Merging Optical and MRI Data for Dental Imaging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in dentistry struggles to effectively image hard structures like teeth due to poor signal reception, limiting the derivation of tooth geometry and requiring high imaging effort and patient discomfort, making it unsuitable for broader clinical practice.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method and system that merges optical data with MRI data to provide enhanced image data of the oral cavity, using optical imaging devices to acquire surface information and MRI to capture soft-tissue information, allowing for improved spatial resolution and reduced scan times without modifying existing MRI devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If magnetic resonance imaging is used to image hard structures of teeth, then soft-tissue information can be captured, but the signal reception is poor and tooth geometry cannot be reasonably well derived

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetooth geometry informationVSAvoidsignal reception quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges optical image data (providing surface geometry of teeth) with magnetic resonance image data (providing soft-tissue information) to create combined image data. This combination allows both tooth geometry and soft-tissue information to be visualized effectively, overcoming the limitation of MRI alone which cannot adequately image hard dental structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Measurement precision

If specialized magnetic resonance scanners with ultra-short echo-time regimes are used, then both enamel and dentin can be imaged, but the imaging effort is high and patient discomfort increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenamel and dentin imaging capabilityVSAvoidimaging effort and scan time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the imaging task into two parts: using optical imaging for hard structures (teeth surface geometry) and MRI for soft tissues. This segmentation allows each modality to be used for what it does best, avoiding the need for specialized ultra-short echo-time MRI sequences while still achieving comprehensive imaging of both hard and soft dental structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Loss of information

If dental impression material is inserted into the oral cavity to indirectly depict tooth surfaces, then tooth geometry can be visualized, but patient discomfort increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetooth surface informationVSAvoidpatient discomfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical approach of using dental impression materials with an optical imaging approach. Optical imaging devices capture tooth surface geometry non-contactly or with minimal contact, eliminating the need for uncomfortable impression materials while still obtaining accurate tooth surface information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS20240354944A1Method and System for Providing a Merged Image of an Oral Cavity

Publication Date: 2024.10.24 SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS AG

AI summary

A magnetic resonance system may include a magnetic resonance device, an optical imaging device, and a controller. The controller may control the magnetic resonance device to acquire magnetic resonance image data from an object inside an oral cavity of a patient and/or control the optical imaging device to acquire optical data from the object inside the oral cavity of the patient. The controller (e.g., a processor of the controller) may merge the optical data with the magnetic resonance image data.