System and method for separating three-dimensional models
AssigneeAlign Technology, Inc.
InventorsJoy Vannelia Hughes, Daniel Stuart Russel, Huazhang Luo, Carmen Cheang, Elena Pavloskaia, Venkata Sarva
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A computer-implemented method separates first and second portions of a tooth by defining a cutting surface intersecting the first and second portions by specifying two points; and applying the cutting surface to the tooth to separate the tooth into two portions.
Claims35
A computer-implemented method for separating a three-dimensional polygonal structure, comprising:
- selecting two points on the structure;
- determining a piece-wise continuous curve on the surface of the structure based on the two points:
- and
- separating the structure into two objects based on the piece-wise continuous curve.
A computer program, residing on a tangible storage medium, for use in determining a piece-wise continuous curve on the surface of a three-dimensional polygonal structure, the program comprising executable instructions operable to cause a computer to:
- compute a local curvature for each edge of the object;
- generate a cost function based on the local curvature and length of the edge;
- and
- determine the shortest path based on the cost function.
A method for use in separating a computer model of teeth, the method comprising performing the following steps on a computer having at least one processor and memory:
- receiving a data set that contains a 3D representation of one or more teeth,
- calculating a local curvature for each edge of the teeth;
- generating a cost function based on the local curvature and length of the edge;
- determining the shortest path by minimizing the cost function;
- determining a fitting surface for the shortest path;
- and
- applying the fitting surface to the teeth to separate the teeth.
A computer-implemented method to separate first and second portions of a tooth, comprising:
- defining a cutting surface intersecting the first and second portions by specifying two points on the tooth;
- and
- applying the cutting surface to the tooth to separate the tooth into two portions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.