Patent ID: 6739871
Filing Date: 2004-05-25
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A dentition image reading apparatus, comprising:an in-mouth insert to be inserted in a mouth having an upper jaw dentition and a lower jaw dentition; and image pick-up optics, the in-mouth insert having a light-transmitting portion at least on one of front and back sides thereof and a hollow portion provided thereinside, the image pick-up optics having: a light source inserted in the hollow portion in the in-mouth insert for irradiating light on the dentition through the light-transmitting portion; a reflection mirror for reflecting the light from the dentition toward the outside of the in-mouth insert; a scanner 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 for receiving the light reflected by the reflection mirror; and wherein the light source irradiates light directly on the dentition.