3D oral scanner device

Abstract

This 3D oral scanner device is attached, in a form similar to that of an overall dentition, to teeth in an oral cavity so as to rapidly scan individual teeth in the oral cavity and the overall dentition structure all at once, and thus can obtain 3D tooth image data about the overall dentition. In the present invention, when the dental scanner device is merely worn in the oral cavity and is not photographing for a long time while held in the hand, the teeth, parts of the teeth, and the overall dentition structure can be quickly photographed all at once such that accurate tooth image data can be acquired without errors and distortion.

Description

3D oral scanner device

[0001] The present invention relates to an oral scanner device, and more particularly, to a 3D oral scanner device that is attached to teeth in the oral cavity in a shape similar to the shape of the entire dental arch, and can quickly scan individual teeth and the entire dental arch structure in the oral cavity at once to obtain 3D dental image data for the entire dental arch.

[0002] Conventional oral scanner devices are hand-held by the operator, inserted into the patient's mouth, and manually scanned while moving along the patient's teeth.

[0003] The existing oral scanning method requires the operator to hold the scanner in his / her hand and insert it into the patient's mouth to scan the entire dentition for a long time, and frequently change the angle and position of the oral scanner in the patient's mouth, which causes operator fatigue and patient discomfort.

[0004] Conventional oral scanner devices have difficulty obtaining precise scan data due to errors in the scanned data, distortions due to reflectivity, refractive index, etc. when the patient moves or the scanner is in an inappropriate position.

[0005] In addition, conventional oral scanner devices have the problem of requiring a lot of time to scan the entire oral structure because the area that can be scanned at one time is only about 1 to 2 teeth.

[0006] Conventional oral scanner devices must acquire images from optical lenses and projectors, then project the image onto an image sensor through a separate optical lens to capture the focal point. This inevitably leads to a large external appearance. This large size makes it difficult to move and capture images within the confines of the oral cavity when inserting the scanner into the mouth. Furthermore, because the scanner acquires inaccurate scan data for each tooth region, errors accumulate, resulting in distortion of scan data when capturing the entire dental arch.

[0007] Prior art literature: (Patent Document 0001) Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1418403

[0008] In order to solve such problems, the present invention aims to provide a 3D oral scanner device that can be attached to teeth in the oral cavity in a shape similar to the shape of the entire dental arch and can quickly scan individual teeth and the entire dental arch structure in the oral cavity at once to obtain 3D dental image data for the entire dental arch.

[0009] In order to achieve the above object, a 3D oral scanner device according to the features of the present invention is configured to include a housing body that is attached to teeth in the oral cavity in a shape similar to the shape of the entire dentition, a housing body made of an optical fiber bundle, an oral tray housing that extends from the housing body to form a connecting portion in the shape of a handle, and an oral scanner-mounted reader that is detachably attached to the connecting portion of the oral tray housing and forms an electrical connecting portion at an end portion, so that when combined with the oral tray housing, the connecting portion and the electrical connecting portion come into contact to transmit and receive power or a control signal.

[0010] An oral scanner-equipped reader further comprises: a light source unit that irradiates a light source of the same wavelength or a light source of different wavelengths onto teeth in the oral cavity; an optical lens unit that detects an optical signal which is a reflected light when measurement light irradiated from the light source unit from the optical fiber bundle is reflected by a tooth structure in the oral cavity of a dental patient, receives the detected optical signal, and when the optical signal is focused, splits the optical signal into colors included in the light source unit; an image sensor unit that converts the optical signal formed by color through the optical lens unit into an electrical signal and outputs analog image data; an image conversion processing unit that converts the analog image data output from the image sensor unit into digital image data by color, performs signal processing on the digital image data, converts the converted digital image data into color image data, and outputs the converted color image data; and a control unit that transmits the color image data output from the image conversion processing unit to a computer device through a communication unit.

[0011] The image sensor unit may be a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor with a quad phase detection function.

[0012] The housing body of the oral tray housing and the connecting portion are manufactured into a single shape by inserting the optical fiber bundle into a mold so that the optical fiber bundle is formed of the optical fiber bundle.

[0013] The image sensor unit obtains phase difference information (up / down, left / right) from the optical fiber bundle using a quad phase detection function, calculates optical distance information of each tooth image data based on the obtained phase difference information, obtains color-specific imaging data including the calculated optical distance information, and the calculated optical distance information is used to implement a 3D modeled tooth image of the 3D tooth image data.

[0014]

[0015] By the above-described configuration, the present invention has the effect of enabling the acquisition of accurate dental image data without errors or distortions by quickly capturing teeth, partial teeth, and the entire dental structure at once by simply wearing the oral scanner device in the mouth without holding it in the hand and taking pictures for a long time.

[0016] FIGS. 1 to 3 are drawings showing the configuration of a 3D oral scanner device in the shape of an oral tray according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 4 is a drawing schematically showing the configuration of an oral tray housing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 5 is a block diagram briefly showing the internal configuration of an oral scanner-equipped reader according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 6 is a block diagram briefly showing the internal configuration of a computer device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020]

[0021] Throughout the specification, whenever a part is said to "include" a component, this does not mean that it excludes other components, but rather that it may include other components, unless otherwise stated.

[0022] An intraoral scanner device is an optical device that is inserted into the oral cavity of a dental patient to non-contactly scan the teeth and create a three-dimensional scanning model of the teeth.

[0023] FIGS. 1 to 3 are drawings showing the configuration of a 3D oral scanner device in the shape of an oral tray according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a drawing briefly showing the configuration of an oral tray housing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] A 3D oral scanner device (100) according to an embodiment of the present invention is a device that is placed along the teeth in the oral cavity of a dental patient to obtain three-dimensional information of the oral structure and automatically capture the entire teeth structure at once quickly and accurately.

[0025] A 3D oral scanner device (100) according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an oral tray housing (110) having a shape similar to a tooth shape in the oral cavity, an oral scanner-mounted reader (120) that irradiates a light source to the tooth at an optimized wavelength, and a computer device (130).

[0026] The oral tray housing (110) is manufactured in the shape of a mouthpiece by inserting an optical fiber bundle (140) into a mold and is attached to teeth in the oral cavity in a shape similar to the shape of the entire teeth.

[0027] The oral tray housing (110) includes a housing body (111) that is inserted into a tooth in the shape of a tooth and in which a channel in the shape of a tooth is formed, and a handle-shaped connecting part (112) that extends from the housing body (111) and is coupled to an oral scanner device reader (120).

[0028] The oral tray housing (110) is manufactured in one shape by inserting an optical fiber bundle (140) into a mold so that the housing body (111) and the connecting portion (112) are formed of an optical fiber bundle.

[0029] The light source (121) generates measurement light for scanning the oral structures of a dental patient and irradiates the light onto the teeth.

[0030] The oral scanner-equipped reader (120) can be attached and detached from the connecting part (112) of the oral tray housing (110).

[0031] An electrical connection is formed at the end of the oral scanner-equipped reader (120), so that when the oral tray housing (110) and the oral scanner-equipped reader (120) are connected, the connection (112) and the electrical connection are in contact, enabling transmission and reception of power or control signals.

[0032] The optical fiber bundle (140) detects the optical signal, which is the reflected light from the measurement light irradiated from the light source unit (121) and reflected by the structure inside the oral cavity of the dental patient, and transmits the detected optical signal to the optical lens unit (124).

[0033] As another embodiment, the oral tray housing (110) can be controlled in a manner such that, in the case of a dental patient with partial or missing teeth, the reflected light from the patient is detected by irradiating a light source only from an optical fiber corresponding to a portion with some teeth in a form that surrounds the entire dentition.

[0034] FIG. 5 is a block diagram briefly showing the internal configuration of an oral scanner-equipped reader according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] An oral scanner-equipped reader (120) according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a light source unit (121), a control unit (122), a power supply unit (123), an optical lens unit (124), an image sensor unit (125), an image conversion processing unit (126), a storage unit (127), and a communication unit (128).

[0036] The light source (121) may be a light source of the same wavelength (e.g., white light), or may be a light source of the same wavelength or a different wavelength (e.g., blue, green, red, yellow, near-infrared wavelength, etc.), and may be provided by a known LED module.

[0037] The light source unit (121) irradiates the tooth structure according to the output position and output angle set under the control of the control unit (122).

[0038] The control unit (122) stores output position information and output angle information for the measurement light controlled by the light source unit (121). The control unit (122) controls the power supply unit (123) to supply power to the light source unit (121), the image sensor unit (125), and the image conversion processing unit (126), and in particular, controls the light source unit (121) to generate measurement light by supplying power.

[0039] The optical fiber bundle (140) detects the optical signal reflected from the tooth by the light irradiated through the light source (121) and transmits the optical signal detected through the optical fiber to the optical lens unit (124).

[0040] The optical fiber bundle (140) has the characteristic that light incident at an angle greater than the critical angle is totally reflected and transmitted to a long distance with little loss.

[0041] The optical fiber bundle (140) is implemented with a core portion having a refractive index of n1 and a clad portion having a refractive index of n2, and the refractive indices of the core portion and the clad portion can be appropriately combined to implement chromatic aberration that increases as the optical signal is reflected.

[0042] Accordingly, as the reflected light signal passes through the optical fiber bundle (140), clearer color-specific imaging data can be effectively obtained from the image sensor unit (125).

[0043] The optical lens unit (124) is implemented to focus the light signal guided through the optical fiber bundle (140) by color.

[0044] The optical lens unit (124) disperses the optical signal by color contained in the light source unit (121) when focusing the optical signal transmitted from the optical fiber bundle (140). Originally, all lenses generate chromatic aberration when focusing, but the optical lens unit (124) of the present invention is implemented so that the image sensor unit (125) can obtain color-specific imaging data by utilizing the chromatic aberration characteristics of the lens.

[0045] The image sensor unit (125) may be a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) sensor or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor having a Quad Phase Detection (QPD) function, and preferably, a CMOS sensor having a QPD (Quad Phase Detection) function may be used. The CCD sensor can produce a clear image even under low light conditions, and can be advantageous for distinguishing the colors of teeth because its color expression is improved compared to the CMOS sensor. In addition, it has low background noise and is less affected by external noise. However, if a sufficient light source is secured, a CMOS sensor having a QPD function may be used as the image sensor unit (125).

[0046] An optical filter is installed in front of the image sensor unit (125) as needed to filter light incident on the image sensor unit (125). The optical filter can form a color filter array including a plurality of color filters and a plurality of mixing filters.

[0047] The control unit (122) controls the operation of the image sensor unit (125) and the light source unit (121).

[0048] The image sensor unit (125) is implemented as a CCD array or a CMOS (Quad Phase Detection) array, and converts an optical signal formed by color through the optical lens unit (124) into an electrical signal to output analog image data.

[0049] The image sensor unit (125) acquires BLUE imaging data or RED imaging data through the optical lens unit (124).

[0050] The image sensor unit (125) acquires color-specific imaging data through the optical lens unit (124).

[0051] To explain more specifically, the image sensor unit (125) obtains phase difference information (up / down, left / right) from the optical fiber bundle (140) using the Quad Phase Detection function, and calculates optical distance information of each tooth image data based on the obtained phase difference information.

[0052] The image sensor unit (125) acquires color-specific imaging data including calculated optical distance information.

[0053] The calculated optical distance information is used to implement a 3D modeled tooth image of the 3D tooth image data.

[0054] The image conversion processing unit (126) converts analog image data output from the image sensor unit (125) into color-specific digital image data, processes the data to convert it into color image data, and outputs the converted data. The image conversion processing unit (126) can be implemented as an image signal processor (ISP).

[0055] The image conversion processing unit (126) can be implemented to synthesize and process RGB image digital data acquired from the image sensor unit (125) and convert it into data that can be previewed on the LCD display of a PC or mobile phone, and output the converted data in the form of RGB or YUV, etc.

[0056] The image sensor unit (125) acquires digital image data by color, i.e., RED imaging data, GREEN imaging data, and Blue imaging data.

[0057] The image conversion processing unit (126) performs image processing on the final acquired digital image data to synthesize RGB data, and stores the acquired RGB or converted YUV image data for each pixel in the storage unit (127).

[0058] The control unit (122) transmits RGB or converted YUV image data stored in the storage unit (127) to the computer device (130) through the communication unit (128).

[0059] The control unit (122) can control the light source unit (121) to perform a dental scan using a composite light source and composite wavelength for a patient without teeth, and light in the range of 700 to 1090 nm (e.g., 850 nm) can be used.

[0060] The control unit (122) can perform a tooth scan using a generally transparent wavelength so as to be able to at least partially penetrate and pass through the enamel and dentin of the teeth to obtain a transmission image by controlling the light source unit (121) for a patient without teeth.

[0061] Figure 6 is a block diagram briefly showing the internal configuration of a computer device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0062] A computer device (130) according to an embodiment of the present invention represents a PC and includes a communication interface unit (131), a processing unit (132), an image data storage unit (133), and a display unit (134).

[0063] The communication interface unit (131) provides a communication channel that can transmit and receive data with the control unit (122) of the oral scanner-equipped reader (120).

[0064] The processing unit (132) receives RGB or converted YUV image data acquired for each pixel through the communication interface unit (131), acquires individual images of each tooth using the received color image data, and extracts depth information of the tooth using optical distance information between the tooth surface and the surface of the optical lens unit (124).

[0065] The processing unit (132) generates multiple 2D tooth image data using individual images of each tooth and depth information of each tooth, and combines the generated multiple 2D tooth image data to align the 3D modeled tooth image of the 3D tooth image data.

[0066] The processing unit (132) can store a 3D modeled tooth image of 3D tooth image data in the image data storage unit (133) and output it to the display unit (134).

[0067] The processing unit (132) uses the pre-installed 3D oral scanner software to generate a scan selection signal for the entire range of teeth, individual teeth, or partial teeth in the oral cavity and transmits the signal to the oral scanner-equipped reader (120).

[0068] When the control unit (122) of the oral scanner-equipped reader (120) receives a scan selection signal from a computer device (130), it recognizes the range of the entire tooth, individual tooth, or partial tooth from the received scan selection signal and controls the light irradiated from the light source unit (121) by the power supply unit (123).

[0069] The control unit (122) scans the entire range of teeth, individual teeth, or partial teeth in the patient's oral cavity through an optical fiber bundle (140), and controls the image sensor unit (125) and the image conversion processing unit (126) to generate color tooth image data.

[0070] The process unit (132) can perform a tooth scan by selecting the shooting range of teeth and dentition in the oral cavity.

[0071] The process unit (132) can control a series of scanning processes to re-photograph any part of the teeth in the oral cavity.

[0072] The oral tray housing (110) can scan the entire upper or lower jaw of a dental patient, respectively.

[0073] The oral tray housing (110) is prepared in two pieces, one for the upper jaw and one for the lower jaw of the dental patient, and is inserted into the dental patient's teeth.

[0074] When the processing unit (132) selects the shooting range of the entire teeth and performs scanning, it generates maxillary oral scan data and mandibular oral scan data.

[0075] A dental patient inserts the upper and lower jaw oral tray housings into their teeth and bites them. At this time, the processing unit (132) selects a shooting range for the entire teeth and performs a scan, thereby generating bite scan data.

[0076] The processing unit (132) can generate image data of the entire oral cavity of a dental patient by aligning the maxillary oral scan data, the mandibular oral scan data, and the bite scan data so that the inside of the oral cavity of the dental patient overlaps with each other.

[0077] The operation of the 3D oral scanner device of the present invention is described in detail below.

[0078] The control unit (122) applies power from the power supply unit (123) to the light source unit (121) to generate measurement light and irradiates the generated measurement light onto the teeth.

[0079] The optical fiber bundle (140) detects the optical signal reflected from the tooth by the light irradiated through the light source (121) and transmits the optical signal detected through the optical fiber to the optical lens unit (124).

[0080] The optical lens unit (124) is implemented to focus the light signal guided through the optical fiber bundle (140) by color and transmits it to the image sensor unit (125).

[0081] The image sensor unit (125) obtains BLUE imaging data or RED imaging data including phase difference information through the optical lens unit (124), and generates color-specific imaging data through this.

[0082] The image conversion processing unit (126) converts analog image data output from the image sensor unit (125) into color-specific digital image data, and converts it into color image data through signal processing.

[0083] The control unit (122) transmits the color image data converted by the image conversion processing unit (126) to the computer device (130) through the communication unit (128).

[0084] The processing unit (132) of the computer device (130) obtains an individual image of each tooth using color image data obtained for each pixel through the communication interface unit (131), extracts depth information of the tooth using optical distance information between the tooth surface and the surface of the optical lens unit (124), generates a plurality of two-dimensional tooth image data using the individual image of each tooth and the depth information of each tooth, and combines the generated plurality of two-dimensional tooth image data to align a 3D modeled tooth image of the 3D tooth image data.

[0085] The process unit (132) outputs a 3D modeled tooth image of the 3D tooth image data to the display unit (134).

[0086] The processing unit (132) uses the pre-installed 3D oral scanner software to select the shooting range as the range of all teeth, individual teeth, or partial teeth in the oral cavity and performs a tooth scan.

[0087] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and improvements made by those skilled in the art using the basic concept of the present invention defined in the following claims also fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0088] Description of the symbol 100: 3D oral scanner device 110: Oral tray housing 111: Housing body 112 Connection part 120: Oral scanner-mounted reader 121: Light source part 122: Control part 123: Power supply part 124: Optical lens part 125: Image sensor part 126: Image conversion processing part 127: Storage part 128: Communication part 130: Computer device 131: Communication interface part 132: Process part 133: Image data storage part 134: Display part 140: Optical fiber bundle

Claims

1. A 3D oral scanner device comprising: an oral tray housing, which is attached to teeth in the oral cavity in a shape similar to the overall shape of the teeth, and which comprises a housing body made of a bundle of optical fibers, and which extends from the housing body to form a connecting portion in the shape of a handle; and an oral scanner-mounted reader, which is detachably attached to the connecting portion of the oral tray housing and forms an electrical connecting portion at an end portion, such that when combined with the oral tray housing, the connecting portion and the electrical connecting portion come into contact to transmit and receive power or control signals.

2. In claim 1, the oral scanner-equipped reader further comprises: a light source unit that irradiates a light source of the same wavelength or a light source of different wavelengths to teeth in the oral cavity; an optical lens unit that detects an optical signal which is a reflected light when the measurement light irradiated from the light source unit from the optical fiber bundle is reflected by a tooth structure in the oral cavity of a dental patient, receives the detected optical signal, and when the optical signal is focused, splits the optical signal into each color included in the light source unit; an image sensor unit that converts the optical signal formed by each color through the optical lens unit into an electrical signal and outputs analog image data; an image conversion processing unit that converts the analog image data output from the image sensor unit into digital image data by color, performs signal processing to convert the digital image data into color image data, and outputs the converted color image data; and a control unit that transmits the color image data output from the image conversion processing unit to a computer device through a communication unit.

3. In claim 2, the computer device further comprises a communication interface unit that provides a communication channel capable of transmitting and receiving data with a control unit of the oral scanner-equipped reader; and a processing unit that receives color image data acquired for each pixel through the communication interface unit, acquires an individual image of each tooth using the received color image data, extracts depth information of the tooth using optical distance information between the surface of the tooth and the surface of the optical lens unit, generates a plurality of two-dimensional tooth image data using the individual image of each tooth and the depth information of each tooth, and combines the generated plurality of two-dimensional tooth image data to align a 3D modeled tooth image of the 3D tooth image data.

4. In claim 3, the processing unit generates a scan selection signal for a range of all teeth, individual teeth, or partial teeth in the oral cavity using pre-installed 3D oral scanner software and transmits the scan selection signal to the oral scanner-equipped reader, and the control unit of the oral scanner-equipped reader recognizes the range of all teeth, individual teeth, or partial teeth from the received scan selection signal when receiving the scan selection signal from the computer device and controls light irradiated from the light source unit by the power supply unit, scans the range of all teeth, individual teeth, or partial teeth in the oral cavity of a dental patient through the optical fiber bundle, and controls the image sensor unit and the image conversion processing unit to generate color tooth image data. A 3D oral scanner device.

5. In claim 3, the oral tray housing is prepared in two pieces, one for the upper jaw or the lower jaw, and inserted into the teeth of the dental patient and fitted, and the processing unit selects a shooting range of the entire teeth and performs a scan, thereby generating upper jaw oral scan data and lower jaw oral scan data, and the processing unit inserts the upper jaw oral tray housing and the lower jaw oral tray housing into the teeth and, in a closed state, selects a shooting range of the entire teeth and performs a scan, thereby generating bite scan data, and the processing unit aligns the upper jaw oral scan data, the lower jaw oral scan data, and the bite scan data so that the inside of the oral cavity of the dental patient overlaps each other to generate image data of the entire oral cavity of the dental patient. A 3D oral scanner device.

6. In claim 2, the control unit controls the light source unit to perform a tooth scan using a composite light source and a composite wavelength of 700 to 1090 nm for a patient without teeth, or a 3D oral scanner device that performs a tooth scan using a transparent wavelength that can at least partially penetrate and pass through the enamel and dentin of the teeth to obtain a transmission image.

7. In claim 1, the oral tray housing is a 3D oral scanner device that, in the case of a dental patient with partial teeth or no teeth, irradiates a light source only to an optical fiber corresponding to a part with some teeth in a form that covers the entire dentition.

8. A 3D oral scanner device according to claim 2, wherein the image sensor unit is a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor having a quad phase detection function.

9. In claim 1, the oral tray housing is a 3D oral scanner device manufactured in a single shape by inserting the optical fiber bundle into a mold so that the housing body and the connecting portion are formed of the optical fiber bundle.

10. In claim 2, the image sensor unit obtains phase difference information (up / down, left / right) from the optical fiber bundle using a quad phase detection function, calculates optical distance information of each tooth image data based on the obtained phase difference information, and obtains color-specific imaging data including the calculated optical distance information. The above calculated optical distance information is used to implement a 3D oral scanner device for 3D modeling of 3D dental image data.

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