Extraoral imaging device

Abstract

- A support (3) having a hollow support portion (7), and - a mouthpiece (9) carried by the hollow support portion, the mouthpiece defining a mouthpiece opening (17), and the area of the surface covered by the mouthpiece opening being 2 cm 2 sup, a mouthpiece (9); and - an image acquisition device (5) for taking an image through the mouthpiece opening, the hollow support portion (7) defining the scope of an image capture chamber (15), and the image acquisition device (5) being at least partially, preferably entirely, accommodated within the image capture chamber, an extraoral image capture device (1) is disclosed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for photographing an image of a dental arch.

Background Art

[0002] For example, from International Publication No. 2016 / 066651 (A1), the progress of an orthodontic model generated from images of a patient's lower dental arch and upper dental arch obtained before the implementation of orthodontic treatment is compared with the images of the dental arch obtained during the process of orthodontic treatment, so as to monitor the progress of the patient's orthodontic treatment, which is known.

[0003] Images of the dental arch can be obtained using an image acquisition device and an imaging device equipped with a mouthpiece.

[0004] Examples of such imaging devices are described in European Patent No. 3391810 (A1) and International Publication No. 2022 / 008533 (A1), which show a mobile phone equipped with a camera for photographing an image of a dental arch.

[0005] However, mobile phones can be bulky and difficult to handle when the mouthpiece is inserted into the user's mouth.

[0006] Therefore, there is still a need for a new device for photographing an extraoral image of a dental arch, particularly a device that is easy to handle.

Summary of the Invention

[0007] The present invention relates to a device for extraoral imaging, comprising: - a support having a hollow support portion; - a mouthpiece carried by the hollow support portion and defining a mouthpiece opening; - an image acquisition device for taking an image through the mouthpiece opening.

[0008] According to a first aspect of the invention, the area of the surface covered by the mouthpiece opening is greater than 2 cm 2 superscript, and the hollow support part defines the extent of the image capture chamber, and the image acquisition device is at least partially, preferably entirely, housed within the image capture chamber.

[0009] Therefore, the device according to the first aspect of the invention is easy to handle. Since the acquisition device is at least partially located within the image capture chamber, the acquisition device has little or no impact on the handling of the device during image capture.

[0010] According to a second aspect of the invention, the image acquisition device is preferably attached to a support, preferably to the hollow support part, and comprises a camera at a distance of preferably less than 15 cm, more preferably less than 7 cm, from the mouthpiece.

[0011] As will become apparent in the following description, the device according to the second aspect of the invention is advantageously compact, and in particular, the short distance separating the image acquisition device from the mouthpiece facilitates handling.

[0012] The device according to the first aspect of the invention preferably has the features of the device according to the second aspect of the invention, and vice versa.

[0013] Furthermore, the device according to the invention, specifically the device according to either the first or second aspect thereof, may comprise one or more of the optional features described below.

[0014] The mouthpiece defines an upper support surface and / or a lower support surface for contacting and displacing the user's lower lip and / or upper lip respectively at the service position of the device where the mouthpiece is inserted into the user's mouth. The distance between the mouthpiece and the image acquisition device is the minimum distance between the lower support surface of the mouthpiece and the image acquisition device or between the upper support surface of the mouthpiece and the camera.

[0015] The "extraoral" image is acquired using the device according to the invention such that the image acquisition device is outside the user's oral cavity in the operating configuration where the mouthpiece is inserted into the user's mouth. The extraoral image is acquired from a position away from the oral cavity.

[0016] The image acquisition device is preferably at least 6 cm away from the mouthpiece. The image acquisition device is preferably 2.5 cm to 6 cm away from the mouthpiece. Thereby, the resolution of the image acquired by the image acquisition device is increased. Further, when the device is positioned for occlusal image capture, the risk that the device will collide with the user's face such as the nose is reduced.

[0017] The volume occupied by the image acquisition device is preferably less than 40 cm 3 and more preferably less than 20 cm 3 and even more preferably less than 10 cm 3 and less.

[0018] The mass of the image acquisition device is preferably less than 50 g and more preferably 30 g or less.

[0019] Preferably, the length of the hollow support portion measured along the longitudinal axis is less than 10 cm.

[0020] The image acquisition device may not have a display and / or a telephone communication module. Preferably, the image acquisition device is not incorporated into a mobile phone. Preferably, the image acquisition device is different from a mobile phone.

[0021] The image acquisition device comprises or consists of at least one camera for taking an image through the mouthpiece opening.

[0022] The camera may have a focal length of 25 mm to 90 mm, preferably 30 mm to 45 mm.

[0023] Preferably, the focal length of the camera is fixed, which enables the advantageous use of a compact camera. In one variant, the camera may comprise an autofocus system for varying the focal length.

[0024] The camera may extend along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the support or may coincide with the longitudinal axis of the support. The line of sight of the camera may be parallel to or coincide with the longitudinal axis of the support.

[0025] In one variant, the image acquisition device may comprise or consist of at least two cameras. The cameras are arranged along different lines of sight and can each acquire different views of the same dental treatment site. Therefore, the image acquisition device can provide a stereoscopic view of the dental treatment site. The cameras may have the same focal length.

[0026] The image acquisition device may be fixed to the mouthpiece. Therefore, the device enables images to be taken under similar conditions at different times during the orthodontic process. Similar acquisition conditions include the position and relative orientation of the image acquisition device with respect to the patient's teeth. In one embodiment, the image acquisition device may be movable with respect to the mouthpiece.

[0027] The image capturing device may comprise a connection module for transferring the image acquired by the image acquisition device to a digital image storage unit, such as a flash memory. In one embodiment, the image capturing device may comprise an image storage unit.

[0028] The connection module can be fixed to the support, specifically to a hollow support portion, and can be adhered, for example, to the wall of the support.

[0029] Alternatively, the image acquisition device may comprise a connection module. Specifically, the image acquisition device may comprise a housing in which the camera and the connection module are housed. The camera and the connection module can be attached to each other.

[0030] The connection module may comprise a data transfer cable, such as a USB (registered trademark) cable, or a connection socket for such a data transfer cable, or be a remote data transfer module implementing, for example, the Wifi (registered trademark) or Bluetooth (registered trademark) data transfer protocol.

[0031] For example, the connection module is a connection socket for a data transfer cable such as a USB (registered trademark) socket. The support may extend along a longitudinal axis and may comprise an opening, for example an axial or lateral opening, through which the connection socket opens from the support, specifically from a hollow support portion.

[0032] The hollow support portion may extend longitudinally, and the mouthpiece may extend into the hollow support portion.

[0033] The hollow support portion can be made of cardboard or, preferably, a thermoplastic material. In the operating configuration, the device is shaped such that the hollow support portion is at least partially, preferably completely, outside the user's mouth.

[0034] The hollow support portion may be grippable. It may comprise reliefs and / or recesses shaped to ensure optimal gripping of the device.

[0035] The hollow support portion may comprise, for example, a solid bottom wall on the longitudinally opposite side of the mouthpiece opening. The image acquisition device may be in contact with, and specifically attached to, the rear wall.

[0036] The hollow support portion may take the form of a housing opening extending longitudinally substantially outwards only through the mouthpiece opening and optionally, for example, through a ventilation opening on the longitudinally opposite side of the mouthpiece opening. The ventilation opening facilitates the discharge of moist air exhaled by the user in the operating configuration of the device. The hollow support portion may be substantially cylindrical in shape.

[0037] The hollow support portion can have a preferably opaque wall that defines the extent of the image capture chamber. It can be substantially tubular.

[0038] In one variant, the support further comprises a grippable support portion mounted on the hollow support portion, so that the device can be handled by gripping the grippable support portion.

[0039] The grippable support portion can extend longitudinally and project laterally from the hollow support portion.

[0040] Preferably, the hollow support portion is arranged between the mouthpiece and the grippable support portion.

[0041] The hollow support portion can be removably attached to the grippable support portion, for example. Preferably, the grippable support portion and the hollow support portion form a monolithic assembly.

[0042] The grippable support portion can define a cavity and include a cover that closes the cavity. The device can preferably comprise an electronic substrate that houses, controls and / or powers an image acquisition device, which is preferably housed within the cavity. The cavity can also be made watertight, specifically by means of one or more seals.

[0043] Furthermore, the battery can be built-in. The battery can be charged inductively or by means of a wired connection such as USB. The battery can be directly powered by means of a wired electrical connection to an external power source.

[0044] The hollow support portion and / or the grippable support portion can be at least partially covered by a flexible material that facilitates gripping, for example a thermoplastic elastomer known as "TPE", specifically a thermoplastic rubber known as "TPR" such as styrene-butadiene-styrene, or a thermoplastic polyurethane known as "TPU".

[0045] The mouthpiece is preferably configured to move the user's upper and lower lips up and down, respectively, and preferably shaped to be rounded, in the operating configuration of the device in which the mouthpiece is introduced into the mouth of the device user so as to maximize the tooth surfaces recognized by the image acquisition device. "Up" and "down" refer to the directions along the vertical axis when the device user is standing upright. Preferably, when the mouthpiece is in at least one position of the operating configuration of the image capturing device in which the mouthpiece is inserted into the user's mouth, the upper and lower lips move upward and downward, respectively, and are preferably shaped to be rounded, such that at least the incisors of the upper and lower dental arches, preferably at least a part of the canines and / or molars, are each visible to the camera.

[0046] The mouthpiece can be, for example, an annular or ring-shaped flange that extends radially outward from one end of the hollow support portion, particularly in a lateral direction with respect to the above-mentioned portion. "Radially outward" means that the tubular portion extends away from this axis within a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the device. The flange can be rigid or elastically deformable. Specifically, it can be made of a material having a Young's modulus below that of the material of the hollow support portion.

[0047] Furthermore, the mouthpiece can be integrated with a support, specifically a grippable support portion. In other words, the mouthpiece and the grippable support portion can be obtained together in the same manufacturing operation. The grippable support portion and the mouthpiece can be manufactured by molding and / or additive manufacturing.

[0048] Alternatively, the mouthpiece can be mounted on a hollow support portion. The mouthpiece can be attached to the hollow support portion. The mouthpiece can be firmly attached to the hollow support portion. For example, it can be snap-fastened, screwed, or adhered to the grippable portion. Alternatively, the mouthpiece can be removably mounted on the hollow support portion, for example, by magnetic coupling, or by a hook-and-loop fastener, or by a form fit between the hollow support portion and the mouthpiece. Advantageously, it is possible to mount different grippable mouthpieces of various sizes on the support, specifically on the hollow support portion, and thus to select the mouthpiece that is most suitable for the morphology of each user's mouth.

[0049] Preferably, the surface covered by the mouthpiece opening has an area of 3 cm 2 super, preferably 5 cm 2 super, preferably 10 cm 2 super, or even 15 cm 2 super, for example, about 19 cm 2 or more. Preferably, it is less than 30 cm 2 and more preferably less than 25 cm 2 or more. This area is measured transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis. The contour of the mouthpiece opening can be defined by observing the imaging device along the longitudinal axis from the position facing the imaging device along the longitudinal axis.

[0050] The device can include a mirror attached to the support such that the imaging device acquires a composite image including a direct image of the mouthpiece opening and an image of the mouthpiece opening reflected by the mirror. Therefore, in the service configuration, the imaging device sees a composite image including a direct image of the teeth directly observed through the mouthpiece opening and a reflected image of the teeth reflected by the mirror.

[0051] Alternatively, the device can include a light source arranged to shine through the mouthpiece opening.

[0052] The light source may comprise at least one lamp, specifically a light-emitting diode lamp, and / or a flash unit.

[0053] The light source is preferably located within the image capture chamber.

[0054] The device may comprise a control module for monitoring the characteristics of the radiation emitted by the light source, specifically as a function of the light radiation received through the mouthpiece opening. For example, the control module can be configured such that more than 50%, more than 90%, or even substantially 100% of the radiation received by the mouthpiece opening comes from the light source.

[0055] Specifically, the device may comprise a plurality of light sources and a plurality of cameras, and each light source is arranged to illuminate the light field of the corresponding camera. The light source can be housed within the housing.

[0056] To determine the color and / or translucency of the user's teeth, the device may respectively comprise a colorimetric target and / or a translucency target attached to the support, and the image acquisition device is in a state of viewing the target.

[0057] The device may comprise a control module for controlling image acquisition.

[0058] The control module may comprise an actuator, and following the actuation of the actuator, it may be configured to trigger image acquisition by the acquisition device. For example, the actuator is electrically connected to the acquisition device.

[0059] The actuator is, for example, a push button. The actuator can be carried by the support.

[0060] The control module may include a memory for storing a computer program and a processor for executing the computer program. The computer program may include instructions for guiding a user to position a device at a predetermined acquisition position and / or orientation with respect to a patient's teeth, for example, by emitting an audio message, and optionally for specifying to the user the number of images to be acquired.

[0061] The control module can be housed within the imaging chamber.

[0062] Alternatively, the imaging device can communicate, for example, via a wireless link or a cable, with a control device such as a mobile phone or a personal computer incorporating the control module described above.

[0063] In addition, the imaging device may further include one or more additional cameras that can be positioned within the user's oral cavity to acquire at least one intraoral image of at least one of the lower dental arch and / or the upper dental arch in at least one configuration of the device, for example, to facilitate imaging of the lingual surface of the teeth, interdental spaces, caries control, or palate control. Specifically, the imaging device can include a telescopic arm that extends between a folded configuration and at least one deployed configuration, with the additional camera mounted on the telescopic arm. Preferably, in the folded configuration, the additional camera is fully housed within a bracket. Preferably, in the operating configuration of the imaging device and the deployed position of the arm, the additional camera is positioned within the user's oral cavity to acquire at least one intraoral view of at least one of the lower dental arch and / or the upper dental arch.

[0064] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and from the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0066] A first example of a device 1 for taking extraoral images according to the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 to 7.

[0067] The device includes a support 3 and an image acquisition device 5.

[0068] The support body 3 includes a hollow support portion 7. The device further includes a mouthpiece 9.

[0069] The hollow support portion 7 has a generally elongated shape extending along the longitudinal axis X. The hollow support portion 7 includes a hollow tubular portion 11 and a bottom wall 13 that closes one longitudinal end of the tubular portion. The tubular portion 11 and the bottom wall 13 define the scope of the imaging chamber 15 in which the image acquisition device 5 is accommodated.

[0070] The bottom wall 13 can be solid or can have ventilation openings passing through the bottom wall 13 in the form of, for example, cylindrical holes and / or grooves. In one embodiment, the grippable support portion 7 may be without such a bottom wall.

[0071] At least a part of the tubular portion 11, or the entire tubular portion as shown, preferably extends parallel to the longitudinal axis X to facilitate the holding and handling of the hollow support portion, and thus the hollow support portion is additionally grippable.

[0072] The tubular section 11 has at least one cross-section S transverse to the longitudinal axis X and has a substantially elliptical overall shape defined by the dotted contour in Figure 3. Such a shape of the hollow support portion facilitates the gripping of the support body and also substantially corresponds to the shape of the contour of the access opening to the user's oral cavity defined by the lower and upper lips when the user opens and closes the lower and upper jaws.

[0073] The tubular portion 11 opens at the other end, opposite the longitudinal direction of the bottom wall, into the mouthpiece opening 17.

[0074] The contour 19 of the mouthpiece opening is formed in a saddle shape. In other words, when viewed from two vertical directions orthogonal to the longitudinal direction and as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the contour 19 of the mouthpiece opening 17 has two opposing convex portions 21 connected by opposing concave portions 23.

[0075] The shape of the mouthpiece opening is preferably adapted to the general shape of the user's dental arch.

[0076] Preferably, when viewed along the longitudinal axis, the maximum width I of the mouthpiece opening 最大 is 60 mm to 70 mm, and the minimum width I minimum of the mouthpiece opening is 28 mm to 40 mm. The "maximum width" and the "minimum width" are, respectively, the diameter of the smallest circle circumscribing the contour of the mouthpiece opening, and the diameter of the largest small circle inscribed in the contour of the mouthpiece opening 17. Preferably, when viewed along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the height H of the contour of the mouthpiece opening measured along the longitudinal axis is 8 mm to 14 mm.

[0077] The mouthpiece 9 is attached to the hollow support portion 7. In the example shown, it is made of the same material as the hollow support portion. Other shapes with a mouthpiece made of a material other than the hollow support portion are also conceivable.

[0078] The mouthpiece 9 preferably comprises two rigidly interconnected parts 25a to 25b that are symmetric with respect to the midplane, and these parts define inner support surfaces 27a and outer support surfaces 27b for contacting and displacing the user's lower lip and / or upper lip, respectively, in the operating position of the device when the mouthpiece is introduced into the user's mouth.

[0079] The mouthpiece 9 is a flange that projects radially outward from the longitudinal end of the tubular portion on the opposite side of the bottom wall 13 from the tubular portion 11.

[0080] The flange is ring-shaped and is deformed into a saddle shape. The contour of the flange viewed along the X axis is similar to the contour of the mouthpiece opening.

[0081] The flange can extend a distance e of 3 mm to 6 mm from the hollow support portion. The distance e is measured along an axis T that is in contact with the flange and passes through the intersection between the hollow support portion and the flange, between the radially outermost end of the bead and the hollow support portion, in a cross-section transverse to the longitudinal axis.

[0082] The image acquisition device 5 can be attached to the support 3. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 7, the support defines a housing 29 having a shape complementary to the acquisition device and includes a receptacle 27 in which the image acquisition device is received.

[0083] The receptacle includes, for example, a semi-cylindrical receptacle wall 31 that extends longitudinally from the bottom wall of the hollow support portion in a lateral direction between the opposing inner surfaces of the tubular portion.

[0084] In the example shown, the receptacle is made of the same material as the hollow support portion. Alternatively, it can be attached to the hollow support portion.

[0085] The image acquisition device includes a housing 33 and two optical assemblies 34, each optical assembly 34 including a camera 35 and an LED lamp 37 that are completely housed within the housing. The number of such cameras and lamps is non-limiting. The image acquisition device 5 may additionally include a communication module housed within the housing for transmitting an image taken through the mouthpiece opening 17 by the camera 35 to the storage unit. For example, the communication module may include a connection socket for a data transfer cable, and the bottom wall 13 may include a recess 39 that penetrates its thickness for inserting the plug of such a cable and inserting it into the connection socket.

[0086] In the example shown, each camera 25 is equidistant from the mouthpiece 9. The cameras are each positioned at a distance D of less than 42 mm from the mouthpiece. Further, the length L of the hollow support portion 7 measured along the longitudinal axis can be less than 8 cm. Thereby, the imaging device is particularly compact and thus easier to hold.

[0087] To take an extraoral image of the dental arch, the user holds the hollow support portion 7, inserts the mouthpiece 9 into the mouth, and brings the lower support surface 27a and the upper support surface 27b into contact with the lower jaw and the upper jaw, respectively, so as to round the lower lip and the upper lip.

[0088] Subsequently, extraoral imaging and corresponding image acquisition can be performed.

[0089] Figures 8 and 9 show a second example of the imaging device according to the present invention. This further example differs from the first example shown in Figures 1 - 7 in that it comprises two receptacles 27 each shaped to receive an image acquisition device. The receptacles can be integral with the hollow support portion or attached to the hollow support portion.

[0090] The receptacles are symmetric with respect to each other with respect to the median longitudinal plane P of the carrier including the longitudinal axis X.

[0091] The receptacles each define a tubular housing of respective axes Y1 and Y2 each inclined by the same angle θ with respect to the longitudinal axis X.

[0092] The acquisition devices (not shown) can each comprise an optical assembly.

[0093] The optical assemblies can be arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal median plane of the support so as to construct, for example, a 3D solid model representing a common scene viewed by a camera through the mouthpiece opening. The cameras in each optical assembly each have axes Y1 and Y2. The light sources in each optical assembly are, for example, distributed around the camera and comprise LEDs evenly distributed around their respective Y1 and Y2 axes.

[0094] The example shown in FIG. 10 differs from the example shown in FIG. 1 in that it comprises two image acquisition devices 5 that are in contact with the bottom wall 13 of the hollow support part 7 and are arranged symmetrically with respect to each other with respect to the first median longitudinal plane PL. Each image acquisition device 5 comprises two optical assemblies 34 each having a camera 35 and an LED lamp 37.

[0095] The optical assemblies 34 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the second median longitudinal plane P2 of the device, which is orthogonal to the first median longitudinal plane. The lines of sight of the cameras can be parallel to each other or can be angled with respect to each other as in the second example shown in FIG. 8 and can intersect at the same point.

[0096] FIGS. 11 to 14 show a fourth example of the device 1 according to the invention, which differs from the devices shown in FIGS. 1 to 10 in that specifically the support 3 comprises a hollow support part 7 and a grippable support part 41 extending into the hollow support part 7.

[0097] The support part 7 also has beads 43 supported by the outer wall 45 of the tubular part 11. The beads 43 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal median plane P of the hollow support part 7. They each have a head 47 placed thereon longitudinally, on which, for example, a mouthpiece (not shown) as described in International Patent Application Publication No. WO 2022 / 008533 can be snap-fitted or fitted by shape mating.

[0098] The hollow support portion 7 is in the form of a tubular housing that opens into the support opening 49 and has a bottom wall 13 on the side opposite the support opening 49. The bottom wall 13 separates the hollow support portion 7 from the grippable support portion 4L. The acquisition device 5 is arranged in contact with the bottom wall and comprises an optical assembly having a camera for viewing a scene through the support opening 49 and a mouthpiece opening (not shown).

[0099] The hollow support portion 7 is located between the mouthpiece and the grippable portion 41.

[0100] The grippable support portion 41 may have a generally parallelepiped shape with a length, width, and height selected to be easy to grip. However, any other suitable form may be considered. The grippable support portion 41 extends longitudinally away from the bottom wall 13 and away from the mouthpiece. It also projects laterally from the hollow support portion 7. The grippable support portion 41 may be hollow and may comprise a cavity 51 accessible through an access opening 53 on the side opposite the mouthpiece opening.

[0101] The access opening 53 may be covered by a cover (not shown) for closing the cavity 51 to protect the components that can be housed within the cavity, hide them from the user's view, and facilitate the gripping of the device. An electronic board (not shown) for controlling and / or monitoring the image acquisition device can be housed within the cavity, together with a battery for powering the electronic board and the image acquisition device.

[0102] In addition, side windows 55 are provided in the side wall 57 of the grippable support portion 41, for example, to allow a data transfer and / or battery charging cable to enter the cavity through the side wall, or to provide a switch for turning the device on and / or off.

[0103] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the examples described herein, which are illustrative and not restrictive.

[0104] For example, in a modification of the device shown in FIGS. 11 and 14, the support may comprise a mouthpiece that is a flange integral with the tubular portion 11, as shown in FIG. 1.

Claims

1. A device (1) for capturing extraoral images, A support (3) having a hollow support portion (7), The mouthpiece (9) is supported by the hollow support portion, wherein the mouthpiece defines a mouthpiece opening (17), and the surface area covered by the mouthpiece opening is 2 cm². ２ The mouthpiece (9) is super, An image acquisition device (5) for capturing an image through the mouthpiece opening, wherein the hollow support portion (7) defines the range of the image acquisition chamber (15), and the image acquisition device (5) is housed at least partially, preferably entirely, within the image acquisition chamber. It is equipped with, The support (3) further comprises a grippable support portion (41) mounted on the hollow support portion (7), and the hollow support portion is detachably fixed to the grippable support portion. The device (1) for capturing extraoral images.

2. The volume occupied by the aforementioned image acquisition device is 40 cm³. ３ The device according to claim 1, wherein the value is less than [value missing].

3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the image acquisition device is attached to the support, preferably the hollow support portion, and comprises a camera (25) located less than 15 cm, preferably less than 7 cm, from the mouthpiece.

4. The device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the camera (25) has a focal length of 25 mm to 90 mm, preferably 30 mm to 45 mm.

5. The device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the image acquisition device is spaced less than 6 cm, preferably 2.5 cm to 6 cm, from the mouthpiece.

6. The device according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a connection module for transferring images acquired by the image acquisition device, preferably comprising a data transfer cable, for example, a USB® cable, or a connection socket for such a data transfer cable, or a remote data transfer module implementing, for example, a Wi-Fi® or Bluetooth® data transfer protocol.

7. The device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the image acquisition device preferably comprises at least two cameras arranged along different lines of sight, each for acquiring a different view of the same dental treatment site.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the hollow support portion (7) extends in the longitudinal direction, and the mouthpiece (9) extends to the hollow support portion.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the mouthpiece (9) is a flange, specifically in the form of an annular or part of a ring, that extends radially outward from one end of the hollow support portion (7).

10. The device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the mouthpiece is integrated with the hollow support portion.

11. The device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the hollow support portion (7) is disposed between the mouthpiece (9) and the grippable support portion (41).

12. The device according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a control module for controlling image acquisition, preferably a memory for storing a computer program, and a processor for executing the computer program, wherein the computer program includes, for example, commands for guiding the user to position the device relative to a patient's teeth in a predetermined acquisition position and / or orientation, by issuing voice messages.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the grippable support portion (41) defines a cavity (51) and is provided with a cover that closes the cavity.

14. The device according to claim 1, further comprising an electronic circuit board having a printed circuit and / or a battery for controlling and / or supplying power to the image acquisition device.

15. The device according to claim 13, wherein the electronic circuit board and / or battery are housed within the cavity (51).

16. The device according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the cavity (51) is specifically made watertight by one or more seals.

Images