Patent ID: 7383163
Filing Date: 2008-06-03
Classification: A61C,G06T

Abstract:
1. A method for generating an individual model of a jawbone segment spanning a procedure site, the procedure site being an area of the jawbone subject to a prospective dental or surgical procedure, the method steps comprising: obtaining a single digital tomogram of the jawbone near the procedure site, wherein the tomogram is formed approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the jawbone segment in the area spanning the procedure site; determining the outer boundary between the compact portion of the jawbone and the surrounding tissue based on the tomogram; creating a two-dimensional profile of the cross section of the jawbone based on the outer boundary; and extruding the profile along its approximate planar normal vector in the direction of the procedure site to obtain an approximated three-dimensional solid model of the jawbone segment spanning the procedure site.