1649results about "Radiation diagnostics for dentistry" patented technology

A virtual control system for an operating room establishes virtual control devices to control surgical equipment and patient monitoring equipment and to display control, status and functionality information concerning the surgical equipment and condition information of the patient. The virtual control devices permit direct interaction by the surgeon while maintaining a sterile field, and avoid the use of actual physical devices and electrical cables connecting them to the surgical equipment.

A positional relationship between image capturing means and a player is properly adjusted before a game is started. An image of a player P is captured by a camera unit 42, and from this image the head position of the player is recognized, so that the game proceeds based on the recognized result. At this time, the player image is displayed on the title screen, and the position where the head position of the player P should be located is displayed distinctively in the player image. As a result, the player P can properly adjust the positional relationship between the camera unit 42 and himself / herself before starting a game.

An image processing method for use in dentistry or orthodontic is provided. Two images of teeth, one being a two-dimensional image and one a three-dimensional image are combined in a manner to allow the use of information obtained from one to the other. In order to combine the two images a set of basic landmarks is defined in one, identified in the other and then the two images are registered.

A intra-oral laser digitizer system provides a three-dimensional visual image of a real-world object such as a dental item through a laser digitization. The laser digitizer captures an image of the object by scanning multiple portions of the object in an exposure period. The intra-oral digitizer may be inserted into an oral cavity (in vivo) to capture an image of a dental item such as a tooth, multiple teeth or dentition. The captured image is processed to generate the three-dimension visual image.

A method for automatic, or semi-automatic, planning of dental treatment for a patient comprises: (a) obtaining data about an area which is to be treated and data about a face of a patient; (b) performing a computer-assisted analysis of the data to determine properties of at least the face of the patient; (c) creating a modified tooth set-up using a set of stored rules which make use of the determined facial properties. A three-dimensional representation simulates the appearance of the modified tooth set-up and the patient's face surrounding the treatment area. The method also determines properties of existing teeth and creates a modified tooth set-up which is also based on the existing teeth of the patient. The method can be implemented as software running on a workstation.

A high spatial resolution X-ray computed tomography (CT) system is provided. The system includes a support structure including a gantry mounted to rotate about a vertical axis of rotation. The system further includes a first assembly including an X-ray source mounted on the gantry to rotate therewith for generating a cone X-ray beam and a second assembly including a planar X-ray detector mounted on the gantry to rotate therewith. The detector is spaced from the source on the gantry for enabling a human or other animal body part to be interposed therebetween so as to be scanned by the X-ray beam to obtain a complete CT scan and generating output data representative thereof. The output data is a two-dimensional electronic representation of an area of the detector on which an X-ray beam impinges. A data processor processes the output data to obtain an image of the body part.

Method and system for establishing an initial position of a tooth, determining a target position of the tooth in a treatment plan, calculating a movement vector associated with the tooth movement from the initial position to the target position, determining a plurality of components corresponding to the movement vector, and determining a corresponding one or more positions of a respective one or more attachment devices relative to a surface plane of the tooth such that the one or more attachment devices engages with a dental appliance are provided.

An image navigation integrated dental implant system includes a control unit for storing and transmitting data streams, a scan module electrically connected to the control unit for scanning and taking the pictures of the soft tissue and hard tissue of the parenchyma of the oral cavity of a patient and the related external skin color and transmitting the obtained data to the control unit, a design module electrically connected to the control unit for receiving the oral cavity data from the control unit and using the data to design a oral cavity simulation diagram, and a navigator module electrically connected to the control unit for receiving the oral cavity data and photographing the oral cavity and then providing a picture to guide the dentist to perform the dental implant surgery.

An assisted guidance and navigation method in intraoral surgeries is a method using computerized tomography (CT) photography and an optical positioning system to track medical appliances, the method including: first providing an optical positioning treatment instrument and an optical positioning device; then obtaining image data of the intraoral tissue receiving treatment through CT photography, precisely displaying actions of the treatment instrument in the image data, and real-time checking an image and guidance and navigation. Therefore, during the surgery, the existing use habits of the physicians are not affected and accurate and convenient auxiliary information is provided, and attention is paid to using the treatment instrument in physical environments such as a patient's tooth or dental model.

The present invention relates to a method for obtaining an accurate three-dimensional model of a dental impression, said method comprising the steps of, scanning at least a part of an upper jaw impression and / or a lower jaw impression, obtaining an impression scan, evaluating the quality of the impression scan, and use the impression scan to obtain a three-dimensional model, thereby obtaining an accurate three-dimensional model of the dental impression.

A method and apparatus for Cone-Beam Computerized Tomography, (CBCT) is configured to increase the maximum Field-Of-View (FOV) through a composite scanning protocol and includes acquisition and reconstruction of multiple volumes related to partially overlapping different anatomic areas, and the subsequent stitching of those volumes, thereby obtaining, as a final result, a single final volume having dimensions larger than those otherwise provided by the geometry of the acquisition system.

A multi-layer dental panoramic and transverse x-ray imaging system includes an x-ray source; a digital imaging device capable of frame mode output with a sufficient frame rate; a mechanical manipulator having at least one rotational axis located in a position other than the focal point of the x-ray source; a position detection mechanism for detecting the camera position in 1D, 2D or 3D depending of the complexity of the trajectory; a final image reconstruction mechanism for reconstructing the final images out of the stored frames; a real time storage system such as RAM, hard drive or an drive array able to store all the frames captured during an exposure; and a digital processing unit capable of executing the reconstruction algorithm, such components being interconnected in operational arrangement. The system produces selectively dental panoramic x-ray images, dental transverse x-ray images and dental tomosynthetic 3D images from a frame stream produced by a high-speed, x-ray digital imaging device.

Portable x-ray devices and methods for using such devices are described. The devices have an x-ray tube powered by an integrated power system. The x-ray tube is shielded with a low-density insulating material containing a high-Z substance. The devices can also have an integrated display component. With these components, the size and weight of the x-ray devices can be reduced and the portability of the devices enhanced. The x-ray devices also have an x-ray detecting means that is not structurally attached to the device and therefore is free standing. Consequently, the x-ray devices can also be used as a digital x-ray camera. The portable x-ray devices are especially useful for applications where portability is an important feature such as in field work, remote operations, and mobile operations such as nursing homes, home healthcare, or teaching classrooms. This portability feature can be particularly useful in multi-suite medical and dental offices where a single x-ray device can be used as a digital x-ray camera in multiple offices instead of requiring a separate device in every office.

A virtual control system for an operating room establishes virtual control devices to control surgical equipment and patient monitoring equipment and to display control, status and functionality information concerning the surgical equipment and condition information of the patient. The virtual control devices permit direct interaction by the surgeon while maintaining a sterile field, and avoid the use of actual physical devices and electrical cables connecting them to the surgical equipment.

A virtual control panel controls the functionality of an electrosurgical generator in response to interrogating, preferably optically, an object, such as a user's finger, interacting with a control panel image as an act of control input over the functionality of the generator. The control panel image is presented, preferably by optical projection, on a display surface of a display surface structure. The control panel image may include, in addition to a contact control area where interaction with the object is interrogated, a display area where information describing the functionality of the generator is presented, preferably by optical projection. A virtual pad can be used with the virtual control panel to divide and separate control and display functionality.

Method and apparatus for registering an object of known predetermined geometry to scanned three dimensional data such that the object's location may be verified. Such a known object may comprise a less than ideal three-dimensional (3-D) digital object such as a tooth, a dental appliance (e.g., as a tooth bracket model) or other like object, including portions thereof. Knowledge of such an object's location is generally helpful in planning orthodontic treatment, particularly where the location of the object needs to be determined or confirmed or where incomplete or poor scan data is obtained. Aspects of the present invention provide methods of effectively verifying dental appliance location and displaying appliance locations using a computer and three-dimensional models of teeth.

A process for creating a dental model to avoid periodontal defects during planned dental work includes obtaining CT scan data and optical scan data of a patient's dentition and integrating the CT scan data and the optical scan data by at least one of surface to surface registration, registration of radiographic markers, and registration of optical markers of known dimensions, to produce a dental model that includes the dentition and underlying bone and root structures. The process then segments anatomic sites of the tooth roots and underlying bone. A plan for the dental work is then generated based on the segmented anatomic sites, whereby the plan avoids periodontal defects based on the knowledge of the anatomic sites of the roots and underlying cortical bones in the dental model.

An X-ray computed tomography method and apparatus for obtaining a panoramic X-ray image seen from a direction of a projection line gamma (gamma') of a curved sectional area SA by expanding calculation results of three-dimensional distribution information of X-ray absorption coefficient on the projection line gamma (gamma') intersecting at a specified angle beta (beta') for any regions alpha of the panoramic sectional image layer SB on a two-dimensional plane based on the three dimensional distribution information of X-ray absorption coefficient of the curved sectional area SA obtained by a X-ray CT.

A dental CAD / CAM device capable of accurately forming a dental coating is provided. The device includes: an intraoral-site measurement section 100 configured to measure 3D shape data on an intraoral site 130 with an OCT probe 150 for obtaining a tomogram of an object using near-ultraviolet light; a treatment-target-tooth 3D shape data acquisition section 200 configured to acquire shape data of a treatment target tooth from 3D shape data obtained by the intraoral-site measurement section 100; and a coating object 3D shape data creation section 300 configured to create 3D shape data on a dental coating such that the dental coating matches the 3D shape data of the treatment target tooth obtained by the treatment target tooth 3D shape data acquisition section 200.

An intra-oral imaging apparatus having an illumination field generator that forms an illumination beam having a contour fringe projection pattern when receiving light from a first light source and having a substantially uniform illumination field when receiving light from a second light source. A polarizer in the path of the illumination beam has a first polarization transmission axis. A projection lens directs the polarized illumination beam toward a tooth surface and an imaging lens directs at least a portion of the light from the tooth surface along a detection path. A polarization-selective element disposed along the detection path has a second polarization transmission axis. At least one detector obtains image data from the light provided through the polarization-selective element. A control logic processor responds to programmed instructions for alternately energizing the first and second light sources in a sequence and obtaining both contour fringe projection data and color image data.

A radio frequency identification (RFID) system having the capacity to detect various geometric parameters of alignment. The described system is configured for use with dental x-ray, medical imaging and treatment, and customary and digital radiography apparatus, but is not restricted to such apparatus or applications. The system may include a multiplicity of RF transponders, RF tags, and RF readers, wherein each RF tag may include one or more carrier receive / data transmit coils and wherein each RF reader may include one or more carrier transmit / data receive coils, and wherein each coil of an RF tag or RF reader may resonate at one or more, and / or, at the same or differing frequencies. An RF tag located about an x-ray sensitive film or device, and an RF reader located about a dental x-ray machine or apparatus, are configured to be critically aligned, one to the other, rendering repeat imaging unnecessary.

The invention relates to an impression tray, such as in particular a dental impression tray, which carries a deformable impression mass in order to prepare an impression of arrangements, shapes and / or dimensions, in particular in or on the human body, preferably in the mouth, and further preferred an impression of at least part of a tooth or of dental structures, wherein furthermore sensor devices are present, by means of which a change of at least one physical property and / or variable of the impression mass can be captured in a spatially resolved manner when preparing an impression and can be provided in a form that is suited for electronic data processing. The invention further relates to a method for capturing structures, arrangements or shapes, such as preferably for capturing dental structures, arrangements or shapes in the mouth or in the human body, whereby a deformable impression compound is brought onto or into the structures, arrangements or shapes in particular, is introduced, into the mouth or body and a change of at least one physical property and / or variable of the impression compound is transmitted there in a spatially resolved manner directly to sensor devices when preparing an impression and is captured by the sensor devices and, furthermore, provided in a form that is suitable for electronic data processing.

A digital, flat panel, two-dimensional x-ray detector moves reliably, safely and conveniently to a variety of positions for different x-ray protocols for a standing, sitting or recumbent patient. The system makes it practical to use the same detector for a number or protocols that otherwise may require different equipment, and takes advantage of desirable characteristics of flat panel digital detectors while alleviating the effects of less desirable characteristics such as high cost, weight and fragility of such detectors.

A system for detecting dental caries on a tooth (T) structure comprises an electromagnetic conductor for directing at least one initial radiation (Ir) onto a tooth structure to be evaluated, an electromagnetic collector for collecting at least one resulting electromagnetic radiation (Rr) that has been at least one of reflected by and transmitted through the tooth (T) as a result of F the initial radiation (Ir). The collector is adapted to deliver the resulting electromagnetic radiation (Rr) to a detection device (D). The detection device (D) is adapted to compare at least one intensity of the at least one resulting radiation (Rr) with at least one predetermined value that corresponds to one of the presence and absence of dental caries. This enables the diagnosis of the presence or the absence of dental caries on the tooth structure.

A method for producing an artifact-corrected image of a negative jaw impression in a recipient jaw comprising, forming a negative impression of said recipient jaw, producing a first digital image of said negative jaw impression, producing a second digital image, including said artifacts of said negative jaw impression in said recipient jaw and using said first digital image to produce an artifact-corrected computer representation of said negative impression in said recipient jaw.

A probe assembly for examining a sample, the assembly including a probe, a fiber optic cable for communicating signals to and / or from the probe, an emitter for emitting radiation to irradiate the sample and an electro-magnetic radiation detector for detecting radiation which is transmitted or reflected from the sample. The emitter includes a frequency conversion member which emits radiation in response to being irradiated with input radiation which has a different frequency to that of the emitted radiation. At least one of the emitter or detector is located in the probe. The probe is particularly for use as an endoscope or for imaging teeth. The invention also extends to a method of imaging teeth, and apparatus for imaging diseased teeth, for example, teeth with caries or suffering from periodontal disease.

A radiation-recording plate (104) can be constructed and arranged to form an image upon exposure from both a front side and a back side. The plate can include a marker (201) detectable in the image (205) after exposure and indicative of which of the front side and the back side the plate is exposed from. The marker may comprise a medium opaque to the radiation coating a region that does not interfere with reading the image when the plate is exposed from either side, or may be a void in the sensitive layer of the plate. The marker may have horizontal asymmetry about a vertical axis relative to a normal image orientation, or the marker may have vertical asymmetry about a horizontal axis relative to a normal image orientation. The marker may further comprise a front side marker and a back side marker whose appearance in an image on the plate indicates exposure from the front side or the back side respectively. A method of identifying a side from which a radiation-recording plate has been exposed to radiation may comprise: incorporating in the plate (104), in a position that substantially does not interfere with an image area of the plate, a marker (201) whose appearance in the image identifies which side the plate is exposed from; exposing the plate to the radiation; and observing the image (205) for the identification of the side of the plate exposed. A method of making a radiation sensitive plate having at least one radiation sensitive layer may comprise: providing a film sensitive to the radiation on a first side of the radiation sensitive plate; and applying a suspension of a heavy metal in a binder to a region of a second side of the radiation sensitive layer.

The present invention provides a motion analysis system for manufacturing of dental orthotics and prosthetics using computer aided means. The process includes measuring the relative function of one anatomical structure to another based on optical data and in some cases enhanced with other sensor data. The components of hard and soft tissue are used in analysis and where the data can be compared in a time series such that a computer generated occlusal surface from which either a treatment orthosis or prosthesis could be manufactured to aid with dental treatment.

A multi-layer dental panoramic and transverse x-ray imaging system includes an x-ray source; a digital imaging device capable of frame mode output with a sufficient frame rate; a mechanical manipulator having at least one rotational axis located in a position other than the focal point of the x-ray source; a position detection mechanism for detecting the camera position in 1D, 2D or 3D depending of the complexity of the trajectory; a final image reconstruction mechanism for reconstructing the final images out of the stored frames; a real time storage system such as RAM, hard drive or an drive array able to store all the frames captured during an exposure; and a digital processing unit capable of executing the reconstruction algorithm, such components being interconnected in operational arrangement. The system produces selectively dental panoramic x-ray images, dental transverse x-ray images and dental tomosynthetic 3D images from a frame stream produced by a high-speed, x-ray digital imaging device.