Abstract: An optical apparatus has an OCT imaging apparatus with a first light source for low coherence light of wavelengths above a threshold wavelength and a signal detector that obtains an interference signal between low coherence light from the sample and low coherence light reflected from a reference. A surface contour imaging apparatus has a second light source that emits one or more wavelengths of surface illumination below the threshold wavelength, a camera to acquire images from illumination reflected from the sample and a probe that has a raster scanner wherein the low coherence light and the surface illumination share the same path from the raster scanner to the sample. A processor coordinates activation of the light sources, actuation of the scanner, and acquisition of data and the camera and follows instructions to display, store, or transfer images from the acquired 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: Exemplary method and apparatus embodiments of this application can obtain a digital model of an individual intraoral dentition and perform tooth surface restoration after brace representation removal that includes wires and brackets.

Abstract: An exemplary optical apparatus has an OCT imaging apparatus with a first light source for low coherence light of wavelengths above a threshold wavelength and a signal detector that obtains an interference signal between low coherence light from the sample and low coherence light reflected from a reference. A surface contour imaging apparatus has a second light source that emits one or more wavelengths of surface illumination below the threshold wavelength, a camera to acquire images from illumination reflected from the sample. The exemplary optical apparatus and/or exemplary methods for using the same can provide reduced errors in generating a dental 3D surface mesh.

Abstract: A method for imaging a tooth surface, the method executed at least in part on a computer, directs an excitation signal toward the tooth from a scan head and obtains a depth-resolved response signal emanating from the tooth, wherein the response signal encodes tooth surface structure information. Liquid and tooth surfaces are segmented from the depth-resolved response signal. The tooth surface structure information is adjusted based on the segmented liquid. A 3D image of the tooth is reconstructed according to the depth-resolved response signal and the adjusted tooth surface structure information. The 3D image content is displayed, stored, or transmitted.

Abstract: An intraoral scanning apparatus has a source of low coherence light. An interferometer directs the low coherence light to a reference path and a sample path and generates image data according to interference from combined light returned along the reference and sample paths. A fixture is optically coupled to the sample path and has a bite portion featured for clamping between the jaws of a patient, a track that defines a curved scan path for scanning, one or more scanners configured to direct the sample path light to and from the teeth, and an actuator and translation apparatus that urges the one or more scanners along the curved scan path. A control logic processor synchronizes light scanning and acquisition from the fixture. A display is in signal communication with the control logic processor for display of acquired scan data.

Abstract: A method for registering an imaging detector to a surface projects and records a sequence having a first sparse pattern of lines followed by a second sparse pattern of lines. A first subset of positions receives lines from both first and second sparse patterns corresponding to a first label. A second subset of positions receives only lines from the first sparse pattern corresponding to a second label. A third subset of positions receives only lines from the second sparse pattern corresponding to a third label. The first, second, and third labels are decoded and each member element of the first, second, and third subsets of positions registered to the imaging detector according to the decoded labels. One or more dense patterns of lines positionally correlated with registered member elements of the decoded labels are projected and recorded. An image of the surface contour is formed according to the recorded pattern.

Abstract: A method for registering an imaging detector to a surface projects and records a sequence having a first sparse pattern of lines followed by a second sparse pattern of lines. A first subset of positions receives lines from both first and second sparse patterns corresponding to a first label. A second subset of positions receives only lines from the first sparse pattern corresponding to a second label. A third subset of positions receives only lines from the second sparse pattern corresponding to a third label. The first, second, and third labels are decoded and each member element of the first, second, and third subsets of positions registered to the imaging detector according to the decoded labels. One or more dense patterns of lines positionally correlated with registered member elements of the decoded labels are projected and recorded. An image of the surface contour is formed according to the recorded pattern.

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 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: An exemplary optical apparatus has an OCT imaging apparatus with a first light source for low coherence light of wavelengths above a threshold wavelength and a signal detector that obtains an interference signal between low coherence light from the sample and low coherence light reflected from a reference. A surface contour imaging apparatus has a second light source that emits one or more wavelengths of surface illumination below the threshold wavelength, a camera to acquire images from illumination reflected from the sample. The exemplary optical apparatus and/or exemplary methods for using the same can provide reduced errors in generating a dental 3D surface mesh.

Abstract: A method for registering an imaging detector to a surface projects and records a sequence having a first sparse pattern of lines followed by a second sparse pattern of lines. A first subset of positions receives lines from both first and second sparse patterns corresponding to a first label. A second subset of positions receives only lines from the first sparse pattern corresponding to a second label. A third subset of positions receives only lines from the second sparse pattern corresponding to a third label. The first, second, and third labels are decoded and each member element of the first, second, and third subsets of positions registered to the imaging detector according to the decoded labels. One or more dense patterns of lines positionally correlated with registered member elements of the decoded labels are projected and recorded. An image of the surface contour is formed according to the recorded pattern.

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 apparatus for intraoral imaging has an intraoral camera that defines a field of view with a first dimension and a second dimension orthogonal to the first dimension. A projector has a laser diode energizable to emit a light beam; a collimator in the path of the emitted light beam; first beam-shaping optics disposed to shape the collimated light beam in the second dimension to form a linear light pattern; focusing optics disposed to focus the shaped collimated beam at a focal plane; and a scanner that is disposed substantially at the focal plane and that is energizable to scan the formed linear light pattern along the second dimension to successive positions of the field of view. A control logic processor coordinates energizing the laser diode and scanner with image capture by the intraoral camera.

Abstract: Method and/or apparatus embodiments for 3-D cephalometric analysis of a patient according to the application can display reconstructed volume image data from a computed tomographic scan of a patient's head including segmented dentition elements having an initial arrangement from one or more 2D/3D views; can compute and display a plurality of cephalometric parameters for the patient according to the reconstructed volume image data; then use the patient specific cephalometric parameters and population biometry data, to identify one or more maxillofacial/dental abnormalities; and compose patient specific treatment plans to correct selected dentition abnormalities using maxillofacial/dental structure, which can be composed in a final tooth arrangement in a final virtual CT volume. One or more aligners can be generated to incrementally move dentition from the initial arrangement to the final tooth arrangement.

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: An apparatus for imaging a body cavity has a light source that generates short coherence light and a probe housed within a transparent catheter, wherein the probe has a rotatable scanner optic that is disposed to convey light from the light source to and from the body cavity. An actuator apparatus coupled to the probe is configured to perform a helical scan by simultaneously rotating the scanner optic about an axis within the catheter and translating the scanner optic along the axis. A signal detector obtains an interference signal between a first portion of the coherent light scattered from the sample and a second portion of the coherent light reflected from a reference. A processor is programmed with instructions that coordinate actuation of the scanner mirror and acquisition of data from the signal detector and the camera and with instructions for volume image reconstruction.

Abstract: An intraoral scanning apparatus has a source of low coherence light. An interferometer directs the low coherence light to a reference path and a sample path and generates image data according to interference from combined light returned along the reference and sample paths. A fixture is optically coupled to the sample path and has a bite portion featured for clamping between the jaws of a patient, a track that defines a curved scan path for scanning, one or more scanners configured to direct the sample path light to and from the teeth, and an actuator and translation apparatus that urges the one or more scanners along the curved scan path. A control logic processor synchronizes light scanning and acquisition from the fixture. A display is in signal communication with the control logic processor for display of acquired scan data.

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: Exemplary method and apparatus embodiments of this application can obtain a digital model of an individual intraoral dentition and perform tooth surface restoration after brace representation removal that includes wires and brackets.