Root Canal Device with Superimposed Imaging for Precise Tool Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current root canal treatment methods face challenges in accurately guiding cutting tools to the root canal orifice due to the need for visual recognition of internal structures, often resulting in excessive cutting into healthy areas, as they rely on mental synthesis of CT and visible light images, which are difficult to align accurately.
Innovation Solution
A device that displays a visible light image and an X-ray cross-sectional image in an overlapping manner on a display unit, using a position detection unit to align the images with the tip position of the cutting tool, allowing for precise visualization of the root canal and preventing excessive cutting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If CT image capturing is performed to obtain information on the root canal inside the tooth, then the position and size of the root canal orifice can be shown, but the operator needs to mentally synthesize the CT image and visible light image three-dimensionally, making it difficult to accurately grasp the position of the root canal orifice
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the CT image data (showing internal root canal structure) with the visible light image (showing external tooth surface) into a single integrated display. The processing unit superimposes the cross-sectional image on the visible light image, allowing the operator to simultaneously view both internal and external structures without mental synthesis, thus resolving the contradiction between obtaining internal information and ease of position grasping.
2Illumination intensity
If visible light image is used to observe the tooth surface, then the articulation face can be checked, but the root canal orifice inside the tooth cannot be visually recognized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional visible light imaging to three-dimensional CT-based cross-sectional imaging, then superimposes this third-dimensional information onto the original 2D visible light image. This dimensional enhancement allows the root canal orifice (normally invisible on surface images) to be visualized while preserving the original surface visibility, thus resolving the contradiction between surface visibility and internal structure visibility.
3Productivity
If the cutting tool is guided to the root canal orifice without accurate image alignment, then the treatment can proceed, but the root canal may be excessively cut into the healthy area
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides real-time visual feedback by displaying the superimposed images showing the cutting tool's position relative to the root canal orifice. The display unit continuously updates the operator with the tool's location overlaid on the anatomical structures, enabling precise control and preventing excessive cutting into healthy areas while maintaining treatment efficiency. This feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction between treatment speed and precision.
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 solution enables more precise and accurate root canal treatments by clearly displaying the root canal's position relative to the cutting tool, reducing the risk of cutting into healthy areas and improving surgical accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a tooth as a target of interest is irradiated with an X-ray to collect projection data
Implementation Method 2
a visible light image captured by the optical camera or the microscope is an image of a surface of the tooth
Data Source
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AI summary
A root canal treating device includes a root canal treating hand piece 50 having, attached thereto, a visible light camera 60 that captures a 2D captured image P of a tooth T as a target of interest; a position detection unit 80 that detects a position of the root canal treating hand piece 50; a monitor 15 that displays an visible light image; and an image generation unit 21 that displays, in an overlapping manner on the monitor 15, a converted horizontal cross-sectional image Cs1 based on 3D information including information on a root canal R inside the tooth T and the 2D captured image captured by the visible light camera 60.