Patent ID: 7244122
Filing Date: 2007-07-17
Classification: A61B,A61C,G01J,G01N

Abstract:
1. A method of determining the optical characteristics of a dental object, comprising the steps of: positioning a probe in proximity to the dental object; taking a plurality of optical characteristics measurements of the dental object with a color measurement system, wherein light received by the probe from the dental object is coupled to the color measurement system, wherein the color measurement system includes at least a processor and a memory; storing data resulting from the plurality of optical characteristics measurements in the memory; analyzing the stored data resulting from the plurality of optical characteristics measurements with the processor, wherein the processor analyzes whether the probe was moved with respect to the dental object; and based on the analysis of whether the probe was moved with respect to the dental object, selectively generating optical characteristics data representative of the optical characteristics of the dental object or rejecting the plurality of optical characteristics measurements.