IP Library Granted Patent US 11,246,689
Granted Patent B2
US 11,246,689 · App. 17/133,344 · Granted Feb 15, 2022

Intraoral scanning system with registration warnings

Inventor: Adi Levin (Nes Tziona, IL)
Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
A61C9/0053A61B1/00045A61B1/24
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,246,689
App. No.
17/133,344
Granted
Feb 15, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A processing device receives one or more images of an intraoral cavity of a patient generated by measuring one or more characteristics of returning light, the returning light having been reflected off one or more surfaces within the intraoral cavity. The processing device subsequently receives an additional image of the intraoral cavity of the patient. The processing device compares the additional image to the one or more previously received images and determines, based on a result of the comparing, that a criterion is not satisfied. The processing device displays image data from at least one of a) the one or more images or b) the additional image. The processing device further displays one or more visual indicators, the one or more visual indicators comprising a warning indicator indicating a potential problem associated with the criterion not being satisfied.

Claims (60)

1. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processing unit, cause the processing unit to perform operations for guiding scanning of an intraoral cavity of a patient, the operations comprising:

receiving one or more images of the intraoral cavity of the patient generated by measuring one or more characteristics of returning light, the returning light having been reflected off one or more surfaces within the intraoral cavity;

subsequently receiving an additional image of the intraoral cavity of the patient;

comparing the additional image to the one or more previously received images;

determining, based on a result of the comparing, that a criterion is not satisfied;

displaying image data from at least one of a) the one or more images or b) the additional image; and

displaying one or more visual indicators, the one or more visual indicators comprising a warning indicator indicating a potential problem associated with the criterion not being satisfied.

2. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more images and the additional image comprise three-dimensional data.

3. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more images and the additional image are viewfinder images.

4. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , further comprising:

generating a three-dimensional model of the one or more surfaces within the intraoral cavity using topographical information associated with at least one of a) the one or more images or b) the additional image; and

outputting the three-dimensional model to a display.

5. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more images and the additional image are color images.

6. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more images and the additional image comprise topographical information of the one or more surfaces.

7. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , further comprising:

performing a registration operation between the additional image and the one or more images; and

determining that the registration operation has failed, wherein failure of the registration operation results in the criterion not being satisfied.

8. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , the operations further comprising:

receiving a new image of the intraoral cavity;

comparing the new image to the one or more previously captured images;

determining that the criterion is satisfied with respect to the new image; and

updating the one or more visual indicators, the updated one or more visual indicators lacking the warning indicator.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the warning indicator comprises a first coloring or shading.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the one or more visual indicators provide real-time visual guidance of scanning coverage during scanning of the intraoral cavity.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , the operations further comprising:

determining an amount of overlap between the additional image and at least one of the one or more previously captured images based on the comparing;

wherein the criterion is an overlap threshold, and wherein the warning indicator indicates that the amount of overlap is smaller than the overlap threshold.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , the operations further comprising:

outputting an audible warning responsive to determining that the criterion is not satisfied.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , the operations further comprising:

guiding a positioning of an intraoral scanner within the intraoral cavity at least in part using the one or more visual indicators.

14. A system comprising:

a memory; and

a processing device operatively connected to the memory, the processing device to:

receive one or more images of an intraoral cavity of a patient generated by measuring one or more characteristics of returning light, the returning light having been reflected off one or more surfaces within the intraoral cavity;

subsequently receive an additional image of the intraoral cavity of the patient;

make a comparison between the additional image and the one or more previously received images;

determine, based on a result of the comparison, that a criterion is not satisfied;

display image data from at least one of a) the one or more images or b) the additional image; and

display one or more visual indicators, the one or more visual indicators comprising a warning indicator indicating a potential problem associated with the criterion not being satisfied.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein each of the one or more images and the additional image comprise three-dimensional data.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein each of the one or more images and the additional image are viewfinder images.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the processing device is further to:

generate a three-dimensional model of the one or more surfaces within the intraoral cavity using topographical information associated with at least one of a) the one or more images or b) the additional image; and

output the three-dimensional model to a display.

18. The system of claim 14 , wherein each of the one or more images and the additional image are color images.

19. The system of claim 14 , wherein each of the one or more images and the additional image comprise topographical information of the one or more surfaces.

20. The system of claim 14 , wherein the processing device is further to:

perform a registration operation between the additional image and the one or more images; and

determine that the registration operation has failed, wherein failure of the registration operation results in the criterion not being satisfied.

21. The system of claim 14 , wherein the processing device is further to:

capture a new image of the intraoral cavity;

compare the new image to the one or more previously captured images;

determine that the criterion is satisfied with respect to the new image; and

update the one or more visual indicators, the updated one or more visual indicators lacking the warning indicator.

22. The system of claim 14 , wherein the warning indicator comprises a first coloring or shading.

23. The system of claim 14 , wherein the one or more visual indicators provide real-time visual guidance of scanning coverage during scanning of the intraoral cavity.

24. The system of claim 14 , wherein the processing device is further to:

determine an amount of overlap between the additional image and at least one of the one or more previously captured images based on the comparing;

wherein the criterion is an overlap threshold, and wherein the warning indicator indicates that the amount of overlap is smaller than the overlap threshold.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 24, 2020
From: LEVIN, ADI
To: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 054747/0617 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 16842645 · Apr 7, 2020
Continuation 16599589 · Oct 11, 2019
Continuation 15974072 · May 8, 2018
Continuation 15645243 · Jul 10, 2017
Continuation 14463464 · Aug 19, 2014
Related Publication 20210113309A1 · Apr 22, 2021
Cited By (1)
US 12,697,192