Method and apparatus for colour imaging a three-dimensional structure
AssigneeAlign Technology, Inc.
InventorNoam Babayoff
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device for determining the surface topology and associated color of a structure, such as a teeth segment, includes a scanner for providing depth data for points along a two-dimensional array substantially orthogonal to the depth direction, and an image acquisition means for providing color data for each of the points of the array, while the spatial disposition of the device with respect to the structure is maintained substantially unchanged. A processor combines the color data and depth data for each point in the array, thereby providing a three-dimensional color virtual model of the surface of the structure. A corresponding method for determining the surface topology and associate color of a structure is also provided.
Claims29
A system for generating a 3D model of an intraoral structure portion, the system comprising:
- a hand-held imaging device comprising a probe, focusing optics configured to scan a focal plane of the hand-held imaging device over a range of depths, an illuminator, and an image sensor configured to capture data of light returning from an intraoral structure portion over the range of depths of the intraoral structure portion, wherein the data includes depth data captured in response to illuminating the intraoral structure portion with light of a first wavelength and image data captured in response to illuminating the intraoral structure portion with light of a second wavelength, wherein light from the illuminator and light returning from the intraoral structure portion pass through the focusing optics;
- and
- one or more processors operably coupled to the hand-held imaging device, the one or more processors configured to cause the system to:
- receive at least two numerical entities representative of the intraoral structure portion and comprising the depth data and the image data;
- differentiate between depth data representing hard tissue of the intraoral structure portion and depth data representing soft tissue of the intraoral structure portion based on the image data;
- stitch the at least two numerical entities together based on a weighted registration of the depth data, the weight being based on the differentiation between the depth data representing the hard tissue and the depth data representing the soft tissue.
A method for generating a 3D model of an intraoral structure, the method comprising:
- illuminating the intraoral structure with a first light source;
- capturing a plurality of depth image data sets during the illumination with the first light source;
- illuminating the intraoral structure with a second light source;
- capturing a plurality of two-dimensional image data sets during the illumination with the second light source;
- differentiating between hard tissue in the plurality of depth image data sets and soft tissue in the plurality of depth image data sets based on the plurality of two-dimensional image data sets;
- and
- stitching the plurality of depth image data sets together based on the differentiation between the hard tissue and the soft tissue.
A system for determining surface characteristics of an intraoral structure portion, the system comprising:
- a hand-held imaging device comprising a probe, focusing optics configured to scan a focal plane of the hand-held imaging device over a range of depths, a first light source, a second light source, and an image sensor configured to capture depth image data of light returning from an intraoral structure portion over the range of depths in response to illuminating the intraoral structure portion with the first light source and capture two-dimensional image data in response to illuminating the intraoral structure portion with the second light source, wherein light from the first light source and light returning from the intraoral structure portion pass through the focusing optics;
- and
- one or more processors operably coupled to the hand-held imaging device, the one or more processors configured to cause the system to:
- receive a plurality of depth image data sets comprising light of a first wavelength;
- receive a plurality of two-dimensional image data sets comprising light of a second wavelength;
- differentiate between hard tissue in the plurality of depth image data sets and soft tissue in the plurality of depth image data sets based on the plurality of two-dimensional image data sets;
- and
- stitch the plurality of depth image data sets together based on the differentiation between the hard tissue and the soft tissue.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.