Intraoral Scan Zoom Control for Missing 3D Dental Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Intraoral scanners often fail to capture all regions of a patient's teeth during scanning, resulting in incomplete digital 3D models with missing scan data, making it difficult for users to identify and rectify these areas visually.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that dynamically adjusts the zoom level of the digital 3D model based on the motion of the intraoral scanner, using criteria such as volume, speed, and position changes to highlight regions with missing information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the digital 3D model is displayed at a high zoom level to show missing scan data areas, then the visibility of missing information is improved, but the overall scanning efficiency deteriorates due to increased time spent navigating and zooming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of missing scan dataVSAvoidscanning efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the zoom level of the digital 3D model based on the real-time position and motion state of the intraoral scanner. When the scanner slows down or pauses (indicating the user wants to examine a specific area), the system automatically zooms in to highlight missing scan data areas. When the scanner moves quickly, the system maintains a broader view. This dynamic adaptation eliminates manual zooming operations while maintaining scanning efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the motion state of the intraoral scanner (speed, position changes) and uses this feedback to automatically adjust the display zoom level. This closed-loop feedback mechanism allows the system to anticipate user intentions and proactively adjust the view to highlight missing data areas without requiring explicit user commands, thereby maintaining scanning flow and efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If the system automatically zooms in on areas with missing scan data, then the ease of identifying missing information is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional motion detection and automated control mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveidentification of missing scan dataVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-adjustment by automatically detecting its own operational state (scanner motion, position) and autonomously making display adjustments without requiring complex user interfaces or manual intervention. The intraoral scanner's built-in motion sensors and the processing unit work together to automatically identify when the user is examining a specific area and adjust the zoom level accordingly, simplifying the user experience while managing complexity through integrated sensor-processing-display coordination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If the intraoral scanner moves quickly to maintain scanning speed, then the productivity is improved, but the ability to detect and capture detailed information deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescanning speedVSAvoiddetailed information capture
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary analysis of the scanned data to identify areas with missing information before the user needs to examine them. By continuously monitoring the completeness of the digital 3D model during scanning, the system can prepare and highlight missing data areas in advance, allowing users to quickly locate and address gaps without slowing down the overall scanning process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4693185A1Method and system for providing dynamic zoom assistance during scanning of a dental object
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 3SHAPE AS
  • EP4693185A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4693185A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4693185A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A computer-implemented method for providing dynamic zoom assistance during scanning process of a dental object (108) is disclosed. The method comprises obtaining light information reflected from the dental object (108) inside an oral cavity by scanning the dental object (108) with an intraoral scanner (101). The method further comprises generating a digital 3D model (103) of the dental object (108) based on the obtained light information, displaying, on a graphical user interface (102), the digital 3D model (103) in a first zoom state. Further, the method comprises detecting that, as a result of motion of the intraoral scanner (101), the generating of the digital 3D model (103) satisfies a criterion, and transitioning from the first zoom state of the digital 3D model (103) to a second zoom state of the digital 3D model (103) based on the detecting step.