Mouth, Jaw, Or Tooth Patents (Class 396/16)
  • Patent number: 10888218
    Abstract: A video laryngeal endoscope system having flat scan video kymography and laryngoscopic functions for analyzing a motion state of a larynx comprises: a laryngoscope for viewing vocal cords; a light source for illuminating the vocal cords; a video camera which has a beam splitter for separating an image viewed by means of the laryngoscope and the light source into two images to acquire a flat scan kymographic image and a stroboscopic image; a dual image capturing unit for converting two image signals transmitted from the video camera into a digital image signal; a storage unit for storing the digital image signal; a control unit for analyzing the digital image signal of the storage unit and simultaneously displaying analysis results of the flat scan kymographic image and the stroboscopic image; and a computer comprising analysis software for analyzing the image signal of the storage unit; and a monitor for displaying photographed images and analysis results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignees: UMEDICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yong Jin Wang
  • Patent number: 10779719
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments integrate a camera into an intraoral mirror. Integrating a camera into an intraoral mirror provides an efficient way to record and display what is visible to the healthcare provider in the mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Dental SmartMirror, Inc.
    Inventors: Gidon Oded Elazar, Dan Zidkiahu Harkabi, Joshua Israel Wachspress, Yael Miriam Harkabi
  • Patent number: 10548469
    Abstract: An oral monitoring system is provided. The oral monitoring system includes one or more cameras configured for installation in a mouth for capturing images. A memory is configured for storing images. One or more processors are configured to process images captured by the one or more cameras, and a wireless transmitter is configured to transmit data corresponding to the captured images. A chemical sensor is further provided and the wireless transmitter is further configured to transmit data corresponding to substances detected by the chemical sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Location Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Weiss, Scott Hotes
  • Patent number: 10184629
    Abstract: A window illumination enhancer having at least one planar reflective surface and two openings is designed to fit in a window well of a building. The surface reflects light from a first of the openings through the window, via the second opening. The first opening is located above the window well. A polymer film surrounds the path of the light between the two openings to reduce soiling of at least the surface. A second planar reflective surface may be included and may be arranged to form a periscopic device, which affords an above-ground view of the exterior. The enhancer may be composed of lightweight materials. It may be freestanding, and may be mounted without fixing to the building wall. Illumination is increased because the view of the dim-lit window well wall is blocked by the more brightly lit surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Inventor: Jason E. J. Davis
  • Patent number: 10178946
    Abstract: An oral monitoring system is provided. The oral monitoring system includes one or more cameras configured for installation in a mouth for capturing images. A memory is configured for storing images. One or more processors are configured to process images captured by the one or more cameras, and a wireless transmitter is configured to transmit data corresponding to the captured images. A chemical sensor is further provided and the wireless transmitter is further configured to transmit data corresponding to substances detected by the chemical sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Location Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Weiss, Scott Hotes
  • Patent number: 9301672
    Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) scanner device for generating a three dimensional (3D) surface model of shaped objects, such as dental structures, applicable for use in the field of dentistry, particularly to dental prosthetics manufacturing. Methods and systems relating to the device are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: APOLLO ORAL SCANNER, LLC
    Inventors: Alfonso Fernandez Pulido, David De Pablos Garcia
  • Patent number: 8989567
    Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) scanner device for generating a three dimensional (3D) surface model of shaped objects, such as dental structures, applicable for use in the field of dentistry, particularly to dental prosthetics manufacturing. Methods and systems relating to the device are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Inventors: Alfonso Fernandez Pulido, David De Pablos Garcia
  • Patent number: 8913814
    Abstract: A scanner is used for scanning an object (3, 4, 5), in particular a tooth or a plurality of teeth or a dental cast. The scanner (1) comprises a projector (2) for projecting a pattern (7) onto the object (3, 4, 5) and a camera which comprises a recording optics and an image sensor (18). To improve such scanner, the recording optics comprises a first imaging optics (9) and a second imaging optics (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Steinbichler Optotechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Gandyra
  • Patent number: 8712228
    Abstract: An intraoral camera comprising: an imaging section for obtaining image data from a patient in a dental chair; a transmitter comprising a transmitter configured for both wired and wireless transmission of the obtained image data to a computer; and a power section including a cable that obtains power from the dental chair or a battery module within the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Inglese, Edward R. Shellard
  • Patent number: 8577212
    Abstract: A handheld dental camera performs three-dimensional, optical measurements. The camera includes a light source that emits an illuminating beam, a scanning unit, a color sensor, and a deflector. The scanning unit focuses the illuminating beam onto a surface of an object to be measured. The surface of the object reflects the illuminating beam and forms a monitoring beam, which is detected by the color sensor. Focal points of wavelengths of the illuminating beam form chromatic depth measurement ranges. The scanning unit stepwise displaces the chromatic depth measurement ranges by a step width smaller than or equal to a length of each chromatic depth measurement range, so that a first chromatic depth measurement range in a first end position of the scanning unit and a second chromatic depth measurement range in a second end position are precisely adjoined in a direction of a measurement depth, or are partially overlapped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Sirona Dental Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Frank Thiel
  • Patent number: 8571397
    Abstract: The present invention related to an auto focus intraoral camera. The auto focus intraoral camera includes an illumination module for providing illuminating light, an imager, and a lens system for collecting light reflected from an object and focusing the light onto the imager, wherein said lens system further comprises at least one liquid lens including a vessel filled with a first liquid, and a second liquid being in contact with said first liquid, the first and second liquids being immiscible, of different optical indexes, and of substantially same density; wherein the lens system further includes a driver integrated circuit applying variable voltage to control the focal length of said lens. According to the present application, a compact auto focus intraoral camera with a small size and simple structure is provided, which decreases the camera complexity and improve the performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhaohua Liu, Tan Wang, Jiwu Zhang
  • Patent number: 8432251
    Abstract: A device for capturing biometric characteristics, the device having an optical sensor with a field of view covering a detection zone for detecting optical characteristics, and an electronic control unit that is connected to the sensor in order to control it, the control unit being placed at least in part in the field of view of the sensor and includes a memory containing at least one signature resulting from at least one reference optical characteristic of the control unit as seen by the sensor, and a comparator module for comparing the signature with at least one corresponding signature that results from at least one optical characteristic of the control unit as supplied by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Morpho
    Inventors: Eric Saliba, François Dufresne De Virel
  • Patent number: 8411917
    Abstract: A scanner is used for scanning an object (3, 4, 5), in particular a tooth or a plurality of teeth or a dental cast. The scanner (1) comprises a projector (2) for projecting a pattern (7) onto the object (3, 4, 5) and a camera which comprises a recording optics and an image sensor (18). To improve such scanner, the recording optics comprises a first imaging optics (9) and a second imaging optics (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Steinbichler Optotechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Gandyra
  • Patent number: 8200073
    Abstract: A dental treatment observation system includes a photographing unit supported with a first auxiliary arm at a front end of a support arm extending from a stand and a stereoscopic display unit supported with a second auxiliary arm at the front end of the support arm. The stand allows the photographing unit and stereoscopic display unit together to be widely moved and the first and second auxiliary arms allow the units to be separately moved in optional directions. The system is appropriate for dental treatment and is capable of reducing fatigue of a dentist during treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Mitaka Kohki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsushige Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8184147
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for full-mouth intraoral image acquisition. An intraoral sensor configuration includes a multi-aperture digital camera and/or a conformal layered sensor structure, a bite piece, and an electronic cable for imaging inside surfaces of a mouth of a patient without having to re-position the digital camera and/or the conformal layered sensor structure within the mouth of the patient during an image acquisition session. Images may be acquired sequentially or simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Inventors: Kevin Crucs, Angela Daetwyler
  • Patent number: 8040514
    Abstract: A dental color measurement tool disposed opposite an opening portion for capturing light from an artificial tooth to undergo color measurement with a color measurement device includes at least one pair of guide posts having an engaging portion corresponding to an engaging portion on the color measurement device side, and an abutment post disposed between the pair of guide posts and having a pointed convex shape to which the artificial tooth can be mounted. The abutment post has a color measurement reference surface in a color measurement light axis direction as the vicinity of a focus position of the color measurement device in a photographing state. When performing color measurement photographing, the artificial tooth is mounted to the abutment post to position the front thereof at the color measurement reference surface. Thus, the artificial tooth can be stably retained at a suitable position with respect to the color measurement device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyoshi Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20110222841
    Abstract: The present invention related to an auto focus intraoral camera. The auto focus intraoral camera includes an illumination module for providing illuminating light, an imager, and a lens system for collecting light reflected from an object and focusing the light onto the imager, wherein said lens system further comprises at least one liquid lens including a vessel filled with a first liquid, and a second liquid being in contact with said first liquid, the first and second liquids being immiscible, of different optical indexes, and of substantially same density; wherein the lens system further includes a driver integrated circuit applying variable voltage to control the focal length of said lens. According to the present application, a compact auto focus intraoral camera with a small size and simple structure is provided, which decreases the camera complexity and improve the performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventors: Zhaohua Liu, Tan Wang, Jiwu Zhang
  • Publication number: 20110157457
    Abstract: An auto-focus camera has an optical system for forming an image of a target, a moveable sensor for recording a set of one or more images of the target, the set of one or more images corresponding to a set of one or more positions for the moveable sensor, and a linear piezoelectric actuator mechanically coupled to the moveable sensor for driving the moveable sensor to the set of one or more positions along a predetermined moving direction in response to a stimulus. A driving system is actuable to generate the stimulus to drive the piezoelectric actuator. An image processor, in response to stored instructions, obtains the set of one or more recorded images from the moveable sensor, processes the set of one or more obtained recoded images, and identifies the image that is in focus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventors: Yufeng Mo, Tan Wang, Zhaohua Liu
  • Patent number: 7889919
    Abstract: An image processing system includes a photographing apparatus and a processing apparatus. The photographing apparatus includes LEDs for emitting light with characteristics of spectroscopic distributions varied in a visible light area, an image pick-up device unit which picks-up a subject image that is illuminated by the LEDs and is formed by an image pick-up optical system and which outputs an image signal, and a control unit. The control unit sequentially lights-on the LEDs upon an instruction for photographing a subject spectroscopic image being input from an operating switch, picks-up the image, and thus controls the operation for capturing subject spectroscopic images. The processing apparatus includes a calculating device which performs a desired image calculation based on the image signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Komiya, Toru Wada, Osamu Konno, Takeyuki Ajito, Tomoyuki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7876955
    Abstract: An image processing system is used for dentistry. Upon creating a false tooth of a patient (59), a plurality of illuminating light of LEDs with different wavelengths emit light and a photographing apparatus (1A) photographs a tooth portion of the patient (59), thereby obtaining image data. The image data is sent to a dentistry filing system (2A) serving as a processing apparatus, and color reproducing data is obtained by calculation. The color reproducing data is sent to a dentistry factory (55) via a public line. Data is searched from a database (56) for calculating a ceramic compounding ratio, compound data of the ceramic false tooth is obtained, matching the color of the tooth portion of the patient (59), and the false tooth approximate to the tooth color of the patient (59) is created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Komiya, Toru Wada, Osamu Konno, Takeyuki Ajito, Tomoyuki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7826728
    Abstract: The image processing system is applied to dentistry, for example, and performs photography of the teeth of a patient while causing a plurality of illumination light LEDs of different wavelengths to emit light by means of a photography device when producing a crown repair or denture of the patient, whereby image data are acquired. The image data are transmitted to a dental filing system constituting a processing device where color reproduction data are determined through computation. In addition, color reproduction data are transmitted to the dental technician's office via a public switched network. Therefore, a repair material compound ratio calculation database is searched and the compound data for a material that matches the hue of the patient's teeth are found, whereby a crown repair or denture or the like that very closely matches the color of the patient's teeth is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Konno, Yasuhiro Komiya, Toru Wada, Nobumasa Sato
  • Patent number: 7756327
    Abstract: An image processing system is used for dentistry. Upon creating a false tooth of a patient (59), a plurality of illuminating light of LEDs with different wavelengths emit light and a photographing apparatus (1A) photographs a tooth portion of the patient (59), thereby obtaining image data. The image data is sent to a dentistry filing system (2A) serving as a processing apparatus, and color reproducing data is obtained by calculation. The color reproducing data is sent to a dentistry factory (55) via a public line. Data is searched from a database (56) for calculating a ceramic compounding ratio, compound data of the ceramic false tooth is obtained, matching the color of the tooth portion of the patient (59), and the false tooth approximate to the tooth color of the patient (59) is created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Komiya, Toru Wada, Osamu Konno, Takeyuki Ajito, Tomoyuki Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20100158490
    Abstract: A dental 3D camera for optically scanning a three-dimensional object, and a method for operating a dental 3D camera. The camera operates in accordance with a triangulation procedure to acquire a plurality of images of the object. The method comprises forming at least one comparative signal based on at least two images of the object acquired by the camera while at least one pattern is projected on the object, and determining at least one camera shake index based on the at least one comparative signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: SIRONA DENTAL SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: JOACHIM PFEIFFER, KONRAD KLEIN
  • Patent number: 7711252
    Abstract: An image processing system which performs photography of the teeth of a patient while causing a plurality of illumination light LEDs of different wavelengths to emit light by means of a photography device when producing a crown repair or denture of the patient, whereby image data are acquired. The image data are transmitted to a dental filing system constituting a processing device where color reproduction data are determined through computation. In addition, color reproduction data are transmitted to the dental technician's office via a public switched network. A repair material compound ratio calculation database is searched and compound data for a material that matches the hue of the patient's teeth is retrieved, so that a crown repair or denture or the like that very closely matches the color of the patient's teeth can be produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Konno, Yasuhiro Komiya, Toru Wada, Nobumasa Sato
  • Patent number: 7577344
    Abstract: An illuminating device is used for oral photography and is connectable to a lens barrel provided on a camera. The illuminating device includes a light-emitting surface that has an arc shape, so that a periphery of a mouth being under a nose of a person being photographed can be exclusively illuminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventor: Shinichi Kakiuchi
  • Publication number: 20080292295
    Abstract: An image processing system which performs photography of the teeth of a patient while causing a plurality of illumination light LEDs of different wavelengths to emit light by means of a photography device when producing a crown repair or denture of the patient, whereby image data are acquired. The image data are transmitted to a dental filing system constituting a processing device where color reproduction data are determined through computation. In addition, color reproduction data are transmitted to the dental technician's office via a public switched network. A repair material compound ratio calculation database is searched and compound data for a material that matches the hue of the patient's teeth is retrieved, so that a crown repair or denture or the like that very closely matches the color of the patient's teeth can be produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Osamu KONNO, Yasuhiro KOMIYA, Toru WADA, Nobumasa SATO
  • Publication number: 20080131105
    Abstract: An illuminating device is used for oral photography and is connectable to a lens barrel provided on a camera. The illuminating device includes a light-emitting surface that has an arc shape, so that a periphery of a mouth being under a nose of a person being photographed can be exclusively illuminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventor: Shinichi Kakiuchi
  • Patent number: 7373081
    Abstract: A stroboscopic flash device for a digital camera having a plurality of stroboscopic flash units mounted on a ring-like holder provided removably attached to a lens barrel of the digital camera comprising a circumferential position adjustment mechanism to adjust a circumferential position of the two stroboscopic flash units along the ring-like holder, an upward and leftward position adjustment mechanism to adjust an upward and downward position of a flash face of the stroboscopic flash units and a rightward and leftward position adjustment mechanism to adjust a rightward and leftward position of the flash face of the stroboscopic flash units, the circumferential position adjustment, the upward and downward position adjustment mechanism and the rightward and leftward position adjustment mechanism being adapted to indicate the optimum stroboscopic flash positions relative to every photographic part of the photographic object by distinguishing them by a pointer corresponding to any of colored indication parts and
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Sonictechno Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshio Toya
  • Patent number: 7106958
    Abstract: An intra-oral camera for producing an axially aligned picture of an intra-oral item of interest permits a rapid taking of pictures, whereby burdensome usage requirements are avoided without, however, suffering any diminishment in the quality of the picture that is taken. A computer-controlled picture taking positioning of the intra-oral camera properly positions the camera for taking pictures of objects of interest. The proper picture taking position of the camera ensures that the picture of an intra-oral object or an area of interest such as, for example, a tooth of a patient, is taken in the desired size, at the desired angle, and at the desired location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Ivoclar Vivadent AG
    Inventors: Harald Kerschbaumer, Gottfried Rohner, Walter Pokorny
  • Patent number: 7033172
    Abstract: In a digital camera having a rectangular electronic display for framing pictures, a dental positioning grid comprising: a line pattern superimposed on the rectangular electronic display, the line pattern including a horizontally centered horizontal line extending substantially the width of the display, a short vertical line intersecting the horizontal line at its midpoint, and long left and right vertical lines intersecting the horizontal line at substantially ¼ of the display width distance respectively from the left and right sides of the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Steven J. Hansen, Thomas P. Rock
  • Patent number: 7010223
    Abstract: According to the invention, the lens system of a dental or endoscopic camera is designed in the form of a non-telecentric lens in which the field stop or an image thereof is located in the region of the lens arrangement on the converter side of said lens system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Dürr Dental GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Michael Thoms
  • Patent number: 6739871
    Abstract: A dentition image reading apparatus (1) includes an in-mouth insert (11) to be inserted into mouth and image pick-up optics (21), the in-mouth insert including a light-transmitting portion (15) at least on one of front and back sides and a hollow portion (12) provided thereinside, the image pick-up optics (21) including: a light source (22) inserted in the hollow portion of the in-mouth insert for irradiating light on the dentition through the light-transmitting portion; a reflection mirror (23) for reflecting the light from the dentition toward the outside of the in-mouth insert; a scanner 31 for moving the light source and the reflection mirror along the depth direction of the hollow portion of the in-mouth insert; and an image pick-up optical system (41) for receiving the light reflected by the reflection mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Orange House Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukiteru Sugimoto
  • Publication number: 20030228553
    Abstract: A dental camera is provided which is capable of operating in a wireless mode and a wired mode. A handpiece includes circuitry for generating a signal representing a video image and a first connector. A wireless adaptor module includes a power supply for supplying power to the handpiece, a transmitter for transmitting the signal representing a video image, and a second connector that mates with the first connector when the dental camera is being operated in the wireless mode. A cable has a third connector that mates with the first connector when the dental camera is being operated in the wired mode. With this system, clinical flexibility is afforded to a dental practitioner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Publication date: December 11, 2003
    Applicant: Schick Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Stan Mandelkern, Aaron Bratslavsky, Noel Lucas, David Schick
  • Patent number: 6654552
    Abstract: A camera cap for an intra oral camera includes a base plate from which a first side plate and a second side plate extend. The base plate forms a hole. The camera cap establishes an interior surface on which an adhesive layer is disposed. The camera cap can be installed on the head of an intra oral camera to block any light produced by the head of the camera while allowing imaging of, e.g., an x-ray, through the hole in the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Wolf X-Ray Corporation
    Inventor: William P. Winters
  • Patent number: 6404984
    Abstract: A self-contained dental camera uses white diodes to provide sufficient illumination for dental imaging without unduly depleting battery power. The illuminated dental work is imaged by a camera, preferably a CCD, and the resulting video signal is transmitted to a base station for display on a monitor. The camera unit may be disposed in a holder on a base station to recharge the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics
    Inventors: Adrian Parvulescu, John M. Van Ryzin
  • Publication number: 20010010760
    Abstract: In a digital camera system comprising lens-barrels 12, 13 having an optical system including an objective 14, a finder 17, a monitoring liquid crystal display 18, a release button 19 and a controller 22 having a power supply, a ring flash 15 is provided on the lens-barrel so as to surround the objective, a metering sensor 26 is provided below the front end portion of the lens-barrel, and a light receiving surface 28 is inclined at an angle of 20 to 85 degrees with respect to the surface which is perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical system. Accordingly, the metering sensor reliably receives the reflected light from a subject, and the amount of light emission of the ring flash can be accurately controlled, so that it is possible to obtain clear images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: Masashi SAITO, Hiroyuki OGUNI, Yoshiteru OKADA and Hiroshi OKADA
    Inventor: Masashi Saito
  • Patent number: 5995138
    Abstract: A computer-automation tool for dentists and insurance companies to communicate dental patient information is provided. Such system has a specialized PC-peripheral that produces digital images from transparency films and dental intra-oral intra-oral radiographs, e.g., x-ray films, for storage, retrieval, viewing, transmission, and processing on computer networks. For example, dental intra-oral radiograph images can be captured at a local dentist's office and transmitted over the internet to support quick insurance claim processing. The digitizer peripheral is automatic enough that no special skills beyond that of an office clerk are required. To digitize an x-ray film frame, the film is simply dropped into a slot on the digitizer peripheral. No menu items or key needs to be selected on the computer. The sensing of the film insertion, its positioning, and releasing it after digitization are all automatic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Image Science Corporation
    Inventors: Richard D. Beer, Hassan Mostafavi, Dariush Rafinejad