Abstract: A scanner includes a camera, a light source for generating a probe light incorporating a spatial pattern, an optical system for transmitting the probe light towards the object and for transmitting at least a part of the light returned from the object to the camera, a focus element within the optical system for varying a position of a focus plane of the spatial pattern on the object, unit for obtaining at least one image from said array of sensor elements, unit for evaluating a correlation measure at each focus plane position between at least one image pixel and a weight function, a processor for determining the in-focus position(s) of each of a plurality of image pixels for a range of focus plane positions, or each of a plurality of groups of image pixels for a range of focus plane positions, and transforming in-focus data into 3D real world coordinates.

Abstract: A method for improving the accuracy of a digital medical model of a part of a patient, the method includes obtaining a set of at least 2 medical images of the patient, where an element comprising a predefined geometry and/or predefined information was attached to the patient during the recording of the medical images; obtaining at least 2 tracking images taken with at least one camera having a known positional relationship relative to the medical imaging device, said tracking images depicting at least part of the element; determining any movement of the element between acquisition of the at least 2 tracking images; and generating the digital medical model from the acquired medical images, wherein the determined movement of the element is used to compensate for any movement of the patient between the acquisition of the medical images.

Abstract: A scanner includes a camera, a light source for generating a probe light incorporating a spatial pattern, an optical system for transmitting the probe light towards the object and for transmitting at least a part of the light returned from the object to the camera, a focus element within the optical system for varying a position of a focus plane of the spatial pattern on the object, unit for obtaining at least one image from said array of sensor elements, unit for evaluating a correlation measure at each focus plane position between at least one image pixel and a weight function, a processor for determining the in-focus position(s) of each of a plurality of image pixels for a range of focus plane positions, or each of a plurality of groups of image pixels for a range of focus plane positions, and transforming in-focus data into 3D real world coordinates.

Abstract: A 3D scanner system includes a scanning device capable of recording first and second data sets of a surface of an object when operating in a first configuration and a second configuration, respectively. A measurement unit is configured for measuring a distance from the scanning device to the surface. A control controls an operation of the scanning device based on the distance measured by the measurement unit, where the scanning device operates in the first configuration when the measured distance is within a first range of distances from the surface and the scanning device operates in the second configuration when the measured distance is within a second range of distances; and a data processor is configured to combine one or more first data sets and one or more second data sets to create a combined virtual 3D model of the object surface.

Abstract: A method, a system and a user interface for generating a digital design for use in the manufacture of a molding-shell for a patient's teeth, where the molding-shell and the teeth together enclose a volume for forming a dental restoration, include obtaining a digital 3D representation of the patient's teeth, the digital 3D representation including a tooth part relating to one or more teeth for which the dental restoration is formed; obtaining a set of one or more digital teeth anatomies; arranging the set of digital teeth anatomies and the digital 3D representation according to a preferred relative arrangement; and generating the digital design where a first portion of the digital design is derived from the digital teeth anatomies and a second portion of the digital design is derived from the tooth part of the digital 3D representation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for compensating for motion blur when performing a 3D scanning of at least a part of an object by means of a 3D scanner, where the motion blur occurs because the scanner and the object are moved relative to each other while the scanning is performed, and where the motion blur compensation comprises: —determining whether there is a relative motion between the scanner and the object during the acquisition of the sequence of focus plane images; —if a relative motion is determined, performing a motion compensation based on the determined motion; and —generating a 3D surface from the sequence of focus plane images.

Abstract: A 3D scanner system for detecting and/or visualizing cariogenic regions in teeth based on fluorescence emitted from said teeth, the 3D scanner system including data processing means configured for mapping a representation of fluorescence emitted from the teeth onto the corresponding portion of a digital 3D representation of the teeth to provide a combined digital 3D representation.

Abstract: A scanner includes a camera, a light source for generating a probe light incorporating a spatial pattern, an optical system for transmitting the probe light towards the object and for transmitting at least a part of the light returned from the object to the camera, a focus element within the optical system for varying a position of a focus plane of the spatial pattern on the object, unit for obtaining at least one image from said array of sensor elements, unit for evaluating a correlation measure at each focus plane position between at least one image pixel and a weight function, a processor for determining the in-focus position(s) of each of a plurality of image pixels for a range of focus plane positions, or each of a plurality of groups of image pixels for a range of focus plane positions, and transforming in-focus data into 3D real world coordinates.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for generating a virtual model of a customized impression tray and for manufacturing such a customized impression tray. A 3D digital representation of a patient's set of teeth is obtained and a virtual model of the customized impression tray is generated, where the generating comprises shaping the virtual model of the customized impression tray according to the 3D digital representation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a 3D scanner for recording the 3D topography of an object, the 3D scanner including: a projector unit configured for projecting a structured beam of probe light onto the object; an imaging unit arranged to acquire 2D images of the object when the object is illuminated by the structured probe light beam; and an actuator unit arranged to control the position of the structured probe light beam at the object by rotating a movable portion of the projector unit around a pivoting axis, the actuator unit including a rotation motor including or arranged to drive a wheel, where the surface of the wheel operatively coupled to the movable portion of the projector unit has a radial distance from the axis of the rotation motor which changes with the rotation.

Abstract: A method for validating a preparation of at least one tooth in a prepared set of teeth for determining whether the prepared tooth is capable of accepting a dental restoration includes obtaining a virtual dental preparation guide configured for validating the preparation of the at least one tooth; obtaining a digital 3D representation of the prepared set of teeth; visualizing the virtual dental preparation guide together with the digital 3D representation of the prepared set of teeth; and validating from the visualization of the virtual dental preparation guide together with the digital 3D representation of the prepared set of teeth whether the prepared at least one tooth is shaped such that it can accept the dental restoration.

Abstract: A method for providing a guided relative movement of a first object and a second object includes obtaining the first object; obtaining the second object and a 3D model of the second object, and deriving from the 3D model a first preferred relative arrangement between the first and second objects; obtaining a pre-process plan describing a preferred path for the relative movement of the first and second objects towards the first preferred relative arrangement; performing a movement procedure that includes 3D scanning at least a region of said second object using the 3D scanner and determining a present relative arrangement of the first and second objects from a result of the 3D scanning; calculating information for correcting in real-time for deviation in the relative movement from the preferred path; and providing a relative movement of the first and second objects towards the first preferred relative arrangement.

Abstract: A method for scanning partly obstructed interior surfaces includes providing a probe shaped scanner having an axis. The scanner includes at least one light source configured to create and project structured light, and at least one camera configured to record 2D images. The method includes entering the probe shaped scanner into a cavity of an object, where the cavity is bounded by an interior surface of the object; creating and projecting structured light from the light source of the probe producing a pattern on the interior surface of the object; recording a series of 2D images of the reflection of the pattern from the interior surface using said camera; combining the series of 2D images to obtain 3D real world coordinates of the interior surface; and providing data and processing the data such that surface information for areas of the surface, where image scanning is not complete, is created.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dental prosthesis including an implant, a customized abutment, a restoration and an implant screw for securing the customized abutment to the implant, wherein the implant includes a screw bore extending from a first end of the implant for receiving at last a part of the implant screw, the customized abutment includes a through-going bore for receiving at least a part of the implant screw, the screw bore and the through-going bore are coaxially aligned along an implant axis when the implant screw is arranged in the screw and through-going bore, the abutment includes a customized abutment base and a customized abutment top where the customized abutment base and the customized abutment top defines an assembly axis along which they were assembled during manufacturing, where the implant axis is different from the assembly axis.

Abstract: A method for designing a virtual abutment for manufacturing an abutment part of a dental restoration for a patient, the dental restoration further including a crown configured for being seated at the abutment, wherein the method includes loading a virtual anatomy surface into an electronic data processing device, the virtual anatomy surface expressing a target shape of the crown portion of the dental restoration; loading an obtained virtual abutment including a virtual abutment finish line into the electronic data processing device; and modifying the obtained virtual abutment by executing one or more computer implemented algorithms using the electronic data processing device, where the algorithms are configured to adapt the shape of the obtained virtual abutment such that the virtual abutment finish line of the modified virtual abutment is aligned with the virtual anatomy surface.

Abstract: Disclosed are a scanner system and a method for recording surface geometry and surface color of an object where both surface geometry information and surface color information for a block of the image sensor pixels at least partly from one 2D image recorded by the color image sensor. A particular application is within dentistry, particularly for intraoral scanning.

Abstract: A method of aligning two 3D digital representations of at least a part of each of the upper and lower jaw of a patient, the method including segmenting the 3D digital representations to determine the shape and position of each of the patient's teeth in each of the 3D digital representations; and using a set of known anatomical concepts to constrain the fit of the two 3D digital representations to get a preliminary fit.

Abstract: A scanner includes a camera, a light source for generating a probe light incorporating a spatial pattern, an optical system for transmitting the probe light towards the object and for transmitting at least a part of the light returned from the object to the camera, a focus element within the optical system for varying a position of a focus plane of the spatial pattern on the object, unit for obtaining at least one image from said array of sensor elements, unit for evaluating a correlation measure at each focus plane position between at least one image pixel and a weight function, a processor for determining the in-focus position(s) of each of a plurality of image pixels for a range of focus plane positions, or each of a plurality of groups of image pixels for a range of focus plane positions, and transforming in-focus data into 3D real world coordinates.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for digitally designing a dental restoration, wherein a 3D representation of at least a part of the upper or lower jaw is obtained. The 3D representation represents at least a target site for placing the final restoration and at least one antagonist tooth opposing the target site. Furthermore a digital anatomy design of the restoration is provided. The digital anatomy is based at least on a dynamic occlusion and a relative offset of the planned restoration position. Accordingly, a restoration may be designed that does not interrupt the natural occlusion.

Abstract: A method for generating a dental preparation guide configured for validating the preparation of at least one tooth for a dental restoration. A tooth is virtually removed from a digital 3D representation of the patient's pre-prepared set of teeth to form a digital 3D representation of a remaining set of teeth. A virtual target dental restoration expressing a target shape of the dental restoration is obtained and a virtual validation surface for the dental preparation guide is created based on the virtual target dental restoration, where the validation surface is such that the preparation of the tooth can be validated by the dental preparation guide. A virtual preparation guide surface is created by combining the virtual validation surface and part of the surface of the digital 3D representation of the remaining set of teeth.