3D Dental Arch Decoupling for Overlap-Free Scan Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 3D dental scans face challenges with overlapping dental arches due to interdigitating surfaces, leading to obscured critical details and increased radiation exposure from additional scans to resolve overlap.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for digitally decoupling dental arches in volumetric scan data by masking or separating the upper and lower arches, allowing relative movement and dynamic adjustment of bite positions, reducing the need for additional X-ray scans and radiation exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If separate scanning operations are conducted for upper and lower arches, then overlapping between arches is eliminated, but patient radiation exposure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the single volumetric scan data into separate upper and lower dental arch models through digital processing. This segmentation allows the arches to be independently manipulated and visualized without requiring separate physical scans, thereby eliminating overlap issues while avoiding additional radiation exposure to the patient.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital copy or representation of the dental arches from the original scan data. By working with these digital replicas in software, the system can separate and analyze upper and lower arches independently without needing to perform additional physical scanning operations on the patient.
2Measurement precision
If additional scans are performed to resolve overlap, then diagnostic accuracy improves, but treatment cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary digital processing and separation of the arches from the initial single scan. By preparing the data in advance through automated segmentation and decoupling algorithms, the system eliminates the need for additional corrective scans, thereby maintaining diagnostic accuracy while avoiding the costs associated with multiple scanning sessions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical approach of performing multiple physical scans with a digital information processing approach. Using software-based segmentation and decoupling techniques, the system achieves the same diagnostic goals without the need for additional hardware scanning operations, thereby reducing treatment costs.
3Measurement precision
If cropping is used to separate overlapping arches, then visibility improves, but data accuracy is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses sophisticated segmentation algorithms to automatically distinguish and separate the upper and lower dental arches based on their anatomical features and spatial relationships in the volumetric data. This intelligent segmentation maintains the完整性 of each arch's data while eliminating overlap, avoiding the information loss that would result from simple cropping.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of arch separation from physical cropping (which loses data) to digital parameter manipulation. By adjusting spatial parameters, transparency levels, and viewing angles in the digital model, the system achieves clear visibility of individual arches while preserving all original scan data for accurate analysis.
Data Source
AI summary
A method comprises acquiring a first volumetric image data set representing dentition of a patient, the first volumetric image data set including a modeled upper arch and a modeled lower arch, segmenting the modeled upper arch and the modeled lower arch in the first volumetric image data set, for each of the modeled upper arch and the modeled lower arch, masking a one of the modeled upper arch and the modeled lower arch to obtain decoupled volumetric image data including an other one of the modeled upper arch and the modeled lower arch and, combining the decoupled volumetric image data including the modeled upper arch and the decoupled volumetric image data including the modeled lower arch into a second volumetric image data set representing dentition of the patient and having the modeled upper arch and the modeled lower arch decoupled from one another.