Intraoral Scanner Tool Reflection for Hidden Surface Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Intraoral scanners face challenges in capturing high-quality three-dimensional models of dental sites due to regions being hidden from direct view or having sub-optimal viewing angles, leading to poorly fitting prosthodontics and orthodontic treatments.
Innovation Solution
A method that receives intraoral scan data, detects tools within the data, and generates three-dimensional surfaces by supplementing hidden or poorly viewed areas with additional surface data based on tool properties, such as geometry and force measurements, to enhance the accuracy of dental site models.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If an intraoral scanner is used to capture dental sites, then the scanning process is automated and efficient, but regions hidden from direct view or with sub-optimal angles cannot be captured with sufficient quality
Solution Approach 1:
A tool with a reflective surface is introduced as an intermediary element between the intraoral scanner and the hidden dental region. The reflective surface redirects imaging rays to illuminate and reflect back surface data from areas that are otherwise inaccessible to the scanner, enabling capture of complete dental geometry without compromising scanning automation
Solution Approach 2:
The solution adds a dimensional aspect to the scanning process by introducing indirect viewing paths through reflection. Instead of relying solely on direct line-of-sight imaging, the system utilizes reflected imaging rays that approach the hidden surfaces from different angular dimensions, thereby capturing data from previously inaccessible regions
2Measurement precision
If the intraoral scanner captures all regions directly, then complete surface data is obtained, but the viewing angles for hidden regions become sub-optimal resulting in low quality 3D models
Solution Approach 1:
The reflective tool serves as a mediator that optimizes the imaging geometry for hidden regions. By strategically positioning the reflective surface, the system creates optimal viewing angles for areas that would otherwise be inaccessible, ensuring high-quality surface data capture without requiring the scanner to physically access difficult-to-reach regions
3Loss of information
If additional tools are introduced to capture hidden regions, then complete surface data is obtained, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reflective tool is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a means to capture hidden surface data and as a potential diagnostic or treatment instrument. This universal approach reduces overall system complexity by consolidating multiple functions into a single tool rather than requiring separate specialized devices for each function
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the existing reflective properties of commonly available dental tools rather than requiring specially engineered components. By leveraging the inherent reflective characteristics of standard dental instruments, the solution avoids adding complex custom-built devices while still achieving complete surface data capture
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for intraoral scanning and generation of 3D surfaces based on intraoral scans are described. In one example a system includes an intraoral scanner and a computing device operatively coupled to the intraoral scanner. The computing device receives an indication that a tool that provides supplemental surface data will be used during intraoral scanning. The computing device implements a supplemental surface data scanning mode in which a three-dimensional (3D) surface of a dental site that is generated from intraoral scan data is supplemented with additional surface data determined based at least in part on properties of the tool, wherein the additional surface data is for a first portion of the 3D surface that is hidden from direct viewing by the intraoral scanner during intraoral scanning.