Dental Arch Scanning With Real-Time Guidance for Complete 3D Models
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional dental arch scanning methods require users to visit a dental care professional, incurring costs and stress, and may result in incomplete or low-quality image acquisition.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a user-operated image acquisition apparatus with real-time guidance for acquiring two-dimensional images, which are analyzed and labeled to generate a three-dimensional model, allowing users to perform scans independently and ensuring complete image coverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a user visits a dental care professional to perform a dental arch scan, then the image quality and completeness are improved, but the cost and user stress increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables users to perform dental arch scanning independently using their own mobile devices without requiring visits to dental professionals. The automated guidance system and real-time feedback mechanisms allow users to self-administer the scanning process while maintaining high image quality through computer vision algorithms that guide positioning and capture.
Solution Approach 2:
A computer vision-based guidance system acts as an intermediary between the user and the dental professional. This virtual assistant provides real-time feedback through visual overlays and audio instructions, guiding users to capture high-quality images without requiring direct professional supervision, thereby reducing cost and stress while maintaining measurement precision.
2Ease of operation
If a user independently acquires dental images without professional supervision, then the cost and stress are reduced, but the image quality and completeness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements real-time feedback mechanisms where computer vision algorithms analyze captured images and provide immediate guidance to users. Visual overlays show users whether their device is properly positioned, and audio instructions guide them to adjust their capture angle and distance. This closed-loop feedback ensures that independently captured images meet quality standards without professional supervision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary analysis of the captured image to determine if it meets quality criteria before proceeding. The computer vision system pre-evaluates image characteristics such as lighting, angle, and completeness, and only accepts images that meet predefined thresholds, ensuring quality control is built into the user-friendly independent scanning process.
3Device complexity
If traditional dental scanning methods are used without automated guidance, then the device complexity is reduced, but the acquisition time and completeness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a universal mobile device camera that users already possess, eliminating the need for specialized expensive scanning equipment. The same device serves multiple functions: capturing images, providing visual feedback through the screen display, and communicating audio guidance. This multi-functionality maintains device simplicity while dramatically improving scanning efficiency through automated computer vision processing.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for scanning a dental arch of a user, the method comprising:a prior step of generating a reference representation, then-a plurality of cycles of the following steps a) to d): a) acquisition of an updated image by the user by means of an image acquisition apparatus; b) analysis of the updated image in order to identify the surface of the updated image that represents the dental arch of the user, referred to as “acquired 2D surface”, then outlining and labeling a surface of the reference representation that corresponds to the acquired 2D surface, or “elementary labeled region”, and adding the elementary labeled region to a “labeled region of the reference representation” that brings together all the elementary labeled regions; c) determining and presenting guide information for guiding towards new acquisition conditions; d) preferably moving the acquisition apparatus towards said new acquisition conditions.