Intraoral Scanner Probe for Accurate Periodontal Charting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intra-oral scanners (IOS) face challenges in accurately determining the position of points within the oral cavity, particularly in areas with steep walls, narrow gaps, high reflectivity or absorbance surfaces, and recesses, leading to inaccuracies in 3D reconstructions and measurements.
Innovation Solution
The integration of an elongate probe with an IOS that extends into the oral cavity, allowing for precise contact and scanning of difficult-to-reach areas, combined with imaging technologies such as ultrasonic and optical sensors, to enhance position determination and measurement accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an IOS is used without a probe, then the device is simpler and easier to operate, but the measurement precision is insufficient for difficult-to-reach areas
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two functional components: the IOS (intra-oral scanner) that captures images and the separate probe that provides mechanical contact. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in its function while maintaining overall system simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The probe acts as an intermediary element between the IOS and the target measurement points. It extends the reach of the IOS into difficult-to-access areas while maintaining the simplicity of the base IOS device.
2Measurement precision
If a probe is added to the IOS, then the measurement precision for difficult areas improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The probe is designed as a separate, detachable component rather than an integrated part of the IOS. This allows the probe to be added only when needed for difficult-to-reach areas, maintaining overall system simplicity while providing enhanced capability when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The probe can be used with the IOS for enhanced measurement capability in difficult areas, and the IOS can function independently for general scanning. This multi-functionality allows the system to adapt to different measurement requirements without permanently increasing complexity.
3Measurement precision
If the probe contacts points inside the oral cavity, then the measurement precision for 3D reconstructions improves, but the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The probe serves as a mediator that the operator can manually position and contact specific points within the oral cavity. This manual intervention enables precise measurement in difficult-to-reach areas while maintaining operational simplicity through direct physical guidance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces purely optical measurement methods with a hybrid approach that incorporates mechanical contact through the probe. This mechanical substitution enables measurement in areas that are difficult to access optically while maintaining ease of operation through manual probing.
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments of the present disclosure include, for example, a method for automatically entering content into a periodontal chart. Such methods include, for example, providing an Intra Oral Scanner (IOS) with an elongate probe extending therefrom, contacting a first point inside an oral cavity with the probe while scanning the cavity with the IOS, determining a position of the first point based on the scanning to determine a position in space of the elongate probe, calculating content to be entered into a periodontal chart, and entering the content into the periodontal chart. Related apparatus and methods are also described.