Panoramic Jaw Image Generation via Segmented Development Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for generating panoramic representations from tomographic jaw data fail to adequately adapt to individual anatomical conditions, often including non-relevant tissue areas and risking spatial distortions due to excessively curved development surfaces.
Innovation Solution
Defining multiple horizontal cutting planes with contour surfaces and determining a common development curve from individual anatomy curves, using weighted averaging to create a vertical development surface for perpendicular projection rays, which are then used to generate integration intervals for voxel information, optimizing the processing area and reducing curvature-induced distortions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a single horizontal cutting plane is used to generate the panorama, then the processing is simple, but the anatomical structures are not optimally adapted and non-relevant tissue areas are included
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the jaw volume into multiple horizontal cutting planes (first, second, third cutting planes) instead of using a single plane. Each cutting plane has its own contour surface and anatomy curve, allowing the system to capture different anatomical regions at different depths and positions, thereby improving adaptation to individual anatomical conditions while excluding non-relevant tissue areas.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a highly curved development surface is used to follow anatomical structures, then anatomical adaptation is improved, but spatial distortions and overlapping of projection beams occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the development surface into multiple separate development surfaces (first, second, third development surfaces), each corresponding to a specific cutting plane and anatomical region. This segmentation allows each surface to be optimized for its local anatomy without causing excessive curvature and distortion, while the final panorama is composed by combining these segmented surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
Each development surface is locally optimized to match the specific anatomical structures in its corresponding cutting plane. The contour surfaces and anatomy curves are determined independently for each cutting plane based on local anatomical features, ensuring that each region is accurately represented without compromising spatial accuracy through excessive curvature.
3Adaptability or versatility
If projection beams are made perpendicular to a curved development surface, then the panorama follows anatomical contours, but distortion increases in highly curved areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the projection process into multiple segments, with each cutting plane having its own set of projection beams perpendicular to its specific development surface. This segmentation limits the curvature of each individual development surface, reducing distortion in projection beams while still following anatomical contours locally. The overall panorama is reconstructed by combining these segmented projections.
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
This approach creates a panoramic display that is optimally adapted to each patient's anatomy, minimizing overlap and enhancing contrast by focusing on relevant structures, allowing for better depth assessment and emphasizing diagnostic features like nerve canals while reducing noise from soft tissue.
Implementation Method 1
a set of volume data representing the jaw area of a patient is first generated by means of a tomographic method, the volume data being composed of a large number of individual volume elements ("voxels")
Implementation Method 2
projection rays are then in turn defined for each cutting plane, which are perpendicular to the development surface and intersect the respective contour line lying in the cutting plane. The panorama recording is now created by defining integration intervals that are located within the contour line via sections of the projection rays. The information of the respective voxels is then integrated via these integration intervals.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for generating and presenting a panorama image of a jaw region, wherein first a set of volume data representing the jaw region of a patient is generated by means of a tomographic method, wherein the volume data is composed of a plurality of individual volume elements (“voxels”), wherein multiple horizontal section planes intersecting the jaw are determined, wherein a contour surface (1) of the jaw delimited by an inner (2) and an outer contour line (3) is defined inside each of the section planes, wherein focus curves (4, 8) are defined inside the contour surfaces (1), wherein a common involute (9) is determined from the focus curves (4, 8) of superposed section planes, wherein the involute (9) defines an area that is positioned particularly in a vertical manner, wherein projection beams (10, 12) are defined starting from said area in each section plane, said beams being positioned perpendicular on said area and intersecting the respective contour lines (2, 3), wherein integration intervals (11) are defined on the projection beams (10, 12), said intervals being used to integrate information of the volume elements, and wherein an integration forms an image element of the panorama image.