Infant Intraoral Imaging With a Resilient Tip for 3D Oral Scans

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional oral imaging devices are invasive and inconvenient for infants with cleft palate, requiring frequent in-person visits and impractical for remote or underdeveloped regions, making it difficult to capture accurate 3D images for nasoalveolar molding (NAM) fabrication.

Innovation Solution

A noninvasive, resilient intraoral imaging device with a soft tip simulating a feeding nipple, capturing a series of images within the oral cavity for 3D reconstruction, allowing remote evaluation and 3D printing of NAM appliances.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional oral imaging devices are used, then imaging capability is provided, but the devices are invasive and cause discomfort to infants

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimaging capabilityVSAvoiddiscomfort and invasion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a flexible, resilient probe tip made of soft material that can be inserted into an infant's oral cavity without causing discomfort or injury. This flexible tip houses the imaging sensor and allows the device to adapt to the contours of the infant's mouth, eliminating the need for rigid, invasive structures while maintaining imaging capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The resilient probe tip acts as an intermediary between the imaging sensor and the infant's oral cavity. It provides a comfortable interface that infants can tolerate during examination, while simultaneously transmitting the imaging signals from the sensor to capture the oral cavity structures without direct contact between the sensor and the infant's tissues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If frequent in-person visits to medical facilities are required, then accurate imaging for NAM fabrication can be obtained, but the process becomes inconvenient and impractical for remote regions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimaging accuracy for NAM fabricationVSAvoidfrequency of hospital visits

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a digital copy of the infant's oral cavity through the resilient probe tip imaging system. This digital 3D model can be transmitted remotely to fabrication facilities, eliminating the need for repeated in-person visits. The digital copy preserves all necessary anatomical details for NAM fabrication while enabling remote access and reduced travel requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical process of physical visits to medical facilities with a digital imaging and transmission system. The resilient probe tip captures 3D images that can be electronically transmitted to remote locations, substituting the mechanical travel and in-person examinations with a non-invasive digital workflow that reduces time loss and improves accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Stability of the object's composition

If a rigid imaging probe is used, then structural stability is maintained, but it causes discomfort and potential injury to the infant

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoiddiscomfort and injury risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical parameters of the probe tip from rigid to resilient and flexible. This material parameter change allows the tip to be both structurally stable enough to house the imaging sensor and soft enough to be comfortable for the infant, eliminating the harmful effects of rigidity while maintaining necessary structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Facilitates accurate 3D imaging of the oral cavity without discomfort, reducing the need for frequent hospital visits and enabling remote treatment planning, particularly beneficial for infants with cleft palate.

Implementation Method 1

A transparent, resilient tip is resistant to moisture and abrasion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMoisture resistance: Hydrophobe

Implementation Method 2

aggregation or synthesis of consecutive fields of view allows reconstruction of a continuous image via photogrammetry

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotogrammetry: Photogrammetry

Data Source

PatentUS20250325176A1Infant intraoral imaging device

Publication Date: 2025.10.23 ALATALO DIANA

AI summary

A targeted imaging device can be inserted into a small oral cavity such as found in infants and the oral cavity of individuals unable to follow directions to obtain 2D or 3D images of the upper palate and gums or teeth. The intraoral imaging device positions an imaging element in an oral cavity of an infant, and probes successive fields of view for capturing a series of adjacent images in the oral cavity. A transparent, resilient tip is resistant to moisture and abrasion or discomfort which could result from a hard, sharp or rigid insertion. Captured images depict the palate and gumline, and aggregation or synthesis of consecutive fields of view allows reconstruction of a continuous image via photogrammetry. The reconstructed image is invoked for fabrication of a corrective appliance, and can be particularly beneficial for fabrication of a presurgical nasoalveolar molding often preceding surgical treatment for a cleft palate.