Abstract: A method for imaging a region of interest of patient dentition acquires an intraoral scan and forms a 3D digital model of a first surface contour of patient dentition that includes the region of interest and acquires a physical impression that includes at least the region of interest. The method scans the physical impression and generates a second surface contour of the identified region of interest. The digital model is modified by combining a portion of the second surface contour with the first surface contour over the region of interest. The modified digital model is displayed.

Abstract: A method for forming a subset having a number of member 3D contour images, the method executed at least in part on a computer, selects a first 3D contour image as a member image, obtains a candidate 3D contour image, computes an overlap between the candidate 3D contour image and the first 3D contour image, and adds the candidate 3D contour image to the subset according to the overlap computation.

Abstract: A method for intraoral imaging acquires structured light images from a region of interest and forms a range image that characterizes the surface contour of the region of interest according to the acquired structured light images. At least one row of pixels in the range image is processed by selecting a segment of the row, computing residual noise in the selected segment, generating a template for the segment, wherein the template is characteristic of an imaging artifact related to motion, computing a similarity factor according to correlation between frequency-domain transforms of the template and computed residual noise and comparing the computed similarity factor against a threshold to identify an image artifact. The image artifact or excessive motion are reported.

Abstract: A method for color texture imaging of teeth with a monochrome sensor array obtains a 3-D mesh representing a surface contour image according to image data from views of the teeth. For each view, recording image data generates sets of at least three monochromatic shading images. Each set of the monochromatic shading images is combined to generate 2-D color shading images, corresponding to one of the views. Each polygonal surface in the mesh is assigned to one of a subset of the views. Polygonal surfaces assigned to the same view are grouped into a texture fragment. Image coordinates for the 3-D mesh surfaces in each texture fragment are determined from projection of vertices onto the view associated with the texture fragment. The 3-D mesh is rendered with texture values in the 2-D color shading images corresponding to each texture fragment to generate a color texture surface contour image.

Abstract: A method for three-dimensional imaging stores a first image of field of view from a handheld optical coherence tomography (OCT) scanning device at a first position where a first OCT scan of an object is captured with the scanning device freely operated by a user. A location metric of a second image of field of view of the scanning device is estimated at a second position relative to the first image while the scanning device is moved from the first to the second position. Instructions on providing user feedback are generated based on the location metric. Feedback is provided to indicate if the second position is adequate for a second OCT scan, wherein providing feedback includes providing user perceivable light of a first color to indicate that the second position is adequate and providing user perceivable light of a second color to indicate that the second position is not adequate.

Abstract: A method for mapping a sensor pixel array to an illumination pixel array according to a surface forms a group mapping by assigning each pixel in a on the sensor array to a group that has a group width defined by p adjacent pixels on the illumination pixel array by projecting and recording a first and a second multiple group index image with a first and second pattern of lines. Lines appearing in both first and second pattern are spaced by a first distance that is a first multiple of group width p, and lines that appear only in either pattern are evenly spaced by a second distance that exceeds the first distance. A subset of p multiline images are projected, each projecting a line within each group. Lines in one of the multiline images are correlated with lines from the group index images to generate the group mapping.

Abstract: A method for intraoral imaging acquires structured light images from a region of interest and forms a range image that characterizes the surface contour of the region of interest according to the acquired structured light images. At least one row of pixels in the range image is processed by selecting a segment of the row, computing residual noise in the selected segment, generating a template for the segment, wherein the template is characteristic of an imaging artifact related to motion, computing a similarity factor according to correlation between frequency-domain transforms of the template and computed residual noise and comparing the computed similarity factor against a threshold to identify an image artifact. The image artifact or excessive motion are reported.

Abstract: A method for forming a subset having a number of member 3D contour images, the method executed at least in part on a computer, selects a first 3D contour image as a member image, obtains a candidate 3D contour image, computes an overlap between the candidate 3D contour image and the first 3D contour image, and adds the candidate 3D contour image to the subset according to the overlap computation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to method and system for bite registration using multiple bite registrations. In this method or system, when both the 3D teeth model of the upper jaw and the 3D teeth model of the lower jaw are successfully aligned with the bite surface, the bite surface with the 3D teeth models of the upper jaw and the lower jaw is displayed for further evaluation; the bite surfaces selected by the user are combined to generate a final bite registration. Using multiple bite surfaces for registration improves the accuracy.

Abstract: A method for three-dimensional imaging stores a first image of field of view from a handheld optical coherence tomography (OCT) scanning device at a first position where a first OCT scan of an object is captured with the scanning device freely operated by a user. A location metric of a second image of field of view of the scanning device is estimated at a second position relative to the first image while the scanning device is moved from the first to the second position. Instructions on providing user feedback are generated based on the location metric. Feedback is provided to indicate if the second position is adequate for a second OCT scan, wherein providing feedback includes providing user perceivable light of a first color to indicate that the second position is adequate and providing user perceivable light of a second color to indicate that the second position is not adequate.

Abstract: A method for color texture imaging of teeth with a monochrome sensor array obtains a 3-D mesh representing a surface contour image according to image data from views of the teeth. For each view, recording image data generates sets of at least three monochromatic shading images. Each set of the monochromatic shading images is combined to generate 2-D color shading images, corresponding to one of the views. Each polygonal surface in the mesh is assigned to one of a subset of the views. Polygonal surfaces assigned to the same view are grouped into a texture fragment. Image coordinates for the 3-D mesh surfaces in each texture fragment are determined from projection of vertices onto the view associated with the texture fragment. The 3-D mesh is rendered with texture values in the 2-D color shading images corresponding to each texture fragment to generate a color texture surface contour image.

Abstract: A method for three-dimensional imaging is provided, storing a first two-dimensional image of field of view of a scanning device at a first position where a first three-dimensional view of the object is captured with said handheld scanning device; estimating location metric of a second two-dimensional image of field of view of said scanning device at a second position relative to said first image while said scanning device is being moved from said first position to said second position; and generating instructions on providing feedback to the user based on said location metric; wherein said feedback is provided to indicate if said second position is adequate for capturing a second three-dimensional view. A system for three-dimensional imaging is provided as well.

Abstract: A method for mapping a sensor pixel array to an illumination pixel array according to a surface forms a group mapping by assigning each pixel in a on the sensor array to a group that has a group width defined by p adjacent pixels on the illumination pixel array by projecting and recording a first and a second multiple group index image with a first and second pattern of lines. Lines appearing in both first and second pattern are spaced by a first distance that is a first multiple of group width p, and lines that appear only in either pattern are evenly spaced by a second distance that exceeds the first distance. A subset of p multiline images are projected, each projecting a line within each group. Lines in one of the multiline images are correlated with lines from the group index images to generate the group mapping.

Abstract: In an exemplary method for obtaining a contour image of a tooth, which can be executed at least in part by a computer, movement of an intra-oral camera can be detected by acquiring a first video image frame that includes the tooth and processing the first video image frame to detect one or more edges of the tooth in the first video image frame and acquiring a second video image frame that includes the tooth and processing the second video image frame to detect the one or more edges of the tooth in the second video image frame. The method can compare corresponding edge locations between the first and second processed video image frames and projects a fringe pattern illumination onto the tooth from the camera, capturing and storing one or more still images of the fringe pattern according to the detected camera movement.

Abstract: A method for display of a region of interest of a 3D tooth surface forms a 3D surface model using a number of structured light images, then forms a global texture map for the 3D surface model according to a plurality of reflectance images of the teeth. The 2D image is generated and displayed using the 3D surface model. Pixels in mesh elements of the 2D index image have corresponding surface facets of the 3D surface model. The method describes Identifying and rendering the region of interest in response to viewer instructions.

Abstract: An apparatus for imaging the head of a patient has a transport apparatus that orbits an x-ray source and detector about the head and acquires 2-D radiographic projection images. One or more head marker retaining elements hold markers in position relative to the skull. One or more jaw marker retaining elements hold markers in position relative to the jaw bone. At least one camera acquires a jaw motion study. A control logic processor in signal communication with the x-ray source, x-ray detector, and the camera is configured to reconstruct volume image content using the 2-D radiographic projection images acquired, to segment the jaw bone structure from the skull bone structure, to register the reconstructed volume image content, and to generate display content that shows jaw bone structure motion acquired from the set of reflectance images. A display in signal communication with the control logic processor displays the generated content.

Abstract: An apparatus for imaging the head of a patient has a transport apparatus that moves an x-ray source and detector in at least partial orbit about a head supporting position for acquiring 2-D radiographic projection images of the head. A light source coupled to the transport apparatus projects patterned light over at least a portion of the orbit. A monochrome camera coupled to the transport apparatus records, at angles of the orbit, monochrome reflectance images of the projected patterned light. A color camera coupled to the transport apparatus acquires, at each of one or more angles of the orbit, a color reflectance image of the head. A control logic processor energizes at least the x-ray source, the detector, the transport apparatus, the light source, and the cameras to acquire and process both radiographic and reflectance image data obtained during the at least partial orbit about the head supporting position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to method and system for bite registration using multiple bite registrations. In this method or system, when both the 3D teeth model of the upper jaw and the 3D teeth model of the lower jaw are successfully aligned with the bite surface, the bite surface with the 3D teeth models of the upper jaw and the lower jaw is displayed for further evaluation; the bite surfaces selected by the user are combined to generate a final bite registration. Using multiple bite surfaces for registration improves the accuracy.

Abstract: A method for three-dimensional imaging is provided, storing a first two-dimensional image of field of view of a scanning device at a first position where a first three-dimensional view of the object is captured with said handheld scanning device; estimating location metric of a second two-dimensional image of field of view of said scanning device at a second position relative to said first image while said scanning device is being moved from said first position to said second position; and generating instructions on providing feedback to the user based on said location metric; wherein said feedback is provided to indicate if said second position is adequate for capturing a second three-dimensional view. A system for three-dimensional imaging is provided as well.

Abstract: A method for automatically aligning a model for an upper jaw with a model for a lower jaw, the method including forming models for teeth of the upper jaw and the lower jaw based on images; obtaining a reference bite frame with the teeth in a clenched state; aligning the models for the teeth of the upper jaw and the lower jaw with the reference bite frame, respectively, to determine transform information between the generated models and the reference bite frame; aligning the model for the teeth of the upper jaw with that of the lower jaw based on the determined transform information.