# US 11,122,255 B2 · Systems and methods for using native references in custom object design

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- Number: US 11,122,255 B2
- Document ID: US11122255B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/797,631
- Filed: 2020-02-21
- Published: 2020-07-23
- Granted: 2021-09-14
- Earliest claimed: 2015-10-09
- Assignees: Lantos Technologies, Inc.
- Applicants: Lantos Technologies, Inc.
- Inventors: Robert J. Fei; Michael L. Rishton; Jonathan Aguilar; Lydia Gregoret; Keith Guggenberger; Brett Zubiate; Brian J. Fligor; Xiaowei Chen; David J. Wilfert
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11122255B2

## CPC

- H04N 13/25: using two or more image sensors with different characteristics other than in their location or field of view, e.g. having different resolutions or colour pickup characteristics; using image signals from one sensor to control the characteristics of another sensor
- A61B 1/00172: {with means for scanning}
- A61B 1/227: for ears, i.e. otoscopes
- A61B 5/0064: {Body surface scanning}
- A61B 5/0073: {by tomography, i.e. reconstruction of 3D images from 2D projections (A61B5/0066 takes precedence)}
- A61B 5/1076: {for measuring dimensions inside body cavities, e.g. using catheters (A61B3/1005 takes precedence)}
- A61B 5/1077: {Measuring of profiles}
- A61B 5/1079: {using optical or photographic means}
- A61B 5/6817: {Ear canal}
- A61B 5/7203: {for noise prevention, reduction or removal}
- B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing
- B33Y 30/00: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor
- B33Y 50/00: Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing
- H04N 13/254: in combination with electromagnetic radiation sources for illuminating objects
- H04R 1/1016: {Earpieces of the intra-aural type}
- H04R 1/1058: {Manufacture or assembly}
- H04R 25/658: {Manufacture of housing parts}
- A61B 5/0071: {by measuring fluorescence emission}
- A61B 5/1127: {using markers}
- H04N 23/51: Housings
- H04N 23/555: {for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes}
- H04R 25/652: {Ear tips; Ear moulds (hybrid ear moulds or post-processing thereof for their customisation H04R25/659)}
- H04R 2460/15: Determination of the acoustic seal of ear moulds or ear tips of hearing devices
- H04R 2460/17: Hearing device specific tools used for storing or handling hearing devices or parts thereof, e.g. placement in the ear, replacement of cerumen barriers, repair, cleaning hearing devices
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING
- H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K)

## Abstract

A system includes a first scanner comprising an inflatable membrane configured to be inflated with a medium to conform an exterior surface of the inflatable membrane to an interior shape of a cavity, the medium attenuating, at a first rate per unit length, light having a first optical wavelength, and at a second rate per unit length, light having a second optical wavelength. The system comprises an emitter and detector configured to generate and receive light from the interior surface of the inflatable membrane, respectively. A processor is configured to generate a first electronic representation of the interior shape and a second electronic representation of a second shape based on the received light. A design computer is configured to combine the first and second electronic representation into a combined electronic representation corresponding to at least a portion of the interior shape based on at least one or more native references.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
performing a first scan, with at least a first scanner, of an interior shape of a cavity, comprising:
inflating an inflatable membrane with a medium, wherein the inflating of the inflatable membrane conforms an exterior surface of the inflatable membrane to the interior shape of the cavity;
generating light from an emitter to at least illuminate an interior surface of the inflatable membrane;
detecting, at a detector, light from the interior surface of the inflatable membrane, the light comprising a first optical wavelength and a second optical wavelength;
actuating, between an extended position and a retracted position, a scanning tip, the scanning tip comprising the emitter and the detector and the scanning tip being actuated during the generation and detection of the light; and
generating, at a processor, a first electronic representation of the interior shape, the generating being based at least on the detected light;
performing a second scan of a second shape proximate to the cavity, the second scan of the second shape generating a second electronic representation of the second shape;
modifying, at a design computer, the first electronic representation into a three-dimensional shape corresponding to at least a portion of the interior shape;
identifying, based at least on the second electronic representation, one or more native references within the interior shape and the second shape; and
generating, at the design computer, based at least on the one or more native references, a combined electronic representation comprising the first electronic representation and the second electronic representation.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more native references comprises one or more specific portions of ear anatomy.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more specific portions of the ear anatomy comprises one or more from the group consisting of: a concha and an eardrum.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
fabricating, at a fabricator, an object adapted to conform to the cavity, wherein the fabricating is based at least on the combined electronic representation.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the second scan is performed by a second scanner, wherein the second scanner comprises at least one of a structured light source and a camera, and a laser rangefinder.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising: illuminating the interior surface with a structured light source, the structured light source emitting light having spatial variations of intensity or wavelength; imaging the illuminated interior surface with a camera, the imaging generating one or more images resulting from the light with spatial variations; and
generating, based at least on the one or more images, the second electronic representation of the interior surface.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first electronic representation is generated based at least on measurements of absorption of the light at the first optical wavelength and measurements of absorption of the light at the second optical wavelength.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the fabricating comprises at least one of:
forming, based at least on the interior shape, a mold for the object; fabricating the object with a three-dimensional printer or a digital light processing system; and adding, with a second apparatus, one or more additional components to the object, the one or more additional components comprising at least one component for delivering sound to an area proximal to the object.

### Claim 9

A method comprising:
performing a first scan, with at least a first scanner, of an interior shape of a cavity, the first scan of the interior shape comprising:
detecting, at a detector, light comprising a first optical wavelength and a second optical wavelength the detected light generated by at least one of:
detecting structured light generated from a pattern imprinted on an interior surface of an inflatable membrane; or
emitting, by an emitter, structured light to form a pattern on the interior surface of the inflatable membrane conforming to an interior shape of an ear and the detected light generated by reflection of the structured light from the interior surface;
actuating, between an extended position and a retracted position, a scanning tip, the scanning tip comprising the emitter and the detector and the scanning tip being actuated during the generation and detection of the light; and
generating, at a processor, a first electronic representation of the interior shape, the generating being based at least on the detected structured light;
performing a second scan of a second shape proximate to the cavity, the second scan of the second shape generates a second electronic representation of the second shape;
identifying, based at least on the second electronic representation, one or more native references within the interior shape and the second shape;
generating, at a design computer, based at least on the one or more native references, a combined electronic representation comprising the first electronic representation and the second electronic representation; and
modifying, at the design computer, the combined electronic representation into a three-dimensional shape corresponding to at least a portion of the interior shape.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more native references comprises one or more specific portions of ear anatomy.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more specific portions of the ear anatomy comprises one or more from the group consisting of: a concha and an eardrum.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising:
fabricating, at a fabricator, an object adapted to conform to the cavity, wherein the fabricating is based at least on the combined electronic representation.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the second scan is performed by a second scanner, wherein the second scanner comprises at least one of a structured light source and a camera, and a laser rangefinder.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising: illuminating the interior surface with a structured light source, the structured light source emitting light having spatial variations of intensity or wavelength; imaging the illuminated interior surface with a camera, the imaging generating one or more images resulting from the light with spatial variations; and generating, based at least on the one or more images, the second electronic representation of the interior surface.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the first electronic representation is generated based at least on measurements of absorption of the light at the first optical wavelength and measurements of absorption of the light at the second optical wavelength.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the fabricating comprises at least one of:
forming, based at least on the interior shape, a mold for the object; fabricating the object with a three-dimensional printer or a digital light processing system; and adding, with a second apparatus, one or more additional components to the object, the one or more additional components comprising at least one component for delivering sound to an area proximal to the object.