Curved Surface Linearization for Dental Image Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional computer-aided dentofacial surgical planning tools face challenges with noise artifacts in digital images and limited ability to simulate three-dimensional soft-tissue responses to bony tissue movements, particularly due to the complex, non-linear shapes of human facial tissues.
Innovation Solution
The method involves displaying interactive two-dimensional images of bony tissue features, allowing users to simulate movements, and transforming three-dimensional images of soft-tissue features to respond to these movements, while also converting curved profiles to linear profiles for easier manipulation and artifact removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional cleaning methods are used to remove noise from digital images, then noise removal is attempted, but the process becomes complicated due to the non-linear and three-dimensional shapes of facial tissues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary transformation process that converts the complex non-linear 3D facial tissue geometry into a simplified linear 2D representation. This intermediary step (the transformation to linear profile) acts as a mediator that enables straightforward noise cleaning operations while preserving the essential anatomical information, thereby resolving the contradiction between effective noise removal and operational complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dimensionality change by transforming the three-dimensional facial tissue shapes into two-dimensional linear profiles. This dimensional reduction simplifies the cleaning process significantly, as 2D operations are much simpler than 3D operations. The transformation maintains the relative geometric relationships while eliminating the complexity of non-linear 3D shapes, enabling effective noise removal without excessive complexity
2Ease of operation
If two-dimensional surgical adjustments are made to bone, then surgical planning is simplified, but the ability to view three-dimensional soft-tissue response is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by implementing a transformation system that converts 2D surgical adjustments into predicted 3D soft-tissue responses. The system maintains 2D ease of operation for bone adjustments while using transformation algorithms to generate and display 3D soft-tissue response models, thereby preserving the essential 3D information that would otherwise be lost
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual copy or simulation model of the patient's facial tissues that responds to surgical adjustments. This virtual 3D model serves as a copy that preserves the complex soft-tissue response information while allowing the practitioner to work with simplified 2D bone adjustment inputs. The simulation model is updated dynamically based on the surgical plan, providing accurate 3D predictions without complicating the operational process
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a method may include mapping an ellipse with its center at the origin of an xy-coordinate plane to a circle with its center at the origin of the xy-coordinate plane. The method may also include transforming a three-dimensional subject image including a curved profile in the xy-coordinate plane to an intermediate image based at least on the mapping of the ellipse to a base circle. The method may further include transforming the intermediate image to a transformed image having a linear profile by distorting each of one or more points of interest of the intermediate image based at least on a dimension of the circle and a coordinate of such point.