Method for implant surgery using augmented visualization

A dental imaging apparatus, comprising:

• a computerized tomography scanning apparatus that obtains a volume image of a patient from a plurality of two-dimensional images taken at different angles relative to the patient;
• a host processor that is in signal communication with the computerized tomography scanning apparatus and that is adapted to generate the volume image from the plurality of two-dimensional images;
• a first display that is in signal communication with the host processor and that provides an operator interface that is adapted to display positioning of at least a drill hole relative to the volume image;
• and
• a second display of a head mounted device that is in signal communication with the host processor, wherein the second display is worn by an observer and further comprises at least a first camera that is adapted to acquire an image of the visual field of the observer, the second display enabling viewing at least a portion in stereoscopic form on a head-mounted device worn by the observer along with a real-world view from the head mounted device and tracking patient position so that the displayed portion of the implant plan is registered to the patient dentition anatomy that lies in the observer's field of view and at least a portion of the implant plan is superimposed on the real-world view on the patient dentition anatomy in the observer's field of view, where the location of the planned drill hole is highlighted on the second display, and
• the second display enabling displaying an indicator in the observer's field of view from the head-mounted device, wherein the indicator's appearance relates to one or more of the relative distance of the dental drill to the displayed drill hole, the angle of the dental drill relative to the displayed drill hole, and the relative depth of the drill hole, wherein the displayed indicator indicates a recommended change in the positioning of the dental drill, wherein tracking patient mouth anatomy comprises tracking the visible marker, wherein the marker is radio-opaque, wherein the marker is a first marker and wherein there is a second marker coupled to the dental drill, wherein the displayed indicator appears near the drill in the display from the head-mounted device, wherein the displayed indicator is a moiré pattern that is patterned to change its appearance according to the angle at which it is viewed, wherein the displayed indicator indicates a recommended change in the positioning of the dental drill.

A method for drill placement for a dental drill procedure for implant treatment of a patient, comprising:

• acquiring a volume image of patient dentition anatomy;
• superimposing an image of a planned drill hole on a display of the acquired volume image according to observer instructions to form an implant plan;
• displaying at least a portion of the implant plan in stereoscopic form on a head-mounted device worn by the observer along with a real-world view from the head mounted device and tracking patient position so that the displayed portion of the implant plan is registered to the patient dentition anatomy that lies in the observer's field of view and at least a portion of the implant plan is superimposed on the real-world view in the observer's field of view;
• and
• highlighting the location of the planned drill hole on the head-mounted device display, the method further comprising
• displaying an indicator in the observer's field of view from the head-mounted device, wherein the indicator's appearance relates to one or more of the relative distance of the dental drill to the displayed drill hole, the angle of the dental drill relative to the displayed drill hole, and the relative depth of the drill hole, wherein the displayed indicator indicates a recommended change in the positioning of the dental drill, wherein tracking patient mouth anatomy comprises tracking the visible marker, wherein the marker is radio-opaque, wherein the marker is a first marker and wherein there is a second marker coupled to the dental drill, wherein the displayed indicator appears near the drill in the display from the head-mounted device, wherein the displayed indicator is a moiré pattern that is patterned to change its appearance according to the angle at which it is viewed, wherein the displayed indicator indicates a recommended change in the positioning of the dental drill.