Distributed Intraoral Scanning for Multi-Station Dental Scans
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Solution Overview
Problem
Intraoral scanning systems are expensive and space-consuming, limiting dental offices to a single scanning system and requiring movement or dedicated rooms, thus restricting the number of scans that can be performed.
Innovation Solution
A distributed intraoral scanning system comprising multiple intraoral scanners wirelessly connected to a computing device, allowing for separate processing and display of 3D dental arch surfaces across different devices, with optional remote processing and display capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple intraoral scanning systems are deployed, then the number of scans that can be performed increases, but the cost and space requirements increase proportionally
Solution Approach 1:
The computing device is designed to serve multiple intraoral scanners simultaneously, acting as a universal processing platform. The system allows one computing device to handle scan data from multiple scanners, enabling the same hardware to perform multiple scanning functions without requiring separate dedicated systems for each scanner.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple scanning functions into a single integrated system. By merging the processing capabilities of multiple independent scanning systems into one shared computing device, the system reduces overall cost and space requirements while maintaining the ability to perform multiple scans.
2Reliability
If a single room is dedicated for intraoral scanning, then scanning quality is maintained, but the flexibility to move the system between rooms is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the scanning function from the processing function. The intraoral scanner can be moved to different rooms to perform scans, while the computing device remains in a fixed location for processing. This segmentation allows the scanner to adapt to different locations while maintaining consistent processing quality through the centralized computing device.
Solution Approach 2:
The computing device acts as an intermediary between the mobile scanner and the display/output systems. This mediator enables the scanner to move freely between rooms while maintaining reliable data processing and quality control through the intermediate computing platform.
3Reliability
If a wired connection is used between the intraoral scanner and computing device, then power and data transfer are reliable, but the system becomes less flexible and more difficult to relocate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wired connection with a wireless communication system. This substitution eliminates the physical cable constraints while maintaining reliable data transfer through wireless protocols, allowing the scanner to move freely without being tethered to the computing device.
Data Source
AI summary
In embodiments set forth herein, an intraoral scanning system includes a first intraoral scanner, a second intraoral scanner, and a computing device wirelessly connected to both the first intraoral scanner and the second intraoral scanner. The computing device receives first intraoral scan data from the first intraoral scanner and generates a first three-dimensional (3D) surface of at least a portion of a first patient's dental arch based on the first intraoral scan data. The computing device further receives second intraoral scan data from the second intraoral scanner and generates a second 3D surface of at least a portion of a second patient's dental arch based on the second intraoral scan data.