Method for generating an intraoral volume image
View Patent ↗A method for obtaining an intraoral x-ray image determines an initial spatial position and angular orientation of an x-ray source relative to a detector. A first x-ray image is obtained with the x-ray source at the initial spatial position and angular orientation and stored, associating the initial spatial position and angular orientation to the first x-ray image. A sequence repeats that calculates a next spatial position and angular orientation for the x-ray source, provides positional adjustment information between the x-ray source and detector for obtaining a next x-ray image, measures and records the actual spatial position and angular orientation of the x-ray source relative to the detector and obtains and stores the next x-ray image at the measured spatial position and angular orientation, and forms a composite image using image data from the first and from the one or more next x-ray images.
1. A method for obtaining an intraoral x-ray image for a patient, comprising:
determining an initial spatial position and an initial angular orientation of an x-ray source relative to a detector that is disposed within the mouth of the patient;
obtaining and storing a first x-ray image from the detector with the x-ray source at the initial spatial position and angular orientation and associating the initial spatial position and angular orientation to the first x-ray image;
repeating, one or more times, a sequence of:
(i) calculating a next spatial position and a next angular orientation for the x-ray source relative to the detector;
(ii) providing information that is indicative of positional adjustment that is between the x-ray source and detector for obtaining a next x-ray image at the next spatial position and the next angular orientation; and
(iii) measuring and recording an actual spatial position and angular orientation of the x-ray source relative to the detector and obtaining and storing the next x-ray image obtained at the measured spatial position and angular orientation; and
forming a composite image using image data from the first x-ray image and from the one or more next x-ray images.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein providing information that is indicative of positional adjustment comprises projecting an image onto a portion of the patient.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein providing information that is indicative of positional adjustment comprises displaying information on a computer monitor.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein providing information that is indicative of positional adjustment comprises providing an audible cue.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying the composite image as a volume image.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the positional adjustment is obtained by moving the X-ray source.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the positional adjustment is obtained by moving the patient.
8. The method of claim 2 wherein the image that is projected onto the portion of the patient changes according to adjustment of the angular orientation.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the projected image content changes in one or more of color, blinking, a pattern, an animation, an alphanumeric value display, one or more directional indicators, and one or more icons.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the measured spatial position and angular orientation are stored in the same data structure that stores the image data.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein the measured spatial position and angular orientation are stored separately from the image data.
12. The method of claim 1 further comprising correcting motion artifacts using the spatial position and angular orientation.
13. The method of claim 1 further comprising fixing the position of the detector within the mouth of the patient.
14. A method for obtaining a volume intraoral x-ray image for a patient, comprising:
a) calculating a spatial position of an intraoral image detector relative to an x-ray source by detecting the location of one or more detectable elements that are positionally associated with either the intraoral image detector or the x-ray source;
b) providing information that is indicative of positional adjustment that is between the x-ray source and detector for obtaining a next x-ray image at a next spatial position and at a next angular orientation;
c) obtaining X-ray image data from the intraoral image detector and storing the image data and associated information relating to a measured position of the X-ray source to the detector;
d) repeating steps a), b), and c) one or more times for subsequent changes in the relative position of the X-ray source to the detector; and
e) generating the volume image according to the x-ray image data and information relating to the corresponding measured positions of the X-ray source to the detector.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein providing information that is indicative of positional adjustment comprises projecting a visible image toward the patient according to the calculated detector position, wherein the projected image is a guide for aiming the X-ray source toward the intraoral image detector.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein projecting an image comprises using solid-state illumination.
17. The method of claim 14 wherein detecting the location of one or more detectable elements comprises sensing a radio-frequency signal.
18. The method of claim 14 wherein detecting the location of one or more detectable elements comprises either: (a) sensing an emitted light signal, or (b) sensing a magnet.
19. The method of claim 15 wherein projecting an image comprises using a digital micromirror array or a liquid crystal device.
20. The method of claim 15 wherein the projected image (a) is a color image, or (b) varies in appearance according to an alignment offset between the x-ray source and the intraoral image detector.