# US 11,304,785 B2 · System and method for scanning an intraoral cavity > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,304,785 B2 - Document ID: US11304785B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/179,601 - Filed: 2018-11-02 - Published: 2019-08-22 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2005-03-03 - Assignees: Align Technology, Inc. - Applicants: Align Technology, Inc. - Inventors: Avi Kopelman; Eldad Taub; Noam Babayoff - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11304785B2 ## CPC - A61C 9/0066: {Depth determination through adaptive focusing} - A61B 5/1077: {Measuring of profiles} - A61B 5/4547: {Evaluating teeth} - A61B 5/743: {Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots} - A61C 5/77: Methods or devices for making crowns - A61C 7/002: {Orthodontic computer assisted systems} - A61C 9/006: {projecting one or more stripes or patterns on the teeth} - A61C 9/008: {Mechanical means or methods, e.g. a contact probe moving over the teeth} - A61C 13/0004: {Computer-assisted sizing or machining of dental prostheses} - G01B 11/24: for measuring contours or curvatures - G16H 50/50: for simulation or modelling of medical disorders - G16Z 99/00: Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass - A61C: DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE (non-driven toothbrushes A46B; {tongue scrapers A61B17/24;} preparations for dentistry A61K6/00; preparations for cleaning the teeth or mouth A61K8/00, A61Q11/00) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA - G16Z: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SPECIFIC APPLICATION FIELDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract According to the invention, a method and system are provided for scanning, and for facilitating scanning of, an intraoral cavity. The target parts of the intraoral cavity that it is desired to have scanned are identified, and the spatial s relationships between a scanning device and the target parts of the intraoral cavity suitable for enabling said target parts to be scanned by said scanning device, are also identified or otherwise determined. These relationships are then displayed, and the displayed relationships are used as a guide for scanning the intraoral cavity. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for scanning an intraoral cavity for providing 3D data thereof, the system comprising: an intraoral scanning device; a processor, wherein the processor is configured to identify target parts of the intraoral cavity separate from ancillary parts of the intraoral cavity; generate a plurality of spatial relationships between the intraoral scanning device and the target parts and the ancillary parts, wherein the spatial relationships are determined for enabling 3D data of the target parts to be obtained by subsequently scanning the target parts and the ancillary parts by the intraoral scanning device; and stitch the 3D data together to provide a composite 3D virtual model comprising 3D data configured for display on a display screen, wherein 3D scan data for the target parts are configured to be displayed at a first resolution and 3D scan data for the ancillary parts are configured to be displayed at a second resolution, wherein the first resolution is higher than the second resolution; and the display screen, wherein the display screen is configured to receive and display the 3D virtual model. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the intraoral scanning device is configured to scan the target parts and the ancillary parts according to the generated plurality of spatial relationships. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein providing the composite 3D virtual model provides the composite 3D model of the target parts and the ancillary parts for use in a predetermined procedure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the procedure is a prosthodontic procedure for a crown with respect to a preparation, the target parts comprising the preparation, and the ancillary parts comprising at least a portion of the teeth adjacent to the preparation and facing the preparation from the opposed jaw. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the procedure is a prosthodontic procedure for a bridge with respect to a plurality of preparations, the target parts comprising the preparations, and the ancillary parts comprising at least a portion of the teeth adjacent to a furthermost distal preparation and adjacent a furthermost mesial preparation, and at least a portion of the teeth facing the preparations from the opposed jaw. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the procedure is an orthodontic procedure, and the target parts comprise the full dentition of at least one jaw of the intraoral cavity. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein generating the plurality of spatial relationships comprises, for each target part and each ancillary part, determining for the scanning device a series of spatial parameters, each comprising a scanning station data sufficient for enabling the scanner to fully scan the corresponding target part or ancillary part. ### Claim 8 A system for scanning an intraoral cavity for providing 3D data thereof, the system comprising: an intraoral scanning device; a processor, wherein the processor is configured to identify target parts of the intraoral cavity separate from ancillary parts of the intraoral cavity; generate a plurality of spatial relationships between the intraoral scanning device and the target parts and the ancillary parts, wherein the spatial relationships are determined for enabling 3D data of the target parts to be obtained by subsequently scanning the target parts and the ancillary parts by the intraoral scanning device; and stitch the 3D data together to provide a composite 3D virtual model comprising 3D data configured for display on a display screen, wherein 3D scan data for the target parts are configured to be displayed at a first resolution and 3D scan data for the ancillary parts are configured to be displayed at a second resolution, wherein the first resolution is higher than the second resolution; and the display screen, wherein the display screen is configured to receive and display the 3D virtual model; wherein generating the plurality of spatial relationships comprises, for each target part and each ancillary part, determining for the scanning device a series of spatial parameters, each comprising a scanning station data sufficient for enabling the scanner to fully scan the corresponding target part or ancillary part; and wherein the scanning station data of the series of spatial parameters includes a proximity and a relative orientation of the scanner with respect to the target part or ancillary part such as to enable the scanner to obtain 3D topographical data of an area of the target part or ancillary part. ### Claim 9 A system for scanning an intraoral cavity for providing 3D data thereof, the system comprising: an intraoral scanning device; a processor, wherein the processor is configured to identify target parts of the intraoral cavity separate from ancillary parts of the intraoral cavity; generate a plurality of spatial relationships between the intraoral scanning device and the target parts and the ancillary parts, wherein the spatial relationships are determined for enabling 3D data of the target parts to be obtained by subsequently scanning the target parts and the ancillary parts by the intraoral scanning device; and stitch the 3D data together to provide a composite 3D virtual model comprising 3D data configured for display on a display screen, wherein 3D scan data for the target parts are configured to be displayed at a first resolution and 3D scan data for the ancillary parts are configured to be displayed at a second resolution, wherein the first resolution is higher than the second resolution; and the display screen, wherein the display screen is configured to receive and display the 3D virtual model; wherein generating the plurality of spatial relationships comprises, for each target part and each ancillary part, determining for the scanning device a series of spatial parameters, each comprising a scanning station data sufficient for enabling the scanner to fully scan the corresponding target part or ancillary part; and wherein the series of spatial parameters provide 3D topographical data for a corresponding plurality of the areas, wherein the spatial parameters of the series are determined such that at least some adjacent the areas overlap one another. ### Claim 10 A system for scanning an intraoral cavity for providing 3D data thereof, the system comprising: an intraoral scanning device; a processor, wherein the processor is configured to identify target parts of the intraoral cavity separate from ancillary parts of the intraoral cavity; generate a plurality of spatial relationships between the intraoral scanning device and the target parts and the ancillary parts, wherein the spatial relationships are determined for enabling 3D data of the target parts to be obtained by subsequently scanning the target parts and the ancillary parts by the intraoral scanning device; stitch the 3D data together to provide a composite 3D virtual model comprising 3D data configured for display on a display screen, wherein 3D scan data for the target parts are configured to be displayed at a first resolution and 3D scan data for the ancillary parts are configured to be displayed at a second resolution, wherein the first resolution is higher than the second resolution; and output the spatial relationships on the display screen; and the display screen, wherein the display screen is configured to receive and display the 3D virtual model; wherein outputting the spatial relationships comprises displaying indicia on a viewfinder capable of providing a video image of the field of view of the scanner, the indicia being indicative of a desired position for associating a predetermined portion of the target parts or ancillary parts in a particular manner with respect therewith. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the indicia comprise an “+” or an “X”. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the indicia comprise a symbol representative of a profile corresponding to an expected view of the target part or ancillary part in the viewfinder. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the profile comprises a shaped line shaped as an outline of a tooth as seen by the viewfinder. ### Claim 14 A system for use in scanning an intraoral cavity for providing 3D data thereof, the system comprising: an intraoral scanning device; and a processor, wherein the processor is configured to identify a first set of data representative of target parts of the intraoral cavity separate from ancillary parts of the intraoral cavity; generate spatial data representative of spatial relationships between the intraoral scanning device and the target parts and the ancillary parts of the intraoral cavity, wherein the spatial relationships enable 3D data of the target parts and the ancillary parts to be obtained by scanning the target parts and ancillary parts with the intraoral scanning device, wherein the 3D data comprises 3D scan data for the target parts configured to be displayed at a first resolution and 3D scan data for the ancillary parts configured to be displayed at a second resolution, wherein the first resolution is higher than the second resolution; and output the 3D data for display on a display screen. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, further comprising a medium for storing the 3D data, wherein the medium comprises any one of optical discs, magnetic discs, and magnetic tapes. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the 3D data of the target parts and the ancillary parts are for use in a predetermined procedure. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the predetermined procedure is a prosthodontic procedure for a crown with respect to a preparation, the target parts comprising the preparation, and the ancillary parts comprising at least a portion of the teeth adjacent to the preparation and facing the preparation from the opposed jaw.