Touch-Sensitive Intraoral Scanner Guidance for Direct Image Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical scanning solutions, such as intraoral scanners, are inefficient due to the need for users to repeatedly disengage from the patient to interact with a computing device for controlling the scanning process and manipulating medical images, lacking the ability to perform both image generation and manipulation simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a touch-sensitive scanner with integrated touch sensors that allow users to perform navigation and manipulation of the scanning interface directly on the scanner, enabling hold and swipe gestures to control the scanning process and manipulate medical images without disengaging from the patient.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users interact with the computing device to control scanning and manipulate images, then image manipulation capability is improved, but time loss increases due to repeated disengagement from the patient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the touch sensor interface with the intraoral scanner housing, allowing users to control scanning and image manipulation functions directly through the scanner itself without needing to disengage to interact with a separate computing device. This integration eliminates the back-and-forth movement between patient and computing device, resolving the time loss issue while maintaining full image manipulation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The intraoral scanner is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as the scanning device and as the user interface through integrated touch sensors. This universal design allows the single device to perform both image capture and image manipulation functions, eliminating the need for separate interaction devices and reducing time loss from repeated disengagement.
2Ease of operation
If users repeatedly disengage from the patient to control the scanner, then device control capability is improved, but productivity decreases due to workflow interruption
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the control interface with the scanner housing, the system allows users to maintain continuous engagement with the patient while controlling the scanning process. The touch sensors embedded in the scanner enable all necessary control functions to be performed without disengaging, thereby maintaining workflow continuity and improving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The scanner with integrated touch sensors provides self-service control, where the device itself serves as the interface for user interaction. This eliminates the need for users to repeatedly disengage to access control functions, allowing seamless operation throughout the scanning process and improving overall productivity.
3Device complexity
If the scanner lacks integrated touch sensors, then device simplicity is maintained, but ease of operation deteriorates due to inability to manipulate images during scanning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines touch sensor technology with the intraoral scanner housing, creating an integrated interface that enables image manipulation during scanning. This merging adds minimal complexity while dramatically improving ease of operation, as users can now control and manipulate images directly through the scanner without needing separate computing device interactions.
Data Source
AI summary
A scanning system comprises an intraoral scanner to capture scan data of a dental site and a computing device to generate a 3D rendering of the dental site. The scanner comprises one or more input devices configured to provide manual interaction with the computing device, where: a first activation of the input device(s) causes the scanning system to enter an inspection mode in which a view of the 3D rendering is adjustable based on movements of the intraoral scanner; and a second activation of the one or more input devices causes the scanning system to enter an overlay mode, wherein the computing device is to present a menu visualized on top of the 3D rendering on the display while the scanning system is in the overlay mode, the menu comprising one or more instructions for use of the intraoral scanner to control a user interface of the scanning system.