Digital Dental Impression Stroke Completion Trigger Logic

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Solution Overview

Problem

Dental procedure planning systems face challenges in efficiently processing and adjusting digital dental impressions, particularly with touch-based interfaces, where real-time computation of 3D shapes is resource-intensive and less precise compared to traditional input devices, leading to delays and reduced user interaction.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method using trigger logic to detect stroke completion in digital dental impression systems, allowing for faster processing by executing algorithms only when necessary, enabling faster frame rates and reducing processing requirements by automatically altering shaded and unshaded regions upon stroke completion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If real-time computation of 3D shapes is performed continuously, then the system provides responsive user interaction, but the processing requirements become excessively resource-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing speedVSAvoidcomputational resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs computation only at specific trigger events (stroke completion) rather than continuously. The trigger logic detects when a user has finished drawing a stroke and initiates processing at that discrete moment, creating a periodic rather than continuous computation pattern that reduces overall resource consumption while maintaining perceived responsiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the user's own input actions as triggers for processing. When the user completes a stroke, this action automatically triggers the computation without requiring additional system resources for continuous monitoring. The user's interaction itself serves as the trigger mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If touch-based interfaces are used for adjusting digital dental impressions, then portability and convenience are improved, but precision and control are reduced compared to traditional input devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidadjustment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system allows users to perform preliminary actions (drawing strokes) without immediate processing. Users can sketch out their intended adjustments freely, and the system processes these actions only when the user indicates completion. This preliminary phase allows for easy, portable interaction while the subsequent processing ensures precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The trigger logic acts as an intermediary between the user's touch input and the processing system. It captures the user's intent to complete an action and translates it into a precise processing trigger, bridging the gap between the imprecise nature of touch input and the precision required for dental adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of time

If algorithms are executed continuously to maintain real-time visualization, then user interaction responsiveness is improved, but processing time is wasted on unnecessary computations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing time efficiencyVSAvoiduser interaction responsiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system executes algorithms periodically at trigger events rather than continuously. The trigger logic identifies specific moments (stroke completion) when processing is actually needed, eliminating wasted computation time while maintaining responsiveness at critical interaction points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system extracts and isolates the essential trigger condition (stroke completion) from the continuous stream of user input. By separating the trigger detection from continuous processing, the system eliminates unnecessary computations while preserving the essential responsiveness needed for user interaction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4130962A1Dental procedures
Publication Date: 2023.02.08 DENTSPLY SIRONA INC
  • EP4130962A1 patent drawingFigure 1~1(B)
  • EP4130962A1 patent drawingFigure 2~2(C)
  • EP4130962A1 patent drawingFigure 3~3(B)

AI summary

The present teachings relate to a method for processing a digital dental impression comprising: displaying an image of the digital dental impression; wherein the image comprises: a shaded region representative of a part of the oral anatomy which is relevant for a dental procedure, and the shaded region being enclosed within a boundary; and an unshaded region representative of a part of the oral anatomy which is not relevant for a dental procedure, wherein the unshaded region and the shaded region are separated from each another by the boundary, receiving user input for altering the shaded region and/or unshaded region; detecting completion of a stroke generated by the user input; altering, the shaded region and/or the unshaded region, in response to the stroke completion. The present teachings also relate to a method for processing digital three-dimensional shapes, a dental procedure assisting system, uses and computer software products.