surface scan data;
detect a caries from at least the near-IR scan data;
display, on the display, at least one near-IR image of the near-IR scan data including the caries;
correlate the caries to the 3D model to associate the caries with a location on the 3D model; and
display, on the display, the 3D model showing the location of the caries.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the one or more processors is configured to detect the caries by detecting one or more occlusive regions from the near-IR scan data.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the one or more processors is configured receive the scan data by scanning the patient's dentition with the hand-held wand.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the one or more processors is configured to determine and store the location and position of the at least one camera image sensor while capturing the near-IR scan data.

18. The system of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of light sources and the at least one camera image sensor are arranged on the hand-held wand so that light emitted in the second spectral range is reflected from a tooth and received by the at least one camera image sensor at an angle of between 0° and 15°.

19. The system of claim 14 , wherein the near-IR scan data and the surface scan data is captured and stored concurrently.

20. The system of claim 14 , wherein the one or more processors is configured to segment the near-IR scan data.

21. The system of claim 14 , wherein the one or more processors is configured to automatically mark features on the 3D model and/or on the at least one near-IR image.

22. The system of claim 14 , wherein the one or more processors is configured to capture the surface scan data using structured light triangulation.

23. An intraoral scanning system, the system comprising:
a hand-held wand having at least one camera image sensor and a plurality of light sources, wherein the light sources are configured to emit light at a first spectral range and a second spectral range, wherein the second spectral range is within near-infrared (near-IR) range of wavelengths;
a display; and
one or more processors operably connected to the hand-held wand, the one or more processors configured to:
capture scan data of a patient's dentition from the hand-held wand, wherein the scan data comprises surface scan data and near-IR scan data, wherein the surface scan data is captured from the hand-held wand using structured light triangulation;
generate a three-dimensional (3D) model of one or more teeth using the surface scan data;
detect a caries from at least the near-IR scan data by detecting one or more occlusive regions from the near-IR scan data;
display, on the display, at least one near-IR image of the near-IR scan data including the caries;
correlate the caries to the 3D model to associate the caries with a location on the 3D model; and
display, on the display, the 3D model showing the location of the caries.

24. An intraoral scanning system, the system comprising:
a means for scanning including at least one means for sensing and a plurality of means for illuminating configured to emit light at a first spectral range and a second spectral range, wherein the second spectral range is within near-infrared (near-IR) range of wavelengths;
a means for displaying; and
one or more processors operably connected to the means for scanning, the one or more processors configured to:
receive scan data of a patient's dentition taken with the means for scanning, wherein the scan data comprises surface scan data and near-IR scan data;
generate a three-dimensional (3D) model of one or more teeth using the surface scan data

Assignees

• Align Technology Inc

Inventors

• Elbaz Gilad
• Lampert Erez
• Atiya Yossef
• Kopelman Avi
• Saphier Ofer
• Moshe Maayan
• Ayal Shai
• Sabina Michael
• Kuo Eric
• Weiss Assaf
• Malka Doron
• Nizard Eliahou Franklin
• Tishel Ido

Classifications

• A61B1/046

  for infrared imaging · CPC title

• A61B1/00194

  adapted for three-dimensional imaging · CPC title

• A61B1/00009

  of image signals during a use of endoscope · CPC title

• A61B1/00016

  using wireless means · CPC title

• A61B1/00045

  Display arrangement · CPC title