An intraoral scanning system with an infrared light source in a tip housing

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an intraoral scanning system that comprises a tip housing configured to be inserted at least partially into an oral cavity of a patient. The tip housing includes a scanning window, an infrared light source configured to emit infrared light towards the oral cavity via the scanning window, a first interface unit configured to receive electrical power from a power source of the intraoral scanning system. The first interface unit is configured to be connected to a first heating conduction path, and wherein the first interface unit is configured to control a level of electrical heat power in the first heating conduction path, and wherein the first heating conduction path is configured to transfer a generated heat to the scanning window based on the electrical heat power, and a secondary conduction path, and wherein the first interface unit is configured to supply power to the infrared light source via the secondary conduction path, wherein the first heating conduction path and the secondary conduction path are at least partially in parallel within the tip housing.

Description

[0001] AN INTRAORAL SCANNING SYSTEM WITH AN INFRARED LIGHT SOURCE

[0002] IN A TIP HOUSING

[0003] FIELD

[0004] The disclosure relates to an intraoral scanning system with an infrared light source. More specifically, the disclosure relates to an integration of an infrared light source together with a heating unit in a tip housing of the intraoral scanning system.

[0005] BACKGROUND

[0006] Medical devices such as 3D intraoral scanners that are inserted in a patient's bodily orifice such as an oral cavity generally operate in an environment with high requirements to hygiene and / or exposed to humid and warm environment. So, condensation is likely to occur on scanning system surfaces such as surfaces that, prior to insertion into the body orifice, were at ambient temperature. For example, 3D intraoral scanners are regularly exposed to exhaled breath of the patient or the air in the oral cavity that causes fogging of the surfaces such as optical components inserted into the oral cavity. Such condensation on the optical components used in imaging the bodily orifice may interfere with the optical operation of the medical device. For example, condensation on the inserted optical components may cause an undesired change such as altering the scanning signal (e.g. in path or transmission of the light signal, i.e. illuminating light or reflected light), resulting in significant errors in acquired data or acquired images with degraded image quality.

[0007] Several defogging systems are known to defog the insertable surfaces (e.g. optical components). One conventional defogging system includes an airflow system that supplies cold or warm air to the insertable surfaces. In sensitive patients such as having sensitive tooth, the flow of air may cause discomfort. The generation of an airflow also leads to increased power consumption and noise emissions. In addition, the required air-pump or nozzle needed for this purpose takes up space in the medical device. In another defogging system such as used in an intraoral scanner having two-windows system, an outer window exposed to the bodily environment is defogged by way of heat transfer by radiation across a gap between the outer window and an inner window that gets heated up by a heater. The effectiveness (e.g. defogging time) may depend on certain factors such as design of the windows system, choice of materials, etc. Additionally, the effectiveness of such a defogging system is hugely influenced by a distance between the inner window and outer window, i.e. gap width that is aimed to be kept as small as possible. There are limitations such as manufacturing tolerances determining how small the gap width can be - the greater the gap width is, the lesser effective such defogging system becomes. Even for a small gap width (e.g. 0.5 mm), the defogging time is usually in an order of magnitude that delays making an optical scanning system having these defogging systems ready for scanning a bodily orifice or during the scanning process. Further, these defogging systems may become undesirable for battery operated optical scanning systems, which require an efficient use of limited battery power and a shorter defogging time.

[0008] Many dental and orthodontic procedures can benefit from accurate three-dimensional (3D) descriptions of a patient's dentition and intraoral cavity. In particular, it would be helpful to provide a three-dimensional description of both the surface and internal structures of the teeth, including the enamel and dentin, as well as caries and the general internal composition of the tooth volume. Although pure surface representations of the 3D surfaces of teeth have proven extremely useful in the design and fabrication of dental restorations (e.g., crowns or bridges) the ability to image internal structures including the development of caries and dental cracks in the enamel and underlying dentin would be tremendously useful, particularly in conjunction with a surface topographical mapping.

[0009] State of the art, ionizing radiation (e.g., X-rays) has been used to image the teeth for diagnostic purposes. For example, X-ray bitewing radiographs are often used to provide non-quantitative images of the teeth's internal structures. However, in addition to the risk of ionizing radiation, such images are typically limited in their ability to show early tooth mineralization changes (e.g. initial caries) resulting in underestimation of the demineralization depth; they are unable to assess the presence or not of micro-cavitation; they result in frequent overlap of the approximal tooth surfaces which requires repetition of radiograph acquisition and thus may involve a lengthy and expensive procedure.

[0010] Some intraoral features such as soft tissues and dental plaque are usually not visualized via X-ray because of their low density. Other techniques, such as cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) may provide tomographic images and be used to collect more information about the tissues and internal structure, but still require ionizing radiation.

[0011] Furthermore, it is known that near-infrared (NIR) light can be used for assessing internal structure of a tooth and tooth surface in the form of transillumination of teeth or light reflection and backscattering from teeth. The NIR range offers a non-ionizing and safe approach to assess dental caries, restorations, cracks, enamel and dentin defects.

[0012] To avoid minimal changes to existing intraoral scanning systems it would be beneficial to place an infrared light source in a tip of the intraoral scanning system together with a defogging system, i.e. a heating system. However, the disadvantage of applying more components into a tip of an intraoral scanning system, is that the size of the tip may increase to an extend which will be uncomfortable for a patient to have in its mouth. Furthermore, another disadvantage would also be the manufacturing of the tip which will be more complicated as more components have to fit inside a housing which has to be at a size which is comfortable for a patient to have in its mouth during a scanning sequence.

[0013] SUMMARY

[0014] It is an aspect of the present disclosure to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages.

[0015] According to the aspect, an intraoral scanning system is disclosed. The intraoral scanner system may comprise a tip housing configured to be inserted at least partially into an oral cavity of a patient. The tip housing may be attachable to a main housing of the intraoral scanning system. The tip housing and the main housing may be moulded in one piece, i.e. moulded into a single housing wherein the tip housing is permanently attached to the main housing. The one piece housing may consist of an upper piece and a lower piece which can be detachable connected. The main housing may include a projector unit configured to emit light onto a dental object via the tip housing, an image sensor unit configured to acquire reflected light from a dental object via the tip housing, and a processing unit configured to receive the reflected light from the image sensor unit and determine intraoral data for being transmitted wired or wirelessly to an external processor unit. The projector unit may be configured to emit light with a time-varying pattern or a static pattern. The tip housing may include a scanning window, an infrared light source that may be configured to emit infrared light towards the oral cavity via the scanning window, a first interface unit configured to receive electrical power from a power source of the intraoral scanning system. The first interface unit may be configured to be connected to a first heating conduction path, and wherein the first interface unit may be configured to control a level of electrical heat power in the first heating conduction path, and wherein the first heating conduction path may be configured to transfer a generated heat to the scanning window based on the electrical heat power. The first interface unit may be configured to be connected to a secondary conduction path, and wherein the first interface unit may be configured to supply power to the infrared light source via the secondary conduction path, and wherein the first heating conduction path and the secondary conduction path may at least be partially in parallel within the tip housing.

[0016] A first end of the secondary conduction path may be connected to the first interface unit and a second end of the secondary conduction path may be connected to the infrared light source.

[0017] The tip housing and the main housing may be part a handheld intraoral scanning device, wherein the processing unit of the main housing may be configured to communicate with external processing unit(s) for the purpose of sharing resources for determining 3D data based on acquired white light emitted by the projector unit of the scanning device , fluorescence data based on acquired fluorescent light and / or infrared data based on the acquired infrared reflected light. The tip housing or the main housing may include a blue light source configured to emit wavelengths between 350 nm and 500 nm. The emitted blue light source excites fluorescent light of a dental object that receives the blue light, and the image sensor unit of the handheld intraoral scanning system receives the fluorescent light which may include green wavelengths and red wavelengths. The processing unit(s) of the main housing and / or the external processing units may be configured to determine a composed image which includes a mixture of one or more of the following acquired reflected light: infrared light, fluorescent light or white light. The first interface unit may be configured to be connected to main interface unit that is arranged in or on the main housing. The first interface unit may be attachable connected to the main interface unit, such that it would be possible to detach the tip housing from the main housing with a simple tool. If detaching the tip housing from the main housing, and then attaching again the tip housing to the main housing, the intraoral scanning system may need to be calibrated.

[0018] The tip housing is restricted to strict size requirements. To be as comfortable as possible for a patient to have a tip housing inside once mouth during scanning, the size of the tip housing must be as small as possible. The size constrain entails high requirements for how the tip housing must be assembled when several elements are built into the tip housing. The several elements may be the scanning window, the infrared light source, the first interface unit, the first heating conduction path and the secondary conduction path. The first hearing conduction path and the secondary conduction path are both connected to the first interface unit which is a single unit. IN another example where the first hearing conduction path and the secondary conduction path are connected to separate interface units will in comparison to the example where the conduction paths are connected to the same interface unit provide a more complicated assembling of the tip housing as the insertion of the conduction paths into the tip housing has to be done separately causing the conduction paths to touch each other and eventually bending to an extend which may cause damages to the conduction paths. Furthermore, it would also be more difficult to place the two conduction paths relative to each other relative to each other as intended. For example, the first heating conduction path may radiate heat which will reduce the lifetime of the secondary conduction path if being placed too close together. Furthermore, the first hearing conduction path and the secondary conduction path are arranged within the tip housing such that they at least are partially in parallel. The maintaining of the two conduction paths in parallel secures a more reliable placement of the conduction paths relative to each other which will reduce any unwanted electro magnetic effects that may be caused by not having the conduction paths in parallel.

[0019] The conduction paths may include one or more wires or electrically conductive tracks that are configured to transmit electrical current. The one or more wires or the one or more electrically conductive tracks may be made of copper, aluminium. The conduction paths may be laminated onto a printed circuit board or a flexible printed circuit board. The conduction paths may have a certain stiffness that secure that the first heating conduction path / second heating conduction path is parallel to the secondary conduction path inside the tip housing during the assembling of the conduction paths and when placed inside the tip housing.

[0020] The interface unit may include one or more micro controllers that may be configured to controller an electrical current to the first heating conduction and the secondary conduction path. The one or more micro controllers may include a main micro controller that may be configured to control an electrical current for both the first heating conduction path and the secondary conduction path. The level of electrical current in the first heating conduction path determines the amount of heat being generated by the first heating conduction path. In another example, the one or more micro controllers may include at least two micro controllers configured to apply an electrical current to the first heating conduction path and the secondary conduction path, respectively.

[0021] The infrared light source may be a light emitting diode that is configured to emit wavelength(s) between 800 nm and 1200 nm. The infrared light source may be mounted on the secondary conduction path such that the emitted infrared light is directed towards the scanning window. The scanning window may be arranged such that the emitted light from the infrared light source is directed towards the scanning window either directly or indirectly via a mirror that is arranged about 45 degrees relative to the scanning window. The mirror may be arranged within the tip housing at a distal end of the tip housing and in vicinity to the scanning window. The mirror may configured to reflect the emitted infrared light towards the scanning window. The infrared light source may be arranged in vicinity to a part of the mirror that is arranged in vicinity to the upper part of the tip housing.

[0022] To avoid defogging of the scanning window while scanning a patient’s oral cavity there is a need for heat being applied to the scanning window. The first heating conduction path generates that heat and applies the heat either directly to the scanning window or indirectly via the air inside the tip housing, preferably, the air that is above the scanning window. The first heating conduction path may be extended on a first side and a second side of the scanning window, wherein the first side may be opposite to the second side. Thereby, a more uniformly heat distribution on the scanning window is obtained causing no or minimal defogging across the surfaces of the scanning window. The scanning window may be square shaped, and the first side and the second side may be along either one of the sides but opposite to each other. The advantage of having just one heating conduction path is that less space is needed for generating heat and the complexity of the tip housing becomes less due to minimal wiring is needed for generating the heat inside the tip housing. The intraoral scanning system may include a second heating conduction path. The first interface unit may be connected to the second heating conduction path, and wherein the first hearing conduction path and the second heating conduction path extend on a first side and a second side of the scanning window, respectively. The heat being generated by the first heating conduction path and the second heating conduction path may be applied to the first side and the second side of the scanning window, respectively. The advantage of having two conduction paths is that the time to heat the scanning window or the air inside the tip housing is reduced, and also, it would be possible to control the heating separately on the two sides.

[0023] The heating conduction path(s) may be configured to defog the scanning window by the way of thermal conduction which reduces power consumption for defogging and significantly reduces the defogging time, therefore the disclosed defogging unit including heating conduction path(s), such as the first and / or second heating conduction path, is particularly useful for an intraoral scanning system that receives its operating power from a limited power source such as a battery. The need for a more effective defogging unit, which results in a reduced power consumption for defogging time may further be useful for an intraoral scanning system that is configured to perform additional tasks such as wirelessly transmit the processed data. The defogging unit may include an electrical interface that, part of the first interface unit, may be configured to receive electrical power in form of electromagnetic energy from a source such as a battery or electrical mains. Additionally or alternatively, the defogging unit may include a source (e.g. battery) of the electromagnetic energy. The defogging unit may further include connectors to deliver the electromagnetic energy to the part of the heating conduction paths that generates most heat.

[0024] Electromagnetic energy, generally referred as electric power, may include energy contained in a DC, pulsating DC, or AC electric current or in electromagnetic radiation or in a static or time-varying electromagnetic field. Such energy may be provided by way of battery or mains supply.

[0025] The defogging unit, which includes at least the first heating conduction path, may further include a control unit that may be configured to control the heat being generated by the defogging unit. For example, the control unit may perform at least one of determining how much energy needs to be delivered to the heating conduction path(s) to obtain an ideal temperature of the scanning window. The control unit may further be configured to monitor the performance of the effectiveness of defogging. The control unit may also include a storage unit to store digital information such as monitoring results and may further be configured to generate a notification signal such as an audible alarm or visual indication through an LED of the scanning system when the monitoring result indicates performance below an acceptable level. The acceptable level may be predefined by way of a measurable parameter such as defogging time, or energy consumption, etc.

[0026] The control unit may be arranged on the first interface unit or within the main housing.

[0027] The heating conduction path(s) may be configured to convert electrical power to heat which is transferred to the scanning window in the tip housing by way of thermal conduction. For example, the part of the heating conduction paths that are arranged on both sides of the scanning window may includes a resistive element made of metal or resistive film heaters that may be printed on a thin substrate. The latter may be printed on a substrate like a flexible substrate and typically offers low profile form factor, improved temperature uniformity, quick thermal response due to low thermal mass, low energy consumption. To improve heat generation of a specific area of the first heating conduction path multiple bends must be applied to the specific area of the conduction path of the first heating conduction path. This specific area may be arranged next to the scanning window. The bending of the conduction path provides a simple and compact solution that fits a tip housing for an intraoral scanning system. The first heating conduction path may include a first group of multiple bends arranged on the first side and a second group of multiple bends arranged on the second side of the scanning window providing a more focused heat generation on the two sides of the scanning window. Then by having symmetrical bends on both sides of the scanning window provides a more uniformly heat distribution across the scanning window. That is preferably for the accuracy of determining 3D data, infrared data or the fluorescent data. The first group and the second group of multiple bends may include symmetrical bends. For example, if the first group and the second group of multiple bends may include same amounts of bends, this would not necessarily secure a uniformly distribution of the heat across the scanning window as the distance between the bends varies between the first and second group of multiple bends.

[0028] Preferably, the first group and the second group of multiple bends include between 10 and 25 bends. Being between 10 and 25 bends secures the right relation between power consumption and the heat generation, and furthermore, the range also secures the right heat distribution across the scanning window.

[0029] The tip housing may include a bottom part and an upper part, wherein the upper part is opposite to the bottom part. The scanning window may be arranged on the bottom part, and the infrared light source may be arranged on the upper part of the tip housing. This includes a high complexity in how to arrange the conduction paths within the tip housing without interfering with other elements inside the tip housing and one or more optical axes of the tip housing. The first heating conduction path and the secondary conduction path may be mainly arranged on the bottom part or closer to the bottom part than the upper part. To connect the secondary conduction path to the infrared light source arranged on or at the upper surface, the secondary conduction path may include a tap part which extends across an inside of the tip, and the infrared light may be connected to the tap part. The tap part may be arranged along an inner surface of the tip housing extending from the bottom surface towards the upper surface and connected to the infrared light source. In comparison to an example where the infrared light source is arranged on or in vicinity to the bottom part of the tip housing, the infrared light source being arranged on the upper part of the tip housing provides the advantages of improved field of view of the camera when capturing images with infrared information / data.

[0030] The intraoral scanning system may include an optical system that includes one or more of the following elements: the infrared light source, a projector unit, an image sensor unit, a mirror, the scanning window and one or more optical lenses. The optical system may be distributed between the tip housing and the main housing or solely within the tip housing.

[0031] Optical axis: An axis defined by the propagation of a light beam. An optical axis is preferably a straight line. The optical axis may be defined by the configuration of a plurality of optical components, e.g. the configuration of the optical system. There may be more than one optical axis, if for example one optical system transmits probe light to the dental object and another optical system images the dental object on the image sensor unit. But preferably the optical axis is defined by the propagation of the light in the optical system transmitting the emitted light onto the dental object and imaging the dental object onto the image sensor unit. The optical axis will often coincide with the longitudinal axis of the tip housing and / or the main housing.

[0032] Time-varying pattern: A pattern that varies in time, i.e. the embedded spatial structure varies in time. May also be termed “time varying illumination pattern”. In the following also termed “fringes”.

[0033] Static pattern: A pattern that does not vary in time, e.g. a static checkerboard pattern or a static line pattern.

[0034] The secondary conduction path may include a main part which extends along a longitudinal axis of the tip housing, and the tap part extends towards an upper surface of the tip housing away from the longitudinal axis, wherein the tap part may be connected to the infrared light source at the upper surface of the tip housing. The secondary conduction path includes a main part which extends along a longitudinal axis of the tip housing, and the tap part may extend towards an upper surface of the tip housing away from the longitudinal axis, wherein the tap part may be connected to the infrared light source at the upper surface of the tip housing.

[0035] The tap part of the secondary conduction path may extend about orthogonal relative to the main part of the secondary conduction path and extend along an inner surface of the tip housing towards the upper surface of the tip housing and connects to the infrared light source on or at the upper part of the tip housing.

[0036] The scanning window may have a field-of-view which may be defined by a view from the scanning window in a direction normal to a main surface of the scanning window. The main surface of the scanning window may be configured to receive the emitted light. The infrared light source may be arranged on an upper surface of the tip housing outside the field-of-view of the scanning window. The infrared light source may be arranged not directly above the scanning window. An illumination field of infrared light source fully overlaps a field-of-view of an image sensor unit of the intraoral scanning system.

[0037] In another example, the infrared light source may be arranged above the scanning window.

[0038] The infrared light source may be tilted or angle such that a direction of the illumination field of the infrared light source may be angled towards a surface of the scanning window. The title or angled infrared light source directly emits the illumination field towards the scanning window. In another example, the tilted or angled infrared light source may emit the illumination field indirectly to the scanning window via a mirror in the tip housing.

[0039] The first heating conduction path and the secondary conduction path may be combined by a second interface unit arranged distantly from the first interface unit. A first end of the first hearing conduction path and a first end of the secondary conduction path may be connected to the first interface unit and a second end of the first hearing conduction path and a second end of the secondary conduction path may be connected to the second interface unit. Between the first heating conduction path and the secondary conduction path an airgap may be arranged. The airgap may be between the first and the second interface unit. The airgap may be arranged between the first heating conduction path and the secondary conduction path, and wherein the first heating conduction path and the secondary conduction path may be combined to a second interface unit. The airgap allows other elements that is arranged within the tip housing to be arranged fully or partially within the airgap. The other elements may be optical elements of the optical system. In another example, the other elements may need to be supported by an inner surface of the tip housing that is arranged within the airgap.

[0040] The airgap between the first heating conduction path and the secondary conduction path may be between 5 mm and 30 mm. Being within the range allows the tip housing to fit inside a mouth of a patient and avoid any degradation of the secondary conduction path because of the heat generated by the first heating conduction path. Being within the range allows the tip housing to fit inside a mouth of a patient and avoid any electromagnetic noise that can interfere the conduction paths inside the tip housing. The electromagnetic noise could disturb or interfere the infrared light source and / or the heat generated inside the tip housing.

[0041] The temperature on or around the scanning window may be done by a temperature sensor that is arranged in vicinity to the scanning window. The temperature sensor may be mounted on the second interface unit and electrically connected to the first interface unit via a wire. The wire may be part of a flexible printed circuit board together with the first heating conduction path or the secondary conduction path. The temperature sensor may be arranged on an inner surface of the tip housing and connected to the first interface unit. The second interface unit may include a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of within an inside of the tip housing and in vicinity to the scanning window. The interface unit may include a micro controller configured for monitoring the temperature at the scanning window.

[0042] The second interface unit fixate the first heating conduction path and the secondary conduction path for maintaining a relative position between the two conduction paths. This is an advantage during the assembling of the tip housing. The tap part may extend away from the second interface unit instead of the main part of the secondary conduction path. That brings the advantage of being able to position the infrared light source closer to the scanning window when the second interface unit is arranged inside the tip housing. The first heating conduction path and the secondary conduction path may be extended via the second interface unit to both sides of the scanning window and the infrared light source, respectively.

[0043] The conduction paths and the one or more interface units of the tip housing may be arranged or applied on a printed circuit board or a flexible printed circuit board. The tip housing may comprise a printed circuit board unit that includes a first main board, a first arm board and a second arm board. The first arm board and the second arm board are connected to the first main board, wherein the first arm board and the second arm board are extending away from the first main board with an airgap between the first arm board and the second arm board. The first heating conduction path may be arranged on the first arm board and the secondary conduction path may be arranged on the second arm board, and the first interface unit may be arranged on the first main board. The printed circuit board unit provides an easier way of inserting the conduction paths and the interface unit(s) into the tip housing, and thereby, the assembling of the tip housing with the elements becomes easier. The printed circuit board unit may be flexible.

[0044] The conduction paths and the one or more interface units of the tip housing may be arranged or applied on a printed circuit board or a flexible printed circuit board. The tip housing may comprise a printed circuit board unit that includes a first main board and a first arm board. The first arm board may be connected to the first main board, wherein the first arm board may be extending away from the first main board, and wherein the first heating conduction path and the secondary conduction path may be arranged on the first arm board, and the first interface unit may be arranged on the first main board. Having a single arm board provides a simpler connection between the first interface unit and the infrared light source. The secondary conduction path may be applied to a first surface of the first arm board and the first heating conduction path may be applied to a second surface of the first arm board, and wherein the first surface is opposite to the second surface of the first arm board. The first arm board reduces the heat transfer from the first heating conduction path to the secondary conduction path and eventual electromagnetic noise that may be created between the two conduction parts.

[0045] To ease the insertion of the printed circuit board unit into tip housing, the printed circuit board unit may include a second main board that may be connected to the first main board via the first arm board and / or the second arm board, and wherein the first heating conduction path and the secondary conduction part extends away from the first and / or the second arm board and on to the second main board. The second interface unit may be arranged on the second main board. The printed circuit board unit may include a third arm board that may be connected to the second main board or the second arm board and extends across an inside of the tip, and wherein the third arm board includes an extension of the secondary conduction part, and the infrared light source is arranged on the third arm board. The third arm board may extend towards an upper surface of the tip housing, wherein the infrared light source may be arranged at the upper surface of the tip housing. A first end of the third arm board arranged closer to an upper surface than a bottom surface of the tip housing is tilted such that a direction of an illumination field of the infrared light source is angled towards a surface of the scanning window. The second main board may include two heating arms that extend to opposite sides of the scanning window, and wherein each of the two heating arms includes multiple bends of the first heating conduction path. The two hearing arms may include a first heating arm and a second heating arm, and the first heating arm includes multiple bends of the first heating conduction path, and the second heating arm includes multiple bends of the second heating conduction path.

[0046] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0047] Aspects of the disclosure may be best understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures. The figures are schematic and simplified for clarity, and they just show details to improve the understanding of the claims, while other details are left out. Throughout, the same reference numerals are used for identical or corresponding parts. The individual features of each aspect may each be combined with any or all features of the other aspects. These and other aspects, features and / or technical effect will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the illustrations described hereinafter in which:

[0048] FIGS. 1 A to 1C illustrate different examples of an intraoral scanning system; FIGS. 2A to 2C illustrate different examples of the heating conduction paths; FIGS. 3 A and 3B illustrate different arrangements of the infrared light source;

[0049] FIGS. 4A to 4C illustrate different examples of a tip housing;

[0050] FIG. 5 illustrates an arrangement of the conduction paths in a first and a second arm board; FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate another example of a printed circuit board unit that includes conduction paths;

[0051] FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate examples of a printed circuit board unit;

[0052] FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a part of a tap part; and

[0053] FIG. 9 illustrates an example of the intraoral scanning system.

[0054] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of various configurations. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts may be practiced without these specific details. Several aspects of the devices, systems, mediums, programs and methods are described by various blocks, functional units, modules, components, circuits, steps, processes, algorithms, etc. (collectively referred to as “elements”). Depending upon particular application, design constraints or other reasons, these elements may be implemented using electronic hardware, computer program, or any combination thereof.

[0056] The electronic hardware may include microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSPs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), gated logic, discrete hardware circuits, and other suitable hardware configured to perform the various functionality described throughout this disclosure. Computer program shall be construed broadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executables, threads of execution, procedures, functions, etc., whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise.

[0057] A scanning for providing intra-oral scan data may be performed by a dental scanning system that may include an intraoral scanning device such as the TRIOS series scanners from 3 Shape A / S. The dental scanning system may include a wireless capability as provided by a wireless network unit. The scanning device may employ a scanning principle such as triangulation-based scanning, confocal scanning, focus scanning, ultrasound scanning, x-ray scanning, stereo vision, structure from motion, optical coherent tomography OCT, or any other scanning principle. In an embodiment, the scanning device is capable of obtaining surface information by operated by projecting a pattern and translating a focus plane along an optical axis of the scanning device and capturing a plurality of 2D images at different focus plane positions such that each series of captured 2D images corresponding to each focus plane forms a stack of 2D images. The acquired 2D images are also referred to herein as raw 2D images, wherein raw in this context means that the images have not been subject to image processing. The focus plane position is preferably shifted along the optical axis of the scanning system, such that 2D images captured at a number of focus plane positions along the optical axis form said stack of 2D images (also referred to herein as a sub-scan) for a given view of the object, i.e. for a given arrangement of the scanning system relative to the object. After moving the scanning device relative to the object or imaging the object at a different view, a new stack of 2D images for that view may be captured. The focus plane position may be varied by means of at least one focus element, e.g., a moving focus lens. The scanning device is generally moved and angled relative to the dentition during a scanning session, such that at least some sets of sub-scans overlap at least partially, in order to enable reconstruction of the digital dental 3D model by stitching overlapping 3D subscans together in real-time and display the progress of the virtual 3D model on a display as feedback to the user. The result of stitching is the digital 3D representation of a surface larger than that which can be captured by a single sub-scan, i.e. which is larger than the field of view of the 3D scanning device. Stitching, also known as registration and fusion, works by identifying overlapping regions of 3D surface in various sub-scans and transforming sub-scans to a common coordinate system such that the overlapping regions match, finally yielding the digital 3D model. An Iterative Closest Point (ICP) algorithm may be used for this purpose. Another example of a scanning device is a triangulation scanner, where a time varying pattern is projected onto the dental arch and a sequence of images of the different pattern configurations are acquired by one or more cameras located at an angle relative to the projector unit.

[0058] Color texture of the dental arch may be acquired by illuminating the object using different monochromatic colors such as individual red, green and blue colors or my illuminating the object using multi chromatic light such as white light. A 2D image may be acquired during a flash of white light.

[0059] Generally the process of obtaining surface information in real time of a dental arch to be scanned requires the scanning device to illuminate the surface and acquire high number of 2D images. Typically a high speed camera is used with a framerate of 300-2000 2D frames pr second dependent on the technology and 2D image resolution. The high amount of image data needed to be handled by the scanning device to eighter directly forward the raw image data stream to an external processing device or performing some image processing before transmitting the data to an external device or display. This process requires that multiple electronic components inside the scanner is operating with a high workload thus requiring a high demand of current.

[0060] The scanning device comprises one or more light projectors configured to generate an illumination pattern to be projected on a three-dimensional dental arch during a scanning session. The light projector(s) preferably comprises a light source, a mask having a spatial pattern, and one or more lenses such as collimation lenses or projection lenses. The light source may be configured to generate light of a single wavelength or a combination of wavelengths (mono- or polychromatic). The combination of wavelengths may be produced by using a light source configured to produce light (such as white light) comprising different wavelengths. Alternatively, the light projector(s) may comprise multiple light sources such as LEDs individually producing light of different wavelengths (such as red, green, and blue) that may be combined to form light comprising the different wavelengths. Thus, the light produced by the light source may be defined by a wavelength defining a specific color, or a range of different wavelengths defining a combination of colors such as white light. In an embodiment, the scanning device comprises a light source configured for exciting fluorescent material of the teeth to obtain fluorescence data from the dental arch. Such a light source may be configured to produce a narrow range of wavelengths. In another embodiment, the light from the light source is infrared (IR) light, which is capable of penetrating dental tissue. The light projector(s) may be DLP projectors using a micro mirror array for generating a time varying pattern, or a diffractive optical element (DOF), or back-lit mask projectors, wherein the light source is placed behind a mask having a spatial pattern, whereby the light projected on the surface of the dental arch is patterned. The back-lit mask projector may comprise a collimation lens for collimating the light from the light source, said collimation lens being placed between the light source and the mask. The mask may have a checkerboard pattern, such that the generated illumination pattern is a checkerboard pattern. Alternatively, the mask may feature other patterns such as lines or dots, etc.

[0061] The scanning device preferably further comprises optical components for directing the light from the light source to the surface of the dental arch. The specific arrangement of the optical components depends on whether the scanning device is a focus scanning apparatus, a scanning device using triangulation, or any other type of scanning device. A focus scanning apparatus is further described in EP 2 442 720 Bl by the same applicant, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

[0062] The light reflected from the dental arch in response to the illumination of the dental arch is directed, using optical components of the scanning device, towards the image sensor(s). The image sensor(s) are configured to generate a plurality of images based on the incoming light received from the illuminated dental arch. The image sensor unit may be a high-speed image sensor such as an image sensor configured for acquiring images with exposures of less than 1 / 1000 second or frame rates in excess of 250 frames pr. second (fps). As an example, the image sensor may be a rolling shutter (CCD) or global shutter sensor (CMOS). The image sensor(s) may be a monochrome sensor including a color filter array such as a Bayer filter and / or additional filters that may be configured to substantially remove one or more color components from the reflected light and retain only the other non-removed components prior to conversion of the reflected light into an electrical signal. For example, such additional filters may be used to remove a certain part of a white light spectrum, such as a blue component, and retain only red and green components from a signal generated in response to exciting fluorescent material of the teeth.

[0063] The network unit may be configured to connect the dental scanning system to a network comprising a plurality of network elements including at least one network element configured to receive the processed data. The network unit may include a wireless network unit or a wired network unit. The wireless network unit is configured to wirelessly connect the dental scanning system to the network comprising the plurality of network elements including the at least one network element configured to receive the processed data. The wired network unit is configured to establish a wired connection between the dental scanning system and the network comprising the plurality of network elements including the at least one network element configured to receive the processed data.

[0064] The dental scanning system preferably further comprises a processor configured to generate scan data (such as extra-oral scan data and / or intra-oral scan data) by processing the two-dimensional (2D) images acquired by the scanning device. The processor may be part of the scanning device. As an example, the processor may comprise a Field- programmable gate array (FPGA) and / or an Advanced RISC Machines (ARM) processor located on the scanning device. The scan data comprises information relating to the three- dimensional dental arch. The scan data may comprise any of: 2D images, 3D point clouds, depth data, texture data, intensity data, color data, and / or combinations thereof. As an example, the scan data may comprise one or more point clouds, wherein each point cloud comprises a set of 3D points describing the three-dimensional dental arch. As another example, the scan data may comprise images, each image comprising image data e.g. described by image coordinates and a timestamp (x, y, t), wherein depth information can be inferred from the timestamp. The image sensor(s) of the scanning device may acquire a plurality of raw 2D images of the dental arch in response to illuminating said object using the one or more light projectors. The plurality of raw 2D images may also be referred to herein as a stack of 2D images. The 2D images may subsequently be provided as input to the processor, which processes the 2D images to generate scan data. The processing of the 2D images may comprise the step of determining which part of each of the 2D images are in focus in order to deduce / generate depth information from the images. The internal depth information may be used to generate 3D point clouds comprising a set of 3D points in space, e.g., described by cartesian coordinates (x, y, z). The 3D point clouds may be generated by the processor or by another processing unit. Each 2D / 3D point may furthermore comprise a timestamp that indicates when the 2D / 3D point was recorded, i.e., from which image in the stack of 2D images the point originates. The timestamp is correlated with the z-coordinate of the 3D points, i.e., the z-coordinate may be inferred from the timestamp. Accordingly, the output of the processor is the scan data, and the scan data may comprise image data and / or depth data, e.g. described by image coordinates and a timestamp (x, y, t) or alternatively described as (x, y, z). The scanning device may be configured to transmit other types of data in addition to the scan data. Examples of data include 3D information, texture information such as infra-red (IR) images, fluorescence images, reflectance color images, x-ray images, and / or combinations thereof.

[0065] FIGS.1 A to 1C illustrate different examples of an intraoral scanning system 1 which includes a tip housing 10 that is configured to be inserted at least partially into an oral cavity of a patient. In the example, a handheld intraoral scanning device 100 is illustrated. A main housing 20 is also depicted for illustration purpose. The tip housing 10 includes a scanning window 2, an infrared light source 6 configured to emit infrared light towards an oral cavity via the scanning window 2, a first interface unit 4 configured to receive electrical power from a power source of the intraoral scanning system 1. The power source may be arranged within the main housing 20. The first interface unit 4 is configured to be connected to a first heating conduction path (3,3 A), and wherein the first interface unit 4 is configured to control a level of electrical heat power in the first heating conduction path (3,3A), and wherein the first heating conduction path (3,3A) is configured to transfer a generated heat to the scanning window 2 based on the electrical heat power. The first interface unit is further connected to a secondary conduction path (5,5A), and wherein the first interface unit 4 is configured to supply power to the infrared light source 6 via the secondary conduction path (5,5A), wherein the first heating conduction path 3 A and the secondary conduction path 5A are at least partially in parallel within the tip housing 10. In the examples, an air gap is arranged between the first heating conduction path 3 A and the secondary conduction path 5 A. The secondary conduction path 5 includes a tap part 5B which extends in an about orthogonal direction relative to the main part 5 A of the secondary conduction part 5 which is in parallel with the first heating conduction part 3 A. The infrared light source 6 is connected to the tap part 5B. A first end of the secondary conduction path (5, 5 A) is connected to the first interface unit 4 and a second end of the secondary conduction path (5,5B) is connected to the infrared light source 6. A part 3B of the first heating conduction path 3 includes multiple bends which are configured to generate the heat for defogging the scanning window 2 during scanning of a patient. In the examples, the multiple bends 3B is arranged on one side of the scanning window 2. The scanning window is arranged at a distal end of the tip housing 10. A longitudinal axis 31 is seen. In FIG. 1 A, the tap part is seen for below for the purpose of illustrating the arrangement of the infrared light source 6 on the tap part 5B. In FIG. IB, the tap part 5B is seen from above, and the infrared light source 6 is illustrated with dotted lines for the purpose of illustrating the infrared light source 6 seen through the tap part 5B. In. FIG. 1C, the tip housing 10 is seen from the side. It is clearly seen that the infrared light source is arranged on an upper surface 12 of the tip housing 10 and that the conduction paths (3A,5A) on or in vicinity to a bottom surface 13 of the tip housing. The tap part 5B extends along an inner surface between the upper surface 12 and the bottom surface 11. A tap part extends across an inside of the tip housing, and the infrared light source is connected to the tap part 5B. The secondary conduction path 5 includes a main part 5A which extends along the longitudinal axis 31 of the tip housing 10, and the tap part 5B extends towards an upper surface 12 of the tip housing 10 away from the longitudinal axis 31, wherein the tap part 5B is connected to the infrared light source 6 at the upper surface 12 of the tip housing 10. Furthermore, the infrared light source 6 is arranged outside a field-of-view 9 of the scanning window 2. Furthermore, the infrared light source 6 is arranged in vicinity to a part of a mirror 2X that is arranged closest to the upper part 12 of the tip housing. In FIG 2C it is seen that the first interface unit 4 is arranged on or at the bottom surface 13, in another example, the first interface unit 4 is arranged on or at the upper surface 12, wherein the conduction paths (3A,5A) extend from the bottom surface 13 towards the first interface unit 4 arranged on or at the upper surface 12. The main housing 20 may include a main interface unit (not shown) configured to be attachable connected to the first interface unit 4, and wherein the main interface unit supplies control signals and / or power from a power source arranged within the main housing 20. The control signals may be include instructions for a control unit arranged on the first interface unit 4, wherein the control unit is configured to control a supply power to the conduction paths (3,5).

[0066] FIGS. 2A to 2C illustrate different examples of the heating conduction paths (3,7). In FIG. 2A, the first heating conduction path (3,3 A) is extended 3B on a first side and a second side of the scanning window 2, wherein the first side is opposite to the second side. The first heating conduction path 3B includes a first group of multiple bends arranged on the first side and a second group of multiple bends arranged on the second side of the scanning window 2. In FIG. 2B, the tip housing 10 includes a second heating conduction path 7, and wherein the first interface unit 4 is connected to the second heating conduction path 7, and wherein the first hearing conduction path 3 A and the second heating conduction path 7A extend (3B,7B) on a first side 3B and a second side 7B of the scanning window 2, respectively. In. FIGS. 2A and 2B, the multiple bends (3B,7B) are arranged along the longitudinal axis 31, and in FIG. 2C, the multiple bends (3B,7B) are arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis 31. In FIGS 2A and 2B, the multiple bends (3B,7B) are arranged along longest sides of the scanning window 2, and in FIG. 2C, the multiple bends (3B,7B) are arranged along shorter sides of the scanning window 2, wherein the shorter sides are relative to the longest sides of the scanning window 2.

[0067] FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate different arrangements of the infrared light source 6 on the upper surface 12 of the tip housing 10. In FIG. 3A, the infrared light source 6 is arranged outside the field-of-view 9 of the scanning window 2, and the infrared light source 6 is titled such that a direction of an illumination field 32 the infrared light source 6 is angled towards a surface of the scanning window 2. In. FIG. 3B, the infrared light source 6 is arranged within the field-of-view 9 of the scanning window 2, and the infrared light source 6 is arranged on the upper surface 12 such that the illumination field 32 is directed along a normal axis relative to the surface of the scanning window 2. In this example, the infrared light source 6 is not tilted. In another example, the infrared light source 6 is tilted for the purpose of aligning to an illumination field of another light source which may be configured to visible wavelengths, such as white and blue wavelengths. Furthermore, the infrared light source 6 is arranged in vicinity to a part of a mirror 2X that is arranged in vicinity to the upper part 12 of the tip housing.

[0068] FIGS. 4A to 4C illustrate different examples of the tip housing 10. In the examples, the tip housing 10 includes a printed circuit board unit that includes a first main board 4 A, a first arm board 41 and a second arm board 42, and the first arm board 41 and the second arm board 42 are connected to the first main board 4A, wherein the first arm board 41 and the second arm board 42 are extending away from the first main board 4A with an airgap 49 between the first arm board 41 and the second arm board 42. The first heating conduction path 3 is arranged on the first arm board 41 and the secondary conduction path 5 is arranged on the second arm board 42, and the first interface unit 4 is arranged on the first main board 4A. Furthermore, a second interface unit 4B is arranged within the tip housing 10. The first heating conduction path 3, the second heating conduction path 7 and the secondary conduction path 5 extends on the second interface unit 4B. In FIG. 4A, the first arm board 41 includes the first heating conduction path 3, and the second arm board 42 includes both the second heating conduction path 7 and the secondary conduction path 5. The tap part 5B of the secondary conduction path 5 is arranged on a third arm board 45 which in the examples in FIGS. 4A - 4C extends away from the second interface unit 4B. Furthermore, the first 3 and the 7 second heating conduction paths extend (3B,7B) onto heating arms (43,44) which extend away from the second interface unit 4B and to opposite sides of the scanning window 2. In. FIGs. 4B and 4C, the second arm board includes only the secondary conduction path 5, wherein the first heating conduction path is arranged on the first arm board 41, and the first heating conduction path extends 3B on both sides of the scanning window. In. FIG. 4C, a temperature sensor 40 is arranged on the second interface unit 4B, and the temperature sensor 40 is configured to measure the temperature of the scanning window 2 or the air in vicinity of the surface of the scanning window 2 which is inside the tip housing 10. FIG. 5 illustrates how the conduction paths are arranged on the first and the second arm board (41,42). In relation to example (A), the first arm board 41 includes solely the first heating conduction path applied onto a first side of the first arm board 41. In relation to example (B), the first arm board 41 includes both the first and the second heating conduction paths(3,3 A,7,7A) applied on the first side. In relation to example (C), the first arm board 41 includes both the first and the second heating conduction paths(3,3A,7,7A) applied to opposite sides of the first arm board 41. In relation to example (D), the second arm board 42 includes solely the secondary conduction path (5,5A) applied onto a first side of the second arm board 42. In relation to example (E), the second arm board 42 includes both the second heating conduction paths(7,7A) and the secondary conduction path (5,5A) applied on the first side. In relation to example (F), the second arm board 42includes both the second heating conduction path (7,7A) and the secondary conduction path applied to opposite sides of the second arm board 42. The different examples can be combined in one or more ways.

[0069] FIGS. 6 A and 6B illustrate another example of the printed circuit board unit which includes a first arm board 41 that is connected to the first main board 4 A and the second main board 4B. A third arm board 45 is connected to the second main board 4B and is extending away from the second main board 4B. The third arm board 45 includes the tap part 5B of the secondary conduction path (5,5A). In FIG. 6A, the first arm board 41 includes both the first heating conduction path (3,3 A) and the secondary conduction path (5,5A), and in FIG. 6B, the first arm board 41 includes both the first heating conduction path (3,3 A), the second conduction path (7,7A) and the secondary conduction path (5, 5 A). The conduction paths on the first arm board 41 may be arranged on the same side or on opposite sides of the first arm board 41 as illustrated in FIG. 5. The printed circuit board unit include two heating arms (43,44) configured to be arranged on opposite sides of the scanning window 2. The two heating arms (43,44) includes multiple bends 3B of one or more heating conduction paths (3,7). In FIG. 6A, the two heating arms (43,44) include multiple bends 3B of the first heating conduction path 3. In FIG. 6B, the two heating arms (43,44) include multiple bends (3B,7B) of the first and second heating conduction paths, respectively. FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate examples of the printed circuit board unit which includes the first, second and third arm board (41,42, 45), heating arms (43,44) that are configured to be arranged on both sides of the scanning window 2, and the first and second main boards (4 A, 4B). In this example, the main part of both the first and second heating arm boards (41,42) includes a curved part (91,92) and a straight part (93,94), respectively. The curved part (91,92) is configured to guide the conduction paths (3A,5A,7A) from the bottom surface 12 to the upper surface 13 of the tip housing 10 when the first interface unit 4A is arranged on the upper surface 12. The curved part (91,92) resolves in sharp bends of the conduction paths (3A,5A,7A) which will damage or reduce the lifetime of the conduction paths (3A,5A,7A). The straight part (93,94) is configured to follow along the bottom surface 13 of the tip housing 10. In FIG. 7A, the third arm board 45 extends away from the second main board 4B, and in FIG. 7B, the third arm board 45 extends away from the second arm board 42. Whether the third arm board 45 extends away from the second arm board 42 or the second main board 4B depends on the size of the infrared light source 6 and / or the scanning window 2. There may be other components which determine whether the third arm board 45 extends away from the second main board 4B or the second arm board 42.

[0070] Fig. 8 illustrates an example of a part of the tap part (5B,45) which includes the infrared light source 6. In this example, an infrared light shadow component 110 is arranged between the infrared light source 6 and the first main board 4 A. The component 110 is configured to reduce or eliminate any light from going directly from the infrared light source 6 to an image sensor unit arranged either in the tip housing between the scanning window 2 and the first main board 4A or in the main housing.

[0071] FIG. 9. Illustrates an example of the intraoral scanning system 1 which includes the handheld intraoral scanning device 100 that is configured to communicate wired or wirelessly 106 with an external computer 102 and / or a server 104. In this example, the external computer 102 and / or the server 104 is configured to perform remote processing of the data being acquired by the image sensor unit arranged in the handheld intraoral scanning device 100. Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind of one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, although the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings describe example embodiments in the context of certain example combinations of elements and / or functions, it should be appreciated that different combinations of elements and / or functions may be provided by alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In this regard, for example, different combinations of elements and / or functions than those explicitly described above are also contemplated as may be set forth in some of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

[0072] ITEM

[0073] 1. An intraoral scanning system comprising a tip housing configured to be inserted at least partially into an oral cavity of a patient, and wherein the tip housing includes;

[0074] • a scanning window,

[0075] • an infrared light source configured to emit infrared light towards the oral cavity via the scanning window,

[0076] • a first interface unit configured to receive electrical power from a power source of the intraoral scanning system, and the first interface unit is configured to be connected to: o a first heating conduction path, and wherein the first interface unit is configured to control a level of electrical heat power in the first heating conduction path, and wherein the first heating conduction path is configured to transfer a generated heat to the scanning window based on the electrical heat power, o a secondary conduction path, and wherein the first interface unit is configured to supply power to the infrared light source via the secondary conduction path, wherein the first heating conduction path and the secondary conduction path are at least partially in parallel within the tip housing.

[0077] 2. An intraoral scanning system according to item 1, wherein the first heating conduction path is extended on a first side and a second side of the scanning window, wherein the first side is opposite to the second side.

[0078] 3. An intraoral scanning system according to item 1, comprising a second heating conduction path, and wherein the first interface unit is connected to the second heating conduction path, and wherein the first hearing conduction path and the second heating conduction path extend on a first side and a second side of the scanning window, respectively.

[0079] 4. An intraoral scanning system according to item 2 or 3, wherein the first heating conduction path includes a first group of multiple bends arranged on the first side and a second group of multiple bends arranged on the second side of the scanning window.

[0080] 5. An intraoral scanning system according to item 4, wherein the first group and the second group of multiple bends include symmetrical bends.

[0081] 6. An intraoral scanning system according to any of items 4 and 5, wherein the first group and the group of multiple bends include between 10 and 25 bends.

[0082] 7. An intraoral scanning system according to any of the previous items, wherein a first end of the secondary conduction path is connected to the first interface unit and a second end of the secondary conduction path is connected to the infrared light source.

[0083] 8. An intraoral scanning system according to any of the previous items, wherein the secondary conduction path includes a tap part which extends across an inside of the tip housing, and the infrared light source is connected to the tap part. 9. An intraoral scanning system according to item 8, wherein the secondary conduction path includes a main part which extends along a longitudinal axis of the tip housing, and the tap part extends towards an upper surface of the tip housing away from the longitudinal axis, wherein the tap part is connected to the infrared light source at the upper surface of the tip housing.

[0084] 10. An intraoral scanning system according to any of the previous items, wherein the tip housing includes a bottom surface that is opposite to the upper surface, and the scanning window is arranged in the bottom surface.

[0085] 11. An intraoral scanning system according to item 10, wherein the secondary conduction path extends in vicinity to the bottom surface of the tip housing.

[0086] 12. An intraoral scanning system according to any of the previous items, wherein the infrared light source is arranged on an upper surface of the tip housing outside a field-of- view of the scanning window.

[0087] 13. An intraoral scanning system according to any of the previous items, wherein an illumination field of infrared light source fully overlaps a field-of-view of an image sensor unit of the intraoral scanning system.

[0088] 14. An intraoral scanning system according to any of the previous items, wherein the infrared light source is titled such that a direction of an illumination field of the infrared light source is angled towards a surface of the scanning window.

[0089] 15. An intraoral scanning system according to any of items, wherein an airgap is arranged between the first heating conduction path and the secondary conduction path, and wherein the first heating conduction path and the secondary conduction path are combined to a second interface unit. 16. An intraoral scanning system according to item 15, wherein the second interface unit includes a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of within the tip housing and in vicinity to the scanning window.

[0090] 17. An intraoral scanning system according to any of items 8 and 9, wherein the tap part extends away from the second interface unit.

[0091] 18. An intraoral scanning system according to any of the previous items, comprising a printed circuit board unit that includes a first main board, a first arm board and a second arm board, and the first arm board and the second arm board are connected to the first main board, wherein the first arm board and the second arm board are extending away from the first main board with an airgap between the first arm board and the second arm board, and wherein the first heating conduction path is arranged on the first arm board and the secondary conduction path is arranged on the second arm board, and the first interface unit is arranged on the first main board.

[0092] 19. An intraoral scanning system according to any of items 1 to 17, comprising a printed circuit board unit that includes a first main board and a first arm board, and the first arm board is connected to the first main board, wherein the first arm board is extending away from the first main board, and wherein the first heating conduction path and the secondary conduction path are arranged on the first arm board, and the first interface unit is arranged on the first main board.

[0093] 20. An intraoral scanning system according to item 18 or 19, wherein the printed circuit board unit includes a second main board that is connected to the first main board via the first arm board and / or the second arm board, and wherein the first heating conduction path and the secondary conduction part extends away from the first and / or the second arm board and on to the second main board.

[0094] 21. An intraoral scanning system according to item 17, wherein the second main board includes the second interface unit. 22. An intraoral scanning system according to any of the items 19 to 21, wherein the printed circuit board unit includes a third arm board that is connected to the second main board or the second arm board and extends across an inside of the tip, and wherein the third arm board includes an extension of the secondary conduction part, and the infrared light source is arranged on the third arm board.

[0095] 23. An intraoral scanning system according to item 22, wherein the third arm board extends towards an upper surface of the tip housing, wherein the infrared light source is arranged at the upper surface of the tip housing.

[0096] 25. An intraoral scanning system according to any of items 22 and 23, wherein a first end of the third arm board arranged closer to an upper surface than a bottom surface of the tip housing is tilted such that a direction of an illumination field of the infrared light source is angled towards a surface of the scanning window.

[0097] 25. An intraoral scanning system according to any of items 18 to 24, wherein the second main board includes two heating arms that extend to opposite sides of the scanning window, and wherein each of the two heating arms includes multiple bends of the first heating conduction path.

[0098] 26. An intraoral scanning system according to any of items 18 to 24, wherein the two hearing arms includes a first heating arm and a second heating arm, and the first heating arm includes multiple bends of the first heating conduction path, and the second heating arm includes multiple bends of the second heating conduction path.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An intraoral scanning system comprising a tip housing configured to be inserted at least partially into an oral cavity of a patient, and wherein the tip housing includes;• a scanning window,• an infrared light source configured to emit infrared light towards the oral cavity via the scanning window,• a first interface unit configured to receive electrical power from a power source of the intraoral scanning system, and the first interface unit is configured to be connected to: o a first heating conduction path, and wherein the first interface unit is configured to control a level of electrical heat power in the first heating conduction path, and wherein the first heating conduction path is configured to transfer a generated heat to the scanning window based on the electrical heat power, o a secondary conduction path, and wherein the first interface unit is configured to supply power to the infrared light source via the secondary conduction path, wherein the first heating conduction path and the secondary conduction path are at least partially in parallel within the tip housing.

2. An intraoral scanning system according to claim 1, wherein the first heating conduction path is extended on a first side and a second side of the scanning window, wherein the first side is opposite to the second side.

3. An intraoral scanning system according to claim 1, comprising a second heating conduction path, and wherein the first interface unit is connected to the second heating conduction path, and wherein the first hearing conduction path and the second heating conduction path extend on a first side and a second side of the scanning window, respectively.

4. An intraoral scanning system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the first heating conduction path includes a first group of multiple bends arranged on the first side and a second group of multiple bends arranged on the second side of the scanning window.

5. An intraoral scanning system according to claim 4, wherein the first group and the second group of multiple bends include symmetrical bends.

6. An intraoral scanning system according to any of claims 4 and 5, wherein the first group and the group of multiple bends include between 10 and 25 bends.

7. An intraoral scanning system according to any of the previous claims, wherein a first end of the secondary conduction path is connected to the first interface unit and a second end of the secondary conduction path is connected to the infrared light source.

8. An intraoral scanning system according to any of the previous claims, wherein the secondary conduction path includes a tap part which extends across an inside of the tip housing, and the infrared light source is connected to the tap part.

9. An intraoral scanning system according to claim 8, wherein the secondary conduction path includes a main part which extends along a longitudinal axis of the tip housing, and the tap part extends towards an upper surface of the tip housing away from the longitudinal axis, wherein the tap part is connected to the infrared light source at the upper surface of the tip housing.

10. An intraoral scanning system according to any of the previous claims, wherein the tip housing includes a bottom surface that is opposite to the upper surface, and the scanning window is arranged in the bottom surface.

11. An intraoral scanning system according to claim 10, wherein the secondary conduction path extends in vicinity to the bottom surface of the tip housing.

12. An intraoral scanning system according to any of the previous claims, wherein the infrared light source is arranged on an upper surface of the tip housing outside a field-of- view of the scanning window.

13. An intraoral scanning system according to any of the previous claims, wherein an illumination field of infrared light source fully overlaps a field-of-view of an image sensor unit of the intraoral scanning system.

14. An intraoral scanning system according to any of the previous claims, wherein the infrared light source is titled such that a direction of an illumination field of the infrared light source is angled towards a surface of the scanning window.

15. An intraoral scanning system according to any of claims, wherein an airgap is arranged between the first heating conduction path and the secondary conduction path, and wherein the first heating conduction path and the secondary conduction path are combined to a second interface unit.

16. An intraoral scanning system according to claim 15, wherein the second interface unit includes a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of within the tip housing and in vicinity to the scanning window.

17. An intraoral scanning system according to any of claims 8 and 9, wherein the tap part extends away from the second interface unit.

18. An intraoral scanning system according to any of the previous claims, comprising a printed circuit board unit that includes a first main board, a first arm board and a second arm board, and the first arm board and the second arm board are connected to the first main board, wherein the first arm board and the second arm board are extending away from the first main board with an airgap between the first arm board and the second arm board, and wherein the first heating conduction path is arranged on the first arm board and the secondary conduction path is arranged on the second arm board, and the first interface unit is arranged on the first main board.

19. An intraoral scanning system according to any of claims 1 to 17, comprising a printed circuit board unit that includes a first main board and a first arm board, and the first arm board is connected to the first main board, wherein the first arm board is extending away from the first main board, and wherein the first heating conduction path and the secondary conduction path are arranged on the first arm board, and the first interface unit is arranged on the first main board.

20. An intraoral scanning system according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the printed circuit board unit includes a second main board that is connected to the first main board via the first arm board and / or the second arm board, and wherein the first heating conduction path and the secondary conduction part extends away from the first and / or the second arm board and on to the second main board.

21. An intraoral scanning system according to claim 17, wherein the second main board includes the second interface unit.

22. An intraoral scanning system according to any of the claims 19 to 21, wherein the printed circuit board unit includes a third arm board that is connected to the second main board or the second arm board and extends across an inside of the tip, and wherein the third arm board includes an extension of the secondary conduction part, and the infrared light source is arranged on the third arm board.

23. An intraoral scanning system according to claim 22, wherein the third arm board extends towards an upper surface of the tip housing, wherein the infrared light source is arranged at the upper surface of the tip housing.

24. An intraoral scanning system according to any of claims 22 and 23, wherein a first end of the third arm board arranged closer to an upper surface than a bottom surface of the tip housing is tilted such that a direction of an illumination field of the infrared light source is angled towards a surface of the scanning window.

25. An intraoral scanning system according to any of claims 18 to 24, wherein the second main board includes two heating arms that extend to opposite sides of the scanning window, and wherein each of the two heating arms includes multiple bends of the first heating conduction path.

26. An intraoral scanning system according to any of claims 18 to 24, wherein the two hearing arms includes a first heating arm and a second heating arm, and the first heating arm includes multiple bends of the first heating conduction path, and the second heating arm includes multiple bends of the second heating conduction path.

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