AR Dental Overlay Matching Scan Flags to Video for Planning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current dental procedure planning is challenging due to difficulties in visualizing post-procedure patient outcomes and risks of damaging vital structures during surgeries like dental implantation, as dentists struggle to accurately locate nerves and sinus cavities using CBCT scan data without effective visualization tools.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing augmented or virtual reality, combining scanning data with real-time video input to create an overlay that aids in planning dental procedures, includes a digital representation of the patient's face with scan flags, an AR/VR display, and a processor to match these flags with video input features, providing a dental-procedure-planning overlay component for safer and more efficient planning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If CBCT scan data is used to identify vital structures, then measurement precision is improved, but difficulty of detecting and measuring increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveidentification accuracy of vital structuresVSAvoiddifficulty in locating nerves and sinus cavities
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an augmented reality overlay as an intermediary between the CBCT scan data and the dentist's view. The overlay includes visual indicators such as colored zones (e.g., red zones indicating high-risk areas near nerves or sinus cavities) that mediate the detection process, making vital structures immediately visible without requiring the dentist to interpret raw scan data

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a visual copy of the CBCT scan data in the form of an augmented reality overlay that is superimposed on the dentist's field of view. This copy includes simplified representations of vital structures and risk zones, allowing the dentist to see both the real surgical site and the digital representation simultaneously, thereby reducing detection difficulty while maintaining measurement precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Ease of manufacture

If stock dental components are used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but adaptability worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of using standard componentsVSAvoidsuitability for individual patient anatomy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables dynamic customization of dental components by allowing the dentist to modify the overlay representation in real-time. The system supports adjusting component parameters such as size, shape, and position directly in the augmented reality view, transforming static stock components into customized solutions that adapt to individual patient anatomy while maintaining the ease of using standardized base components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by allowing specific modifications to individual components or regions while maintaining standard components elsewhere. The overlay enables the dentist to customize only the necessary portions of the dental restoration to fit the patient's specific anatomical features, while other areas can use standard off-the-shelf components, thus balancing adaptability with ease of manufacture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If detailed scan data is analyzed, then manufacturing precision is improved, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprecision of dental procedure planningVSAvoidtime for dental procedure planning
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-processing the CBCT scan data to generate the augmented reality overlay before the surgical procedure begins. Vital structures, risk zones, and component placements are pre-identified and visualized in the overlay, allowing the dentist to review and plan the procedure in advance without time pressure during the actual surgery

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent maintains continuity of useful action by keeping the augmented reality overlay active throughout the entire surgical procedure. The overlay provides continuous visual guidance from pre-planning through execution, eliminating the need to repeatedly switch between scan data and the surgical site, thereby maintaining manufacturing precision while reducing overall planning and procedure time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentEP4492394A1A system and method for planning a dental procedure using augmented or virtual reality
Publication Date: 2025.01.15 NULTY ADAM BRIAN
  • EP4492394A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4492394A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4492394A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system (10) is provided for planning a dental procedure using augmented or virtual reality which comprises a scanning means (12) for creating a digital representation of a head or face of a patient, with at least one scan flag associated therewith, a video capture device (16) for receiving a video input (24) of a dental surgical site in real time, an augmented reality or virtual reality display device (18), and a processor (20) associated with the augmented reality or virtual reality display device (18). The processor (20) is configured to determine an augmented reality or virtual reality overlay based on the digital representation, and display the augmented reality or virtual reality overlay on the augmented reality or virtual reality display device (18) in real-time by matching the at least one scan flag to a corresponding feature of the video input (24), wherein the augmented reality or virtual reality overlay comprises a dental-procedure-planning overlay component (32a, 32b, 32c, 32d) indicative of a dental procedure to be performed.