Decoupled Software for Intraoral X-Ray Sensor Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dental imaging technologies face limitations in interoperability, as existing systems often require separate software and infrastructure for each device, restricting flexibility and compatibility, especially when trying to integrate non-supported dental imaging devices into closed architecture software.
Innovation Solution
A decoupled software application that detects and communicates with specific brands of dental intraoral x-ray sensors, allowing image acquisition and metadata management, even for devices not supported by the primary dental imaging software, using proprietary SDKs and algorithms to overlay user interfaces and transfer images without relying on public APIs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If closed architecture dental imaging software is used to maintain system stability and reliability, then software reliability is improved, but device compatibility and flexibility are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a decoupled software application as an intermediary layer between the closed architecture dental imaging software and non-supported x-ray sensors. This mediator translates and communicates with proprietary sensor interfaces without requiring modifications to the legacy imaging software, thereby maintaining system reliability while enabling compatibility with diverse devices.
2Reliability
If separate software is used for each x-ray sensor brand to ensure proper functionality, then device-specific functionality is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the device-specific communication functionality into a separate decoupled software application. This extraction allows the core dental imaging software to remain simple and stable while the extracted component handles proprietary sensor protocols, reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The decoupled software application is designed to work with multiple brands of x-ray sensors through a universal interface approach, eliminating the need for separate software installations for each device brand while maintaining proper functionality for each sensor type.
3Reliability
If proprietary SDKs are used to communicate with specific sensor brands, then communication reliability is improved, but software interoperability is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The decoupled software application serves as an intermediary that communicates with proprietary sensor SDKs on one side and the general dental imaging software on the other. This mediator approach maintains reliable communication with specific sensor brands while preserving interoperability with the host software system.
4Productivity
If automated image acquisition is implemented to reduce manual intervention, then productivity is improved, but software complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The decoupled software application implements automated detection of x-ray sensor presence and automatic initiation of image acquisition protocols. The system self-configures communication parameters and automatically manages the imaging workflow, reducing manual intervention while keeping automation logic isolated in a separate module.
Data Source
AI summary
A computing device implemented method includes the step of using a third-party disparate dental imaging system with capabilities to directly control a dental intraoral x-ray sensor imaging device via enacting communication with that specific brand of dental intraoral x-ray sensor imaging device for the purpose of acquiring new dental intraoral x-ray images of a patient's dental anatomy. The computing device implemented method also includes the step of using a decoupled software application that is not part of the third-party dental imaging software and which decoupled software contains an algorithm that detects when a specific brand or version of third-party dental imaging software is enacted upon the same computing device as the decoupled software application is executing. The computing device implemented method automates acquisition of images from non-supported dental imaging devices into closed architecture dental imaging software.