Oral camera and oral imaging device

Abstract

The application discloses an oral cavity camera and an oral cavity imaging device. The oral cavity camera comprises a host, a support and a camera. The host is used for being held by a hand. The support has a connecting end and an entrance end opposite in a length extension direction. The connecting end of the support is connected with the host. The entrance end is used for extending into an oral cavity of a photographed person. The camera is arranged on a circumferential side surface of the support. The host has a first side surface with the same direction as the camera and a second side surface opposite to the camera. At least part of the first side surface and / or the second side surface of the host is a plane. The oral cavity camera can find a shooting angle more quickly and hold more stably when shooting the oral cavity of oneself or others, so that the shooting quality and efficiency are improved.

Description

[0001] Related cross-references

[0002] This application claims priority to PCT International Application No. "PCT / CN2025 / 075539", filed on January 27, 2025, entitled "Oral Camera", and also claims priority to PCT International Application No. "PCT / CN2025 / 075430", filed on January 27, 2025, entitled "ORAL IMAGING DEVICE AND SYSTEMTHEREOF", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This application relates to the field of oral imaging technology, and more particularly to an oral camera and oral imaging device. Background Technology

[0004] Oral imaging devices are available for use by users or dentists to capture images of a patient's mouth or teeth for further examination or diagnosis. In related technologies, a camera is placed inside the mouth to take pictures; however, the visibility decreases once the camera is inside the mouth, making it difficult for the user to visually determine if the camera's angle is correct, affecting image quality or requiring a longer time to adjust the angle. Utility Model Content

[0005] This application discloses an oral camera and oral imaging device, which can help find the shooting angle more quickly and hold the device more stably when taking oral pictures of oneself or others, thereby improving the shooting quality and efficiency.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, in a first aspect, this application discloses an oral camera, the oral camera comprising:

[0007] A host unit, the host unit being designed for human hand-holding;

[0008] A support member having a connecting end and an inlet end opposite each other in the longitudinal extension direction, the connecting end of the support member being connected to the main unit, and the inlet end being for insertion into the mouth of the subject being photographed; and,

[0009] A camera is disposed at the entrance end of the support member, and the camera is located on the peripheral side of the support member;

[0010] The host has a first side facing the same direction as the camera and a second side facing away from the camera, and at least a portion of the first side and / or the second side of the host is planar.

[0011] By setting at least a portion of the first and / or second sides of the main unit to be flat, on the one hand, since the camera's shooting direction is parallel to the flat portion, the user can feel the flat portion of the first and / or second sides with their fingers, thereby determining the camera's orientation and angle, which is beneficial for finding a direct shooting angle and capturing an ideal target image; on the other hand, the flat setting on the main unit held by the user can also prevent the main unit from rolling when held, improving the stability of the user's hand holding the main unit, reducing shooting ghosting caused by shooting position movement or shaking during shooting, and improving the quality of the captured image.

[0012] Secondly, this application provides an oral imaging device, which includes an oral mouth opener and an oral camera as described in the first aspect above. The oral mouth opener is detachably connected to the host and / or the support member. The oral mouth opener is used to open the lips of the subject being photographed, and the oral mouth opener has a shooting through hole, which corresponds to the camera. Attached Figure Description

[0013] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0014] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an oral camera from one viewpoint, as disclosed in an embodiment of this application;

[0015] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an oral camera disclosed in an embodiment of this application from another perspective;

[0016] Figure 3 This is a side view of an oral camera disclosed in an embodiment of this application;

[0017] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the field of view of the camera disclosed in the embodiments of this application;

[0018] Figure 5 This is a diagram of a dental arch;

[0019] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of another oral camera disclosed in an embodiment of this application from one viewpoint;

[0020] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 A magnified view of a section at point A in the middle;

[0021] Figure 8This is a schematic diagram of another oral camera in a first state disclosed in an embodiment of this application;

[0022] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of another oral camera in a second state disclosed in an embodiment of this application;

[0023] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the oral camera disclosed in this application when it is placed in the upper dental arch;

[0024] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the oral camera disclosed in this application when it is placed in the lower dental arch;

[0025] Figure 12 yes Figure 11 A magnified view of a section at point B in the middle;

[0026] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the oral camera disclosed in the embodiments of this application when it is placed between the upper and lower dental arches;

[0027] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the oral camera disclosed in the embodiments of this application when it is placed on the outer surface of the upper and lower dental arches;

[0028] Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the oral camera disclosed in the embodiments of this application when it is placed in the jawbone;

[0029] Figure 16 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an oral imaging device disclosed in an embodiment of this application;

[0030] Figure 17 This is an exploded view of an oral imaging device disclosed in an embodiment of this application;

[0031] Figure 18 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of another oral imaging device disclosed in the embodiments of this application from one perspective;

[0032] Figure 19 This is a structural schematic diagram of another oral imaging device disclosed in the embodiments of this application from another perspective;

[0033] Figure 20 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of another oral imaging device in the first state disclosed in the embodiments of this application;

[0034] Figure 21 This is a front view of another oral imaging device disclosed in the embodiments of this application in a second state.

[0035] Explanation of key figure labels:

[0036] 1000 - Oral imaging equipment;

[0037] 100-Dental Camera;

[0038] 11-Main unit; 111-First side; 112-Second side;

[0039] 12-Support member; 12a-Connecting end; 12b-Inlet end; 121a-First abutting part; 121b-Second abutting part; 121c-Third abutting part; 122-Recessed part; 123-Limiting part; 124-Third side surface;

[0040] 13-Camera;

[0041] 14-Buttons; 15-Hinge;

[0042] 200 - Dental arch; 21 - First dental arch; 22 - Second dental arch;

[0043] 300 - Opening device; 301 - Opening part; 3011 - Shooting through hole; 302 - Connecting part; 3021 - Mating groove;

[0044] X - Length direction; Y - Width direction; Z - Thickness direction. Detailed Implementation

[0045] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the exemplary embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the exemplary embodiments. Obviously, the described exemplary embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. That is, the specific embodiments described herein are merely used to explain this application and are not intended to limit this application.

[0046] It should be noted that the brief descriptions of terminology used in this application are merely for the purpose of facilitating understanding of the embodiments described below, and are not intended to limit the embodiments of this application. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used herein in the specification of this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit this application.

[0047] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.

[0048] The terms “first,” “second,” etc., used in this application may be used herein to describe various elements, but these elements are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, without departing from the scope of this application, a first abutment may be referred to as a second abutment, and similarly, a second abutment may be referred to as a first abutment. Both the first abutment and the second abutment are abutments, but they are not the same abutment.

[0049] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0050] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0051] In the description of this application, it should be noted that the singular forms of "a," "an," and "the" may also include the plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that terms such as "comprising / including" or "having" specify the presence of the stated features, integrals, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, integrals, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0052] In addition, the term "and / or" as used in this specification includes any and all combinations of the related listed items. For example, A and / or B can mean: A alone, A and B together, or B alone. That is, the term "and / or" as used in this specification includes any and all combinations of the related listed items.

[0053] Oral cameras are available for use by users or dentists to capture images of a person's mouth or teeth for further examination or diagnosis. In the field of oral medical testing and daily oral health management, commercially available intraoral cameras are rod-shaped, meaning their cross-section is circular or rounded. These rod-shaped cameras are prone to rolling in the hand, making it difficult to accurately position the camera when holding a cylindrical shape. Furthermore, when the button is pressed to take a picture, the rod-shaped oral camera tends to roll in the hand, affecting the image quality.

[0054] In view of this, the oral camera and oral imaging device disclosed in this application have the camera mounted on the host via a support member. At least one part of the host is a flat surface on the side where the camera is mounted or on the back side. On the one hand, the flat surface is oriented in the same and / or opposite directions as the camera, which makes it easier for the camera to determine the angle of the camera inside the mouth by judging the orientation / angle of the flat surface when it enters the mouth. On the other hand, the flat surface can have a better anti-rolling effect when held, which is conducive to the user's stable grip.

[0055] The technical solutions of some embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0056] Please refer to the following: Figures 1 to 3 The oral camera 100 in this application is used to photograph the user's oral cavity to obtain oral images, which may include images of oral tissues such as teeth, gums, oral mucosa, and tongue.

[0057] like Figure 1 As shown, the oral camera 100 provided in this application embodiment includes a host 11, which is mainly used for hand-held operation. For example, a user can hold the host 11 and allow the oral camera 100 to take pictures of the mouth or teeth of the subject.

[0058] The host unit 11 can serve as a housing for a controller, battery, memory, communication element, or other electronic components, and is used to control the operation of the device.

[0059] Understandably, the main unit 11 can adopt an ergonomic, rounded handle design, making it easier for users or dentists to hold and adjust the angle and position of the oral camera 100 during shooting.

[0060] In some embodiments, the host 11 is block-shaped, not limited to a circular block, but can also be a square block, rectangular block, or other block-shaped form that is easy to hold. For example, the shape of the host 11 can be a rectangular block structure (e.g., Figure 1(As shown). The host unit 11 has two perpendicular length directions (X), width directions (Y), and thickness directions (Z). That is, in order to enable the host unit to be held, the host unit is a block with a certain length and thickness.

[0061] In some implementations, such as Figure 6 As shown, the host 11 can also be cylindrical, but it has a flat surface.

[0062] In some embodiments, the oral camera 100 includes a support 12 connected to the host.

[0063] It is understood that the support member 12 can be a rod-shaped structure. Thus, the support member 12 also has two perpendicular length directions X, width directions Y, and thickness directions Z. In this application, the three directions of the host 11 and the support member 12 are the same. That is, the length direction X of the host 11 is also the length direction X of the support member 12, the width direction Y of the host 11 is also the width direction Y of the support member 12, and the thickness direction Z of the host 11 is also the thickness direction Z of the support member 12.

[0064] Please refer to the following: Figures 1 to 3 In some embodiments, the support member 12 has a connecting end 12a and an inlet end 12b opposite to each other in the length extension direction. The connecting end 12a of the support member 12 is connected to the main unit 11, and the inlet end 12b is used to extend into the mouth of the subject being photographed. The connecting end 12a of the support member 12 is connected to one end of the main unit 11 in its length direction X, and the support member 12 extends along the length direction X of the main unit 11. Therefore, the length direction X of the support member 12 is also the length direction X of the main unit 11. For example... Figure 1 The X direction of the support 12, and the inlet end 12b of the support 12 is at least used to extend into the oral cavity.

[0065] Since the inlet end 12b of the support member 12 is the end away from the main unit 11, and the user holds the oral camera 100 on the main unit 11, the inlet end 12b of the support member 12 is a certain distance away from the holding part of the main unit 11 in the length direction X. In this way, when the inlet end 12b of the support member 12 is inserted into the mouth of the subject, the user's hand can be positioned away from the inlet end 12b of the support member 12, thereby avoiding or reducing the probability that the user's hand holding the main unit 11 will directly touch the user's mouth.

[0066] In some embodiments, the oral camera 100 further includes a camera 13 disposed at the inlet end 12b of the support 12 and located on the peripheral side of the support 12. Since the inlet end 12b of the support 12 is at least used to extend into the oral cavity, the camera 13 can at least be used to take pictures inside the oral cavity in order to acquire images of the subject (e.g., dental arch 200).

[0067] Please see Figure 4 In some embodiments, the field of view (FOV) of camera 13 is greater than or equal to 140°. For example, the FOV of camera 13 may include, but is not limited to, 140°, 145°, 150°, 153°, 155°, 157°, 160°, 163°, 164°, 170°, 172.5°, 177.8°, 180°, etc. When the distance between camera 13 and the object being photographed (such as the upper dental arch) is set to 20mm, the shorter side of the captured image is ≥60mm (diagonal ≥100mm), and the required FOV is approximately 140° or greater.

[0068] If the field of view of camera 13 is less than 140°, the imaging range of camera 13 will be limited when shooting objects inside the oral cavity. It will be unable to capture enough tooth surfaces at once, which may require multiple adjustments to the shooting angle or position to obtain a complete oral cavity image, increasing the shooting time and complexity and reducing shooting efficiency.

[0069] As can be seen, the field of view of the camera 13 is greater than or equal to 140°, which can provide a wider shooting range and combine comprehensiveness and efficiency. When the support 12 is inserted into the user's mouth, the camera 13 can cover more tooth surfaces in a single shot, such as the occlusal surface, inner surface and outer surface of the teeth. It can also capture images of multiple teeth at the same time, thereby enabling the capture of complete dental arch 200 images in a single or a few shots, thereby reducing the number of shots and improving shooting efficiency.

[0070] In some embodiments, the camera 13 has a rectangular field of view (e.g. Figure 4 The rectangular field of view (defined by the dashed box in the image) has its short side parallel to the length of the support member 12. A rectangular field of view refers to the image area captured by the camera 13 being rectangular in shape. The rectangular field of view can be divided into the horizontal field of view (HFoV) and the vertical field of view (VFoV). The horizontal field of view determines the maximum angle visible to the left and right sides of the camera 13, while the vertical field of view determines the maximum angle visible to the top and bottom sides.

[0071] In addition, the short side of the rectangular field of view is parallel to the length direction X of the support member 12 (i.e., the direction in which the support member 12 extends away from the host 11), and the vertical field of view of the camera 13 extends along the length direction X of the support member 12, so that the camera 13 can better cover the occlusal surface or inner surface of the teeth. Users can obtain the best viewing angle by adjusting the angle of the support member 12.

[0072] like Figure 4As shown, the shorter side (D1) of the rectangular field of view of camera 13 is parallel to the length direction X of support 12, and the longer side (W1) is parallel to the width direction Y of support 12. The ratio of W1 to D1 can be 4:3 or 16:9. When support 12 is placed against dental arch 200, the angle between the optical axis of camera 13 and the user's occlusal surface is 60°-90°, and the angle between the optical axis of camera 13 and the length direction X of host 11 is 40°-90°. Figure 5 As shown, the correspondence between the depth D2 (distance from the edge of the molar to the incisor) of the dental arch 200 and the width W2 (distance between the edges of the molars on both sides) of the dental arch 200 determines that the short side of the rectangular field of view must be parallel to the oral cavity depth direction and the long side must be parallel to the width direction Y of the dental arch 200, so as to achieve complete imaging of the dental arch 200.

[0073] Please refer to it again. Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 In some embodiments, the host 11 has a first side 111 facing the same direction as the camera 13 and a second side 112 facing away from the camera 13, and at least a portion of the first side 111 and / or the second side 112 of the host 11 is planar.

[0074] By setting at least a portion of the first side 111 and / or the second side 112 of the host 11 to be flat, on the one hand, since the shooting direction of the camera 13 is parallel to the flat portion, the user can feel the flat portion of the first side 111 and / or the second side 112 with their fingers, thereby determining the orientation and angle of the camera 13, which is beneficial for capturing and processing the desired target image; on the other hand, it can also prevent the host 11 from rolling when held in the hand, thereby allowing the user to hold the host 11 stably, improving the stability of the user's hand holding the host 11, and thus making it easier to capture the ideal target image.

[0075] Furthermore, since the camera 13 is not directly mounted on the main unit 11, but is mounted on the main unit 11 through the support 12, the main unit 11 not only has a larger grip area, making it easier for users to hold, but also allows users to better hold the main unit 11. This makes the operability and comfort of the oral camera 100 better. Moreover, when taking oral pictures, it keeps the user's hand further away from the oral cavity, thereby reducing the probability of contact between the user's hand and the oral cavity, and improving hygiene.

[0076] Considering that user operation is required when using camera 13 to capture images, in some embodiments, the oral camera 100 further includes a button 14. The button 14 is located on a first side 111 and / or a second side 112. The main unit 11 is planar on at least one side opposite to the side where the button 14 is located. For example, if the button 14 is located on the first side 111, then at least the second side 112 is planar, and vice versa. Thus, when the user presses the button 14, the opposite side provides stable support for the main unit 11. Since this surface is planar, it effectively prevents the main unit 11 from rolling or shaking when the user presses the button 14.

[0077] It is understood that the aforementioned button 14 may include, but is not limited to, physical buttons, virtual buttons (such as touch buttons), etc.

[0078] Of course, as in other embodiments, the button 14 may also be disposed on at least one of two opposite sides of the host 11 along its width direction Y, and this application embodiment does not limit this.

[0079] In some embodiments, at least a portion of the cross-section of the main unit 11 is larger than the cross-section of the support member 12 in the length extension direction perpendicular to the main unit 11, wherein the length extension direction of the main unit 11 and the length extension direction of the support member 12 are in the same direction. When using the oral imaging device 1000 to photograph the oral cavity, the main unit 11 is typically held in hand, and the inlet end 12b of the support member 12 and the camera 13 are inserted into the oral cavity. Based on this, by setting at least a portion of the cross-section of the main unit 11 to be larger than the cross-section of the support member 12, the main unit 11 can provide sufficient space for the internal components of the oral camera 100, and can also prevent the support member 12 from being too large, making it easier to move in the oral cavity, avoiding collision with teeth, making the movement of the support member 12 in the oral cavity more flexible, and improving the comfort and safety of using the oral camera 100.

[0080] In some embodiments, at least a portion of the main unit 11 has a width greater than the width of the support member 12, and at least a portion of the main unit 11 has a thickness greater than the thickness of the support member 12. Since the width of the support member 12 determines the size of the user's opening, by making at least a portion of the main unit 11 wider than the width of the support member 12, the support member 12 can achieve the function of taking pictures inside the oral cavity when rotated at any angle, and is suitable for users of various ages (e.g., adults or young children), making it more universally applicable.

[0081] By making at least part of the thickness of the main unit 11 greater than the thickness of the support member 12, on the one hand, the thickness of the main unit 11 can provide sufficient space for the internal components of the oral camera 100, and at the same time, it can also provide a certain support for the user to hold; on the other hand, the thickness of the support member 12 is smaller than the thickness of the main unit 11, making it easier for the user to bite the support member 12, effectively reducing the user's mouth opening range, thereby improving the user's user experience.

[0082] Furthermore, as mentioned above, the main unit 11 is block-shaped, while the support member 12 is rod-shaped, ensuring that the surface of the main unit 11 in contact with the user's hand is flat. This prevents the main unit 11 from rolling when held, allowing the user to hold it stably and improving stability, which in turn facilitates capturing ideal target images. Simultaneously, the block-shaped main unit 11 provides sufficient space for the internal components of the oral cavity camera 100, and the rod-shaped support member 12 allows for easy insertion into the oral cavity, enabling the user to capture images inside the oral cavity without opening their mouth wide.

[0083] In some embodiments, the aspect ratio of the main unit 11 is smaller than that of the support member 12. By making the aspect ratio of the main unit 11 smaller than that of the support member 12, the main unit 11 can be made closer to a rectangular or square block structure, which can provide the main unit 11 with sufficient gripping and storage space. At the same time, the support member 12 can be a long strip structure, which helps the support member 12 to extend into the mouth to realize the shooting function.

[0084] In some embodiments, the width of the main unit 11 is greater than the thickness of the main unit 11. Since the first side 111 and the second side 112 of the main unit 11 are for the user to hold, and the button 14 of the oral cavity camera 100 is also provided to realize the shooting function, the width of the main unit 11 is greater than the thickness of the main unit 11, which can provide enough space for the user to hold, thereby improving the user's holding stability, and thus improving the shooting effect and user experience.

[0085] In some embodiments, the width of the support member 12 is greater than the thickness of the support member 12, and the support member 12 is flat and elongated, so that the support member 12 can be inserted into the oral cavity to realize the function of the oral camera 100 to take pictures of the oral cavity.

[0086] In some embodiments, the first side 111 and / or the second side 112 are the surfaces with the largest area on the host 11, and the first side 111 and / or the second side 112 are at least partially planar, so that the first side 111 and / or the second side 112 of the host 11 provide sufficient space for the fingers to hold, and also conform to the gripping posture of the hand, so as to avoid problems such as displacement or drop of the oral camera 100 during use due to small gripping space or unstable gripping position.

[0087] Please refer to the following: Figures 2 to 3 In some embodiments, the length L1 of the host 11 is not less than 25mm, which provides sufficient gripping area for the user while also providing sufficient space for the internal components of the oral camera 100. For example, the length L1 of the host 11 may include, but is not limited to, 25mm, 26mm, 27mm, 28mm, 29mm, 30mm, etc., and this application embodiment does not limit this. If the length L1 of the host 11 is less than 25mm, it may result in insufficient gripping space provided by the host 11 for the user, which could cause the oral camera 100 to tilt or even fall during shooting, affecting the shooting effect and user experience.

[0088] In some embodiments, the thickness H1 of the main unit 11 is 15mm-30mm, that is, the first side 111 and the second side 112 are actually two sides along the thickness direction Z of the main unit 11. By controlling the thickness of the main unit 11 within a reasonable range, on the one hand, sufficient gripping space can be provided for the user to control and take pictures of the oral camera 100 by holding the main unit 11, and on the other hand, sufficient space can be provided for the internal components of the oral camera 100. In addition, the main unit 11 has a certain thickness to meet the different gripping habits of different users, and also provides sufficient gripping space when the user holds the side wall of the main unit 11.

[0089] For example, the thickness H1 of the host 11 may include, but is not limited to, 15mm-20mm, 20mm-25mm, or 25mm-30mm. For instance, the thickness H1 of the host 11 may include, but is not limited to, 15mm, 16mm, 17mm, 18mm, 19mm, 20mm, 21mm, 22mm, 23mm, 24mm, 25mm, 26mm, 27mm, 28mm, 29mm, or 30mm, etc., and this embodiment does not limit the specific thickness.

[0090] If the thickness H1 of the main unit 11 is less than 15mm, it may be too thin, making it difficult to provide sufficient grip space for the user's hand, thus affecting the user's control of the oral cavity camera 100 and the shooting effect. If the thickness H2 of the main unit 11 is greater than 30mm, it may be too large, making it inconvenient for the user to carry and use, and also affecting the user experience.

[0091] In some embodiments, the support member 12 and the host 11 can be integrally formed, or they can be separately formed.

[0092] Of course, as another embodiment, the support member 12 and the host 11 of this application can also be connected by a pivot 15 (see Figure 8 This allows for a rotatable connection, enabling the support member 12 to be folded and stored in a receiving slot on the main unit 11 (e.g., ...). Figure 8 As shown), when unfolded, it can rotate and extend out from the receiving slot of the main unit 11 (as shown). Figure 9 (As shown). This design is easy to store and allows for quick switching between the first and second states.

[0093] The first state refers to the state when the support member 12 is folded and stored in the receiving slot of the main unit 11; the second state refers to the state when the support member 12 is rotated out of the receiving slot of the main unit 11.

[0094] In some embodiments, the length L2 of the support member 12 is not less than 20mm. This facilitates the insertion of the support member 12 into the oral cavity for full-mouth imaging, and also prevents the user's hand from touching the support member 12, ensuring the hygiene requirements of the oral camera 100. For example, the length L2 of the support member 12 may include, but is not limited to, 20mm, 21mm, 22mm, 23mm, 24mm, 25mm, etc., and this embodiment does not limit this. If the length L2 of the support member 12 is less than 20mm, it may be difficult for the support member 12 to be inserted into the oral cavity for full-position imaging, affecting the imaging effect and user experience.

[0095] In some embodiments, the width W2 of the inlet end 12b of the support member 12 is no greater than 25mm. This reduces the risk of the support member 12 colliding with teeth, and the smaller width allows for more flexible movement of the support member 12 within the oral cavity, improving the comfort and safety of using the camera 13. For example, the width W2 of the inlet end 12b of the support member 12 may include, but is not limited to, 20mm, 21mm, 22mm, 23mm, 24mm, 25mm, etc., and this embodiment does not limit this. If the width W2 of the inlet end 12b of the support member 12 is greater than 25mm, the support member 12 may become too large, making it difficult to move flexibly within the oral cavity, and may even collide with teeth or other oral structures, affecting the shooting effect and user experience.

[0096] In some embodiments, the thickness H2 of the inlet end 12b of the support member 12 is no more than 15mm. On the one hand, this reduces the risk of the support member 12 colliding with teeth or other oral structures, and the smaller thickness allows the support member 12 to move more flexibly in the oral cavity. On the other hand, the smaller thickness also reduces the user's mouth opening range, allowing the user to take oral pictures without opening their mouth wide, which is beneficial to improving the user's experience.

[0097] For example, the thickness H2 of the inlet end 12b of the support member 12 may include, but is not limited to, 10mm, 11mm, 12mm, 13mm, 14mm, 15mm, etc., and this application embodiment does not limit it. If the thickness H2 of the inlet end 12b of the support member 12 is greater than 15mm, it may cause the support member 12 to be difficult to move in the oral cavity, and may collide with the teeth, affecting the imaging effect.

[0098] In some embodiments, the cross-sectional area of ​​the inlet end 12b of the support member 12 in the direction perpendicular to its length extension is no greater than 300 mm². This reduces the risk of the support member 12 colliding with teeth, and the smaller width allows for more flexible movement of the support member 12 within the oral cavity, improving the comfort and safety of using the camera 13. For example, the cross-sectional area of ​​the support member 12 can be 213 mm², 220 mm², 230 mm², 240 mm², 250 mm², 260 mm², 270 mm², 280 mm², 290 mm², or 300 mm². If the cross-sectional area of ​​the support member 12 is greater than 300 mm², the support member 12 may become too large, making it difficult to move within the oral cavity and potentially causing collisions with teeth, affecting the shooting effect and user experience.

[0099] In some embodiments, the support member 12 and the main unit 11 are smoothly connected on the side where the camera 13 is located, or the height difference between the contact surfaces of the support member 12 and the main unit 11 on the side where the camera 13 is located is no more than 5mm. This makes the connection between the support member 12 and the main unit 11 smoother, avoiding abrupt connection structures. When a user inserts the support member 12 into their mouth, the smooth connection reduces irritation and discomfort to the mouth, improving the user experience. Simultaneously, the smooth transition connection also makes the support member 12 and the main unit 11 more aesthetically pleasing overall, meeting the user's aesthetic requirements.

[0100] For example, the height difference between the contact surfaces of the support member 12 and the host 11 on the side where the camera 13 is located may include, but is not limited to, 0, 1mm, 2mm, 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, etc., and this application embodiment does not limit this. If the height difference between the contact surfaces of the support member 12 and the host 11 on the side where the camera 13 is located is greater than 5mm, it may cause an abrupt structure at the connection between the support member 12 and the host 11, which not only affects the aesthetics, but may also cause discomfort to the user when inserted into the mouth, reducing the user's experience.

[0101] It is understood that the support member 12 has two third side surfaces 124 opposite each other along its thickness Z, wherein either third side surface 124 is the side surface of the support member 12 on the side where the camera is located, and the contact surface of the host 11 on the side where the camera is located is either the first side surface 111 or the second side surface 112, by making the third side surface 124 substantially flush with the first side surface 111 or the second side surface 112 (e.g. Figure 2 As shown, this design allows for a smoother connection between the support 12 and the main unit 11, avoiding abrupt structural changes. When a user inserts the support 12 into their mouth, the smooth connection reduces irritation and discomfort, improving the user experience. Furthermore, the smooth transition also enhances the overall aesthetics of the support 12 and the main unit 11, meeting the user's aesthetic preferences.

[0102] Considering that, under normal circumstances, when the support member 12 is inserted into the user's oral cavity, the surface of the support member 12 typically rests against the dental arch 200 along its width direction Y or thickness direction Z. Therefore, in some embodiments, the portion of the support member 12 that rests against the dental arch 200 is flat, straight, or smooth along its width direction Y or thickness direction Z. On one hand, this design allows the support member 12 to better conform to the dental arch 200 when inserted into the user's oral cavity, improving the stability and accuracy of the image capture. Simultaneously, it can also reduce the user's foreign body sensation towards the oral camera to a certain extent, facilitating image capture. On the other hand, when the user bites and applies pressure to the support member 12, the flat surface allows the pressure to be evenly distributed along the width direction Y of the support member 12, effectively preventing lateral displacement of the camera 13 on the dental arch 200. Furthermore, the fact that the surface of the support member 12 that contacts the dental arch 200 is flat, straight, or smooth along its width direction Y also ensures that the distance from the camera 13 to the left and right areas of the dental arch 200 is relatively consistent.

[0103] Understandably, the aforementioned flatness refers to a surface without significant protrusions or depressions, exhibiting a relatively smooth state. Straightness refers to the surface maintaining a straight line in a certain direction (such as the width direction Y of the support 12) without bending or twisting.

[0104] In some embodiments, the width of the support member 12 at the location where the camera 13 is located is greater than the width of other locations on the support member 12 besides the location of the camera 13. Alternatively, the support member 12 has a recess 122 on its side in the width direction Y. Thus, when a user is taking a picture of the inner surface of their upper and / or lower teeth, the user needs to bite down on the side of the support member 12 along the width direction Y, except for the location of the camera 13. The smaller width reduces the user's mouth opening, thereby improving the user experience.

[0105] Please see Figure 10 In some embodiments, the support member 12 is provided with a first abutment portion 121a, and the first abutment portion 121a and the camera 13 are located on opposite sides of the support member 12. The two dental arches 200 include a first dental arch 21 and a second dental arch 22. When the support member 12 abuts against the first dental arch 21, the camera 13 is stabilized by the first abutment portion 121a and used to capture images of the second dental arch 22. When the support member 12 abuts against the first dental arch 21 by the first abutment portion 121a, it can effectively maintain the stability of the camera 13 to capture images of the second dental arch 22, ensuring sufficient stability for the camera 13 during image capture, thereby improving the shooting effect.

[0106] In some embodiments, the first abutment portion 121a includes at least one of a groove, a protrusion, and a bent structure. It should be noted that when the first abutment portion 121a includes a groove, the groove can be formed by removing a portion of the material of the support member 12, or it can be formed by recessing the side of the support member 12 inwards (e.g., Figure 3 (As shown). When the first abutment portion 121a includes a protrusion, the protrusion may include at least one of dot-shaped protrusions or strip-shaped protrusions. When the first abutment portion 121a includes a bent structure, the bent structure may be formed by bending and arching the support member 12 from the image side of the camera 13 to the object side of the camera 13 (e.g., Figure 7 (As shown).

[0107] When the first abutment 121a includes a groove, the first abutment 121a can increase the distance between the camera 13 and the dental arch 200 being photographed, so that the camera 13 can maintain the required threshold distance for shooting, making it easier to capture panoramic images, or reducing the mouth opening angle required by the user when panoramic images can be captured.

[0108] Please see Figures 11 to 12 In some embodiments, when the first abutment portion 121a abuts against the incisors of the second dental arch 22, the camera 13 is used to capture images of the occlusal surface of the first dental arch 21. For example, the camera 13 can be positioned with the first abutment portion 121a abutting against the incisors of the lower dental arch to capture images of the occlusal surface of the upper dental arch, or it can be positioned with the first abutment portion 121a abutting against the incisors of the upper dental arch to capture images of the occlusal surface of the lower dental arch. When the camera 13 abuts against the incisors of the first dental arch 21 with the first abutment portion 121a to capture images of the occlusal surface of the second dental arch 22, the distance between the second dental arch 22 and the camera 13 can be increased, allowing the camera 13 to obtain a wider shooting range, combining comprehensiveness and efficiency in shooting.

[0109] Understandably, incisors are the eight teeth at the front of the mouth, including four in the upper dental arch and four in the lower dental arch, and they are mainly responsible for cutting food.

[0110] It is understandable that there are two dental arches 200, including a first dental arch 21 and a second dental arch 22. One of the first dental arch 21 and the second dental arch 22 is the lower dental arch, and the other is the upper dental arch. Moreover, both the first dental arch 21 and the second dental arch 22 include teeth, or teeth and periodontal tissues.

[0111] Please see Figure 12 In some embodiments, the support member 12 is provided with a second abutment portion 121b, and the second abutment portion 121b and the camera 13 are located on adjacent sides of the support member 12. When the second abutment portion 121b abuts against the first dental arch 21 and / or the second dental arch 22, the camera 13 is used to capture images of the inner surfaces of the upper teeth and / or the inner surfaces of the lower teeth.

[0112] By providing a second abutment 121b on the side of the support member 12, the depth of the camera 13 inserted into the oral cavity can be limited, preventing the support member 12 from extending too far into the oral cavity and reducing interference and potential damage to soft tissues in the oral cavity (such as gums and tongue).

[0113] In some embodiments, the first abutment 121a and the second abutment 121b are used to limit the depth of the camera 13 inserted into the oral cavity to prevent the support 12 from extending too far into the oral cavity. In addition, by limiting the entry depth of the camera 13, it is possible to help the user find the shooting position more quickly, further improving ease of use and shortening the time required for shooting and adjusting the position.

[0114] For example, the second abutment 121b can abut against a part of the teeth such as incisors, canines, or molars. After the second abutment 121b abuts against the teeth, the camera 13 can be aimed at both sides of the oral cavity to capture images of the inner surfaces of the teeth on the left and right sides of the oral cavity. Here, "both sides" refers to the sides of the human body, such as the left and right ears located on both sides.

[0115] like Figure 13 As shown, when the support 12 is laterally abutted against a single dental arch 200 (e.g., the second dental arch 22) via the second abutment 121b or positioned between the first dental arch 21 and the second dental arch 22, the camera 13 is able to face at least a portion of the inner surface of the upper and lower dental arches. During a dental arch 200 scan, the user or dentist inserts the camera 13 into the subject's mouth and has the subject bite down on the support 12 via the second abutment 121b. The second abutment 121b restricts the position of the camera 13, either abutting against the second dental arch 22 or approximately positioned between the two dental arches 200, thereby enabling the camera 13 to capture images of at least a portion of the inner surface of the upper and lower dental arches.

[0116] The occlusal point of the subject's teeth against the second abutment 121b forms a fulcrum, allowing the camera 13 to rotate as the user or dentist turns or moves the main unit 11 (e.g., with a handle). This rotation mechanism allows images of the inner surfaces of the upper and lower dental arches to be captured from different angles as needed. For example, to obtain a better view of the molar region, the user or dentist can rotate the camera 13 away from the molars to acquire images of the inner surfaces of the molars.

[0117] Optionally, there can be multiple second abutment portions 121b, such as two, three, four, five, six, seven or eight, etc., and multiple second abutment portions 121b are spaced apart along the length direction X of the support member 12.

[0118] Multiple second abutments 121b can adapt to individual differences in the oral cavity of different users, especially the size of the dental arch 200 and the arrangement of teeth. Since the size and shape of the dental arch 200 vary among different users—for example, the tooth arrangement and oral cavity depth differ between adults and children—the design of multiple second abutments 121b provides various limiting options. This allows the support 12 to select the appropriate second abutment 121b for positioning according to the user's oral structure, limiting different insertion depths of the camera 13. This facilitates adjusting the camera 13 to the optimal position based on the size of the user's dental arch 200 to capture images of the inner surface of the dental arch 200. For example, when capturing the occlusal surface near the palatal side of the posterior teeth, a second abutment 121b that is relatively closer to the main unit 11 can be selected to ensure that the support 12 has sufficient length to extend into the oral cavity.

[0119] In some embodiments, the width of the support 12 at the location where the camera 13 is located is greater than the width of the support 12 at other locations besides the location of the camera 13. Alternatively, the support 12 has a recessed portion 122 on its side in the width direction Y. Thus, when a user is taking pictures of the inner surfaces of the upper and / or lower teeth, the user needs to bite down on the side of the support 12 along the width direction Y at locations other than the camera 13, and take pictures of the inner surfaces of the dental arch by abutting the second abutment portion 121b against the dental arch. The smaller width of the support 12 reduces the user's mouth opening, thereby improving the user experience.

[0120] In some embodiments, the second abutment 121b may be at least one of a groove or a protrusion.

[0121] For example, the second abutment 121b includes a plurality of spaced grooves or a plurality of spaced protrusions, thereby enabling the teeth to be accommodated in suitable grooves or between two adjacent protrusions according to the user's oral structure, in order to position the camera 13 and limit different insertion depths of the camera 13 so as to adjust the camera 13 to the optimal position according to the size of the user's dental arch 200 in order to capture an image of the inner surface of the dental arch 200.

[0122] When the second abutment 121b is a groove, at least some of the grooves have different depths, with the grooves closer to the camera 13 being shallower. This allows for better adaptation to users with different dental arch sizes 200, such as adults and children. The shallower grooves closer to the camera 13 are suitable for shooting the anterior teeth area because the anterior teeth (such as incisors and canines) are usually smaller and shallower. The shallower grooves ensure that the camera 13 maintains an appropriate distance from the anterior teeth, avoiding an excessive distance between the camera 13 and the teeth due to excessively deep grooves, which would affect the shooting effect.

[0123] Deeper grooves are suitable for filming the posterior teeth area, such as molars. Posterior teeth are usually larger and located deeper, and deeper grooves can better accommodate posterior teeth while limiting the depth of the support 12, ensuring that the camera 13 can be aligned with the occlusal surface and inner surface.

[0124] As can be seen, by setting up the above-mentioned multiple second abutments, users can select the appropriate groove for limiting the position of the tooth to be photographed, thereby controlling the relative position and angle between the camera 13 and the tooth. For example, when photographing a child's teeth, a shallower groove can be selected to adapt to the shallower oral structure; while when photographing an adult's teeth, a deeper groove can be selected to adapt to the deeper oral structure.

[0125] When the second abutment 121b is a protrusion, the dental arch 200 is positioned between two adjacent protrusions. At least some of the protrusions have different heights relative to the support 12, with the protrusions closer to the camera 13 being smaller. This allows for better adaptation to users with different dental arch 200 sizes, such as adults and children. The lower protrusions, closer to the camera 13, are suitable for photographing the anterior teeth area because anterior teeth (such as incisors and canines) are typically smaller and shallower. The lower protrusions ensure that the camera 13 maintains an appropriate distance from the anterior teeth, preventing the distance between the camera 13 and the teeth from becoming too far due to excessively high protrusions, which would affect the shooting effect.

[0126] The higher protrusions are suitable for photographing the posterior teeth area, such as molars. Posterior teeth are usually larger and located deeper, and the space between the two higher protrusions can better accommodate the posterior teeth, while limiting the depth of the support 12 to ensure that the camera 13 can be aligned with the occlusal surface and the inner surface.

[0127] As can be seen, users can select the appropriate protrusion for positioning based on the desired tooth location, thereby controlling the relative position and angle between the camera 13 and the tooth. For example, when photographing a child's teeth, a lower protrusion can be selected to accommodate the shallower oral structure; while when photographing an adult's teeth, a higher protrusion can be selected to accommodate the deeper oral structure.

[0128] Please refer to the following: Figures 14 to 15In some embodiments, the support member 12 is provided with a third abutment portion 121c, and the third abutment portion 121c and the camera 13 are located on the same side of the support member 12. The camera 13 abuts against the tooth surface or the outer side of the jawbone via the third abutment portion 121c to separate the camera 13 from the tooth surface, so that the camera 13 maintains the required threshold distance for shooting. This allows the camera 13 to maintain a better shooting distance from the tooth surface being photographed, so as to obtain better imaging results. In addition, when the support member 12 is placed against the surface of the lower dental arch or the user's jaw via the third abutment portion 121c, the camera 13 is located outside the mouth and captures images of all or part of the outer surface of the upper and lower dental arches. This allows a single oral imaging device 1000 to realize intraoral and extraoral scanning functions, thus forming an intraoral and extraoral dual-function oral imaging device 1000.

[0129] The distinction between intraoral and extraoral is whether the camera 13 is inserted into the oral cavity (i.e., whether the camera 13 extends beyond the inner surface of the front teeth).

[0130] For example, the third abutment 121c can separate the camera 13 from the surface of the tooth being photographed, so that the camera 13 can maintain a better shooting distance from the surface of the tooth being photographed (for example, the distance is ≥8mm, such as 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 14mm, etc.), thereby obtaining a better external surface imaging effect.

[0131] In some embodiments, the support member 12 is bent on the back side of the camera 13 to form a first abutment portion 121a, and a third abutment portion 121c is formed on the same side of the camera 13. The first abutment portion 121a is a groove, and the third abutment portion 121c is a protrusion. That is, by bending and arching the support member 12 from the image side of the camera 13 to the object side of the camera 13, the support member 12 can form a protrusion on the side where the light-incident surface of the camera 13 is located, serving as the third abutment portion 121c, and form a groove on the side where the light-emitting surface of the camera 13 is located, serving as the first abutment portion 121a. The first abutment portion 121a and the third abutment portion 121c can be formed at one time, which is more convenient and makes the overall structure of the support member 12 simpler.

[0132] In some embodiments, the support member 12 is provided with a limiting portion 123 (e.g., Figure 7 As shown, the limiting part 123 is located between the camera 13 and the host 11. The limiting part 123 is used to abut against the dental arch 200 and to limit at least one of the following: the entry depth of the camera 13 into the oral cavity, the distance from the camera 13 to the dental arch 200 being photographed, and the rotation angle of the camera 13 in the oral cavity.

[0133] Specifically, there may be one or more limiting parts 123, which is not limited in this application. The limiting part 123 restricts the position and range of movement of the support 12 in the oral cavity by abutting against the dental arch 200, so as to ensure that the support 12 and the teeth maintain a relatively stable and accurate relative position, thereby ensuring that the camera 13 and the teeth maintain a relatively stable and accurate relative position.

[0134] In other words, this application provides a limiting part 123 on the support member 12 to abut against the dental arch 200, thereby limiting the positional relationship between the camera 13 and the dental arch 200. This limits the position of the camera 13 in the subject's oral cavity and / or stabilizes the camera 13, providing a better position and angle for the dental arch 200 to be captured. This allows the camera 13 to obtain a better shooting angle, enabling it to capture a wider range or angle of the dental arch 200, and to obtain a more complete or wider image of the dental arch 200. This achieves the goal of capturing the entire dental arch 200 in a single image without the need for an auxiliary reflector. The operation process is relatively simple and easy to operate, allowing the user to operate and examine the oral cavity themselves. In this case, the subject and the user are the same person.

[0135] In some embodiments, the limiting portion 123 includes at least one of a groove, a protrusion, and a bent structure. That is, the limiting portion 123 may include only one of the groove, protrusion, and bent structure. Alternatively, the limiting portion 123 may include any two of the groove, protrusion, and bent structure; for example, the limiting portion 123 may include a groove and a protrusion, or a groove and a bent structure, or a protrusion and a bent structure. Or, the limiting portion 123 may include a groove, a protrusion, and a bent structure. Therefore, the limiting portion 123 is not limited to a specific structure, is flexible and versatile, and is easy to implement.

[0136] Optionally, the groove may include at least one of dot-shaped pits or strip-shaped grooves. The protrusion may include at least one of dot-shaped protrusions or strip-shaped ridges.

[0137] In some embodiments, there are multiple limiting portions 123, which are arranged at intervals along the length extension direction of the support member 12. Exemplarily, the limiting portions 123 may include two, three, four, five, six, seven, or eight, etc., and the embodiments of this application do not limit this.

[0138] As can be seen, the multiple limiting parts 123 can adapt to individual differences in the oral cavity of different users, especially the size of the dental arch 200 and the arrangement of teeth. Since the size and shape of the dental arch 200 vary among different users—for example, the tooth arrangement and oral cavity depth differ between adults and children—the design of multiple limiting parts 123 provides a variety of limiting options, allowing the support member 12 to select the appropriate limiting part 123 for positioning according to the user's oral structure. For example, when photographing the occlusal surface near the palatal side of the posterior teeth, a limiting part 123 that is relatively closer to the main unit 11 can be selected to ensure that the support member 12 has sufficient length to extend into the oral cavity.

[0139] When the limiting part 123 includes multiple grooves, at least some of the grooves have different depths, with the grooves closer to the camera 13 being shallower. This allows for better adaptation to users with different dental arch sizes 200, such as adults and children. Shallower grooves closer to the camera 13 are suitable for shooting the anterior teeth area because anterior teeth (such as incisors and canines) are typically smaller and shallower. Shallower grooves ensure that the camera 13 maintains an appropriate distance from the anterior teeth, avoiding excessive distance between the camera 13 and the teeth due to excessively deep grooves, which would affect the shooting effect.

[0140] Deeper grooves are suitable for filming the posterior teeth area, such as molars. Posterior teeth are usually larger and located deeper, and deeper grooves can better accommodate posterior teeth while limiting the depth of the support 12, ensuring that the camera 13 can be aligned with the occlusal surface and inner surface.

[0141] Users can select a suitable groove for positioning based on the desired tooth location, thereby controlling the relative position and angle between the camera 13 and the tooth. For example, when photographing a child's teeth, a shallower groove can be selected to accommodate the shallower oral structure; while when photographing an adult's teeth, a deeper groove can be selected to accommodate the deeper oral structure.

[0142] In some embodiments, the limiting portion 123 in the longitudinal direction X of the support member 12 can be a groove, the size of which is adapted to the thickness of the tooth, so that the support member 12 can be locked onto the tooth through the groove, and the support member 12 can be relatively stably abutted against the dental arch 200 through the limiting portion 123.

[0143] In some embodiments, the limiting part 123 and the first abutting part 121a can be selectively provided, or the limiting part 123 and the second abutting part 121b can be selectively provided. For example, when the limiting part 123 is provided on the side of the support member 12 opposite to the camera 13, the limiting part 123 can also achieve the function of the first abutting part 121a, that is, the first dental arch 21 abuts against the limiting part 123 to limit the position of the camera 13 and keep the camera 13 stable. As another example, when the limiting part 123 is provided on both sides of the support member 12 opposite to each other along its width direction Y, the limiting part 123 can also achieve the function of the second abutting part 121b, that is, the first dental arch 21 abuts against the limiting part 123 to limit the depth of the camera 13 into the oral cavity, thereby preventing the support member 12 from excessively extending into the oral cavity and quickly positioning the shooting position.

[0144] Of course, as other embodiments, the limiting part 123, the first abutting part 121a and the second abutting part 121b may also coexist, and this application embodiment does not limit this.

[0145] Please refer to the following: Figures 16 to 19 In a first aspect, this application provides an oral imaging device 1000, which includes an oral mouth opener 300 and an oral camera 100. The oral mouth opener 300 is detachably connected to the host 11 and / or the support 12. The oral mouth opener 300 is used to open the lips of the person being photographed, and the oral mouth opener 300 has a shooting through hole 3011, which corresponds to the camera 13.

[0146] The oral camera 100 has at least a first form and a second form. In the first form, the mouth opener 300 is connected to the main unit 11, and one end of the mouth opener 300 can press against the user's gums or other areas to open the user's lips. The camera 13 is used to capture images outside the oral cavity. When the user has at least a portion of the mouth opener 300 in their mouth, at least a portion of the mouth opener 300 is located between the lips and gums. The mouth opener 300 can prevent the lips from touching the gums. At this time, at least a portion of the outer surface of the teeth can correspond to the imaging through-hole 3011, and at least a portion of the outer surface of the teeth is within the imaging range of the camera 13. The camera 13 can obtain the reflected signal from the area to be scanned (at least a portion of the outer surface of the dental arch 200) through the imaging through-hole 3011 to generate an image or video. Furthermore, the mouth opener 300 can also maintain a certain distance between the camera 13 and the area to be scanned, avoiding problems such as blurry focus caused by the camera 13 being too close to the area to be scanned. When the oral camera 100 needs to scan the oral cavity, the mouth opening device 300 creates a certain distance between the area to be scanned and the camera 13, allowing the area to be scanned to be within the imaging range of the camera 13, thereby making the images and / or videos captured by the camera 13 clearer.

[0147] In the second configuration, the oral camera 100 extends protruding from the main unit 11, allowing the user to hold the main unit 11 and insert the camera 13 into the oral cavity for imaging. In this second configuration, the camera 13 is located outside the mouth opener 300. For example, the camera 13 can extend from the mouth opener 300, or the mouth opener 300 can be removed from the main unit 11. That is, in the second configuration, the mouth opener 300 can be connected to or not connected to the main unit 11. The camera 13 can move within the oral cavity and freely change its distance and angle from the teeth to capture different images. For example, the camera 13 can be aimed at the inner surface of the dental arch 200 to capture images of at least the inner surfaces of the teeth, and it can also extend into the oral cavity to capture images of the occlusal surfaces of the dental arch 200.

[0148] In the oral camera 100 of this application, in the first state, the mouth opener 300 can abut against the gums and support the lips, the outer surface of the user's teeth can be opposite to the shooting through hole 3011, and the camera 13 can at least receive the energy reflected back from the outer surface of the teeth and capture images; in the second state, the camera 13 can be inserted into the oral cavity to capture images of the inner surface of the teeth and the occlusal surface of the teeth, as well as local images of a single tooth, thereby realizing comprehensive imaging of the occlusal surface, inner surface and outer surface of the teeth.

[0149] In some embodiments, the mouth opening device 300 may be detachably connected to the main unit 11 or the support member 12 by at least one of magnetic attraction, snap-fit, or sleeve connection, so that the oral imaging device 1000 can switch between a first mode and a second mode.

[0150] Of course, as in other embodiments, the opening device 300 may be integrally formed with the host 11 and / or the support member 12, and this application embodiment does not limit this.

[0151] In some embodiments, the mouth opener 300 includes a connecting portion 302 and an opening portion 301 connected to each other, a shooting through hole 3011 is located in the opening portion 301, and the opening portion 301 is used to open the lips of the subject being photographed. The connecting portion 302 is connected to the end face of the main unit 11 connected to the support member 12, or the connecting portion 302 is connected to the first side 111 of the main unit 11.

[0152] The connecting part 302 is used to connect the main unit 11 and the opening 301. The connecting part 302 can change the connection position between the opening 301 and the main unit 11, thereby making the position of the opening 301 more flexible relative to the main unit 11.

[0153] In some embodiments, the connecting portion 302 and the opening portion 301 are integral structures (the two are integrally formed), that is, the connecting portion 302 and the opening portion 301 are an integral structure, which can improve the bonding strength between the connecting portion 302 and the opening portion 301, prevent the connecting portion 302 and the opening portion 301 from separating during the operation of the opening portion 301, thereby ensuring the stability and reliability of the operation of the opening portion 301.

[0154] In other embodiments, the connecting portion 302 and the opening portion 301 are separate structures, that is, the connecting portion 302 and the opening portion 301 are two different structures. In one example, the connecting portion 302 and the opening portion 301 can be joined together by a detachable connection method, including but not limited to snap-fit ​​connections or threaded connections. In another example, the connecting portion 302 and the opening portion 301 can be joined together by a non-detachable connection method, including but not limited to bonding or welding.

[0155] The opening 301 of the mouth opener 300 is connected to the main unit 11 of the oral camera 100 through the connecting part 302, thereby realizing the indirect connection between the opening 301 and the main unit 11. Compared with the opening 301 being directly connected to the main unit 11, the connection position between the opening 301 and the main unit 11 is shifted, and the position of the opening 301 connected to the main unit 11 and the position of the opening 301 are decoupled (the position of the shooting through hole 3011). That is, the position of the opening 301 connected to the main unit 11 and the position of the opening 301 are not related. On the one hand, the shooting through hole 3011 can be within the coverage area of ​​the main unit 11, or it can protrude relative to the main unit 11, that is, extend beyond the coverage area of ​​the main unit 11. The position of the shooting through hole 3011 of the opening 301 relative to the main unit 11 is more versatile.

[0156] Please see Figures 18 to 19 In some embodiments, the connecting portion 302 is flush with the first side 111 of the host 11 at least on the side facing the camera 13, or the connecting portion 302 covers the first side 111 of the host 11. By making one side of the connecting portion 302 flush with the first side 111 of the host 11, the appearance of the oral imaging device 1000 can be made simpler and more aesthetically pleasing, while preventing the connecting portion 302 from protruding from the first side 111 of the host 11 and scratching the user's mouth or face, thus improving comfort and safety during use. In addition, when the connecting portion 302 covers the first side 111 of the host 11, it can protect the first side 111 of the host 11, preventing damage to the host 11, while also ensuring a simpler and more aesthetically pleasing overall appearance of the oral imaging device 1000.

[0157] In some embodiments, the connecting portion 302 is connected to the end face where the main unit 11 connects to the support member 12, and the connecting portion 302 is provided with a mating groove 3021. The mating groove 3021 mates with the support member 12, and the mating groove 3021 extends along the length extension direction of the support member 12. The support member 12 is inserted into the mating groove 3021 along the length extension direction of the support member 12. Thus, when the oral imaging device 1000 moves laterally to capture images of different positions on the outer surface of the teeth, the mating groove 3021 and the support member 12 can provide support for the lateral force on the mouth opener 300, effectively preventing the mouth opener 300 from deflecting, thereby improving the imaging effect and user experience.

[0158] Please refer to the following: Figure 20 and Figure 21 In some embodiments, as described above, the support member 12 and the main unit 11 can be rotatably connected via a pivot 15. Therefore, when the oral camera 100 is in the first state, the support member 12 can be in a first state relative to the main unit 11. By providing an oral mouthpiece 300 on the main unit 11, with the shooting through-hole 3011 of the oral mouthpiece 300 corresponding to the camera 13, the user can take pictures while holding the oral mouthpiece 300 in their mouth. When the oral camera is in the second state, the support member 12 extends rotatably from the receiving slot of the main unit 11, so that the support member 12 extends into the oral cavity to take pictures inside the oral cavity. In this state, the oral mouthpiece 300 and the main unit 11 can be connected or separated, and this application does not limit this.

[0159] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0160] Furthermore, the embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of this application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the content of this specification should not be construed as a limitation of this application, and the protection scope of this application should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An oral cavity camera, characterized in that, The oral camera includes: A host unit, the host unit being designed for human hand-holding; A support member having a connecting end and an inlet end opposite each other in the longitudinal extension direction, the connecting end of the support member being connected to the main unit, and the inlet end being for insertion into the mouth of the subject being photographed; and, A camera is disposed at the entrance end of the support member, and the camera is located on the peripheral side of the support member; The host has a first side facing the same direction as the camera and a second side facing away from the camera, and at least a portion of the first side and / or the second side of the host is planar.

2. The oral camera according to claim 1, characterized in that, In a direction perpendicular to the length extension of the host, at least a portion of the cross-section of the host is larger than the cross-section of the support member, wherein the length extension direction of the host and the length extension direction of the support member are in the same direction; and / or, At least a portion of the main unit has a width greater than the width of the support member, and at least a portion of the main unit has a thickness greater than the thickness of the support member; and / or, The main unit is block-shaped, and the support member is rod-shaped; and / or, The aspect ratio of the main unit is smaller than that of the support member.

3. The oral camera according to claim 1, characterized in that, The width of the host is greater than the thickness of the host, and / or the width of the support is greater than the thickness of the support.

4. The oral camera according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first side and / or the second side is the surface with the largest area of ​​the host.

5. The oral camera according to claim 1, characterized in that, The size of the oral camera satisfies at least one of the following: The length of the host is not less than 25mm; The length of the support member shall not be less than 20mm; The width of the inlet end of the support member is not greater than 25mm; The thickness of the inlet end of the support member is no more than 15mm; In the direction perpendicular to the length extension of the support member, the cross-sectional area of ​​the inlet end of the support member is not greater than 300 mm^2; The thickness of the host is 15mm-30mm.

6. The oral camera according to claim 1, characterized in that, The oral camera also includes a button, which is disposed on the first side and / or the second side, and at least the side opposite to the side where the button is located is planar.

7. The oral camera according to claim 1, characterized in that, The support and the host are smoothly connected on the side where the camera is located, or the height difference between the contact surfaces of the support and the host on the side where the camera is located is no more than 5mm.

8. The oral camera according to claim 1, characterized in that, The portion of the support that abuts against the dental arch is flat, straight, or smooth in the width or thickness direction of the support.

9. The oral camera according to claim 1, characterized in that, The support member is provided with a first abutment part, and the first abutment part and the camera are located on opposite sides of the support member; The two dental arches include a first dental arch and a second dental arch. When the support abuts against the first dental arch, the camera is stabilized by the first abutment and is used to capture an image of the second dental arch.

10. The oral camera according to claim 9, characterized in that, When the first abutment abuts against the incisor of the second dental arch, the camera is used to capture an image of the occlusal surface of the first dental arch.

11. The oral camera according to claim 1, characterized in that, The support member is provided with a second abutment, and the second abutment and the camera are located on adjacent sides of the support member; When the second abutment abuts against the first dental arch and / or the second dental arch, the camera is used to capture images of the inner surfaces of the upper teeth and / or the inner surfaces of the lower teeth.

12. The oral camera according to claim 11, characterized in that, In the width direction of the support member, the width of the support member at the location where the camera is located is greater than the width of the support member at other locations besides the location of the camera; or, The support member has a recessed portion on its side in the width direction.

13. The oral camera according to claim 1, characterized in that, The support member is provided with a third abutment, and the third abutment and the camera are located on the same side of the support member; The camera abuts against the tooth surface or the outer side of the jawbone via the third abutment to separate the camera from the tooth surface, thereby maintaining the camera at the required threshold distance for shooting.

14. The oral camera according to claim 1, characterized in that, The support member is provided with a limiting part, which is located between the camera and the host. The limiting part is used to abut against the dental arch and to limit at least one of the following: the entry depth of the camera into the oral cavity, the distance from the camera to the dental arch being photographed, and the rotation angle of the camera in the oral cavity.

15. The oral camera according to claim 14, characterized in that, The limiting portion includes at least one of a groove, a protrusion, and a bending structure.

16. The oral camera according to claim 14, characterized in that, The limiting part is a plurality of such limiting parts, which are arranged at intervals along the length extension direction of the support member.

17. The oral camera according to claim 1, characterized in that, The field of view of the camera is greater than or equal to 140°.

18. The oral camera according to any one of claims 1-17, characterized in that, The camera has a rectangular field of view, and the shorter side of the rectangular field of view is parallel to the length extension direction of the support member.

19. An oral imaging device, characterized in that, The oral imaging device includes an mouth opener and an oral camera as described in any one of claims 1-18. The mouth opener is detachably connected to the main unit and / or the support member. The mouth opener is used to open the lips of the subject being photographed, and the mouth opener has a shooting through hole corresponding to the camera.

20. The oral imaging device according to claim 19, characterized in that, The mouth opener includes a connecting part and an opening that are connected to each other. The shooting through hole is located in the opening and the opening is used to open the lips of the subject being photographed. The connecting part is connected to the end face of the main unit connected to the support member, or the connecting part is connected to the first side of the main unit.

21. The oral imaging device according to claim 20, characterized in that, The connecting portion is flush with the first side of the host at least on the side facing the camera, or the connecting portion covers the first side of the host.

22. The oral imaging device according to claim 20, characterized in that, The connecting part is connected to the end face where the host is connected to the support member, and the connecting part is provided with a mating groove. The mating groove mates with the support member, and the mating groove extends along the length extension direction of the support member. The support member is inserted into the mating groove along the length extension direction of the support member.

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