Intra-Oral OCT Motion Stabilization for Accurate 3D Stitching
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems in dentistry face challenges with long frame imaging times, limited field of view, and shallow penetration depth, leading to motion artifacts and reduced positional accuracy in capturing dental anatomy.
Innovation Solution
A stabilization and motion control system using mechanical stabilization, electromechanical actuators, and feedback/feedforward control to track and align image sensors, enabling fast and accurate stitching of multiple volumetric images, and imaging below the maximum penetration depth by capturing images during surgical tooth removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the sweep rate of the light source is increased to improve image acquisition speed, then productivity is improved, but the signal to noise ratio deteriorates due to reduced reflected light collection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic sweep rate adjustment mechanism where the light source sweep rate is varied based on the imaging stage. During initial scanning, a higher sweep rate is used for rapid coverage, while during refinement and detailed imaging, the sweep rate is reduced to maximize signal collection. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by allowing high productivity when needed and high measurement precision when needed, rather than being constrained to a fixed sweep rate.
2Power
If the instantaneous line width of the light source is increased to provide more optical power, then power is improved, but the useful imaging range deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the instantaneous line width of the light source based on the imaging requirements. When imaging deeper tissue structures or when signal strength is insufficient, the line width is increased to provide more optical power. When high resolution and large imaging range are required, the line width is reduced to maintain spectral resolution. This dynamic control allows the system to optimize between power and imaging range according to real-time needs.
3Measurement precision
If mechanical stabilization is implemented to improve positional accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a feedback-based stabilization system where the position of the imaging probe is continuously monitored using tracking markers or fiducial points visible in the OCT images. The measured positional deviations are fed back to a control system that adjusts the probe position in real-time to compensate for movements. This feedback mechanism achieves high positional accuracy without requiring complex mechanical stabilization hardware, as the correction is performed through software-controlled adjustments based on visual feedback from the imaging system itself.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient capture of multiplicity of volumetric images with good positional accuracy and efficient stitching, overcoming limitations of frame imaging times and penetration depth, allowing for detailed dental anatomy mapping.
Implementation Method 1
The light from the two arms is recombined at the coupler, which generates optical interference in the combined light.
Implementation Method 2
A standard swept source OCT system is illustrated in FIG. 1. The source 100 emits light within the visible and/or infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. At any instant of time, a laser with a narrow band of wavelengths is emitted from the light source.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are systems and methods for generating a three-dimensional model from an intra-oral optical coherence tomography scan.