Dental 3D Model Comparison With Split-View Lesion Annotations
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for presenting and interacting with digital 3D models of dental conditions lack flexibility and often obscure annotations, making it difficult to track changes in dental conditions over time without relying heavily on user skill, and existing annotations are limited in the digital 3D space.
Innovation Solution
A method for superimposing and aligning digital 3D models to display lesions with interactive windows, using a user-adjustable controller to divide the model into regions for clear comparison and annotation placement, ensuring annotations do not obstruct the view and allowing for user interaction to modify severity values and re-train neural networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If digital 3D models are rotated or interacted with to inspect different angles, then the user can examine the dental condition from multiple perspectives, but the annotations describing the lesions may be hidden or misplaced during interaction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds interactive windows containing lesion annotations directly onto the surface of the digital 3D model. These windows are nested within the 3D space and maintain their position relative to the model during rotation and interaction, ensuring annotations remain visible and accessible while the user examines different angles of the dental condition.
2Measurement precision
If side-by-side view or sequential view of digital 3D models is used to compare lesions, then the user can see multiple models, but insufficient flexibility is provided for inspecting changes without relying heavily on user skill
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the display into multiple interactive windows, each containing annotations from different time points (e.g., first and second digital 3D models). These segmented windows are superimposed on the 3D model at different locations, allowing users to easily compare lesion changes over time by viewing multiple time-point annotations simultaneously without requiring complex manipulation skills.
3Loss of information
If annotations are placed on digital 3D models to describe lesions, then clinically relevant information is conveyed, but the annotations may obstruct the view of the lesion or be difficult to interact with in 3D space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional 2D annotations to interactive windows that are integrated into the 3D space of the digital model. These windows are positioned on the surface of the 3D model and can be rotated, zoomed, and interacted with using standard 3D navigation controls, making them accessible and non-obstructive while maintaining full clinical information content.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A computer-implemented method for evaluating digital 3D models of teeth is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a first digital 3D model (100) representative of the dental situation at a first time and receiving a second digital 3D model (101) representative of the dental situation at a second time. Further, the method comprises generating a superimposed digital 3D model by mutually aligning the first digital 3D model (100) and the second digital 3D model (101) and displaying a part of the superimposed digital 3D model comprising a lesion (106) of a dental condition identified on the first digital 3D model (100) and on the second digital 3d model (101). The displaying comprises arranging a user-adjustable controller (200) to vertically divide the displayed part of the superimposed model into a first region (201) and a second region (202), wherein in the first region (201) only a part of the first digital 3D model (101) of the superimposed digital 3D model is rendered, and wherein in the second region (202) only a part of the second digital 3D model (101) of the superimposed digital 3D model is rendered. The displaying further comprises identifying a first end point (208) of the lesion (106) in the first region (201) and a second end point (209) of the lesion (106) in the second region (202), arranging a first interactive window (203) at any point of a display device with an x coordinate less than, or equal to the x coordinate of the first end point (208) of the lesion (106), the first interactive window (203) comprising a severity value of the lesion (106) identified on the first digital 3D model (100), and arranging a second interactive window (204) at any point of the display device with the x coordinate greater than, or equal to the x coordinate of the second end point (209) of the lesion (106), the second interactive window (204) comprising a severity value of the lesion (106) identified on the second digital 3D model (101).