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US 2026/0256556 A1Published application
Sparse near infrared imaging
AssigneeAlign Technology, Inc.
InventorOfer Saphier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of intraoral scanning uses patterned infrared light. The method includes projecting patterned infrared light onto a tooth, and generating one or more images of the patterned infrared light projected onto the tooth. The method further includes determining one or more internal properties of the tooth based on the one or more images. An intraoral scanning system is configured to perform the method of intraoral scanning.
Claims20
An intraoral scanning system, comprising:
- an intraoral scanner comprising:
- one or more infrared structured light projectors configured to project patterned infrared light onto a tooth;
- and
- one or more cameras configured to generate one or more images of the patterned infrared light projected onto the tooth;
- and
- a computing device configured to determine one or more internal properties of the tooth based on processing of the one or more images.
3 more elements
An intraoral scanning system, comprising:
- an intraoral scanner comprising:
- an elongate wand comprising a probe at a distal end of the elongate wand;
- one or more visible structured light projectors disposed in the probe and configured to project patterned visible light onto a tooth;
- one or more infrared structured light projectors disposed in the probe and configured to project patterned infrared light onto the tooth;
- two or more cameras disposed in the probe and configured to generate two or more visible light images of the patterned visible light projected onto the tooth and to generate two or more infrared images of the patterned infrared light projected onto the tooth;
- and
- one or more processors configured to:
- solve a correspondence algorithm using the one or more visible light images to determine a three-dimensional surface of the tooth;
- and
- process the one or more infrared images to determine one or more internal properties of the tooth.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.