# US 11,432,781 B2 · Three dimensional x-ray imaging system

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- Number: US 11,432,781 B2
- Document ID: US11432781B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/610,203
- Filed: 2018-05-03
- Published: 2020-11-05
- Granted: 2022-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2017-05-03
- Assignees: 3DIO, Inc.
- Applicants: 3Dio, Inc.
- Inventors: D. Clark Turner; Douglas P. Hansen; Thomas L. Youd
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11432781B2

## CPC

- A61B 6/51: for dentistry
- A61B 6/512: {Intraoral means}
- A61B 6/025: {Tomosynthesis}
- A61B 6/032: {Transmission computed tomography [CT]}
- A61B 6/035: {Mechanical aspects of CT}
- A61B 6/4007: {characterised by using a plurality of source units}
- A61B 6/4085: {Cone-beams}
- A61B 6/4233: {using matrix detectors}
- A61B 6/4452: {the source unit and the detector unit being able to move relative to each other}
- A61B 6/4458: {the source unit or the detector unit being attached to robotic arms}
- A61B 6/4464: {the source unit or the detector unit being mounted to ceiling}
- A61B 6/486: {involving generating temporal series of image data}
- A61B 6/587: {Alignment of source unit to detector unit}
- A61B 6/0421: {with immobilising means}
- A61B 6/0478: {Chairs}
- A61B 6/5264: {due to motion}
- A61B 6/582: {Calibration}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

Three dimensional x-ray imaging systems are described in this application. In particular, this application describes a 3D dental intra-oral imaging (3DIO) system that collects a series of 2D image projections. The x-ray imaging system comprises a housing, an x-ray source attached to a articulating or motion gantry configured to move the source within the housing to multiple positions, an x-ray detector array located on an opposite side of an object to be imaged from the x-ray source, where the detector array is synchronized with the x-ray source to capture 2D images of the object when the x-ray source is located in multiple imaging positions, and a processor configured to accept the 2D images and reconstruct a 3D image. The multiple imaging positions can be located on a plane substantially parallel to the x-ray detector array. Other embodiments are described.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An x-ray imaging system, comprising:
an x-ray source attached to a motion gantry configured to move the x-ray source in a circular motion to multiple positions on a first side of an object to be imaged;
a counterweight attached to the motion gantry;
a substantially stationary x-ray detector array located on an opposite side of the object than the x-ray source, the detector array synchronized with the x-ray source to capture two dimensional (2D) images of the object when the x-ray source is located in the multiple positions; and
a processor configured to accept the 2D images and reconstruct a three-dimensional image.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the object is a single tooth or multiple teeth.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the counterweight comprises another x-ray source.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to use tomosynthesis algorithms to reconstruct the 3D image.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the tomosynthesis algorithms comprise an iterative process.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the movement of the x-ray source is partially or completely automated.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the system collects up to 1000 2D images.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the system collects 6 to 32 2D images.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the system collects 9 to 24 2D images.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the system re-positions the x-ray source between the multiple positions within about 40 ms to about 100 ms.

### Claim 11

A method for making a three dimensional image of an object, comprising:
providing an x-ray source on a motion gantry on a first side of an object to be imaged;
providing a counterweight attached to the motion gantry;
positioning a substantially stationary x-ray detector array on an opposite side of the object;
moving the x-ray source in a circular motion to multiple positions on that first side of the object;
collecting multiple two dimensional (2D) images of the object when the x-ray source is located in the multiple positions; and
reconstructing a three-dimensional (3D) image using the multiple 2D images.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the object is a single tooth or multiple teeth.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to use tomosynthesis algorithms to reconstruct the 3D image.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the tomosynthesis algorithms comprise an iterative process.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the counterweight comprises another x-ray source.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the movement of the x-ray source is partially or completely automated.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the system collects up to 1000 2D images.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the system collects 6 to 32 2D images.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the system re-positions the x-ray source between the multiple positions within about 40 ms to about 100 ms.

### Claim 20 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the entire process for image capture and 3D reconstruction for a single tooth can be completed in less than about 10 seconds.

### Claim 21 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the entire process for image capture and 3D reconstruction for a single tooth can be completed in less than about 5 seconds.