X-ray imaging method and system for reducing overlapping of neighboring teeth in panoramic images

A computer system for generating a panoramic image with reduced overlapping of neighboring teeth comprising at least one processor configured to:

• acquire a plurality of 2D x-ray images at a plurality of different radiographic directions by rotating an x-ray source and an x-ray detector around a jaw of a patient;
• identify one or more regions each including at least one pair of overlapping neighboring teeth in the plurality of 2D x-ray images and/or in temporary panoramic images reconstructed from the plurality of 2D x-ray images, among the plurality of different radiographic directions, which reduces an overlap in the panoramic image to be reconstructed;
• determine one or more optimal radiographic directions among the plurality of different radiographic directions of the plurality of 2D x-ray images which have the one or more regions each including at least one pair of overlapping neighboring teeth, to reduce overlaps in the panoramic image to be reconstructed;
• and
• reconstruct and present at least a portion of the panoramic image of the jaw using at least a portion of the plurality of 2D x-ray images with the one or more optimal radiographic directions.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium tangibly embodying a computer readable program code having computer readable instructions that, when executed, causes a processor to carry out a method of generating a panoramic image with reduced overlapping of neighboring teeth, comprising:

• acquiring a plurality of 2D x-ray images at a plurality of different radiographic directions by rotating an x-ray source and an x-ray detector around a jaw of a patient;
• identifying one or more regions each including at least one pair of overlapping neighboring teeth in the plurality of 2D x-ray images and/or in temporary panoramic images reconstructed from the plurality of 2D x-ray images, among the plurality of different radiographic directions, which reduces an overlap in the panoramic image to be reconstructed;
• determining one or more optimal radiographic directions among the plurality of different radiographic directions of the plurality of 2D x-ray images which have the one or more regions each including at least one pair of overlapping neighboring teeth, to reduce overlaps in the panoramic image to be reconstructed;
• and
• reconstructing and presenting at least a portion of the panoramic image of the jaw using at least a portion of the plurality of 2D x-ray images with the one or more optimal radiographic directions.

An x-ray imaging system for generating a panoramic image with reduced overlapping of neighboring teeth, comprising:

• an x-ray source for emitting x-rays towards a patient;
• an x-ray detector for detecting x-rays transmitted through a jaw of the patient;
• an acquisition means adapted to acquire a plurality of 2D x-ray images respectively at a plurality of different radiographic directions by rotating the x-ray source and the x-ray detector around at least the jaw of the patient;
• and
• an image processing means for generating a panoramic image with reduced overlapping of neighboring teeth, by:
• identifying one or more regions each including at least one pair of overlapping neighboring teeth in the plurality of 2D x-ray images and/or in temporary panoramic images reconstructed from the plurality of 2D x-ray images, among the plurality of different radiographic directions, which reduces an overlap in the panoramic image to be reconstructed;
• determining one or more optimal radiographic directions among the plurality of different radiographic directions of the plurality of 2D x-ray images which have the one or more regions each including at least one pair of overlapping neighboring teeth, to reduce overlaps in the panoramic image to be reconstructed;
• and
• reconstructing at least a portion of the panoramic image of the jaw using at least a portion of the plurality of 2D x-ray images with the one or more optimal radiographic directions.