3D Body Geometry Archiving via PCA Vectorization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for storing and retrieving 3D geometry data of the human body require large datasets, leading to high storage demands and inefficiencies due to noise, artifacts, and varying levels of detail needed for different applications.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that reduce data storage by organizing and analyzing 3D geometry information using vectorization and covariance analysis to identify scalable characteristic components and scale factors, allowing for approximation of body geometry with reduced data, tailored to specific applications and purposes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If large datasets are used to store 3D geometry information, then measurement precision is improved, but storage requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of 3D geometry informationVSAvoidamount of data to be stored
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes noise and artifacts from the original 3D scan data, keeping only the meaningful geometric information. This extraction process eliminates irrelevant data that contributes to storage requirements without providing useful measurement information, thereby reducing the quantity of data to be stored while preserving measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the 3D geometry data from a complete detailed model into a set of statistical parameters including mean shape, principal component analysis (PCA) coefficients, and covariance matrices. This parameter transformation dramatically reduces the data dimensionality while retaining the essential geometric characteristics needed for accurate representation and measurement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of information

If complete 3D geometry data is stored, then information completeness is improved, but storage requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompleteness of geometry informationVSAvoidamount of data to be stored
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary processing of the 3D scan data by computing statistical parameters (mean shape, PCA modes, covariance) in advance. This preliminary action creates a compressed statistical representation that captures the essential variability of the geometry, allowing complete information to be represented in a much smaller data structure than the original detailed mesh or point cloud.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If detailed 3D geometry information is stored, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of geometry measurementVSAvoidcomplexity of data processing system
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex geometric processing operations with statistical computations. Instead of manipulating detailed geometric models directly, the system uses statistical parameters and linear algebra operations (PCA, covariance analysis) to achieve the same measurement objectives with simpler, more efficient computational methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP2537111B1Method and system for archiving subject-specific, three-dimensional information about the geometry of part of the body
Publication Date: 2021.03.31 DENTSPLY IMPLANTS NV
  • EP2537111B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2537111B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2537111B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method and system for archiving 3D geometry information for a plurality of subjects, and on a particular part of the body (which may also be the whole body) is described. The method and system allow an organizing and an analyzing step, resulting in scalable characteristic components for the particular part of the body, and an approximation of the geometry of that particular part of the body for a specific subject by a combination of a subset of those characteristic components with corresponding scale factors, which are then stored. The method comprises the steps of : ° organizing for each of said plurality of subjects the 3D geometry information according to a predetermined standard, thus obtaining organized 3D geometry information; ° analyzing the organized 3D geometry information of said plurality of subjects, resulting in averaged 3D geometry information of said particular part of the body; and - scalable characteristic components of said particular part of the body; such that for each of said plurality of subjects said organized 3D geometry information can be approximated by a combination of said scalable characteristic components relative to said averaged 3D geometry information; ° comparing, for at least one out of said plurality of subjects, said organized 3D geometry information with said averaged 3D geometry information and determining a subset of said scalable characteristic components and corresponding scale factors, for approximating to a given accuracy said organized 3D geometry information relative to said averaged 3D geometry information by a combination of said scalable characteristic components out of said subset, each characteristic component scaled with its corresponding scale factor; ° storing, for at least one specific subject out of said plurality of subjects, said approximated organized 3D geometry information by storing - said averaged 3D geometry information; - said subset of said scalable characteristic components and said corresponding scale factors for said specific subject.