Oral Cavity Imaging Training System Trajectory Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dental impression methods, such as mechanical-impression technologies, are time-consuming, prone to damage, and unpleasant for patients, while semi-automated oral-cavity-imaging-and-modeling systems' efficiency and cost-effectiveness vary significantly with technician experience.
Innovation Solution
The development of semi-automated and automated training methods and systems for technicians to efficiently and accurately generate three-dimensional models of patients' teeth and underlying tissues using oral-cavity-imaging-and-modeling systems, which compute and provide temporal, translational, and rotational trajectories for the imaging endoscope, offering instructional feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical-impression technologies are used to create three-dimensional models, then the procedure has been used for many decades with established methods, but the probability that the impression may be inadvertently altered or damaged is relatively large and the procedure is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical impression-taking systems with an electro-optical-mechanical endoscope system that captures digital images of the oral cavity. This substitution eliminates the need for physical impression materials and mechanical manipulation, thereby preventing damage to impressions while reducing procedure time through automated image capture and processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates digital copies of the oral cavity through electro-optical imaging rather than physical copies through impression materials. The digital three-dimensional model serves as a virtual copy that can be stored, transmitted, and manipulated without risk of physical damage, while the rapid image capture process significantly reduces procedure time.
2Ease of manufacture
If mechanical-impression technologies are used, then the material can serve as a mold for casting, but the procedure is unpleasant to many patients and the impression may be damaged during removal or transportation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical impression materials with an electro-optical endoscope system that non-contactly captures images of the oral cavity. This eliminates the need to insert and remove physical materials from the patient's mouth, thereby eliminating patient discomfort associated with mechanical impression-taking while maintaining the functionality of creating accurate three-dimensional representations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates digital copies of the oral cavity structures instead of physical molds. These digital models can be used for fabrication purposes without requiring physical impression materials to be inserted into or removed from the patient's mouth, thereby eliminating patient discomfort while preserving all necessary manufacturing information.
3Productivity
If semi-automated oral-cavity-imaging-and-modeling systems are used, then the systems are faster and more accurate than mechanical-impression technologies, but the efficiency and cost effectiveness vary significantly with technician experience and skill
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automated image capture and processing algorithms that can independently determine optimal imaging trajectories and generate three-dimensional models without requiring high levels of technician skill. The system performs self-guided operations, reducing dependency on technician experience while maintaining high productivity and consistency in model generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where the system monitors image quality and trajectory data in real-time, automatically adjusting parameters to maintain optimal performance. This feedback loop enables less experienced technicians to achieve results comparable to experts by relying on the system's automated corrections and guidance based on real-time performance data.
Data Source
AI summary
The current document is directed to methods and systems that provide semi-automated and automated training to technicians who use oral-cavity-imaging-and-modeling systems to accurately and efficiently generate three-dimensional models of patients' teeth and underlying tissues. The training methods and systems are implemented either as subsystems within oral-cavity-imaging-and-modeling systems or as separate system in electronic communication oral-cavity-imaging-and-modeling systems. The training methods and systems use an already generated, digital, three-dimensional model of a portion of the oral cavity of a particular patient or of a physical model of a portion of an oral cavity to compute a temporal, translational, and rotational trajectory of an oral-cavity-imaging-and-modeling endoscope, or wand, during a training scan. The temporal, translational, and rotational trajectory is used for a variety of different types of instruction and instructional feedback to facilitate training of technicians.