Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02919728 2016-01-28
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING USER FEEDBACK INDICATIONS
DURING INTRA-ORAL SCANNING PROCESS
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001]
This invention relates generally to intra-oral scanning processes for
obtaining a scan of a patient's teeth that may be used in dental treatment
procedures, including dental appliances. More specifically, this invention
relates to
feedback indications provided to an operator during an intra-oral scanning
process
using a dental appliance.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
[0002]
Devices for scanning intra-oral region, such as a plurality of teeth or a
dental cast to provide a 3D scan are known already.
[0003]
Current intra-oral scanning devices require the user to look at a monitor
during the scanning process to assess if data is being captured appropriately.
Forcing the operator to look away from the oral cavity during the scan process
can
lead to problems and inefficiencies.
[0004]
There is therefore a need for more effective intra-oral scanning device that
allows the operator of an intra-oral scanner to receive all or most of the
information
needed to complete the scanning portion of the process without needing to look
at a
monitor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In
an aspect there is provided an intra-oral scanning system
comprising: a hand piece comprising a scanning head with one or more
projectors
for projecting light onto an oral region and image sensors for detecting
reflected light
in said oral region; a computer system operatively connected to said hand
piece for
receiving data from said image sensors, said data being representative of a
scanned
area in said oral region, said computer system for imaging a 3D representation
of
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said scanned area; a display assembly operatively connected to said computer
system for displaying said 3D representation of said scanned area; a
transducer
operatively connected to said computer system for emitting a visual, audible
and/or
vibratory signal that provides information related to a status of said
scanning system.
[0006] In
another aspect there is provided a method for intra-oral scanning,
comprising: scanning an oral region by means of a hand piece comprising a
scanning head with one or more projectors for projecting light onto an oral
region
and image sensors for detecting reflected light in said oral region; receiving
data
from said image sensors at a computer system, said data being representative
of a
scanned area in said oral region; imaging a 3D representation of said scanned
area
by means of said data and computer system; displaying said 3D representation
of
said scanned area by means of a display assembly operatively connected to said
computer system; emitting a visual, audible and/or vibratory signal by means
of a
transducer operatively connected said computer system for providing
information
related to said scanning or said receiving.
[0007] A
preferred advantage of the present invention is that the operator of the
intra-oral scanner system receives all or most of the information needed to
properly
complete the scanning portion of the process without needing to look at a
monitor or
to look away from the oral cavity during the scanning procedure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The
invention will be better understood by way of the following detailed
description of embodiments of the invention with reference to the appended
drawings, in which:
[0009]
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an intra-oral scanning system, according
to an embodiment of the invention;
[0010]
Figure 2 is a perspective view of an intra-oral scanning hand piece,
according to an embodiment of the invention;
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[0011] Figure 2A is a front view of the intra-oral scanning hand piece
shown in
Figure 2;
[0012] Figure 3 is a back view of the intra-oral scanning hand piece shown
in
Figure 2;
[0013] Figures 4 and 5 are respective left and right side views of the
intra-oral
scanning hand piece shown in Figure 2;
[0014] Figure 6 is a top view of the intra-oral scanning hand piece shown
in
Figure 2;
[0015] Figure 7 is a front view of a wearable glass used in another
embodiment of
the present invention;
[0016] Figure 8 is a block diagram of a system for intra-oral scanning,
according
to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0017] Figure 9 is a flowchart of a method for intra-oral scanning,
according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0018] Referring now to Figures 1 and 8, there is shown an intra-oral
scanning
system 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The
system 10 includes a hand piece 20 that is to be manipulated by an operator,
such
as a dentist or technician, while performing the scanning of an oral region
80.
[0019] Referring now to Figures 2 to 6, the hand piece 20 includes a
scanning
head 22 that is preferably curved inwards with respect to the oral region 80
to be
scanned. As best shown in Figures and 2 and 2A, the scanning head 22 has a
plurality of projectors 24 for projecting light onto the oral region 80 and
image
sensors 26 for detecting reflected light in the oral region 80. The projectors
24 may
include LED lights or other suitable light sources and the image sensors 26
may be
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CMOS sensors. The purpose of the projectors 24 and image sensors 26 is to
generate stereoscopic images of the oral region 80.
[0020] Referring back to Figures 1 and 8, a computer system 30, such as a
general purpose computer, is operatively connected to the hand piece 20 for
receiving data from the image sensors 26 (shown in Figures 2 and 2A). The hand
piece 20 is shown operatively connected to the computer system 30 via a
communication cable 24, which also provides electric power to the hand piece
20. Of
course, it is possible that communication from the hand piece 20 to the
computer
system 30 be wireless, but this would require a separate power source in the
hand
piece 20 such as a rechargeable battery, which is more expensive. The computer
system 30 is shown mounted inside a base 32 that is provided with wheels 34.
During operation of the system 10, the scanning head 22 is directed toward the
oral
region 80 of a patient, light is projected in the oral region 80 by the
projectors 24 and
light reflected is captured by the image sensors 26. The data captured by the
image
sensors 26 is representative of a scanned area in the oral region 80. The
computer
system 30 images a 3D representation of the scanned area. A display assembly
40,
such as a monitor, that is operatively connected to the computer system 30
displays
the 3D representation 82 of the scanned area. A transducer is operatively
connected
to the computer system 30 for emitting a visual, audible and/or vibratory
signal that
provides information related to a status of the scanning system 10.
[0021] In one embodiment and referring back to Figures 2, 2A and 8, the
transducer may include a one or more sets of lights 50 or illumination sources
that
are mounted on the hand piece 20. The lights 50 may define a ring in a middle
portion of the hand piece 20. These lights 50 or illumination sources may turn
on or
off automatically depending on a status of the scanning system 10. The
illumination
sources may project the light intra-orally or extra-orally with respect to the
oral region
80 to inform the operator of the hand piece 20 about a status of the system
10. The
illumination sources or lights 50 may change colour depending on the status of
the
scanning system 10. For example, the lights 50 may be red if the system 10 is
not
ready to operate properly and the lights 50 may change to green when the
system
is ready and operational. In general, the information provided by the lights
50 may
provide an indication to the operator that the system 10 or any part of the
system 10
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is on or off. The lights 50 may also provide an indication that the scanning
head 22 is
in an appropriate location relative to the patient's teeth. The light 50 may
also
provide an indication that the system 10 is capturing data and that the data
is of an
appropriate quality or that the system 10 is operating nominally, or that the
handle
piece 20 or scanning head 22 is overheating. The lights 50 mat also provide an
indication that the handle piece 20 or scanning head 22 is damaged. The lights
50
may also indicate that the handle piece 20 is being moved too quickly or too
slowly
with respect to a predetermined operational velocity of the scanning head 22.
The
lights 50 may also indicate that the scanning head 22 needs to be moved closer
or
further away from the teeth. The lights 50 may also indicate that the operator
needs
to refer to the monitor for further information.
[0022] In another embodiment and referring back to Figures 2A and 8, the
transducer may include a vibration device 52 mounted on the hand piece 20 for
emitting a vibratory signal that may be sensed by the operator of the hand
piece 20.
The vibration device 52 could also be located on a foot pedal used by the
operator of
the hand piece 20 or on any other object in contact with the operator of the
hand
piece 20. Again, the vibration device 52 may provide the operator with similar
indications as the lights 50, as explained above.
[0023] In another embodiment and referring back to Figures 1 and 8, the
transducer may include a speaker 42 for emitting an audible signal. The
speaker 42
may be part of the computer system 30 or the display assembly 40 or mounted on
the hand piece 20 or may be located in any other convenient location so that
it can
be heard by the operator of the hand piece 20. The speaker 42 may audibly
inform
the operator of the handle piece 20 of different information related to the
scanning
procedures. Again, the speaker 42 may inform the operator about similar
indications
as the lights 50, as explained above. For example, the speaker 42 may emit a
voiced
message indicating that the operator needs to refer to the display assembly 40
or
monitor for further information.
[0024] Referring now to Figure 7, there is shown a set of wearable glasses
100 or
googles that may be used by the operator of the hand piece 20. In this
alterative
embodiment, the display assembly 40 instead of being a monitor may be
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incorporated into the wearable glasses 100. The wearable glasses have two see-
through screens 110a, 110b that transmit light such that the operator can
directly see
the real environment in front of his/her eyes through the see-through screens
110a,
110b. An image of the scanned region is projected on each see-through screen
110a, 110b. The images provided on the right and the left eye corresponds to a
graphical representation of the scanned region in stereoscopy such that the
scanned
region appears in three-dimensions to the operator of the hand piece 20. Such
wearable glasses 100 may be similar to those disclosed in W02008/092230.
[0025] Referring back to Figure 8, the scanning head 22 includes a
temperature
sensor 84 for detecting a temperature of the oral region 80. This sensor 84 is
useful
for preventing the scanning head 22 to become steamed up by the water vapor
that
is present inside the oral region 80. As the system 10 is turned on, the
scanning
head 22 is automatically heated to a temperature ranging from about 30 to 40
degrees Celsius, which is monitored by the temperature sensor 84. Once the
temperature in the scanning head 22 has reached a predetermined temperature,
the
operator may be informed via one of the transducers. The hand piece 20 may
also
include another temperature sensor 86 to monitor the temperature inside the
hand
piece 20. As the hand piece 20 is used over several minutes by the operator,
the
hand piece 20 may overheat and the operator may be informed of this situation
by
means of one the transducers, as explained above.
[0026] Referring now to Figure 9 and back to Figures 1 and 8, there is
shown a
flowchart of a method for intra-oral scanning, according to an embodiment of
the
present invention. The method begins by scanning 90 an oral region by means of
the
hand piece 20 with the scanning head 22 including the projectors 24 for
projecting
light onto the oral region 80 and image sensors 26 for detecting reflected
light in the
oral region. The method includes receiving 92 data from the image sensors 26
at the
computer system 30. The data is representative of a scanned area in the oral
region
80. The method includes imaging 94 a 3D representation of the scanned area by
means of the data and computer system 30. The method includes displaying 96
the
3D representation of the scanned area by means of the display assembly 40 that
is
operatively connected to the computer system 30. The method includes emitting
98
a visual, audible and/or vibratory signal by means of a transducer operatively
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connected the computer system 30 for providing information related to said
scanning
90 or said receiving 92.
[0027] As explained above, an advantage of the present invention is that
the
operator of the intra-oral scanner system receives all or most of the
information
needed to properly complete the scanning portion of the process without
needing to
look at a monitor or to look away from the oral cavity during the scanning
procedure
[0028] Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way
of
specific embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without departing from the
spirit
and nature of the subject invention as defined in the appended claims.
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