Dental image collection device providing optical alignment features and related system and methods
A dental imaging system may include an X-ray source, a first optical alignment device, and a dental image collection device. The dental image collection device may include a mouthpiece, at least one electronic X-ray sensor carried by the mouthpiece, and a second optical alignment device carried by the mouthpiece and cooperating with the first optical alignment device to facilitate optically aligning the mouthpiece with the X-ray source. The system may also include a dental image processing device coupled to the at least one electronic X-ray sensor.
1. A dental imaging system comprising:
an X-ray source;
a first optical alignment device;
a dental image collection device comprising
a mouthpiece,
at least one electronic X-ray sensor carried by the mouthpiece, and
a second optical alignment device carried by the mouthpiece and cooperating with the first optical alignment device to facilitate optically aligning the mouthpiece with the X-ray source; and
a dental image processing device coupled to the at least one electronic X-ray sensor and configured to generate a disparity map image using parallax from overlapping viewpoints of a given area from dental images collected at different times.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first optical alignment device comprises an optical target; and wherein the second optical alignment device comprises at least one optical source.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the first optical alignment device comprises at least one optical detector; and wherein the second optical alignment device comprises at least one optical source.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the first optical alignment device is carried by the X-ray source.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the second optical alignment device comprises a plurality of laser light sources.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one X-ray sensor comprises a plurality of integrated circuit (IC) sensors.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the dental image processing device is configured to process dental images using a homography algorithm prior to generating the disparity image.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein the dental image processing device is configured to process dental images using a homography algorithm prior to generating the disparity map image.
9. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one actuator coupled to the X-ray source; and wherein the dental image processing device is configured to operate the at least one actuator based upon the first and second optical alignment devices.
10. A method for collecting dental imagery, the method comprising:
inserting a dental image collection device in a patient's mouth comprising a mouthpiece, at least one electronic X-ray sensor carried by the mouthpiece, and a second optical alignment device carried by the mouthpiece, the dental image collection device being coupled to a dental image processing device;
aligning an X-ray source with the mouthpiece by optically aligning a first optical alignment device and the second optical alignment device; and
using the X-ray source and a dental image processing device to collect X-ray data from the electronic X-ray sensor to generate a disparity map image using parallax from overlapping viewpoints of a given area from dental images collected at different times.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein the first optical alignment device comprises an optical target; and wherein the second optical alignment device comprises at least one optical source.
12. The method of claim 9 wherein the first optical alignment device comprises at least one optical detector; and wherein the second optical alignment device comprises at least one optical source.
13. The method of claim 9 wherein the first optical alignment device is carried by the X-ray source.
14. The method of claim 9 further comprising processing the dental images using a homography algorithm with the dental image processing device prior to generating the disparity map image.