Claims
- 1. An intra-oral imaging system comprising:
an optical conduit; a light source generating light rays, at least a portion of which are transmitted through said optical conduit to illuminate a dental surface; a device for converting said light rays into radiation illumination with spatially varying wavelengths prior to illuminating said dental surface; a reflector that directs the light rays from said light source to a selected point; and an imager for receiving said light rays when said light rays are reflected from said dental surface.
- 2. The system of claim 1, wherein said optical conduit comprises at least one fiber optic cable.
- 3. The system of claim 1, wherein said device for converting said light rays comprises an LVWF filter.
- 4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a housing configured to house said system.
- 5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a sanitary sleeve covering a portion of said intra-oral system that enters a patient's mouth to image said dental surface.
- 6. The system of claim 5, wherein said sanitary sleeve is configured to be selectively removed from said intra-oral system.
- 7. The system of claim 4, further comprising a sanitary replaceable intra-oral tip portion coupled to said housing.
- 8. The system of claim 7, wherein said reflector is disposed within said tip.
- 9. The system of claim 1, wherein a portion of said light rays are projected onto said dental surface without being converted to spatially varying wavelengths.
- 10. An intra-oral imaging system comprising:
an instrument housing; an optical conduit running into said housing; a light source generating light rays at least a portion of which are transmitted through said optical conduit to illuminate a dental surface; a device for converting said light rays into radiation illumination with spatially varying wavelengths prior to illuminating said dental surface; a reflector that directs said light rays from said light source to a selected point; an imager for receiving said light rays when said light rays are reflected from said dental surface; and a removable tip attached to said housing that is used in a patient's mouth to image said dental surface, said tip being sanitarily replaced for each patient.
- 11. The system of claim 10, wherein said optical conduit comprises at least one fiber optic cable.
- 12. The system of claim 10, wherein said device for converting said light rays comprises an LVWF filter.
- 13. The system of claim 10, wherein a portion of said light rays are projected onto said dental surface without being converted to spatially varying wavelengths.
- 14. The system of claim 13, wherein said imager comprises a device configured to process two-dimensional and three-dimensional images.
- 15. The system of claim 14, wherein said imager comprises a CCD camera.
- 16. A system for manufacturing dental fixtures, comprising:
an intra-oral imaging system having
an optical conduit, a light source generating light rays, at least a portion of which are transmitted through said optical conduit to illuminate a dental surface, a device for converting said light rays into radiation illumination with spatially varying wavelengths prior to illuminating said dental surface, a reflector that directs the light rays from said light source to a selected point, and an imager for receiving said light rays when said light rays are reflected from said dental surface; a processing device wherein resides software for converting said light rays into image data and manufacturing software for manufacturing a dental fixture based on said image data.
- 17. The system of claim 16, wherein said optical conduit comprises at least one fiber optic cable.
- 18. The system of claim 16, wherein said device for converting said light rays comprises an LVWF filter.
- 19. The system of claim 16, further comprising a housing configured to house said system.
- 20. The system of claim 19, further comprising a sanitary sleeve covering a portion of said intra-oral system that enters a patient's mouth to image said dental surface.
- 21. The system of claim 20, wherein said sanitary sleeve is configured to be selectively removed from said intra-oral system.
- 22. The system of claim 19, further comprising a sanitary replaceable intra-oral tip portion coupled to said housing.
- 23. The system of claim 22, wherein said reflector is disposed within said tip.
- 24. The system of claim 16, wherein a portion of said light rays are projected onto said dental surface without being converted to spatially varying wavelengths.
- 25. The system of claim 16, wherein said manufacturing software is configured to manufacture dental parts.
- 26. The system of claim 16, wherein said manufacturing software is configured to manufacture orthodontic treatment devices.
- 27. The system of claim 26, wherein said orthodontic treatment devices comprise invisible aligners.
- 28. A method of doing business comprising:
selling an intra-oral imaging system comprising;
an optical conduit, a light source generating light rays that are transmitted through said optical conduit to illuminate a dental surface, a device for converting said light rays into radiation illumination with spatially varying wavelengths prior to illuminating said dental surface, a reflector that directs the light rays from said light source to a selected point, an imager for receiving said light rays when said light rays are reflected from said dental surface; and separately selling a sanitary sleeve covering a portion of said intra-oral system that enters a patient's mouth to image said dental surface.
- 29. The method of claim 25, wherein said selling a sanitary sleeve further comprises selling a plurality of sanitary sleeves as a package.
- 30. A method of doing business comprising:
selling an intra-oral imaging system comprising;
an optical conduit, a light source generating light rays that are transmitted through said optical conduit to illuminate a dental surface, a device for converting said light rays into radiation illumination with spatially varying wavelengths prior to illuminating said dental surface, a reflector that directs the light rays from said light source to a selected point, an imager for receiving said light rays when said light rays are reflected from said dental surface; and separately selling a sanitary sleeve covering a portion of said intra-oral system that enters a patient's mouth to image said dental surface.
- 31. The method of claim 30, wherein said selling a sanitary sleeve further comprises selling a plurality of sanitary sleeves as a package.
- 32. A sanitary interface system, comprising:
intra-oral means for analyzing dental characteristics; and replaceable means for sanitarily covering said analyzing means.
- 33. The sanitary interface system of claim 32, wherein said replaceable means comprises a replaceable sleeve.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) from the following previously-filed Provisional Patent Applications, U.S. Application No. 60/408,040, filed Sep. 3, 2002 by Geng, entitled “Sanitary Sleeve or Tip for Intra-Oral Three-Dimensional Camera” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
[0002] The present application is related to U.S. application Ser. No. 09/616,723 by Geng entitled “Three-Dimensional Dental Imaging Method and Apparatus Having a Reflective Member.” application Ser. No. 09/616,723 is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/616,723 by Geng entitled, “Three-Dimensional Dental Imaging Method and Apparatus.” application Ser. No. 09/616,723 claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application. No. 60/144,010, filed Jul. 15, 1999. All three of these previous applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.
[0003] The present application is also related to (1) U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/375,934, “Method and Apparatus for Generating Structural Pattern Illumination” filed Apr. 26, 2002; (2) U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/178,695, “Improvement on the 3D Imaging Methods & Apparatus” filed Jan. 28, 2000; (3) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/770,124, “3D Surface Profile Imaging Method & Apparatus Using Single Spectral Light Condition” filed Jan. 26, 2001; (4) PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US01/18644, “3D Surface Profile Imaging Method & Apparatus Using Single Spectral Light Condition” filed Jun. 11, 2001; and (5) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/771,531, “Method & Apparatus for 3D Imaging Using Light Pattern Having Multiple Sub-Patterns” filed Jan. 29, 2001. All of these previous applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.
Provisional Applications (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60408040 |
Sep 2002 |
US |
|
60144010 |
Jul 1999 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09616723 |
Jul 2000 |
US |
Child |
10654193 |
Sep 2003 |
US |
Parent |
09282067 |
Mar 1999 |
US |
Child |
09616723 |
Jul 2000 |
US |