Patents by Inventor Michael ELVERS

Michael ELVERS has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20260157715
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a computer-implemented method for generating a two dimensional final image (16) of at least a sub region of the maxillofacial region of a patient (P) with x-ray cone beam CT, the method comprising the steps of: defining a position and alignment of the 2D final image to be generated relative to said sub region of the dental maxillofacial region of the patient, wherein the 2D final image essentially being identical to a x-ray projection image of said sub region with parallel beam geometry; acquiring a plurality of x-ray projection images by rotating an x-ray source (3) and an x-ray detector (4) around the head of the patient, wherein the x-ray source and the x-ray detector are configured for a x-ray cone beam CT image acquisition; varying, during the acquisition step, the amounts of x-ray doses used for the acquisition of each of the x-ray projection images such that a total amount of the x-ray dose is increased above a predetermined level for the x-ray projection images that ar
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2025
    Publication date: June 11, 2026
    Inventors: Michael Elvers, Johannes Ulrici
  • Publication number: 20260144500
    Abstract: A method in which: (a) a patient is positioned in an X-ray device; (b) a 3D scout image with reduced dose and with a predefined volume size and a predefined center of rotation is created; (c) on the 3D scout image, a practitioner marks the tooth (d) a software determines, based on the position of the enveloping geometry, the available centers of rotation and calculates, based on reference points of the enveloping geometry, the imaging positions; (e) based on the imaging positions, a center of rotation is selected; (f) the previously determined aperture positions and the detector regions to be irradiated are transmitted; (g) the high-resolution image is reconstructed and the newly acquired high-resolution information is superimposed in the 3D scout image; (h) the practitioner receives the 3D scout image for diagnosis and further use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2026
    Publication date: May 28, 2026
    Inventors: Wolf Blecher, Michael Elvers
  • Publication number: 20260130747
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are provided for displaying the position of a dental file during endodontic treatment. Data showing the morphology of a tooth is obtained. In one embodiment, the data is X-ray image data. A three-dimensional representation of the dental file positioned in the tooth is generated, and a length that the dental file extends from an upper surface of the tooth is determined from the three-dimensional representation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2024
    Publication date: May 14, 2026
    Applicant: DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc.
    Inventors: Johannes Ulrici, Bjoem Voss, Hong Keun Kim, Simone Hieber, Konrad Klein, Michael Elvers
  • Publication number: 20260047815
    Abstract: Aspects relate to generating cephalometric x-ray images by placing a source array including a plurality of individual x-ray sources, at a first location of one side of an object to be irradiated, placing a detector including a plurality of detector areas corresponding to the plurality of individual x-ray sources at another location on another side of the object opposite the first side, and projecting through the object, during a plurality of distinct time periods, x-rays from individual x-ray sources corresponding to the distinct time periods, and combining images generated by the projections to generate a combined cephalometric x-ray image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2024
    Publication date: February 19, 2026
    Applicant: DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc.
    Inventors: Michael ELVERS, Susanne MAUR, Markus HUELSBUSCH, Norbert ERHARDT
  • Patent number: 12544018
    Abstract: A method in which: (a) a patient is positioned in an X-ray device; (b) a 3D scout image with reduced dose and with a predefined volume sizes and a predefined center of rotation is created; (c) on the 3D scout image, a practitioner marks the tooth (d) a software determines, based on the position of the enveloping geometry, the available centers of rotation and calculates, based on reference points of the enveloping geometry, the imaging positions; (e) based on the imaging positions, a center of rotation is selected; (f) the previously determined aperture positions and the detector regions to be irradiated are transmitted; (g) the high-resolution image is reconstructed and the newly acquired high-resolution information is superimposed in the 3D scout image; (h) the practitioner receives the 3D scout image for diagnosis and further use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2026
    Assignees: Dentsply Sirona, Inc., Sirona Dental Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Wolf Blecher, Michael Elvers
  • Patent number: 12496026
    Abstract: A method for generating a panoramic image with reduced overlapping of neighboring teeth, including: acquiring 2D x-ray images respectively at a different radiographic directions by a rotating an x-ray source and an x-ray detector around the jaw of a patient. It includes a step of identifying one or more regions each including at least one pair of overlapping neighboring teeth in the 2D x-ray images and/or in temporary panoramic images reconstructed from the 2D x-ray images for which an optimal radiographic directions are determined, among the corresponding radiographic directions, which reduces the overlap in the panoramic image to be reconstructed. It includes determining one or more optimal radiographic directions respectively among the corresponding radiographic directions of the 2D x-ray images for which one or more regions each including at least one pair of overlapping neighboring teeth has been identified, to reduce the overlaps in the panoramic image to be reconstructed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2025
    Assignee: Dentsply Sirona Inc.
    Inventors: Kai Stannigel, Stefan Eichner, Michael Elvers
  • Publication number: 20250322566
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of metal artefact reduction in x-ray dental volume tomography, the method comprising: a step (S1) of obtaining two-dimensional x-ray images (1) or a sinogram (2) of at least part (v) of a patient jaw (3a), acquired through relatively rotating an x-ray source (4) and a detector (5) around the patient jaw (3a); the method being characterized by further comprising: a step (S2) of detecting metal objects (6) in the two-dimensional x-ray images (1) or the sinogram (2) by using at least a trained artificial intelligence algorithm to generate 2D masks (7) which represent the metal objects (6) in the two-dimensional x-ray images (1) or 3D masks which represent the metal objects (6) in the sinogram (2), respectively; and a step (S4;S5) of reconstructing a three dimensional tomographic image (8) respectively based on two-dimensional x-ray images (1) or the sinogram (2) and the 2D masks (7) or the 3D masks as generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2025
    Publication date: October 16, 2025
    Inventors: Cristina Sarti, Kai Stannigel, Michael Elvers
  • Patent number: 12374003
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of metal artefact reduction in x-ray dental volume tomography, the method comprising: a step (S1) of obtaining two-dimensional x-ray images (1) or a sinogram (2) of at least part (v) of a patient jaw (3a), acquired through relatively rotating an x-ray source (4) and a detector (5) around the patient jaw (3a); the method being characterized by further comprising: a step (S2) of detecting metal objects (6) in the two-dimensional x-ray images (1) or the sinogram (2) by using at least a trained artificial intelligence algorithm to generate 2D masks (7) which represent the metal objects (6) in the two-dimensional x-ray images (1) or 3D masks which represent the metal objects (6) in the sinogram (2), respectively; and a step (S4; S5) of reconstructing a three dimensional tomographic image (8) respectively based on two-dimensional x-ray images (1) or the sinogram (2) and the 2D masks (7) or the 3D masks as generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Assignee: Dentsply Sirona Inc.
    Inventors: Christina Sarti, Kai Stannigel, Michael Elvers
  • Publication number: 20250209644
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a computer implemented method of overlapping a first digital 3D image (13) and a second digital 3D image (14) each showing the oral cavity, wherein the first digital 3D image (13) is obtained through optically scanning a surface of the oral cavity, and wherein the second digital 3D image (14) is obtained through X-ray imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, or acoustical imaging of the oral cavity. The method includes a first matching step (S100) and a second matching step (S200) following the first matching step (S100).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2024
    Publication date: June 26, 2025
    Inventors: Simone Hieber, Michael Elvers, Daniel Bielser, Kai Stannigel, Simon Eck
  • Publication number: 20240350101
    Abstract: A method in which: (a) a patient is positioned in an X-ray device; (b) a 3D scout image with reduced dose and with a predefined volume sizes and a predefined center of rotation is created; (c) on the 3D scout image, a practitioner marks the tooth (d) a software determines, based on the position of the enveloping geometry, the available centers of rotation and calculates, based on reference points of the enveloping geometry, the imaging positions; (e) based on the imaging positions, a center of rotation is selected; (f) the previously determined aperture positions and the detector regions to be irradiated are transmitted; (g) the high-resolution image is reconstructed and the newly acquired high-resolution information is superimposed in the 3D scout image; (h) the practitioner receives the 3D scout image for diagnosis and further use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Applicant: DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc.
    Inventors: Wolf BLECHER, Michael ELVERS
  • Publication number: 20240338865
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method including: (S1) Determining the jaw arch form as a model-based prior knowledge about the anatomy of a patient based on one or more previous panoramic images or 3D images or one or more optical 3D scans of the patient; (S2) Determining a patient-specific x-ray device imaging trajectory for the panoramic image of the patient; (S3) Performing the imaging on the basis of the determined patient-specific x-ray device imaging trajectory to acquire imaging data; (S4) Adjusting reconstruction parameters according to the determined patient-specific x-ray device imaging trajectory; (S5) Determining the patient-specific focal curve for the panoramic image of the patient to be produced by using the model-based prior knowledge; (S6) Reconstructing the panoramic image using the acquired imaging data, the adjusted reconstruction parameters including the determined patient-specific focal curve, and a layer to be imaged which overlaps with the determined jaw arch
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Applicant: DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan EICHNER, Michael ELVERS
  • Patent number: 12048576
    Abstract: A method for generating a panoramic layer image of an object to be imaged, by employing a 2D panoramic X-ray device, the object being imaged by projecting X-rays generated by an X-ray source through the object in a projection direction and recording the X-rays with an X-ray detector. Several 2D X-ray projection images are continuously recorded from various imaging directions while the X-ray source and the X-ray detector move around the object. At least one panoramic layer image is calculated from the recorded 2D X-ray projection images using a reconstruction method. The panoramic layer image is calculated by selecting and employing at least one partial area from at least two 2D X-ray projection images in relation to an active sensor area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: DENTSPLY SIRONA INC.
    Inventors: Michael Elvers, Ulrich Schulze-Ganzlin, Stefan Eichner
  • Publication number: 20230309938
    Abstract: A method for generating a panoramic image with reduced overlapping of neighboring teeth, including: acquiring 2D x-ray images respectively at a different radiographic directions by a rotating an x-ray source and an x-ray detector around the jaw of a patient. It includes a step of identifying one or more regions each including at least one pair of overlapping neighboring teeth in the 2D x-ray images and/or in temporary panoramic images reconstructed from the 2D x-ray images for which an optimal radiographic directions are determined, among the corresponding radiographic directions, which reduces the overlap in the panoramic image to be reconstructed. It includes determining one or more optimal radiographic directions respectively among the corresponding radiographic directions of the 2D x-ray images for which one or more regions each including at least one pair of overlapping neighboring teeth has been identified, to reduce the overlaps in the panoramic image to be reconstructed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc.
    Inventors: Kai STANNIGEL, Stefan EICHNER, Michael ELVERS
  • Publication number: 20220202382
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for generating a panoramic layer image (1, 2) of an object (3) to be imaged, by employing a 2D panoramic X-ray device, wherein the object is imaged by projecting X-rays (6) generated by an X-ray source (7) through the object (3) in a projection direction (8) and recording said X-rays (6) with an X-ray detector (9), wherein several 2D X-ray projection images are continuously recorded from various imaging directions while the X-ray source (7) and the X-ray detector (9) move around the object (3), wherein at least one panoramic layer image (1, 2) is calculated from the recorded 2D X-ray projection images by means of a reconstruction method. The panoramic layer image (2) is calculated by selecting and employing at least one partial area (50, 52, 55, 57, 65) from at least two 2D X-ray projection images (51) in relation to an active sensor area (73).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Applicant: DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc.
    Inventors: Michael ELVERS, Ulrich SCHULZE-GANZLIN, Stefan EICHNER
  • Publication number: 20220207794
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of metal artefact reduction in x-ray dental volume tomography, the method comprising: a step (S1) of obtaining two-dimensional x-ray images (1) or a sinogram (2) of at least part (v) of a patient jaw (3a), acquired through relatively rotating an x-ray source (4) and a detector (5) around the patient jaw (3a); the method being characterized by further comprising: a step (S2) of detecting metal objects (6) in the two-dimensional x-ray images (1) or the sinogram (2) by using at least a trained artificial intelligence algorithm to generate 2D masks (7) which represent the metal objects (6) in the two-dimensional x-ray images (1) or 3D masks which represent the metal objects (6) in the sinogram (2), respectively; and a step (S4; S5) of reconstructing a three dimensional tomographic image (8) respectively based on two-dimensional x-ray images (1) or the sinogram (2) and the 2D masks (7) or the 3D masks as generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Applicant: DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc.
    Inventors: Christina SARTI, Kai STANNIGEL, Michael ELVERS