# US 2018/0027159 A1 · Optical coherence tomography imaging system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0027159 A1 - Document ID: US20180027159A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/215,131 - Filed: 2016-07-20 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-20 - Assignees: Dental Imaging Technologies Corporation; Ormco Corporation - Applicants: Dental Imaging Technologies Corporation; Ormco Corporation - Inventors: Robert F. Dillon; Amr Medhat Elbasiony - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180027159A1 ## CPC - H04N 23/56: provided with illuminating means - A61B 5/0035: {adapted for acquisition of images from more than one imaging mode, e.g. combining MRI and optical tomography} - A61B 5/0066: {Optical coherence imaging} - A61B 5/0088: {for oral or dental tissue} - A61B 5/4547: {Evaluating teeth} - A61C 9/0053: {Optical means or methods, e.g. scanning the teeth by a laser or light beam} - H04N 23/555: {for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - 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) ## Abstract An imaging system, a method for imaging an object of interest, and an image of the object of interest. In one embodiment, an imaging system includes a channel configured to receive information from an object of interest, a 3DSS sub-system configured to capture information from the object of interest and generate at least one of 3D surface data or 3D position data based on the information captured by the 3DSS sub-system, and an OCT sub-system configured to perform a line scan of light reflected from the object of interest, generate OCT image data from the line scan, receive the at least one of the 3D surface data or the 3D position data, and generate one or more OCT images using the OCT image data and the at least one of the 3D surface data or the 3D position data. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An imaging system comprising: a channel configured to receive information from an object of interest; a three-dimensional surface scanning (3DSS) sub-system configured to capture information from the object of interest, and generate at least one of three-dimensional surface data or three-dimensional position data based on the information captured by the 3DSS sub-system; and an optical coherence tomography (OCT) sub-system configured to perform a line scan of light reflected from the object of interest and captured by the OCT sub-system, generate optical coherence tomography (OCT) image data from the line scan, receive the at least one of the three-dimensional surface data or the three-dimensional position data from the 3DSS sub-system, and generate one or more optical coherence tomography (OCT) images using the OCT image data and the at least one of the three-dimensional surface data or the three-dimensional position data, wherein the at least one of the three-dimensional surface data or the three-dimensional position data is indicative of a common spatial frame of reference between the 3DSS sub-system and the OCT sub-system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The imaging system of claim 1, further comprising a housing that encloses the channel, the 3DSS sub-system, and the OCT sub-system. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The imaging system of claim 2, wherein the housing is a handheld housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the 3DSS sub-system is configured to provide the at least one of the three-dimensional surface data or the three-dimensional position data at the same time that the OCT sub-system is configured to perform the line scan. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the OCT sub-system is further configured to determine whether the OCT sub-system is within a measurement range of the object of interest based on the at least one of the three-dimensional surface data or the three-dimensional position data. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The imaging system of claim 5, wherein the OCT sub-system is further configured to generate the one or more OCT images using the OCT image data and the at least one of the three-dimensional surface or the three-dimensional position data when the OCT sub-system is within the measurement range of the object of interest. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The imaging system of claim 5, wherein the OCT sub-system is further configured to adjust one or more imaging parameters associated with the OCT sub-system when the OCT sub-system is not within the measurement range of the object of interest. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The imaging system of claim 5, wherein the OCT sub-system is further configured to output an user-perceptible indication when the OCT sub-system is not within the measurement range of the object of interest. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the 3DSS sub-system is further configured to determine whether the OCT sub-system is within a measurement range of the object of interest based on the at least one of the three-dimensional surface data or the three-dimensional position data. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The imaging system of claim 9, wherein the 3DSS sub-system is further configured to control the OCT sub-system to generate the one or more OCT images using the OCT image data and the at least one of the three-dimensional surface data or the three-dimensional position data when the OCT sub-system is within the measurement range of the object of interest. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The imaging system of claim 9, wherein the 3DSS sub-system is further configured to adjust one or more imaging parameters associated with the OCT sub-system when the OCT sub-system is not within the measurement range of the object of interest. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The imaging system of claim 9, wherein the 3DSS sub-system is further configured to output an user-perceptible indication when the OCT sub-system is not within the measurement range of the object of interest. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the 3DSS sub-system includes a memory; a light source configured to emit light on the object of interest; a three-dimensional surface scanning (3DSS) imaging sensor configured to capture the light reflected from the object of interest as the information captured from the object of interest; and an electronic processor electrically connected to the memory and the 3DSS imaging sensor, the electronic processor configured to control the light source to emit the light on the object of interest, and generate the at least one of the three-dimensional surface data or the three-dimensional position data based on the light captured by the 3DSS imaging sensor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the OCT sub-system includes a memory; a light source configured to emit light on the object of interest; an optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging sensor configured to capture the light reflected from the object of interest; and an electronic processor electrically connected to the memory and the OCT imaging sensor, the electronic processor configured to control the light source to emit the light on the object of interest, perform the line scan of the light captured by the OCT imaging sensor, generate the OCT image data from the line scan, receive the at least one of the three-dimensional surface data or the three-dimensional position data from the 3DSS sub-system, and generate the one or more OCT images using the OCT image data and the at least one of the three-dimensional surface data or the three-dimensional position data. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the 3DSS sub-system is further configured to: generate three-dimensional surface scanning sub-system (3DSS) image data from the information captured by the 3DSS imaging sensor, and generate one or more three-dimensional surface scanning (3DSS) images from the 3DSS image data. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The imaging system of claim 15, wherein the OCT sub-system is further configured to receive the 3DSS image data from the 3DSS sub-system, and generate one or more three-dimensional surface scan and optical coherence tomography (3DSS/OCT) images based on the OCT image data, the 3DSS image data, and the at least one of the three-dimensional surface data or the three-dimensional position data. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The imaging system of claim 1, further comprising networking hardware configured to transmit the one or more OCT images to one or more computing devices via a network. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the OCT image data is a volumetric optical coherence tomography (OCT) image data. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the object of interest is a tooth and surrounding tissue. ### Claim 20 A method of imaging an object of interest, the method comprising: capturing, with a three-dimensional surface scanning (3DSS) sub-system, information in a channel from an object of interest; generating, with the 3DSS sub-system, at least one of three-dimensional surface data or three-dimensional position data based on the information captured by the 3DSS sub-system; receiving, with an optical coherence tomography (OCT) sub-system, the at least one of the three-dimensional surface data or the three-dimensional position data from the 3DSS sub-system; performing, with the OCT sub-system, a line scan of light reflected from the object of interest to generate OCT image data; and generating, with the OCT sub-system, one or more optical coherence tomography (OCT) images based on the OCT image data and the at least one of the three-dimensional surface data or the three-dimensional position data. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, further comprising determining whether the OCT sub-system is within a measurement range of the object of interest using the at least one of three-dimensional surface data or the three-dimensional position data. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein responsive to determining that the OCT sub-system is within the measurement range of the object of interest, generating, with the OCT sub-system, the one or more OCT images using the OCT image data and the at least one of the three-dimensional surface data or the three-dimensional position data. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein responsive to determining that the OCT sub-system is not within the measurement range of the object of interest, adjusting, with the OCT sub-system, one or more imaging parameters associated with the OCT sub-system. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein responsive to determining that the OCT sub-system is not within the measurement range of the object of interest, outputting, with a notification device, a user-perceptible indication that the OCT sub-system is not within the measurement range of the object of interest. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, further comprising generating, with the 3DSS sub-system, a three-dimensional surface scanning sub-system (3DSS) image data based on the information captured by the 3DSS sub-system. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, further comprising: receiving, with the 3DSS sub-system, the OCT image data from the OCT sub-system; and generating, with the 3DSS sub-system, one or more three-dimensional surface scan and optical coherence tomography (3DSS/OCT) images from the OCT image data, the 3DSS image data, and the at least one of the three-dimensional surface data or the three-dimensional position data. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, further comprising: receiving, with the OCT sub-system, the 3DSS image data from the 3DSS sub-system; and generating, with the OCT sub-system, one or more three-dimensional surface scan and optical coherence tomography (3DSS/OCT) images from the OCT image data, the 3DSS image data, and the at least one of the three-dimensional surface data or the three-dimensional position data. ### Claim 28 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, further comprising transmitting, with the OCT sub-system, the one or more OCT images to one or more computing devices via networking hardware and a network. ### Claim 29 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the OCT image data is a volumetric optical coherence tomography (OCT) image data. ### Claim 30 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the object of interest is a tooth and surrounding tissue. ### Claim 31 A three-dimensional surface scan and optical coherence tomography (3DSS/OCT) image comprising: a first image portion based on a surface of an object of interest; and a second image portion based at least in part on a sub-surface of the object of interest. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The 3DSS/OCT image of claim 31, wherein the object of interest is a tooth and surrounding tissue.