DENTAL IMAGING SYSTEM

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a dental image recording system and a method for dental image recording.

[0002] The publication US 2016 / 220105 A1 concerns a device for viewing the inside of the mouth. An LED, OLED, halogen, plasma, or laser light system projects radiation onto the tooth in the form of points, lines, or known and structured frames. By varying the wavelengths and intensities, pathological areas can be examined.

[0003] The publication US 2018 / 168781 A1 concerns a scanner, an augmented reality display, and a computing device. The AR system can, for example, highlight a real tooth in a different color in a visual overlay.

[0004] The document WO 2018 / 030969 A1 relates to a lighting device for dental imaging that can be attached to a smartphone.

[0005] The document US 2013 / 236850 A1 relates to an intraoral scanner for digital image acquisition with a collimator lens group for collimating the light beam.

[0006] Imaging a dental situation inside an oral cavity under luminescence can be difficult, as luminescent areas are often difficult to detect in daylight.

[0007] It is the technical object of the present invention to provide improved image data for a dental diagnosis.

[0008] This object is achieved by the subject matter according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims, the description, and the figures.

[0009] The image acquisition system may include a light source for stimulating luminescence within the oral cavity. The stimulation of luminescence in tooth substance can be performed with or without additional dye. The dental image acquisition system achieves the technical advantage of allowing the luminescent area to be more easily perceived visually.

[0010] In a technically advantageous embodiment of the image acquisition system, the dental image acquisition system comprises a computing device configured to increase the contrast or intensity of the captured luminescence region in the digital image. This achieves the technical advantage, for example, that luminescence regions can be visually perceived even more clearly. By superimposing the image on the illuminated tooth through the data glasses, luminescence regions can be displayed in real time and immediately recognized during a medical examination.

[0011] In a further technically advantageous embodiment of the image acquisition system, the dental image acquisition system comprises a calculation device configured to integrate depth information into the digital image in order to increase the baseline of the digital image. This also achieves the technical advantage, for example, that luminescent areas can be visually perceived even more clearly or that the depth of the carious lesion can be displayed.

[0012] In a further technically advantageous embodiment of the image recording system, a light source for exciting luminescence and / or the electronic camera are integrated into the data glasses or into a dental treatment device. This achieves the technical advantage, for example, that the light source can be held in suitable positions.

[0013] In a further technically advantageous embodiment of the image recording system, the light source is configured to emit monochromatic, non-monochromatic, non-polarized, or polarized light. This achieves the technical advantage, for example, of using suitable light to detect luminescence. The light can be emitted continuously or in pulsed form.

[0014] The monochrome filter, the bandpass filter or the polarizing filter is controlled electronically.

[0015] In a further technically advantageous embodiment of the image recording system, the light has a wavelength in the range of 300 to 480 nm. However, the light can also have a wavelength in the range of 330 to 400 nm. The light can, for example, have a wavelength of 244 nm, 257 nm, 325 nm, or 364 nm in the ultraviolet range, a wavelength of 457 nm, 473 nm, 488 nm, 514 nm, 532 nm, 633 nm, or 660 nm in the visible range, or a wavelength of 785 nm, 830 nm, 980 nm, or 1064 nm in the infrared range. This achieves the technical advantage, for example, that the luminescence of tooth substance can be particularly well stimulated.

[0016] In another technically advantageous embodiment of the image acquisition system, the light source comprises a monochrome filter, a bandpass filter, or a polarization filter. This achieves the technical advantage, for example, of improving the camera's image acquisition.

[0017] In a further technically advantageous embodiment of the image recording system, the monochrome filter, the bandpass filter or the polarization filter can be moved into the beam path of the light source as required.

[0018] This provides the technical advantage, for example, that images can be taken with and without these filters, which can then be compared with each other.

[0019] The monochrome filter, the bandpass filter or the polarizing filter are controlled electronically.

[0020] Electronic control of these filters is achieved by applying a voltage, which allows the optical properties of the filters to be specifically adjusted or influenced. For example, a wavelength, wavelength range, or polarization angle of the filters can be specifically controlled.

[0021] This electronic control enables, for example, self-optimization of contrast or intensity to improve the information content of the digital image. For this purpose, an electronic control device can be provided to perform this control.

[0022] In a further technically advantageous embodiment of the image recording system, the image recording system comprises a light source for exciting the luminescence, which is designed to emit collimated light. This achieves the technical advantage, for example, that the light rays can be directed and concentrated onto a specific area.

[0023] In a further technically advantageous embodiment of the image recording system, the collimation angle is between 0°-2° or 0°-4°. This also achieves the technical advantage, for example, that the light rays can be directed and concentrated on a specific area. In a further technically advantageous embodiment of the image recording system, the image recording system comprises a light source for exciting the luminescence, which is formed by a light-emitting diode, a laser diode, or a laser. This also achieves the technical advantage, for example, that particularly suitable light sources are used.

[0024] A method according to the invention is defined in claim 12.

[0025] This results in the same technical advantages as the image recording system according to claim 1.

[0026] In a technically advantageous embodiment of the method for dental image acquisition, the contrast or intensity of the captured luminescence region in the digital image is increased. This also achieves the technical advantage, for example, that luminescence regions can be visually perceived even more clearly.

[0027] In another technically advantageous embodiment of the method, depth information is integrated into the digital image to increase the base of the digital image. This also achieves the technical advantage, for example, that luminescent areas can be visually perceived even more clearly.

[0028] In another technically advantageous embodiment of the method for dental image acquisition, the light source emits monochromatic, non-monochromatic, non-polarized, or polarized light. This also achieves the technical advantage, for example, of using suitable light to detect luminescence.

[0029] In another technically advantageous embodiment of the method for dental image acquisition, the light source emits collimated light. This also achieves the technical advantage, for example, of allowing the light rays to be directed and concentrated on a specific area.

[0030] In a further technically advantageous embodiment of the method, an emitted wavelength, an electronic filter, and / or the electronic camera are controlled in such a way that the contrast of the digital image is automatically increased or optimized, or the sensitivity of the camera is increased. In this way, for example, self-optimization of the contrast or the intensity of the luminescence region can occur. This also achieves the technical advantage, for example, that luminescence regions can be perceived more quickly and clearly. This self-optimization can be performed by suitable algorithms that control the emitted wavelength, the electronic filter, and / or the electronic camera based on the captured image. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are described in more detail below.

[0031] They show: Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a dental image acquisition system; and Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a method for dental image acquisition.

[0032] Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a dental image acquisition system 100. The image acquisition system 100 is used to acquire images from a patient's oral cavity. The image acquisition system 100 optionally includes a light source 101 for stimulating luminescence within the oral cavity, an electronic camera 103 for capturing a digital image of a luminescent region 111, and data glasses 105 for displaying the captured image over a visually perceived image. A digital processing device can optically highlight or enhance the luminescent region 111 in the captured image so that it can be better recognized.

[0033] Luminescence includes fluorescence, phosphorescence, and Raman spectroscopy. Fluorescence is the spontaneous emission of light shortly after the excitation of a material through electronic transitions. The emitted light is usually lower in energy than that previously absorbed by the light source. Phosphorescence describes a longer afterglow after optical excitation. Raman spectroscopy is the inelastic scattering of light by molecules.

[0034] Fluorescence, phosphorescence, or Raman spectroscopy can be used to visualize the porosity, roughness, or gloss of tooth substance. This can be used to determine whether a tooth is carious or not, or what other condition the tooth is in.

[0035] The light source 101 is formed, for example, by a light-emitting diode, a laser diode, or a laser. The light source 101 can emit light in the wavelength range from 300 nm to 480 nm or 330 nm to 400 nm. The light beam of the light source can be collimated, i.e., aligned essentially parallel, so that the light can be concentrated on a specific area inside the oral cavity. This can be achieved, for example, in a simple manner by a collimator or converging lens in front of the light source or by a laser as the light source 101.

[0036] The light source 101 can be embodied as a separate device intended solely for illumination purposes or can be integrated into another dental treatment tool, such as a scanner, probe, or mirror. The light source 101 can emit monochromatic, non-monochromatic, non-polarized, or polarized light. In general, the light source 101 can emit any form of light that excites luminescence.

[0037] The luminescence region 111 (ROI - Region of Interest) is captured by an electronic camera 103 with a CMOS chip, which captures a digital image of the luminescence and generates corresponding image data. The digital image and the image data can be processed using computer technology to further emphasize the intended luminescence effect. The digital image can be processed using image analysis, which allows for the differentiation of visually barely distinguishable luminescence zones within the luminescence region 111, developed using machine learning.

[0038] In addition, a monochrome filter 113, a bandpass filter 113, or a polarization filter 113 can be moved or folded into the beam path of the camera 103, for example, in front of the camera 103 and / or in front of the light source 101. A monochrome filter only allows light of a specific wavelength to pass through. A bandpass filter is a filter that only allows light of a specific frequency range to pass through. A polarization filter only allows light of a specific polarization direction to pass through.

[0039] In this way, images can be captured with and without these filters 113, which can then be compared. The resulting images can be subjected to differential analysis.

[0040] The electronic camera 103 can, for example, capture wavelengths in the short-wavelength light range below 400 nm or in the longer-wavelength range above 700 nm, which are no longer perceptible to the eye. This also allows for the capture of invisible fluorescence, phosphorescence, or Raman effects.

[0041] A computing device 107 of the dental image acquisition system 100 can process the image data and increase the contrast or intensity of the captured luminescence region in the digital image. For this purpose, luminescence regions 111 can be identified in the digital image and processed using graphics algorithms. This makes it possible to enhance weak fluorescence effects, phosphorescence effects, or Raman effects, or to assign them other color values ​​that are more easily perceptible. Identification of the luminescence region 111 can be achieved by detecting characteristic wavelengths / colors of the luminescence in the captured image.

[0042] The calculation device 107 is formed, for example, by a software module executed by a processor. The original and processed image data can be stored in a digital memory.

[0043] In addition, the calculation device 107 can integrate depth information into the digital image to enhance the basis of the digital image. The depth information can be represented by grayscale values ​​and represent a spatial or three-dimensional situation of the tooth. The depth information can, for example, be an image obtained by optical coherence tomography (OCT) or an X-ray procedure. This depth information can also be projected onto the data glasses 105. The detected luminescence areas can be superimposed on the depth information. This provides additional information that leads to a better diagnosis.

[0044] The image or image data can then be displayed to the user on data glasses 105, allowing luminescent areas 111 to be more easily perceived. Data glasses 105 receive the image data of the captured image and are an electronic device worn as glasses, allowing a user to visually display fluorescence effects, phosphorescence effects, or Raman effects in addition to the natural visual perception of the dental area.

[0045] The data glasses 105 can use the display device to overlay additional information onto an image perceived by the wearer's eye. Special software algorithms can be used to overlay the image onto the visually perceived image. The display device of the data glasses 105 includes, for example, a near-eye screen or a projector for direct projection onto the retina. This can also be done in a similar manner on a portable device.

[0046] In addition, a zoom function can be integrated into the image acquisition system 100 to enlarge the captured image over the visually perceived image and thus make luminescence areas 111 more visible. The image acquisition system 100 can be controlled by the data glasses 105 using voice or movement, allowing self-optimization of the intensity or contrast of the captured image.

[0047] Fig. 2 shows a block diagram of a method for dental image acquisition. The method comprises step S101 of stimulating luminescence inside an oral cavity using light source 101, step S102 of capturing the digital image of the luminescence using an electronic camera 103, and step S103 of displaying the captured image over a visually perceived image on data glasses 105. This allows luminescence effects to be clearly visible when viewing the luminescent region 111.

[0048] All process steps can be implemented by devices suitable for carrying out the respective process step.

[0049] The scope of the present invention is given by the claims and is not limited by the features explained in the description or shown in the figures. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0050] 100Dental image acquisition system 101Light source 103Electronic camera 105Data glasses 107Calculation device 109Tooth 111Luminescence area 113Monochrome filter / bandpass filter / polarization filter

Claims

1. A dental imaging system (100), comprising: an electronic camera (103) for capturing a digital image of a luminescence region (111) comprising a monochrome filter (113), a bandpass filter (113) or a polarisation filter (113); and data glasses (105) for displaying the captured image on top of a visually perceived image; an electronic control which can purposefully adjust or influence the optical properties of the respective filter by using a voltage.

2. The imaging system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dental imaging system (100) comprises a calculation device (107) which is configured to increase a contrast or an intensity of the captured luminescence region (111) in the digital image.

3. The imaging system (100) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the dental imaging system (100) comprises a calculation device (107) which is configured to integrate depth information into the digital image in order to increase the basis of the digital image.

4. The imaging system (100) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a light source (101) for exciting luminescence and / or the electronic camera (103) is integrated in the data glasses (105) or in a dental treatment device (109).

5. The imaging system (100) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the light source (101) is configured to emit monochromatic, non-monochromatic, non-polarised or polarised light.

6. The imaging system (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the light has a wavelength in the range of 300 to 480 nm.

7. The imaging system (100) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the light source (101) comprises a monochrome filter (113), a bandpass filter (113) or a polarisation filter (113).

8. The imaging system (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the monochrome filter (113), the bandpass filter (113) or the polarisation filter (113) can be controlled or can be moved as required into the beam path of the light source (101) .

9. The imaging system (100) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the imaging system (100) comprises a light source (101) for exciting luminescence, which is configured to emit collimated light.

10. The imaging system (100) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the collimation angle is between 0°-2° or 0°-4°.

11. The imaging system (100) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the imaging system (100) comprises a light source (101) for exciting luminescence, which is formed by a light-emitting diode, a laser diode or a laser.

12. A method for dental imaging (100), comprising the steps of: capturing (S102) a digital image of a luminescence region (111) by means of an electronic camera (103) comprising a monochrome filter (113), a bandpass filter (113) or a polarisation filter (113); electronically controlling the monochrome filter (113), the bandpass filter (113) or the polarisation filter (113) by using a voltage by means of which the optical properties of these filters are purposefully adjusted or influenced; and displaying (S103) the captured image on top of a visually perceived image on data glasses (105).

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein a contrast or an intensity of the captured luminescence region (111) in the digital image is increased.

14. The method as claimed in any one of claims 12 or 13, wherein depth information is integrated into the digital image in order to increase the basis of the digital image.

15. The method as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein an emitted wavelength, an electronic filter (113) and / or the electronic camera (103) are controlled in such a way that an automatic increase in the contrast of the digital image or an increase in the sensitivity of the camera (103) takes place.