System and method of viewing and tracking stereoscopic video images

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9545188-B2
Application number	US-201113989284-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 30, 2011
Priority date	Dec 2, 2010
Publication date	Jan 17, 2017
Grant date	Jan 17, 2017

Abstract

Systems and methods for viewing stereoscopic video images are disclosed. One system comprises a first video camera configured to generate a first video feed of a subject. A second video camera is spaced a pupilary distance from the first video camera and configured to generate a second video feed of the subject. A tracking module associated with the first video camera and the second video camera is configured to cause the first video camera and the second video camera to be directed to a desired convergent point relative to a selected tracking point to maintain stereopsis. A zooming module associated with the first video camera and the second video camera is configured to provide a desired magnification of the near real-time stereoscopic video image.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A stereoscopic video imaging and tracking system, comprising:
a first video camera configured to generate a first video feed of an intraoral cavity of a patient;
a second video camera spaced at a pupilary distance from the first video camera and configured to generate a second video feed of the intraoral cavity of the patient;
a head mountable stereoscopic display including a right video display and a left video display to create a stereoscopic video image from the first video feed and the second video feed, respectively;
a tracking device associated with the first video camera and the second video camera, the tracking device configured to cause the first video camera and the second video camera to be directed to a convergent point relative to a tracking point associated with the intraoral cavity to maintain stereopsis as movement occurs for at least one of the intraoral cavity, the first video camera, or the second video camera; and
a zooming device associated with the first video camera and the second video camera, the zooming device configured to provide a magnification of the stereoscopic video image.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pupilary distance is from about 50 millimeters (mm) to about 75 mm.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first video camera and the second video camera are configured to zoom together, and wherein the zoom is at least one of an optical zoom or a digital zoom.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first video camera and the second video camera are each configured to zoom and provide an image with a magnification power from at least about 4 times to about 10 times.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first video camera and the second video camera are each configured to zoom and provide an image with a magnification power from at least about 1 time to about 20 times.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising positioning the first video camera and the second video camera at a distance from about 5 inches to about 96 inches above the intraoral cavity.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tracking point is an optically trackable marker configured to be positioned in or about the intraoral cavity to enable a direction of the first video camera and the second video camera to be adjusted based on a change in a location of the optically trackable marker.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tracking point is an optically trackable marker configured to be positioned on a dental retractor located in or about the intraoral cavity.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tracking point comprises at least two radio frequency markers and the convergent point is determined relative to the at least two radio frequency markers.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the convergent point is a virtual point that has an x, y, and z axis distance from the tracking point and the convergent point is maintained relative to the tracking point as the tracking point moves.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the convergent point is at the tracking point.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tracking point is a mobile marker configured to be located on a hand held instrument.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first video camera or the second video camera are coupled to a motor or multiple motors to enable an angle at which the first video camera and the second video camera are directed relative to one another to be changed, the angle to be changed based at least in part on a distance of the video cameras from the patient's intraoral cavity to maintain stereopsis of the stereoscopic video image independent of the distance.

14. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a dental light source configured to provide illumination inside of the intraoral cavity, wherein the illumination is sufficient to enable the first video camera and the second video camera to zoom to the magnification while maintaining a depth of field for the stereoscopic video image.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the head mountable stereoscopic display provides a split field of view to enable an operator to view both natural surroundings and the stereoscopic video image while wearing the head mountable stereoscopic display.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first video feed and the second video feed are wirelessly communicated to the head mountable stereoscopic display.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first video feed and the second video feed are communicated to the head mountable stereoscopic display through a wired connection.

18. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a chart viewing device configured to display one or more pages of a chart on the head mountable stereoscopic display.

19. A stereoscopic video imaging and tracking system, comprising:
a first video camera configured to generate a first video feed of a subject;
a second video camera spaced a pupilary distance from the first video camera and configured to generate a second video feed of the subject;
a tracking device associated with the first video camera and the second video camera, the tracking device configured to cause the first video camera and the second video camera to be directed to a convergent point relative to a tracking point associated with a subject to maintain stereopsis; and
a zooming device associated with the first video camera and the second video camera, the zooming device configured to provide a magnification of the stereoscopic video image.

20. The system of claim 19 , further comprising a video display configured to display the stereoscopic video image.

21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the video display comprises a right eye display and a left eye display for viewing by a user's right eye and left eye, respectively, to create stereopsis.

22. The system of claim 20 , wherein video display comprises a single video screen wherein the first video feed and the second video feed are optically separated using at least one of shutter separation, polarization separation, or color separation.

23. The system of claim 22 , further comprising at least one pair of viewing glasses configured to be synchronized with the video display to enable at least one viewer to view the optically separated stereoscopic video image.

24. The system of claim 19 , wherein the subject is a patient in a medical setting.

25. The system of claim 19 , wherein the patient is a dental patient, and the tracking point or the convergent point is at or about dental patient's intraoral cavity.

26. A method for tracking and viewing stereoscopic video images associated with a subject, comprising:
directing a first video camera and a second video camera to an area of the subject to generate a respective first video feed and a second video feed of the area, wherein the first video camera is separated from the second video camera by a distance, and wherein the first video camera and the second video camera are each directed to a convergent point at or near the area to provide stereopsis of the area; and
associating the convergent point with a tracking point on or about and associated with the subject;
adjusting a location of the convergent point relative to movement of the tracking point; and
displaying the first video feed and the second video feed on a display system that optically separates the first video feed and the second video feed to create a stereoscopic video image.

Assignees

• Jessop Neil T
• Ultradent Products Inc

Inventors

• Jessop Neil T

Classifications

• A61B1/00188

  with focusing or zooming features · CPC title

• H04N13/0296

  Electricity · mapped topic

• A61B1/045

  Control thereof · CPC title

• A61B1/00193 Primary

  adapted for stereoscopic vision · CPC title

• A61B1/247

  with means for viewing areas outside the direct line of sight, e.g. dentists' mirrors · CPC title