阅读说明：本技术 牙科成像系统 (Dental imaging system ) 是由 Y·法兰贾尼 E·汉森 于 2020-02-03 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供了一种牙科成像系统,其用于对口腔中的上牙弓和下牙弓进行成像,该牙科成像系统包括彼此联接的外弓形结构和内扶正器结构,并且可安装在预定位置,在该预定位置中,上牙和下牙位于外弓形结构与内扶正器结构的摄像头毂之间。外弓形结构具有外摄像头,该外摄像头的布置方式是：当牙科成像系统处于预定位置时,外摄像头聚焦在上牙及下牙的前侧。内扶正器结构具有支撑结构和摄像头毂,支撑结构保持摄像头毂和摄像头毂包括内摄像头,该内摄像头的布置方式是：使得当牙科成像系统处于预定位置时,内摄像头聚焦在上牙和下牙的后侧。(The present invention provides a dental imaging system for imaging an upper and a lower dental arch in an oral cavity, the dental imaging system comprising an outer arch and an inner centralizer structure coupled to each other and mountable in a predetermined position in which the upper and lower teeth are located between the outer arch and the camera hub of the inner centralizer structure. The outer arch structure is provided with an outer camera, and the arrangement mode of the outer camera is as follows: the outer camera is focused on the front sides of the upper and lower teeth when the dental imaging system is in a predetermined position. Interior centralizer structure has bearing structure and camera hub, and bearing structure keeps camera hub and camera hub to include interior camera, and the arrangement mode of this interior camera is: such that the inner camera is focused on the back side of the upper and lower teeth when the dental imaging system is in a predetermined position.)

1. A dental imaging system for imaging a tooth arrangement including an upper arch and a lower arch in a patient's mouth,

the dental imaging system comprising an outer arch and an inner centralizer structure coupled to each other and mountable in a predetermined position within an oral cavity in which upper and lower teeth are located between the outer arch and a camera hub of the inner centralizer structure, and wherein,

the outer arch has a plurality of outer cameras disposed on one side of the outer arch in a manner that: the outer camera is focused on the front side of the upper and lower dental arches when the dental imaging system is installed in the predetermined position; and is

The interior centralizer structure include camera hub and support the bearing structure of camera hub, camera hub includes a plurality of interior cameras, the arrangement mode of a plurality of interior cameras is: the inner camera is focused on a rear side of the upper and lower dental arches when the dental imaging system is installed in the predetermined position.

2. The dental imaging system of claim 1, wherein the support structure is configured such that the inner camera hub is disposed at a substantially central location of the oral cavity when the dental imaging system is installed in the predetermined position.

3. The dental imaging system of any of claims 1 or 2, wherein the support structure comprises one or more support connectors having a first end and a second end, the one or more support connectors coupled with the outer arch at the first end and coupled with the inner camera hub at the second end.

4. The dental imaging system of any of claims 1 to 3, comprising one or more stops configured to guide the dental imaging system to be installed at the predetermined position in which the front sides of the upper and lower teeth are held or maintained by the one or more stops at a predetermined distance from the outer camera.

5. The dental imaging system of any of claims 1 to 4, comprising one or more braces configured to guide the dental imaging system to be mounted in the predetermined position in which the one or more braces are bitten by the patient and thus disposed or trapped or sandwiched between the upper and lower teeth of the patient.

6. The dental imaging system of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the outer camera is arranged in a manner that: when the dental imaging system is mounted in the predetermined position, the individual focus ranges of the respective outer cameras together form an overall focus range that completely or almost completely covers the front sides of the upper and lower dental arches.

7. The dental imaging system of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the inner camera is arranged in a manner that: when the dental imaging system is mounted in the predetermined position, the individual focus ranges of the inner cameras together form an overall focus range that completely or almost completely covers the rear sides of the upper and lower dental arches.

8. The dental imaging system of any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the outer arcuate structure has an outwardly protruding shape to push the lips away from the dental imaging zone to avoid lip interference during dental imaging.

9. The dental imaging system of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the inner centralizer structure further comprises a downwardly and/or rearwardly projecting formation to urge the tongue away from the dental imaging zone to avoid tongue interference during dental imaging; wherein the downwardly and/or rearwardly projecting formations are coupled to the inner camera hub or are contained within the inner camera hub itself.

10. The dental imaging system of any of claims 1 to 9 formed according to a removable or removable method such that any component of the dental imaging system is replaceable.

11. The dental imaging system of any of claims 1 to 10, comprising a battery for powering the inner and outer cameras or any other electronic components in the dental imaging system; wherein the battery is a rechargeable battery; and the dental imaging system further comprises a wireless charging system for charging the rechargeable battery.

12. The dental imaging system of any of claims 1 to 11, comprising a connection module for connecting the dental imaging system with a computing device such that images obtained by the dental imaging system can be transmitted to the computing device; wherein the connection module is configured to enable a wireless connection between the dental imaging system and the computing device.

13. The dental imaging system of any of claims 1 to 12, comprising an illumination system configured to provide light of different visible and/or non-visible spectral wavelengths to capture dental images under different illumination conditions.

14. The dental imaging system of any of claims 1 to 13, comprising a size adjustment mechanism associated with the outer arch and/or the inner centralizer structure for adjusting a size of the outer arch and/or the inner centralizer in accordance with a patient to which the dental imaging system is to be applied or installed.

15. The dental imaging system of any of claims 1 to 14, wherein the outer camera and the inner camera are arranged in a manner that: when the dental imaging system is mounted with the patient's mandible widened, the individual focus ranges of the outer and inner cameras each together form an overall focus range that completely or almost completely covers the top sides of the upper and lower teeth.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a dental imaging system for imaging a tooth arrangement including an upper dental arch and a lower dental arch in an oral cavity.

Background

Dentistry is an ever-growing medical field. The things done a few years ago are no longer the same. This is because scientific technology develops very rapidly. Many dental tools are found in the field of dentistry. The tool may comprise an imaging tool which may be based on, for example, X-ray, dental CT, photography, etc.

Dental imaging can assist a dentist or patient in diagnostic activities. Many times, dental photography allows identifying what is overlooked for the first eye. Therefore, dental photography is very important, and companies are increasingly designing and producing more and more products for this purpose.

By means of dental photography, the dental treatment can be tracked well throughout the treatment cycle. Dental images are already part of the patient's medical history, and these photographs can help the dentist or patient track activities, such as, for example, knowing each patient's specific situation at any time when needed.

Dental photography may also assist the dentist or patient in planning cases such as, for example, dental treatments, oral hygiene planning, and improvement. Today, proper planning of preventive measures and dental surgery is very important, as a good plan can ensure the success of dental treatment.

In some countries, such as for example in the united states, dental photography is used as a legal tool that may be very important. Dental photography may allow certain personal registries, unalterable documents to be kept, and thus may be used as a proof of authenticity, etc.

Patent document KR20150021310A discloses a prior art dental imaging system, which is shown in fig. 1. This prior art system corresponds to a dental tray 10 comprising a front side wall 11 and a rear side wall 12. The front and rear sidewalls 11 and 12 are formed such that the tray 10 for dental photography surrounds the oral dentition. A plurality of camera modules 14 are mounted at the front and rear sidewalls 11 and 12. The front and rear side walls 11 and 12 are connected to a U-shaped support plate 13. The plurality of camera modules 14 includes a light source 15 and an image sensor 16.

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a new dental imaging system that improves upon existing systems that aim to image tooth arrangements within the oral cavity.

Disclosure of Invention

In one aspect, a dental imaging system is provided for imaging a tooth arrangement including an upper arch and a lower arch in a mouth of a patient. The dental imaging system includes an outer arch and an inner centralizer structure coupled to each other and mountable in a predetermined position within the oral cavity in which the upper and lower teeth are located between the outer arch and a camera hub or camera concentrator of the inner centralizer structure.

The outer arch has a plurality of outer cameras disposed on one side of the outer arch in a manner that: when the dental imaging system is installed in a predetermined position, the outer camera is focused on the front sides of the upper and lower arches.

The interior centralizer structure has bearing structure and camera hub, and the bearing structure who supports the camera hub includes a plurality of interior cameras, the arrangement mode of a plurality of interior cameras is: the inner camera is focused on the back side of the upper and lower arches when the dental imaging system is installed in a predetermined position.

One advantage of the proposed dental imaging system is that fewer cameras may be required compared to prior art dental imaging systems (e.g. one of fig. 1). In the proposed dental imaging system, the inner cameras are concentrated in a camera hub, rather than distributed along an inner arcuate structure, such as the inner structure 12 of fig. 1. The camera hub can have any shape suitable for a centralized inner camera, as desired. The camera hub may be in the form of, for example, a polyhedron, a parallelepiped, a sphere, etc., or any combination thereof, including a flat edge, a curved edge, an irregularly shaped edge, etc., or any combination thereof.

Furthermore, the prior art system of fig. 1 is configured to accommodate only one of the dental arches between the outer and inner arches 11, 12. In contrast, the proposed dental imaging system is configured to accommodate both the upper and lower dental arches between the outer arch and the inner camera hub or centralizer. This means that the proposed dental imaging system can image two dental arches simultaneously, whereas the prior art system of fig. 1 requires a multi-step operation, including: one of the two dental arches is imaged first and then the other. Such one-step operation of the dental imaging system disclosed herein necessarily means that the proposed dental imaging system is more efficient in operation than prior art dental imaging systems, as compared to prior art multi-step operations.

In light of the above considerations, the dental imaging system proposed herein may be cheaper (fewer cameras) and more efficient in operation (one-step operation) than prior art systems.

In some examples, the support structure may be configured (e.g., sized, arranged, etc.) in such a way: when the dental imaging system is installed in the predetermined position, the camera hub occupies a substantially central position in the oral cavity or a radially centered position relative to both the upper and lower dental arches. This center or centered position may be optimal for an inner camera (at the camera hub) to fully or nearly fully capture the back side of both dental arches with fewer cameras as compared to prior art systems.

In a configuration of the dental imaging system, the support structure may include one or more support connectors having a first end and a second end, the one or more support connectors coupled with the outer arch at the first end and coupled with the camera hub at the second end. The support connector may be formed as or by one or more bodies of any geometry, such as for example any polyhedral (elongated) form suitable for fulfilling the holding function of the support connector. In some examples, the support connector may have a rod or bar like shape.

In some embodiments, the dental imaging system may include one or more stops configured (e.g., arranged, sized, etc.) to guide the dental imaging system to be installed in a predetermined position in which the front sides of both the upper and lower arches may be stopped, and thus, held by the stops at a predetermined distance from the outer camera.

Such stops may be considered or understood as spacers or spacers between the outer camera and the upper and lower dental arches to hold or maintain the front sides of the two dental arches at a predetermined distance from the outer camera. The predefined distance may depend on the technical characteristics of the outer cameras, their distribution along the outer arch, etc. According to the above aspect of the outer camera, the predetermined distance may be defined as longer or shorter, and the stopper may be configured (i.e., shaped, arranged, etc.) accordingly.

The stop may be included in the outer arcuate structure, in which case the stop may be formed as a protrusion arranged on the same side of the outer arcuate structure as the outer camera head is provided. Additionally or alternatively, the stop may be or may comprise: a protrusion is arranged, for example at one end of the support connector, at or near the coupling between the outer arch and the support connector.

According to some examples, the dental imaging system may include one or more braces configured (e.g., arranged, sized, etc.) to guide the dental imaging system to be installed in a predetermined location, which may include a brace that is bitten by the patient and thus arranged or caught or sandwiched between the patient's upper and lower teeth. In this regard, the predefined (installation) position may also be referred to as a predefined bite position.

The outer arch may include therein a dental band element, in which case the dental band element may be formed as a dental band portion protruding from the same side of the outer arch as the outer camera is arranged. Additionally or alternatively, the dental band element may be included in the inner centralizer structure, in which case the dental band element may be or may be included in the support connector.

The dental band element may be disposed at the same or similar height as the outer camera head, or in other words, may be generally horizontal or aligned relative to the outer camera head. In this way, the outer camera may result in being generally centered or level or aligned or equidistant with respect to the upper and lower dental arches when the dental imaging system is in a predetermined (bite) position.

In the configuration of the dental imaging system, the outer cameras are arranged in such a way that the individual focus ranges of the respective outer cameras together or cooperate to form an overall focus range that completely or almost completely covers the front sides of the upper and lower dental arches when the dental imaging system is mounted in a predetermined position. This technical feature can be achieved by taking into account the technical characteristics of the camera head used as the outer camera head. Any skilled person should be able to determine the number, distribution, arrangement, etc. of the outer cameras according to their technical characteristics to provide said "outer" overall focus range.

In an example of a dental imaging system, the inner camera may be arranged or concentrated in a camera hub in such a way that: when the dental imaging system is in a predetermined position, the individual focus ranges of the respective inner cameras together or cooperate to form an overall focus range that completely or almost completely covers the back sides of the upper and lower arches. This feature can be achieved by taking into account the technical characteristics of the camera used as the inner camera. Any skilled person should be able to determine the number, distribution, arrangement, etc. of the inner cameras according to their technical characteristics to provide such an overall focus range.

Depending on the configuration of the dental imaging system, the outer arch may have an outwardly protruding shape to push the lips away from the dental imaging zone to avoid lip interference or interference during dental imaging. This may facilitate operation of the dental imaging system to obtain images of the teeth more easily and in "cleaner" conditions.

In an embodiment of the dental imaging system, the inner centralizer structure can further comprise a downward and/or rearward projecting shaping member to push the tongue away from the dental imaging zone to avoid tongue interference or interference during dental imaging. The downwardly and/or rearwardly projecting formations may be coupled to the camera hub or may be part of the camera hub itself. This feature may also allow for facilitating operation of the dental imaging system to obtain images of the tooth more easily and with less or no interference.

In some embodiments, the dental imaging system may be formed according to a detachable or removable method such that any components of the dental imaging system may be replaced for hygienic purposes or the like.

In various examples, the dental imaging system may include a battery for powering the inner and outer cameras. The battery may be a rechargeable battery, and in some examples, the dental imaging system may further include a wireless charging system for charging the rechargeable battery. The wireless charging system may, for example, be compatible or operable with a pre-existing charger, such as, for example, a toothbrush charger.

In various examples, the dental imaging system may include a connection module to connect the dental imaging system with a computing device. In this way, images obtained by the dental imaging system may be transmitted to a computing device for processing and/or analysis purposes, and the like. The connection module may be configured to enable a wireless connection between the dental imaging system and the computing device.

In various embodiments, the dental imaging system may further include an illumination system configured to provide light of different visible and/or non-visible spectral wavelengths to capture tooth images under different illumination conditions.

In various configurations, a dental imaging system can include: a size adjustment mechanism associated with the outer arch and/or inner centralizer structures for adjusting a size of the outer arch and/or inner centralizer structures according to a patient to which the dental imaging system is to be applied or installed.

In an embodiment of the dental imaging system, the outer camera and the inner camera may be arranged in such a way that: when the dental imaging system is installed with the patient's mandible widened, the individual focus ranges of the outer and inner cameras together or cooperatively form an overall focus range that completely or nearly completely covers the top sides of the upper and lower teeth.

Drawings

Non-limiting examples of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a prior art dental imaging system.

Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an imaging system according to an example.

Detailed Description

Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an imaging system according to an example. Such a dental imaging system 200 may be used to image a tooth arrangement including an upper dental arch and a lower dental arch in an oral cavity. The dental imaging system 200 may include an outer arch structure 202 and an inner centralizer structure 208 coupled to each other. Such a dental imaging system 200 may be installed in a predetermined position within the oral cavity in which the upper and lower teeth are disposed between the outer arch 202 and the inner camera hub 203 of the inner centralizer structure 208.

The outer arch 202 may have an outer camera 205 disposed on one side of the outer arch 202, the outer camera 205 being disposed in a manner that: when the dental imaging system 200 is installed in a predetermined position, the outer camera 205 is focused on the front side of the upper and lower dental arches.

The inner centralizer structure 208 can include a support structure 207 and an inner camera hub 203. The support structure 207 may hold or support the inner camera hub 203. The inner camera hub 203 may include a plurality of inner cameras 204, the arrangement of the plurality of inner cameras 204 is: when the dental imaging system 200 is installed in a predetermined position, the inner camera 204 is focused on the back side of the upper and lower arches.

The support structure may include one or more support connectors 207, the one or more support connectors 207 having a first end 209 and a second end 210. One or more support connectors 207 may be coupled with the outer arch 202 at a first end 209 and the inner camera hub 203 at a second end 210.

The outer arch 202, when installed in a predetermined position, may surround the patient's upper and lower arches longitudinally and/or externally. Outer cameras 205 may be regularly or evenly or equidistantly distributed along corresponding sides of outer arch 202 to collectively or cooperatively focus on the entire or nearly entire anterior side of the upper and lower arches.

The inner camera hub 203 may be or may be formed as a centralizer or concentrator of the inner camera 204. The inner camera hub 203, when mounted in a predetermined position, can occupy a substantially central position in the oral cavity and/or relative to the upper and lower dental arches (of the patient). The central position may be, for example, a generally radially centered position with respect to the upper and lower dental arches. The inner cameras 204 can be centrally disposed in the inner camera hub 203 to collectively or cooperatively focus on the entire or nearly the entire back side of the upper and lower dental arches.

The proposed dental imaging system 200 may comprise guiding elements 206, 207 to allow or facilitate the guided mounting of the dental imaging system 200 in a predetermined position within the oral cavity of a patient. Such guiding elements may include, for example, one or more stops 206 and/or one or more braces 207.

The one or more stops 206 may be configured (e.g., arranged, sized, etc.) to guide or assist in mounting the dental imaging system 200 in a predetermined position. The stop 206 may be or may act as a spacer or spacer between the outer camera 205 and the upper and lower dental arches in the sense that the outer camera 205 is held or maintained at a predetermined distance 211 from the front sides of the upper and lower dental arches.

The stop 206 may be included in the outer arch 202 and/or the inner centralizer structure 208. In the former case, the stop 206 may be formed as a protrusion arranged on the same side of the outer arch 202 as the outer camera 205 is arranged. In the latter case, the stop 206 may be formed as a protrusion arranged, for example, at the first end 209 of the support connector 207 (i.e., at or near the connector 209 between the outer arch 202 and the support connector 207).

One or more braces 207 may be configured (e.g., arranged, sized, etc.) to also guide or assist in mounting the dental imaging system 200 in a predetermined location. The band 207 may be configured to be bitten by the patient and thus disposed or caught or sandwiched between the upper and lower teeth. In this sense, the predetermined mounting position may also be referred to as a predetermined snap position.

The hoop component 207 may be contained within the outer arch structure 202 and/or the inner centralizer structure 208. In the former case, the hoop component 207 may be formed as a hoop portion protruding from the same side of the outer arch 202 where the outer camera 205 is disposed. In the latter case, the braces 207 may or may not be included in the support connector 207 of the inner centralizer structure 208.

The hoop component 207 may be disposed at the same or similar height as the outer camera 205, or in other words, the hoop component 207 may be generally horizontal or aligned with respect to the outer camera 205. In this manner, when the dental imaging system 200 is in the bite position, the outer camera 205 may be caused to be generally centered or level or aligned or equidistant with respect to the upper and lower dental arches.

The inner centralizer structure 208 can be configured (e.g., sized, arranged, etc.) in such a way: when the dental imaging system 200 is installed in a predetermined position, the inner camera hub 203 is ultimately positioned in a substantially central location of the oral cavity.

The outer camera 205 may be arranged in such a way: when the dental imaging system 200 is mounted in a predetermined position, the individual focus ranges of the respective outer cameras 205 together form an overall focus range that completely or almost completely covers the front sides of the upper and lower dental arches.

The inner camera 204 may be arranged at the inner camera hub 203 in such a way that: when the dental imaging system 200 is installed in a predetermined position, the individual focus ranges of the respective inner cameras 204 together form an overall focus range that completely or almost completely covers the back sides of the upper and lower dental arches.

The dental imaging system 200 may include an illumination system (not shown) configured to provide light of different visible and/or non-visible spectral wavelengths to allow images to be captured under different illumination conditions, depending on, for example, the environment, the type of photograph to be made, the use of the photograph, diagnostics of different conditions, and the like. The lighting system may comprise different light sources that are suitably configured (arranged, dimensioned, etc.). Any relationship may exist between the light sources and the cameras 204, 205, such as a one-to-one relationship, a one-to-many relationship, and so forth.

The outer arch 202 may have an outwardly protruding shape 212 to push the lips away from the dental imaging zone to avoid lip interference or interference during dental imaging.

The inner centralizer structure 208 can also include downward and/or rearward projecting formations 213 to push the tongue away from the tooth imaging region to avoid tongue interference or intervention during tooth imaging. The downwardly and/or rearwardly projecting formations 213 may be coupled to the inner camera hub 203 or may be included in the inner camera hub 203 itself.

The dental imaging system 200 according to the present disclosure may be formed according to a detachable method such that any components of the dental imaging system 200 may be replaced, e.g., for hygiene purposes, customization purposes, repairability, etc.

The dental imaging system 200 may include a connection module 214 to connect the dental imaging system 200 with a computing device such that images obtained by the dental imaging system 200 may be transmitted to the computing device for purposes such as processing data, image transmission, analysis, diagnosis, and/or recommendation, and the like. The connection module may be configured to enable a wireless connection between the dental imaging system 200 and a computing device. Some of the computing functionality may be part of the connection module 214 or may be included in the connection module 214.

The dental imaging system 200 may include one or more batteries for powering the inner and outer cameras 204, 205, the illumination system, the connection module 214, and the like. The one or more batteries may be rechargeable. The dental imaging system 200 may also include a wireless charging system for charging one or more rechargeable batteries. The wireless charging system may be compatible with pre-existing chargers, such as, for example, pre-existing power toothbrush chargers.

The proposed dental imaging system 200 may further comprise a handle 201 or similar component for simple, comfortable, protective and/or efficient operation of the dental imaging system 200. The aforementioned connection module 214 may be included in the handle 201.

In some examples, the dental imaging system 200 can include a sizing mechanism associated with the outer arch 202, the inner centralizer structures 208, etc., for adjusting the size of these structures according to each patient to which the dental imaging system 200 is to be applied or installed. In this way, the same dental imaging system 200 can be used for different patients having different sized mouths, dental arches, and the like.

Any of the dental imaging systems 200 described herein may be used to image or photograph teeth for the purpose of assisting individuals and/or dentists in performing dental diagnosis. The obtained images can be examined and/or analyzed by using systems based on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) methods, or even by visual inspection by a human being with appropriate skills. These inspection and/or analysis functions may be performed by a computing system included in dental imaging system 200 or by computing systems external to imaging system 200 that are connectable to each other.

The dental imaging system 200 may include a connection to a recommendation engine configured to generate recommendations regarding a user or patient's dental treatments, oral hygiene habits, eating habits, other oral or non-oral health conditions, and the like. Alternatively, the recommendation engine may be included in the dental imaging system 200. A reporting system may be associated with or included in the recommendation engine to send messages or notifications to the user regarding the recommendations. Such messaging may be performed by, for example, a suitable messaging device or platform associated with or included in the dental imaging system 200.

The dental imaging system 200 according to the present disclosure may thus be or may constitute or form (along with, for example, AI-based systems, ML-based systems, recommendation engines, etc.) an intelligent system including, for example, a self-diagnosis function, a self-planning function, a self-tracking function, etc.

In some configurations, the outer cameras 205 in/on the outer arcuate structure 202 and the inner cameras 204 in/on the inner camera hub 203 may be arranged in such a way that: when the dental imaging system 200 is installed with the patient's lower jaw widened, the top sides of the upper and lower teeth may be imaged by the cameras 204, 205. That is, with such an arrangement, the individual visual or focus ranges of the inner camera 204 and the outer camera 205, respectively, may collectively or cooperatively form an overall focus range that completely or nearly completely covers the top sides of the upper and lower teeth. In some examples, the positions of inner camera 204 and outer camera 205 may be adjustable to move their respective focus ranges appropriately. Any position adjustment mechanism may be used to achieve the adjustability with one or more degrees of freedom, such as, for example, up, down, left, right, etc.

Although only a few examples are disclosed herein, other alternatives, modifications, uses, and/or equivalents are possible. Moreover, all possible combinations of the described examples are also covered. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by particular examples, but should be determined only by a fair reading of the claims that follow.