Abstract: A shade matching method for a tooth obtains a plurality of digitized tooth shade references, obtains a three-dimensional (3D) surface representation of a tooth and associated color information defined on the three-dimensional (3D) surface, selects a region on the three-dimensional (3D) surface representation of the tooth, determines a plurality of correspondences with the common tooth shape of all the tooth shade references, computes color difference with each of the tooth shade reference from the plurality of tooth shade references, and records the label corresponding to the shade reference with a smallest difference.

Abstract: An intraoral scanner (90) is disclosed for use with a dental optical coherence tomography system. The scanner has a scanning reflector that is energizable to direct a scanning beam in a raster pattern toward a sample (S) surface. The scanning reflector is further to direct a reflected beam from the sample surface toward a detector (60). The scanning reflector is calibrated to direct the scanning and reflected beams in an open-loop control mode. A dental optical coherence tomography system and a method for calibration of a scanning reflector are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for generating a digital model of dentition, executed at least in part by a computer, acquires a 3-D digital mesh that is representative of the dentition along a dental arch, including includes braces, teeth, and gingival tissue. The method modifies the 3-D digital mesh to generate a digital mesh dentition model by processing the digital mesh and automatically detecting one or more initial bracket positions from the acquired mesh, processing the initial bracket positions to identify bracket areas for braces that lie against tooth surfaces, identifying one or more brace wires extending between brackets, removing one or more brackets and one or more wires from the dentition model, and forming a reconstructed tooth surface within the digital mesh dentition model where the one or more brackets have been removed. The modified 3-D digital mesh dentition model is displayed, stored, or transmitted over a network to another computer.

Abstract: An apparatus for acquiring intraoral images of a subject has an OCT imaging apparatus having an OCT light source, a scanner that conveys OCT light toward the subject and returned from the subject, and an interferometer having a reference arm and a sample arm. A reflectance imaging apparatus has a visible light source directed toward the subject and an image sensor that forms a reflectance image from returned light. Processing and control logic are configured to process and combine the returned reflectance image to the OCT measured data. A display shows the combined reflectance image and OCT measured data.

Abstract: A system and method for quantifying viewer engagement with a video playing on a display in a respondent household includes an agreed upon camera arrangement to monitor viewer engagement. The system and method includes the ability to determine what sources of content are being accessed by the household, and other data such as time of viewing, and source of content.

Abstract: Method and apparatus embodiments can generate a volume fluorescence image of a tooth. Method and apparatus embodiments can project structured light patterns onto a tooth and generate a contour (volume) image of the tooth surface from acquired corresponding structured light projection images; then acquire one or more fluorescence images of the tooth generated under blue-UV illumination. A composite image that shows fluorescence image content mapped to the generated contour image can be transmitted, stored, modified and/or displayed.

Abstract: A method for color shade matching obtains a 3D tooth surface representation using an intraoral scanner wherein the 3D tooth surface representation comprises surface data and a spatially resolved angular distribution of color vectors, wherein the spatially resolved angular distribution of color vectors associates one or more point positions from the surface data to the corresponding angular distribution of color vectors. The method identifies one or more shade values, where each shade value is associated with one angular distribution of color vectors from the spatially resolved angular distribution of color vectors, by comparing the angular distribution of color vectors to a set of reference angular distributions of color vectors, wherein each reference angular distribution in the set is associated with a corresponding shade value. The method displays, stores, or transmits the surface data with an indication of the one or more shade values.

Abstract: An apparatus for oral imaging has a light source energizable to generate a light frequency signal ranging from a minimum to a maximum frequency. An image acquisition apparatus scans the generated light frequency signal to successive positions on a sample surface and to combine a returned signal from each successive position with the generated light frequency signal. The image acquisition apparatus has a detector that obtains a beat frequency signal from the combined returned signal and the generated light frequency signal. A processor that is in signal communication with the detector generates a processed beat signal from the combined signals, wherein the processed beat signal is indicative of the distance from the tunable laser source to the sample surface at the corresponding position. A display is in signal communication with the processor and is energizable to display distance data according to the processed beat signal for each scanned position.

Abstract: An intraoral scanning apparatus has a mouthpiece and a transport apparatus that defines at least a first curved track within the mouthpiece. An image sensor is movable along the first curved track. A scanner is movable along the first curved track, scanning in synchronization with the image sensor and having an illumination source that has a laser light source and beam-shaping optics in the path of the laser light for forming a linear light pattern. At least one actuator is energizable to move the image sensor and scanner along the first curved track for image acquisition. A control logic processor synchronizes the scanner and image sensor for automated acquisition of surface contour data. A display is in signal communication with the control logic processor to process and display the acquired surface contour data.

Abstract: An apparatus for intraoral imaging has an illumination source that directs light to an object. An imaging apparatus forms an image at an image sensor array from reflected light from the object, the imaging apparatus having an optical stop along an optical axis. A phase modulator is disposed at or near the optical stop. An image processor conditions data from the image sensor array and provides processed image data of the object.

Abstract: A method for acquiring image data obtains, for an intraoral feature, optical coherence tomography (OCT) data in three dimensions wherein at least one dimension is pseudo-randomly or randomly sampled and reconstructs an image volume of the intraoral feature using compressive sensing, wherein data density of the reconstructed image volume is larger than that of the obtained OCT data in the at least one dimension or according to a corresponding transform. The method renders the reconstructed image volume for display.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for operating an imaging system that includes an intra-oral imaging sensor and an electronic processor. The intra-oral imaging sensor includes a housing, an image sensing component at least partially housed within the housing, and a multi-dimensional sensor at least partially housed within the housing. The electronic processor is configured to receive an output of the multi-dimensional sensor indicative of movement of the intra-oral imaging sensor. The output is compared to predetermined movement criteria indicative of a type of movement and, in response to determining that the type of movement of the imaging sensor has occurred, the electronic processor alters the operation of the imaging system.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for operating an intra-oral imaging sensor that includes a housing, an image sensing component configured to capture image data while the intra-oral imaging sensor housing is positioned in a mouth of a patient, and a multi-dimensional sensor positioned within the housing of the intra-oral imaging sensor. An electronic controller is configured to receive data from the multi-dimensional sensor and to control an action of the intra-oral imaging sensor based on the data received from the multi-dimensional sensor.

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.

Abstract: Methods and systems for storing and accessing dental images. The system includes an imaging system for acquiring x-ray projection frames. The imaging system is connected to a local server through a local area network. A cloud server communicates with devices on the local area. The x-ray projection frames are transmitted from the imaging system to the local server. The local server stores the series of related x-ray projection frames according to a specified policy. In one embodiment, the x-ray projection frames are compressed into a compressed image data set using a modified video compression prediction algorithm customized for x-ray images. The compressed image data is transmitted to the cloud server for storage. The x-ray image data can be accessed from the cloud server by external devices and by other local area networks.

Abstract: A hybrid x-ray system that includes an x-ray device for mounted and portable use. The x-ray device includes a housing, an x-ray source coupled to the housing and configured to generate x-ray radiation, and a support connector coupled to the housing. The support connector is configured to mechanically couple to a support arm and to mechanically couple to a handle. The x-ray device include power circuitry or is otherwise configured to selectively receive power from a battery and an AC power source.

Abstract: Systems and methods for obtaining a panoramic image are provided. One system includes a gantry, an x-ray source, a receptor, and at least one controller. The x-ray source is mounted on the gantry and is configured to alternatively output x-ray radiation at a first energy level and x-ray radiation at a second energy level. The receptor is mounted on the gantry so that x-ray radiation from the x-ray source impinges on the receptor. The receptor is configured to output a plurality of frames of data including a first frame and a second frame sequential to the first frame. The controller is configured to control the x-ray source so that data in the first frame is generated based on x-ray radiation of the first energy level and data in the second frame is based on x-ray radiation of the second energy level.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for operating an intra-oral imaging sensor that includes a housing, an image sensing component at least partially housed within the housing, and a temperature sensor. An output of the temperature indicative of a sensed temperature is received and evaluated to determine whether the intra-oral imaging sensor is positioned in the mouth of the patient. The determination of whether the temperature sensor may be based on one or more determined conditions including whether a current temperature exceeds a threshold, whether a first derivative of the sensed temperature exceeds a rate-of-change threshold, and whether a second derivative of the sensed temperature exceeds a temperature acceleration threshold. In some implementations, the operation of the intra-oral imaging sensor is automatically adjusted in response to a determination that the sensor has been placed inside the mouth of a patient.

Abstract: A positioning and retaining system for intra-oral sensors includes a holder shaped to hold a curved intra-oral sensor, and a curved or flexible intra-oral sensor configured to be coupled to the holder.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for operating an imaging sensor, the imaging sensor including a multi-dimensional sensor. An electronic processor receives an output from the multi-dimensional sensor and transitions the imaging sensor from the low-power state into a ready state in response to a determination by the electronic processor, based on the output from the multi-dimensional sensor, that a first state transition criteria is satisfied and transitions the imaging sensor from the ready state into an armed state in response to a determination that a second state transition criteria is satisfied. In some implementations, the electronic processor operates the imaging sensor to capture image data only when operating in the armed state and prevents the imaging system from transitioning from the low-power state directly into the armed state.