Intraoral Scanner Illumination Sequencing for Contrast-Preserved Imaging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intraoral scanners face challenges in interoperability and interference issues when using multiple types of light sources for dental imaging, leading to degraded image quality and information content due to different interactions with the dental site.
Innovation Solution
An intraoral scanner with multiple light sources, including uniform, structured, and penetrative light sources, operates in an illumination sequence and employs controlled polarization to enhance image quality by alternating illumination and filtering specular reflections, allowing for the generation of high-quality, combined 3D models.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If multiple types of light sources are used simultaneously for dental imaging, then comprehensive image information can be captured, but interference issues occur leading to degraded image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic action by sequentially activating different light sources (patterned, un-patterned, and NIR) in alternating time intervals rather than simultaneously. The processing device controls each light source type to illuminate the dental site at different time periods, with cameras capturing images during each specific illumination phase. This temporal separation eliminates mutual interference between light sources while ensuring comprehensive information capture across all light types.
2Productivity
If multiple light sources illuminate the dental site simultaneously, then complete data can be acquired, but specular reflections and noise increase
Solution Approach 1:
Different light sources are activated in periodic sequences where patterned light sources emit during specific time intervals, un-patterned light sources during other intervals, and NIR light sources during additional intervals. This periodic activation prevents overlapping illumination that causes specular reflections and noise, while maintaining complete data acquisition through comprehensive temporal coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies local quality by using polarizing filters with specific polarization axes on cameras to selectively filter reflections from different light sources. Each camera is configured with polarization filtering tailored to its corresponding light source type, allowing selective transmission of desired light while blocking reflected and noisy components.
3Adaptability or versatility
If different light sources are used to capture various dental features, then comprehensive diagnostic information is obtained, but interoperability challenges arise
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple light source types (patterned, un-patterned, NIR) and multiple cameras with different polarization configurations into a single integrated intraoral scanner device. The processing device unifies control of all light sources and cameras, coordinating their operation through centralized periodic activation sequences. This merging approach maintains comprehensive diagnostic capabilities while reducing interoperability challenges through integrated system architecture.
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
The solution improves image quality and information capture by combining different light source data, reducing noise and enhancing contrast, enabling accurate 3D modeling and caries detection.
Implementation Method 1
plurality of polarizing filters coupled to the plurality of cameras, each of the plurality of polarizing filters having a first polarization axis
Implementation Method 2
filtering specular reflections
Implementation Method 3
each of the plurality of patterned light sources configured to emit a pattern of light from a different location
Implementation Method 4
each of the plurality of NIR light sources configured to emit NIR light from a different location of a third plurality of locations with respect to the sensing face of the probe
Data Source
AI summary
An intraoral scanner system includes a probe, un-patterned light sources, fluorescence-inducing light sources and near infrared (NIR) light sources couple to the probe. The system includes cameras coupled to the probe. The system including one or more processing devices configured to control an operation of the un-patterned light sources, the fluorescence-inducing light sources and the NIR light sources. The one or more processing devices are configured to alternately illuminate the dental site using different light sources among the un-patterned light sources, the fluorescence-inducing light sources, and the near infrared (NIR) light sources to generate a first image corresponding to the dental site and a second image corresponding to the dental site. The one or more processing devices are further configured to generate, using the first image and the second image, a composite image that reduces a loss of image contrast from returning light from the dental site.