Patent ID: 6405071
Filing Date: 2002-06-11
Classification: A61B,A61C,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of imaging a root canal of a tooth, comprising the steps of:generating a first digital radiograph of the tooth from a first orientation; transmitting the first digital radiograph to a computer; generating a second digital radiograph of the tooth from a second orientation relative to the first orientation; transmitting the second digital radiograph to the computer; operating the computer to utilize a first projection matrix to generate a first three-dimensional model of surfaces of the root canal of the tooth from the first digital radiograph; operating the computer to utilize a second projection matrix to generate a second three-dimensional model of surfaces of the root canal of the tooth from the second digital radiograph; operating the computer to determine an intersection of the first three-dimensional model of surfaces of the root canal of the tooth with the second three-dimensional model of surfaces of the root canal of the tooth to define a three-dimensional model of the root canal of the tooth; and imaging the three dimensional model of the root canal of the tooth on a display in communication with the computer.