US 12,533,033 B2Granted

Method for investigating optical element embedded in intraoral scanner, and system using same

AssigneeMedit Corp.

InventorsSoo Bok Lee, Sung Bin Im

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Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method for self-investigating an optical element embedded in an intraoral scanner, and a system using the same. The reliability of an intraoral scanner may decrease due to foreign matter attached to an optical element. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a prescribed method for investigating foreign matter attached to an optical element, and a system using the same, wherein an alarm providing notification of the need to inspect the optical element is generated when it is determined that foreign matter has stained the optical element. According to said investigation method and system, a user of an intraoral scanner can automatically determine the presence or absence of foreign matter when scanning an object (patient's affected area), and thus can service the optical element or replace a part in which the corresponding component is formed. Therefore, there is an advantage of improving the scanning efficiency and data reliability of the intraoral scanner.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method for investigating an optical element embedded in an intraoral scanner, the method comprising:

an image recognizing operation of acquiring a plurality of image data by receiving light reflected from an object in a measurement area of the intraoral scanner by the intraoral scanner;
a foreign matter detecting operation of checking whether foreign matter is stained on a surface of the optical element which illustrates the object by refracting or reflecting light generated from a light irradiation unit, and causes light reflected from the object to enter at least one imaging unit, from the plurality of image data by a processor;
and
a notification generating operation of generating a feedback when it is determined that the foreign matter exists on the surface of the optical element as the foreign matter detecting operation is performed by the processor,
wherein the foreign matter detecting operation checks whether the foreign matter is stained on the surface of the optical element based on a data which is processed as noise or not measured in three-dimensional processing processed through accumulation of the plurality of image data,
wherein the foreign matter detecting operation includes a specifying operation of changing values of at least some pixels of the count area corresponding to a portion where an input result in the image data does not exist depending on whether the image data is input, and
a reallocating operation of initializing the values of at least some pixels of the count area corresponding to a portion where the input result exists depending on whether the image data is input,
wherein in the reallocating operation, with respect to an area where the measurement result does not exist temporarily, an initial pixel value is reallocated to the corresponding count area.

5 more elements

An investigating system, comprising:

a case drawn into and drawn out from an oral cavity, and formed with an opening that is open so that a state inside the oral cavity is incident therein in the form of light through one end;
at least one imaging unit disposed inside the case, and configured to receive light incident through the opening of the case to acquire a plurality of image data by an embedded imaging sensor;
a light irradiation unit disposed at one side of the imaging unit, and configured to emit light to irradiate the state inside the oral cavity through the opening;
an optical element configured to illuminate an object by refracting or reflecting the light generated from the light irradiation unit, and cause the light reflected from the object to enter into the at least one imaging unit;
a processor configured to determine whether foreign matter exists on a surface of the optical element;
and
a notification unit configured to generate a feedback depending on the determination of the processor,
wherein the processor is configured to check whether the foreign matter is stained on the surface of the optical element based on a data which is processed as noise or not measured in three-dimensional processing processed through accumulation of the plurality of image data,
wherein the processor is configured to change values of at least some pixels of a count area corresponding to a portion where an input result in the image data does not exist depending on whether the plurality of image data acquired by the imaging sensor is input,
wherein the processor is configured to initialize values of at least some pixels of the count area corresponding to a portion where the input result exists depending on whether the image data is input,
wherein the processor is configured to reallocate an initial pixel value to the corresponding count area with respect to an area where the measurement result does not exist temporarily.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/848,699Filed 24 Jun 2022 · continuation in part
Priority: KR 10-2019-017529026 Dec 2019
Published: US 2022/0313094 A16 Oct 2022
Granted: 27 Jan 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

A61B 5/0088
Adapted for particular medical purposes: for oral or dental tissue
A61B 1/24
Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g.…:…
A61C 9/0053
Data acquisition means or methods: optical means or methods, e.g. scanning the teeth by a laser or light beam
G01B 11/24
Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques: for measuring contours or curvatures