SCANNING TECHNIQUES FOR PROBING AND MEASURING ANATOMICAL CAVITIES

Abstract

Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for scanning an anatomical cavity. The method may include: selecting a scan path for obtaining data from sample areas inside the anatomical cavity, exciting a fluorescent material in an inflatable membrane that conforms to the anatomical cavity, measuring emitted light from the fluorescent material for each sample area, and characterizing the anatomical cavity. Characterizing may be based on at least one of a location or an intensity measurement for each sample area. The method may be executed using a scanning system that includes the inflatable membrane.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/790,491, titled “Apparatus and Methods for Probing and Measuring Anatomical Cavities,” filed Mar. 15, 2013, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD

The subject matter described herein relates to probing and measuring cavities, particularly anatomical cavities such as a human ear canal.

BACKGROUND

Devices can be created to fit into anatomical cavities, such as the human ear canal. When creating such devices, having a comfortable and snug fit between a device and the cavity into which it is placed can increase the likelihood that a user will wear the device, as well as enhance the performance of the device.

Traditional methods of probing and measuring sensitive cavities, such as anatomical cavities, include creating impressions of the cavity. Creating or taking an impression includes injecting a material into the cavity. The material is allowed to harden and conform to the shape of the cavity, and then the material is extracted from the cavity. An impression created this way can cause complications or pain when the impression material is injected into the cavity, when the material is hardening, or when the impression is extracted. Such actions can exert pressure on the walls of the cavity in a painful or damaging way.

SUMMARY

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for scanning techniques for probing and measuring anatomical cavities. For some example implementations, there is provided a method for scanning an anatomical cavity. The method may include selecting a scan path for obtaining data from sample areas in an anatomical cavity, exciting a fluorescent material in an inflatable membrane of the scanning system, measuring emitted light from the fluorescent material for each sample area, and characterizing the anatomical. The selecting, exciting, and measuring, may be done using a scanning system. Each sample area of a scan path may be situated in a location in the anatomical cavity being scanned, and the inflatable membrane may conform to the anatomical cavity.

In some implementations, the above-noted aspects may further include additional features described herein including one or more of the following. The scan path may include at least one of a hub and spoke pattern or a spiral pattern. In such implementations, the hub and spoke pattern may include a hub location and two or more spokes, the hub location being the first sample area in the scan path and the two or more spokes each including at least two areas located along a line. Further, in such implementations, the hub location may be one of the at least two sample areas for each spoke. The spiral pattern can include a home location that is the first sample area in the scan path and at least one consecutive data point, in some implementations of the method. In such implementations, the at least one consecutive data point may be a sample area that includes an area of the anatomical cavity that is included by the home location or one or more of the at least one consecutive data points. In some implementations, the methods may include supporting features external to the anatomical cavity. The methods may further include scanning from an outside portion of the anatomical cavity to an inside portion of the anatomical cavity. In some implementations, the anatomical cavity may include an ear canal. The characterizing of the anatomical cavity, in some implementations of the method, may be based on at least one of a location of each sample area, an intensity measurement for each sample area, and a ratio of intensities measured for each sample area.

In a related aspect, provided herein are apparatus for scanning an anatomical cavity that include a three-dimensional (3D) scanner and a processor. The 3D scanner includes a light source, a detecting component, a probe element, and an inflatable membrane. The light source may generate light for scanning and for identifying locations within the anatomical cavity. The detecting component may receive emitted light from within the anatomical cavity, and the detecting component may generate data from the received light. The probe element may guide the light generated by the light source, and the inflatable membrane may surround the probe element. The inflatable membrane may also be configured to inflate with a medium until the inflatable membrane conforms to the volume of the anatomical cavity.

In some implementations, the above-noted aspects relating to an apparatus for scanning an anatomical cavity may further include additional features described herein including one or more of the following. In some implementations, the scan path may be generated by at least one of: the three-dimensional scanner, at least one processor, and/or a scanner system. Additionally, or alternately, the scan path may be based upon input from a user. The scan path may include at least one of a hub and spoke pattern or a spiral pattern in some implementations. In such implementations, the scan path can include a hub and spoke pattern in which a user specifies a hub location for the hub and spoke pattern. The user may further specify the number of spokes in the hub and spoke pattern. In some implementations, the processor of the apparatus may select the hub and spoke scan path based up the user specified hub location. The scan path can include a spiral pattern, in some implementations, and a user may specify a home location for the spiral pattern. The processor of the apparatus may select the spiral scan path based upon the user specified home location, in such implementations.

The above-noted aspects and features may be implemented in systems, apparatus, methods, and/or articles depending on the desired configuration. The details of one or more variations of the subject matter described herein are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Features and advantages of the subject matter described herein will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In the drawings,

FIGS. 1A depicts an example of a system including a three-dimensional (3D) scanner having an inflatable membrane;

FIG. 1B depicts an example 3D rendering of a cavity formed based on scanner data collected by the 3D scanner of FIG. 1A;

FIGS. 1C-D depict examples of a system including a 3D scanner having an inflatable membrane;

FIG. 1E shows a block diagram of a tip portion of the 3D scanner of FIGS. 1A, C, and D;

FIG. 1F depicts an example implementation of portions of the 3D scanner;

FIG. 2 depicts a scan path that includes a hub and spokes; and

FIG. 3 depicts a scan path that includes a spiral.

Like labels are used to refer to same or similar items in the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Injection of materials into sensitive cavities, such as anatomical cavities, can, as noted, cause pain and/or damage to the cavity. Alternative methods for probing and measuring such cavities may include scanning techniques that utilize light. Described herein are methods, apparatus, and systems for scanning techniques for probing and measuring anatomical cavities, including the human ear canal.

FIG. 1A depicts a system 100 including an inflatable membrane 110, in accordance with some example implementations. The system 100 may generate three-dimensional (3D) scans of a cavity, such as an ear cavity.

System 100 may include a 3D scanner 195 including inflatable membrane 110 and a processor 190, such as computer. The processor 190 may process scanner data generated by 3D scanner 195 during a scan of the cavity. The processor 190 may form an output, such as a 3D impression of the scanned cavity. FIG. 1B depicts an example of a 3D surface formed by processor 190 based on scan data provided by 3D scanner 195. The 3D surface may model the cavity being scanned, such as an ear cavity, and this 3D surface may be provided to a manufacturer, 3D printer, and the like to form an object. In the case of the ear, the object may be an earpiece.

FIG. 1C depicts a portion of 3D scanner 195 after being inserted into an ear cavity 182 and after a medium 120 is used to expand the interior of the inflatable membrane 110, so that the inflatable membrane 110 conforms to the ear cavity 182 (or portion of the ear cavity and/or any other cavity or surface being scanned). For example, the medium 120 may be inserted into the membrane 110, so that membrane 110 conforms to the cavity being scanned. At this point, scanner element 105 may scan the interior surface of the inflatable membrane 110 which when inflated with the medium 120 conforms to the ear cavity 182. The scanner element 105 may move within the membrane 110 to scan the interior surface of membrane 110. In this way, scanner element 105 may scan the interior surface of the membrane 110 and thus ear cavity 182. The scanner element 105 may generate a 2D image of the inflatable membrane approximating the a snap shot of the anatomical cavity. Each pixel of the 2D image is then associated with distance information obtained during a scan, that is the distance from the scanner element 105 to the scanned portion of the membrane. The combination of the 2D image and distance information for each pixel of the 2D image corresponds to 3D data (for example, a 3D surface representative of the scanned cavity). In some implementations, the distance information determined from scanning data can correlate to groups of pixels, instead of a single pixel, on the 2D image.

Medium 120 may be a liquid, a gas, a gel, a hydrogel, and/or any combination of the four. The medium 120 may include additives dissolved into, or suspended in, the medium 120 to provide properties, such as selective absorption where one or more wavelengths of light are absorbed more than one or more other wavelengths. To illustrate, medium 120 may include a colored dye, suspension, a luminescent substance, and/or a fluorescent substance (and/or any other material having selective wavelength properties). Moreover, the selective wavelength properties may, as described further below, allow 3D scanner and/or processor 190 to determine the shape of, distance to, and/or other properties of the scanned interior surface of membrane 110.

The inflatable membrane 110 may be implemented as any viscoelastic, elastic, plastic, and/or any other material that may be inflated to conform to the cavity, when the membrane 110 is inserted and inflated with medium 120. When the cavity corresponds to an ear canal, membrane 110 may have an inflated 3D shape and size that is substantially adapted to the ear cavity, although the membrane 110 may be used with other cavities and forms as well including a stomach, an esophagus, a bladder, and so forth. The membrane 110 may also include, or be coated with, a material to make the membrane fluoresce in the presence of white light, light of a particular wavelength, or a range of wavelengths, as further described below. In some implementations, the inflatable membrane may have a balloon-like shape with an opening, an interior surface, and an exterior surface. In some implementations, scanning the interior membrane 110, rather than the ear cavity directly, may reduce (if not eliminate) the interference caused by artifacts, such as ear hair, wax, and the like, and may thus improve the quality of the cavity scan.

FIG. 1D depicts scanner element 105 after the scanner element has moved towards the opening of the cavity as part of the cavity scanning process. While scanning, scanner element 105 may scan one or more portions of the interior surface of the membrane 110, and element 105 may move within the membrane (and ear cavity 182) to image some (if not all) of the inner membrane 110/cavity 182. The scanner data collected by 3D scanner 195 may then be provided to one or more processors, such as computer 190 and/or a cradle-like device including an intermediary processor, to form a 3D surface or impression representative of the cavity as depicted at FIG. 1B, although some (if not all) of the processing may be performed by a processor contained in the 3D scanner 195 as well.

FIG. 1E shows a block diagram of the tip portion of 3D scanner 195 and, in particular, scanner element 105, inflatable membrane 110, and medium 120. The 3D scanner 195 and/or the scanner element 105 may include at least one light source, such as a light emitting diode, for emitting light 115 into the inflatable membrane 110, including medium 120. The scanner element 105 may also collect and/or detect light 125 and 130 that is emitted from fluorescent material in, or on, the inflatable membrane 110. The light 115 emanating from scanner element 105 may comprise light used to excite the fluorescent material in, or on, the inflatable membrane 110. Further, light from the fluorescent material in, or on, the inflatable membrane 110 may be referred to as “fluoresced” light, i.e., light resulting from the interaction of the fluorescent material with the light from scanner element 105.

The inflatable membrane 110 may include a fluorescent material, such as one or more fluorescent dyes, pigments, or other coloring agents. The fluorescent material can be homogenously dispersed within the inflatable membrane 110, although the fluorescent material may be applied in other ways as well (for example, the fluorescent material may be pad printed onto the surface of the inflatable membrane). The fluorescent material may be selected so that the fluorescent material is excited by one or more wavelengths of light 115 emitted by the scanner element 105. Once the fluorescent material is excited by light 115, the fluorescent material may emit light at two or more wavelengths λ₁, λ₂, or a range of wavelengths. For example, wavelength λ₁may represent a range of wavelengths associated generally with red, although wavelength λ₁ may be associated with other parts of the spectrum as well.

As the two or more wavelengths 125 transmit back through the medium 120, absorbing medium 120 may absorb one or more of the wavelengths of light λ₁, λ₂ to a greater degree than one or more other wavelengths of the light. The medium 120 used in the system 100 may also be selected to optimally and preferentially absorb one or more of the wavelengths or a range of wavelengths of light from the fluorescent material of the inflatable membrane. By selecting a medium that complements the fluorescent material, the scan data collected by the 3D scanner may be more accurate.

When the tip portion 100 of 3D scanner 195 is inserted into ear cavity 182, 3D scanner 195 may pump (or insert in other ways) medium 120 into inflatable membrane 110 until the inflatable membrane 110 conforms to the surface of the cavity 182. Once the inflatable membrane 110 is fully inflated, 3D scanner and/or scanner element 105 may include a light emitting diode that generates light 115. Light 115 may travel from the scanner element 105, through medium 120, and excite the fluorescent material on, or in, a portion of the inflatable membrane 110. The light emitted from the fluorescent material on, or in, the inflatable membrane 110 may include at least two wavelengths of light. One of the wavelengths of light, or some ranges of wavelengths of light, emitted by the fluorescent material may be selectively absorbed by the medium 120. The light λ₁, λ₂, or ranges of light, may then be received by the scanner element 105, and the ratio of the intensities of light λ₁, λ₂ or the ratio of the integral area of light found under specific ranges may be measured and recorded by 3D scanner 195 and/or processor 190 to determine a distance from the scanner element 105 to corresponding surface of the membrane 110. The scanner element 105 may move throughout interior of membrane 110 to scan various portions of the surface of the membrane 110 and receive the fluoresced wavelength of light 125, 130 in order to collect data that can be used by the 3D scanner 195 and/or processor 190 to form 3D surface representative of the cavity. Alternatively, or additionally, the scanner element 105 may include optical, electronic, or mechanical means of focusing and directing the light used to excite the fluorescent material. Although the scanner element 105 may include one or more components, such as one or more light emitting diodes, optics, lenses, detectors/CCDs/CMOS sensors, and the like, one or more of these components may be located in other portions of the 3D scanner (for example, a fiber may carry light 115 to scanner element 105).

FIG. 1F depicts an example implementation of the 3D scanner 195 front-end, in accordance with some example implementations. The 3D scanner 195 may have a shroud 196 that houses an illumination component 197 and a sensing component 198. A cable 194 can connect the 3D scanner to the processor 190. Connected to the shroud 196 of the 3D scanner is the scanner element 105, or probe, which includes lenses 106 to focus light. The illumination component 197 produces light that excites the fluorescent material in the inflatable membrane, as well as light that may allow for general viewing of the cavity being scanned and the area around the cavity, such as when locating an area of interest. The light generated by the illumination component 197 for general viewing may be white light generated by one or more light source, such as one or more light emitting diodes. The light generated by the illumination components 197 for excitation of the fluorescent material in the inflatable membrane may be blue light generated by one or more light source, such as one or more light emitting diodes. The sensing component 198 may include one or more of a mirror, a beam-splitter, a filter, and multiple detectors. Each detector sends data to the processor 190 through the cable 194. The data from the one or more detector may be combined, multiplexed, or otherwise processed before it is sent through the cable 194. The processor 190 may send commands, such as illumination, scanning, or focusing instructions, to the front-end of the 3D scanner through the cable 194. The configuration the components of the front-end of the 3D scanner shown in FIG. 1F is a representative configuration. The 3D scanner may have an illumination component 197, sensing component 198, probe 105, and processor 190 in other configurations suitable for scanning a cavity, such as an anatomical cavity.

Referring again to FIG. 1D, to determine distance from the scanner element 105 and a corresponding surface of the interior of membrane 110, the ratio of the intensity of two or more wavelengths or ranges of wavelengths may be used. Specifically, the intensity of the light emitted by the fluorescent material may be measured and recorded for at least two wavelengths, λ₁, λ₂, or ranges of wavelengths, one of which is the wavelength, or wavelength range, that is preferentially absorbed by the medium 120. The ratio of the intensity of two or more wavelengths or ranges of wavelengths, at least one of which is preferentially absorbed by the medium 120, allows the 3D scanner 195 and/or processor 190 to calculate the distance between the fluorescent material of the inflatable membrane 110 and the distal tip of the scanner element 105 that receives the light 125, 130 from the fluorescent material. The light 115 from the scanner element 105 may scan the inner surface of the membrane 110 by illuminating points or areas on the inflatable membrane 110 in a sequential manner, so that an array of ratios of intensities of the wavelengths, and thus distances, corresponding to points on the inflatable membrane 110 can be created. As noted above, the scanner element 105 may move within the membrane 110 to allow illuminating portions along some, if not all, of the entire inner surface of the membrane 110.

The 3D scanner 195 may include a spectrometer to measure intensities for the two or more wavelengths, or ranges of wavelengths, of light from the fluorescent material. The wavelengths of light that can be compared include red light (such as light with wavelength ranging from about 620 to about 750 nanometers (nm)) and green light (such as light with wavelength ranging from about 495 to about 570 nm). Additionally, or alternatively, the intensity of other wavelengths of light can be measured and compared, such as any combination of violet light (approximately 380 to 450 nm), blue light (approximately 450 to 495 nm), green light (approximately 495 to 570 nm), yellow light (approximately 570 to 590 nm), orange light (approximately 590 to 620 nm), and red light (620-750 nm). The spectrometer can include one or more detectors, such as CCD (charge coupled device) or CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) detectors, to measure the intensity of light, as well as implements to select the wavelengths to be measured, such as one or more grating, beam splitter, or filter.

The 3D scanner 195 may also measure the intensity of one or more wavelengths or ranges of wavelengths of light from fluorescent material embedded in, or on, the inflatable membrane as a function of the degree of inflation of the membrane. That is to say, the inflatable membrane can be inflated to multiple levels of inflation while inside of an anatomical cavity, and measurements of the intensity of one or more wavelengths or ranges of wavelengths of light emitted from fluorescent material embedded in or on the inflatable membrane can be recorded and used to determine at least a 3D image or a surface topography of the anatomical cavity corresponding to this one or more levels of inflation. In the case of the human ear, particularly the aural canal, the size of the canal and compliance of the tissue in the canal can be determined, and the location of anatomical features, such as the bone-cartilage junction, can be found. Knowledge of the shape, compliance, and location of anatomical features can be used to create a device that provides better sound transmission, more comfort to a device user, or for the development of device materials. In some example implementations, the membrane 110 may be dynamically inflated to different pressures to enable the 3D scanner 195 to better scan certain anatomical features, such as the bone-cartilage junction and the like. This may be aided by asking the patient to move her anatomical features, for example by chewing, during the scan, and by observing changes in measurements as a function of this anatomical feature displacement.

The 3D scanner 195 may, as noted above, excite points or portions of the inflatable membrane in a sequential manner to obtain data that allows for the determination of the shape and mechanical properties, such as compliance, of the anatomical cavity surrounding the inflatable membrane. The scan method and path, or sequence of points selected by the user or the system, can be chosen to improve accuracy, speed, or repeatability of the measurements made by the system. For example, 3D scanner 195 including the scanning elements 105 may be configured to allow scanning in a variety of methods and patterns to obtain as accurate a rendering of the anatomical cavity as possible. Such methods and scan patterns may include a hub-and-spoke pattern, a spiral pattern, and/or any other method or pattern.

In the case of scanner element 105, fluorescent imaging through medium 120 may, as noted, selectively absorb one wavelength or range of wavelengths of light over another, and this selective absorption may be used to determine depth from scanner element 105 to the fluorescent membrane 110. This depth measurement may, as noted, be based on a ratio of the absorbed-to-transmitted wavelengths or ranges of wavelengths of light. Moreover, a processor may correlate the depth measurement to the corresponding scan data/images. For example, a portion of the 2D scanner image of the fluorescent membrane 110 may be correlated to a depth measurement determined from the ratio of the absorbed-to-transmitted wavelengths of light. In this way, the 2D scanner data/image is processed into a 3D image or surface.

The 3D scanner 195 including the scanner element 105 may be configured to allow scanning in a variety of methods and patterns to obtain as accurate a rendering of the anatomical cavity as possible. Such methods and scan patterns include a hub-and-spoke pattern, a spiral pattern, and/or any other method or pattern that provides cavity scanning and/or provides a reduction in scanning errors. Moreover, these scan patterns may be used alone or in combination with other patterns. In some instances, errors in the scan data collected can arise from contact of the scanner element 105 with the inflatable membrane 110 or ear cavity 182. Methods of scanning which avoid such contact may provide fewer data errors, as well as less pain for the patient or person being scanned.

Scan patterns in which the areas sampled, that is to say the illuminated spots on the inflatable membrane, overlap can also improve the accuracy of the scan data. Knowing that two data points correspond to two physical locations of interest which overlap in area to a certain degree can enable the scanning system's processor 190 to determine the accuracy of the data. In some instances when data corresponds to physical locations that overlap, algorithms may be applied to address noise and other perceived abnormalities in the data. The simplest example of this would be a scan pattern that follows a linear, grid-like pattern, in which increments in the grid advances a known distance which is less than a distance in one of the directions of the sample area. For example, if the scan has a sample area of 1 square cm, the scan pattern would advance 0.75 cm in one direction before taking the next data point. Eventually the scan would cover an area using a grid of overlapping squares and the 3D scanner 195 would have collected data for that area. The scan patterns described herein may, in some implementations, improve on such scan patterns by incorporating other information, such as reference points, to augment or supplant the need for data point overlap.

The scanning methods and scan patterns described below may be implemented through decisions and action of a user of the scanning system, a patient or person being scanned, and/or of a care-giver, such as a physician, and the like. The scanning methods and scan patterns may be implemented through the execution of algorithms or protocols based upon preliminary or prior data, based upon user input, or based upon both preliminary or prior data and user input. Scan patterns may be executed by physical manipulation or motion of scanner element or by focusing and motion of the light used to excite the fluorescent material. Such focusing and motion can be achieved using optical implements, such as lenses and mirrors, electrical implements, motors and actuators, or a combination thereof. Locating points of reference, such a hub or a home location, may be done by a user, by the system, including the 3D scanner 195, or through a combination of user input and system actions.

Hub-and-Spoke Pattern

Regarding the hub-and-spoke pattern, the scanner element 105 may be directed toward a central, or hub, location. The hub location can be the center of a region of interest. For example, when the scanner element 105 scans the ear cavity 182, the hub location can be the ear canal. The scan path can begin at the hub location, illuminating the hub location and collecting data there first, then move outwards in a straight line, illuminating points and gathering data along the line, sequentially. The straight line is a spoke portion of the scan path. The number of data points along each spoke can vary, but at least two points per line may be illuminated by the 3D scanner 195. After the first spoke, the scan path can return to the hub location to take data and then move outwards in the direction of a second spoke. The scan path can have as many spokes as needed to gather sufficient data to characterize the anatomical cavity. By returning to the hub location after each spoke is scanned, the system, including the 3D scanner, allows software algorithms to have a point of reference that reduces dead reckoning-type errors.

FIG. 2 is a schematic showing an exemplary anatomical cavity 200 and an exemplary scan path, in which the hub 235 of the scan path is the ear canal, and the spokes of the scan path 240, 250 radiate outward from the hub in both a cross-sectional view, as in FIG. 1D, and as viewed end on, from the perspective of the scanner element 105. In the figure, the scan path starts at the ear canal, or hub location, 235 where it takes data. The scan then extends up the first spoke 240, illuminating at least one point along the spoke 242. Following scanning along the first spoke, the 3D scanner 195 repositions the light 115 to return to the hub location 235, then generates spots of light and collects data up the second spoke 250 to at least one point along the spoke 252, to finally return at the hub location 235. In some implementations, data can be collected both outwards from the hub location along each spoke as well as inwards toward the hub location.

The data points, or points of interest, along the scan path provide distance data that allows the 3D scanner 195 to determine the topography of the ear canal. The data points may not necessarily overlap to any degree in a hub and spoke scan path, and so returning to the hub before starting each line scan along a spoke can help the processor 190 to determine where each spoke, and in turn each data point, is with respect to the hub. In FIG. 2, two spokes are shown, but in practice multiple spokes, such as tens of spokes, if not hundreds of spokes, may be part of a hub and spoke scan path used by a system imaging an anatomical cavity. Information about the compliance of the walls of the anatomical cavity, including the location of anatomical features where tissue type changes, can also be determined when the system acquires distance data at various pressures, or degrees of inflation of the membrane, using a hub and spoke scan path.

Spiral Method

A second type of scan path that improve accuracy is one which utilizes the spiral method. In the spiral method, the 3D scanner can acquire data by sequentially illuminating areas on the inflatable membrane using a scan path that begins at a home location.

The home location can be the center of the field of interest, an easily identifiable location within the field of interest, or any location within the field of interest. The 3D scanner begins illuminating points and taking data along the scan path at the home location, and then the scanning system acquires data from points along the scan path as the path spirals outward from the home location. The scan path is made up of illuminated points that partially overlap with locations from which data was previously taken. For example, if the sample area has a diameter of 1 cm, each data point can overlap a proceeding data point by an amount less than 1 cm, such as by 0.10 cm, 0.25 cm, 0.5 cm, or the like. Additionally, or alternatively, an illuminated point, or data point, can overlap with more than one proceeding data point by an amount less than the diameter of the data point. This means that the 3D scanner incrementally moves the position of the light exciting the fluorescent material of the inflatable membrane by an amount that is smaller than the spot size of the light. In some implementations, the 3D scanner overlaps each illuminated point, or data point, with one or more proceeding illuminated points in an amount equivalent to 25% or more of the area of the data point, such as 30% or more, including 50% or more, or 75% or more.

FIG. 3 depicts a spiral scan path 360 of a field of interest 300 in both a cross-sectional view, as in FIG. 1D, and as viewed end on, from the perspective of the scanner element 105. The home location 355 in this exemplary scan path schematic can be the calculated center of an ear canal. Points that are illuminated by the 3D scanner 195 with light 115 along the scan path 362, 364, 366 can overlap. In this way, the 3D scanner can use the overlapping scanned data points, in addition to the known entity that is the home location 355 to yield distance data that is self-consistent. Having a known entity or point of reference in the scan can increase the fidelity of the final 3D rendering generated, as the system processor 190 can utilize existing data associated with the point of reference to augment the data acquired in the scan by the 3D scanner.

In FIG. 3, the spiral scan path 360, along which the 3D scanner illuminates points and collects data, progresses counter-clockwise out from the home location 355. However it should be appreciated that the spiral scan path 360 can progress out from the home location 355 in a clock-wise direction. Additionally, or optionally, the 3D scanner can follow a spiral scan path 360 that can be an Archimedean spiral, a Fermat's spiral, a hyperbolic spiral, a logarithmic spiral, a spiral of Theodorus, a lituss, or a spiral of that is a mixture of any of the aforementioned spirals. The scan path followed by the 3D scanner can also be three-dimensional spiral, approximated by any of an Archimedean spiral, a Fermat's spiral, a hyperbolic spiral, a logarithmic spiral, a spiral of Theodorus, a lituss, or a spiral of that is a mixture of any of the aforementioned spirals. In some implementations, the 3D scanner can follow a scan path can be a three-dimensional spiral that is a spherical spiral, such that it has un-equal spacing between each consecutive revolution. Alternatively, or additionally, the spiral scan path followed by the 3D scanner while acquiring data can be a three-dimensional spiral in which the spacing between each consecutive revolution is equal.

Though discussed in terms of spiral scan paths, it can be appreciated that the 3D scanner may be configured to illuminate areas following a scan path that resembles any suitable geometric shape. Suitable geometric shapes include pentagrams, triangles, squares, pentagons, hexagons, ovals, ellipses, nested patterns of the aforementioned shapes, fractal patterns, or any combination thereof.

Scanning from Outside to Inside

Another method or type of scan path that can reduce inadvertent contact with the walls of an anatomical cavity during scanning is one where the 3D scanner collects data points along a scan path that begins outside the cavity and progresses inwards. In this way, because the scanner is moving forward, the user can visually see if the scanner is about to collide with a portion of the anatomical cavity and adjust to avoid it. Such avoidance is more difficult when moving backwards. Additionally, the user or system can identify portions of the anatomical cavity that have already been scanned. Identification can include recognizing known anatomical features common to most patients or test subjects. This identification can help the 3D scanner follow a scan path during data collection that avoids the walls of the anatomical cavity. In the case of a user scanning the ear canal of a patient, the user can avoid contact between the scanner element or probe and the walls of the patient's ear canal, thus avoiding pain and discomfort. In systems or instances where optical manipulation of the light from the scanner element 105 cannot allow for illumination of all an anatomical cavity, the 3D scanner 195 may require gross movement of the scanning system by a user, such as progressively inserting the scanner element 105 into the anatomical cavity, which in this case is an ear canal 182.

Deformation of External Features

When the scanner element 105 scans the anatomical cavity that is the human ear canal, physically deforming the cavity can facilitate insertion of a probe or scanner element. This deformation typically involves pulling on the outer portion of the ear and straightens out the ear canal. Once the user inserts the scanner element 105 to a suitable depth, pulling on the ear can cease. The ear canal will return to its natural configuration in areas where it does not contact the scanner element, and then the 3D scanner can collect data along points on a scan path, such as the hub and spoke or spiral path, to obtain data as the scanner element 105 moves toward the outer portion of the ear.

External Feature Support

Deformation of portions of the body outside an anatomical cavity can influence the shape of the cavity that is being scanned. For example, deformation of the outer portion of the ear can alter the configuration of the inner portion of the ear, such as the ear canal. In some implementations, a system can include supports to prevent deformation of external features, such as the tragus of the ear, during scanning of the interior of an anatomical cavity. Such implementations can include the user holding portions of the patient's anatomy in place by hand or with the help of an apparatus. Supporting apparatus can include apparatus that are connected to the scanning element or other portion of the system, or connections between the apparatus and the rest of the system can be absent.

The scanning methods and scan paths described herein can be used by a 3D scanner to acquire data from multiple points, or sets of points, alone or in any suitable combination. Though described as being followed or utilized by the 3D scanner, the scanning methods and scan paths can be executed by a user or by an apparatus of the system. Such apparatus of the system can be a computer controlled apparatus that requires input from the user, such as identification of reference points, including the hub location in a hub and spoke scan path or the home location in a spiral scan path. The apparatus of the system can be a computer controlled apparatus with detectors and software sufficient to identify reference points and determine appropriate scan paths.

The subject matter described herein may be embodied in systems, apparatus, methods, and/or articles depending on the desired configuration. For example, the scanning system (or one or more components therein) and/or the processes described herein can be implemented using one or more of the following: a processor executing program code, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signal processor (DSP), an embedded processor, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), and/or combinations thereof. These various implementations may include implementation in one or more computer programs that are executable and/or interpretable on a programmable system including at least one programmable processor, which may be special or general purpose, coupled to receive data and instructions from, and to transmit data and instructions to, a storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device. These computer programs (also known as programs, software, software applications, applications, components, program code, or code) include machine instructions for a programmable processor, and may be implemented in a high-level procedural and/or object-oriented programming language, and/or in assembly/machine language. As used herein, the phrase “machine-readable medium” refers to any computer program product, computer-readable medium, apparatus and/or device (e.g., magnetic discs, optical disks, memory, Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs)) used to provide machine instructions and/or data to a programmable processor, including a machine-readable medium that receives machine instructions. Similarly, systems are also described herein that may include a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory may include one or more programs that cause the processor to perform one or more of the operations described herein.

Although a few variations have been described in detail above, other modifications or additions are possible. In particular, further features and/or variations may be provided in addition to those set forth herein. For example, the implementations described above may be directed to various combinations and subcombinations of the disclosed features and/or combinations and subcombinations of several further features disclosed above. In addition, the logic flow depicted in the accompanying figures and/or described herein does not require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. In various example implementations, the methods (or processes) can be accomplished on mobile station/mobile device side or on the server side or in any shared way between server and user equipment/mobile device with actions being performed on both sides. The phrases “based on” and “based on at least” are used interchangeably herein. Other implementations may be within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A method for scanning an anatomical cavity comprising:

selecting, using a scanning system, a scan path for obtaining data from sample areas in a predetermined pattern, each sample area situated in a location in the anatomical cavity;

exciting, using the scanning system, a fluorescent material in an inflatable membrane of the scanning system, the inflatable membrane conforming to the anatomical cavity;

measuring, using the scanning system, emitted light from the fluorescent material for each sample area; and

characterizing the anatomical cavity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the scan path comprises at least one of a hub and spoke pattern or a spiral pattern.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the hub and spoke pattern comprises:

a hub location; and

two or more spokes,

the hub location being the first sample area in the scan path and the two or more spokes each comprising at least two sample areas located along a line, wherein the hub location is one of the at least two sample areas for each spoke.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein spiral pattern comprises:

a home location that is the first sample area in the scan path; and

at least one consecutive data point,

wherein the at least one consecutive data point is a sample area that includes an area of the anatomical cavity that is included by the home location or one or more of the at least one consecutive data points.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising supporting features external to the anatomical cavity.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

scanning from an outside portion of the anatomical cavity to an inside portion of the anatomical cavity.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the anatomical cavity comprises an ear canal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein characterizing the anatomical cavity is based on at least one of:

a location of each sample area;

an intensity measurement for each sample area, and

a ratio of intensities measured for each sample area.

9. An apparatus for scanning an anatomical cavity comprising:

a three-dimensional scanner comprising: a light source that generates light for scanning and identifying locations within the anatomical cavity; a detecting component that receives emitted light from within the anatomical cavity and generates data from the received light; a probe element which guides the light generated by the light source; and an inflatable membrane that surrounds the probe element, the inflatable membrane configured to inflate with a medium to a volume conforming to that of the anatomical cavity;

a processor that receives data from the detecting component and generates at least distance information;

wherein the three-dimensional scanner follows a scan path while scanning the anatomical cavity.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the scan path is generated by at least one of the three-dimensional scanner, at least one processor, and/or a scanner system.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the scan path is based upon input from a user.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the scan path comprises at least one of a hub and spoke pattern or a spiral pattern.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the scan path comprises a hub and spoke pattern, further wherein a user specifies a hub location for the hub and spoke pattern.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the user further specifies the number of spokes in the hub and spoke pattern.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processor selects the hub and spoke scan path based upon the user specified hub location.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the scan path comprises a spiral pattern, and wherein a user specifies a home location for the spiral pattern.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processor selects the spiral scan path based upon the user specified home location.