Oral 3D Scanner With Fluorescence Filtering for Caries Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional oral scanners lack the ability to detect dental plaque and tooth decay, limiting their functionality in oral health assessments.
Innovation Solution
A stereoscopic scanning device equipped with a projection module using both visible and invisible beam light sources, along with a color filter and optical sensor, alternately activates different light beams to project and receive structural and excitation beams, enabling detection of tooth surface outlines and plaque or decay.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional oral scanner uses only visible beam light source and optical sensor for surface scanning, then the device structure is simple and operation is easy, but it cannot detect dental plaque or tooth decay
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines visible beam light source and invisible beam light source into a single projection module, and merges the detection functions for both surface topology and caries/plaque detection into one integrated system. The optical sensor receives both reflected structural light and fluorescent signals, enabling dual-functionality without requiring separate devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical sensor serves multiple functions: it receives reflected structural light for surface outline detection and simultaneously detects fluorescent signals for caries and plaque detection. The projection module also performs dual roles by projecting both visible structural light and invisible excitation beams, making the device universally applicable for multiple dental detection needs.
2Measurement precision
If the device uses invisible beam light source for caries detection, then detection accuracy improves, but the device complexity increases due to additional filtering mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The color filter acts as an intermediary element that selectively transmits or blocks specific wavelengths. It mediates between the invisible excitation beam and the optical sensor, allowing only the desired fluorescent signals to pass through while blocking other wavelengths, thus enabling precise caries detection without requiring complex filtering systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The color filter is positioned specifically in the imaging path where it can selectively filter wavelengths for the optical sensor. This localized filtering approach ensures that only the necessary spectral components reach the sensor for caries detection, maintaining measurement precision while avoiding the need for complex system-wide filtering mechanisms.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the device integrates multiple light sources and color filters for dual-mode detection, then detection versatility improves, but the operation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The color filter is designed to be rotatable or movable, allowing dynamic switching between different filtering regions. This enables the device to alternate between normal mode (surface scanning) and caries detection mode (fluorescent signal detection) by simply rotating or moving the filter into position, maintaining ease of operation while achieving detection versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The device operates in periodic cycles, alternating between visible beam projection for surface scanning and invisible beam projection for caries detection. The color filter is correspondingly switched between positions, enabling the system to perform different detection functions in sequence without requiring complex simultaneous multi-mode operation, thus preserving operational simplicity.
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
The device can generate colorful tooth models for normal mode detection and caries mode analysis, accurately identifying dental plaque and structural defects.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing an invisible beam light source to project an invisible beam onto the target object for generating a first excitation beam and/or a second excitation beam
Implementation Method 2
The color filter has a first filtering region and a second filtering region adjacent to each other and aligns with the optical sensor by turns. The first filtering region allows penetration of the visible beam and the first excitation beam, and blocks transmission of the second excitation beam.
Implementation Method 3
The optical sensor is adapted to receive the structural light pattern reflected from the target object and the first excitation beam and the second excitation beam generated by the target object
Data Source
AI summary
A stereoscopic scanning device is applied by a stereoscopic scanning method and includes a projection module and an imaging module. The projection module emits a visible beam to a structural light generator to project a structural light pattern onto a target object, and further emits an invisible beam to the target object for generating a first excitation beam and/or a second excitation beam. The imaging module includes an optical sensor and a color filter. The optical sensor receives the structural light pattern and the excitation beams. The color filter has a first filtering region and a second filtering region. The first filtering region allows penetration of the visible beam and the first excitation beam, and blocks transmission of the second excitation beam. The second filtering region allows penetration of the visible beam and the second excitation beam, and blocks transmission of the first excitation beam.