Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7682150?dq=5,579,517
Timestamp: 2014-09-20 00:44:53
Document Index: 8322110

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 404', 'art 404', 'art 404', 'art 404', 'art 404', 'art 2']

Patent US7682150 - Method for preparing a dental prosthesis based on electronically determined ... - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign in<nobr>Advanced Patent Search</nobr>PatentsA method for preparing a dental prosthesis based on electronically determined image and color/shade data of a patient's tooth is disclosed. The image data and the color/shade data are displayed on a display device in the dental office. The image data and color/shade data are transmitted to a computing...http://www.google.com/patents/US7682150?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7682150 - Method for preparing a dental prosthesis based on electronically determined image and color/shade data and based on telephone communicationAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7682150 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 11/510,494Publication dateMar 23, 2010Filing dateAug 25, 2006Priority dateJan 2, 1996Fee statusPaidAlso published asUS6254385, US6726476, US7097450, US20010023058, US20040043350, US20070054242, US20110070559, US20130243310Publication number11510494, 510494, US 7682150 B2, US 7682150B2, US-B2-7682150, US7682150 B2, US7682150B2InventorsWayne D. Jung, Russell W. Jung, Alan R. LoudermilkOriginal AssigneeJjl Technologies LlcExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (103), Non-Patent Citations (41), Referenced by (4), Classifications (43), Legal Events (2) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetMethod for preparing a dental prosthesis based on electronically determined image and color/shade data and based on telephone communicationUS 7682150 B2Abstract A method for preparing a dental prosthesis based on electronically determined image and color/shade data of a patient's tooth is disclosed. The image data and the color/shade data are displayed on a display device in the dental office. The image data and color/shade data are transmitted to a computing device at a remote location over a data communication channel. A telephone communication is established between a dental professional in a location proximate to the dental office and a dental technician or ceramist in a location proximate to the remote location while the dental professional and the dental technician or ceramist are commonly viewing the image and color/shade data. The dental prosthesis is prepared at the remote location based on the electronically transmitted image and color/shade data. Color/shade data of the dental prosthesis is electronically determined and the dental prosthesis is selectively modified prior to installing the dental prosthesis in the patient.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to devices and methods for measuring optical characteristics such as color of objects such as teeth, and more particularly to devices and methods for measuring the color and other optical characteristics of teeth or other objects or surfaces with a hand-held probe that presents minimal problems with height or angular dependencies.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A need has been recognized for devices and methods of measuring the color or other optical characteristics of teeth and other objects in the field of dentistry. Various color measuring devices such as spectrophotometers and calorimeters are known in the art. To understand the limitations of such conventional devices, it is helpful to understand certain principles relating to color. Without being bound by theory, Applicants provide the following discussion. In the discussion herein, reference is made to an �object,� etc., and it should be understood that in general such discussion may include teeth as the �object.�
The use of color measuring devices in the field of dentistry has been proposed. In modern dentistry, the color of teeth typically are quantified by manually comparing a patient's teeth with a set of �shade guides.� There are numerous shade guides available for dentists in order to properly select the desired color of dental prosthesis. Such shade guides have been utilized for decades and the color determination is made subjectively by the dentist by holding a set of shade guides next to a patient's teeth and attempting to find the best match. Unfortunately, however, the best match often is affected by the ambient light color in the dental operatory and the surrounding color of the patient's makeup or clothing and by the fatigue level of the dentist. In addition, such pseudo trial and error methods based on subjective matching with existing industry shade guides for forming dental prostheses, fillings and the like often result in unacceptable color matching, with the result that the prosthesis needs to be remade, leading to increased costs and inconvenience to the patient, dental professional and/or prosthesis manufacturer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, devices and methods are provided for measuring the color and other optical characteristics of objects such as teeth, reliably and with minimal problems of height and angular dependence. A handheld probe is utilized in the present invention, with the handheld probe containing a number of fiber optics in certain preferred embodiments. Light is directed from one (or more) light source(s) towards the object/tooth to be measured, which in certain preferred embodiments is a central light source fiber optic (other light sources and light source arrangements also may be utilized). Light reflected from the object is detected by a number of light receivers. Included in the light receivers (which may be light receiver fiber optics) are a plurality of perimeter receivers (which may be light receiver fiber optics, etc.). In certain preferred embodiments, three perimeter fiber optics are utilized in order to take measurements at a desired, and predetermined height and angle, thereby minimizing height and angular dependency problems found in conventional methods. In certain embodiments, the present invention also may measure translucence and fluorescence characteristics of the object/tooth being measured, as well as surface texture and/or other optical or surface characteristics.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in greater detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments. At various places herein, reference is made to an �object,� for example. It should be understood that an exemplary use of the present invention is in the field of dentistry, and thus the object typically should be understood to include teeth, dentures, dental-type cements or the like, although for discussion purposes in certain instances reference is only made to the �object.� As described elsewhere herein, various refinements and substitutions of the various embodiments are possible based on the principles and teachings herein.
In the illustrated preferred embodiment, receiver fiber optics R1 to R3 are positioned symmetrically around source fiber optic S, with a spacing of about 120 degrees from each other. It should be noted that spacing t is provided between receiver fiber optics R1 to R3 and source fiber optic S. While the precise angular placement of the receiver fiber optics around the perimeter of the fiber bundle in general is not critical, it has been determined that three receiver fiber optics positioned 120 degrees apart generally may give acceptable results. As discussed above, in certain embodiments light receiver fiber optics R1 to R3 each constitute a single fiber, which is divided at splicing connector 4 (refer again to FIG. 1), or, in alternate embodiments, light receiver fiber optics R1 to R3 each constitute a bundle of fibers, numbering, for example, at least five fibers per bundle. It has been determined that, with available fibers of uniform size, a bundle of, for example, seven fibers may be readily produced (although as will be apparent to one of skill in the art, the precise number of fibers may be determined in view of the desired number of receiver fiber optics, manufacturing considerations, etc.). The use of light receiver fiber optics R1 to R3 to produce color/optical measurements in accordance with the present invention is further described elsewhere herein, although it may be noted here that receiver fiber optics R1 to R3 may serve to detect whether, for example, the angle of probe tip 1 with respect to the surface of the object being measured is at 90 degrees, or if the surface of the object being measured contains surface texture and/or spectral irregularities. In the case where probe tip 1 is perpendicular to the surface of the object being measured and the surface of the object being measured is a diffuse reflector (i.e., a matte-type reflector, as compared to a spectral or shiny-type reflector which may have �hot spots�), then the light intensity input into the perimeter fibers should be approximately equal.
In order to propagate light without loss, the light must be incident within the core of the fiber optic at an angle greater than the critical angle, which may be represented as Sin−1{n1/n0}, where n0 is the index of refraction of the core and n1, is the index of refraction of the cladding. Thus, all light must enter the fiber at an acceptance angle equal to or less than phi, with phi=2�Sin−1{√(n0 2−n1 2)}, or it will not be propagated in a desired manner.
In step 50, the system on a continuing basis monitors the intensity levels for the receiver fiber optics (see, e.g., fibers 7 of FIG. 1). If the intensity is rising, step 50 is repeated until a peak is detected. If a peak is detected, the process proceeds to step 52. In step 52, measured peak intensity PI, and the time at which such peak occurred, are stored in memory (such as in memory included as a part of microprocessor 10), and the process proceeds to step 54. In step 54, the system continues to monitor the intensity levels of the receiver fiber optics. If the intensity is falling, step 54 is repeated. If a �valley� or plateau is detected (i.e., the intensity is no longer falling, which generally indicates contact or near contact with the object), then the process proceeds to step 56. In step 56, the measured surface intensity (IS) is stored in memory, and the process proceeds to step 58. In step 58, the system continues to monitor the intensity levels of the receiver fibers. If the intensity is rising, step 58 is repeated until a peak is detected. If a peak is detected, the process proceeds to step 60. In step 60, measured peak intensity P2, and the time at which such peak occurred, are stored in memory, and the process proceeds to step 62. In step 62, the system continues to monitor the intensity levels of the receiver fiber optics. Once the received intensity levels begin to fall from peak P2, the system perceives that region 5 has been entered (see, e.g., FIG. 5A), and the process proceeds to step 64.
FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate another embodiment of a removable probe tip that may be used to reduce contamination in accordance with the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 8A, probe tip 88 is removable, and includes four (or a different number, depending upon the application) fiber optic connectors 90, which are positioned within optical guard 92 coupled to connector 94. Optical guard 92 serves to prevent �cross talk� between adjacent fiber optics. As illustrated in FIG. 8B, in this embodiment removable tip 88 is secured in probe tip housing 93 by way of spring clip 96 (other removable retaining implements are utilized in other embodiments). Probe tip housing 93 may be secured to base connector 95 by a screw or other conventional fitting. It should be noted that, with this embodiment, different size tips may be provided for different applications, and that an initial step of the process may be to install the properly-sized (or fitted tip) for the particular application. Removable tip 88 also may be sterilized in a typical autoclave, hot steam, chemiclave or other sterilizing system, or disposed of. In addition, the entire probe tip assembly is constructed so that it may be readily disassembled for cleaning or repair. In certain embodiments the light source/receiver elements of the removable tip are constructed of glass, silica or similar materials, thereby making them particularly suitable for autoclave or similar high temperature/pressure cleaning methods, which in certain other embodiments the light source/receiver elements of the removable tip are constructed of plastic or other similar materials, which may be of lower cost, thereby making them particularly suitable for disposable-type removable tips, etc.
At step 208, a matching is optionally attempted between the data produced at steps 204 and 206 (if performed) and a desired color (in other embodiments, the process may proceed from 204 directly to 210, or alternatively steps 206 and 208 may be combined). For example, a number of �shade guides� are available in the market, some of which are known in the industry as Vita shade guides, Bioform shade guides or other color matching standards, guides or references or custom shade guides. In certain preferred embodiments, a lookup table is prepared and loaded into memory (such as memory associated with microprocessor 10 or computer 13A of FIG. 1), and an attempt is made to the closest match or matches of the collected data with the known shade guides, custom shade guides or reference values. In certain embodiments, a translucency factor and/or a surface texture or detail factor also is used in an effort to select the best possible match.
Further embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 20 to 23. The previously described embodiments generally rely on movement of the probe with respect to the object/tooth being measured. While such embodiments provide great utility in many applications, in certain applications, such as robotics, industrial control, automated manufacturing, etc. (such as positioning the object and/or the probe to be in proximity to each other, detecting color/optical properties of the object, and then directing the object, e.g., sorting, based on the detected color/optical properties, for further industrial processing, packaging, etc.) it may be desired to have the measurement made with the probe held or positioned substantially stationary above the surface of the object to be measured (in such embodiments, the positioned probe may not be handheld as with certain other embodiments). Such embodiments also may have applicability in the field of dentistry (in such applications, �object� generally refers to a tooth, etc.).
FIG. 21 illustrates a further such embodiment of the present invention. The preferred implementation of this embodiment consists of a central light source 310 (which in the preferred implementation is a central light source fiber optic), surrounded by a plurality of light receivers 322 (which in the preferred implementation consists of three perimeter light receiver fiber optics). The three perimeter light receiver fiber optics, as with earlier described embodiments, may be each spliced into additional fiber optics that pass to light intensity receivers/sensors, which may be implemented with Texas Instruments TSL230 light to frequency converters as described previously. One fiber of each perimeter receiver is coupled to a sensor and measured full band width (or over substantially the same bandwidth) such as via a neutral density filter, and other of the fibers of the perimeter receivers are coupled to sensors so that the light passes through sharp cut off or notch filters to measure the light intensity over distinct frequency ranges of light (again, as with earlier described embodiments). Thus there are color light sensors and neutral �perimeter� sensors as with previously described embodiments. The color sensors are utilized to determine the color or other optical characteristics of the object, and the perimeter sensors are utilized to determine if the probe is perpendicular to the surface and/or are utilized to compensate for non-perpendicular angles within certain angular ranges.
In accordance with this embodiment, the dentist may capture a still picture of a tooth and its adjacent teeth using the freeze frame feature of computer 384. Computer 384, under appropriate software and operator control, may then �postureize� the image of the tooth and its adjacent teeth, such as by limiting the number of gray levels of the luminance signal, which can result in a color image that shows contours of adjacent color boundaries. As illustrated in FIG. 25, such a postureization process may result in teeth 396 being divided into regions 398, which follow color contours of teeth 396. As illustrated, in general the boundaries will be irregular in shape and follow the various color variations found on particular teeth.
As an additional example, such a color calibration chart may be utilized by computer 384 and/or 386 to �calibrate� the color data within a captured image to true or known color values. For example, color calibration chart 404 may include one or more orientation markings 406, which may enable computers 384 and/or 386 to find and position color calibration chart 404 within a video frame. Thereafter, computers 384 and/or 386 may then compare �known� color data values from color calibration chart (data indicative of the colors within color calibration chart 404 and their position relative to orientation mark or markings 406 are stored within computers 384 and/or 386, such as in a lookup table, etc.) with the colors captured within the video image at positions corresponding to the various colors of color calibration chart 404. Based on such comparisons, computers 3.84 and/or 386 may color adjust the video image in order to bring about a closer correspondence between the colors of the video image and known or true colors from color calibration chart 404.
Reference is also made to copending international application filed on even date herewith under the Patent Cooperation Treaty, for �Apparatus and Method for Measuring Optical Characteristics of an Object,� by the inventors hereof, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
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(withdrawn)41van der Burgr et al.; "A comparison of new and conventional methods for quantification of tooth color"; Feb. 1990; pp. 155-162, vol. 63 No. 2, Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry.Referenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS7773802 *Jul 24, 2003Aug 10, 2010Olympus CorporationImage processing system with multiple imaging modesUS7826728Jul 13, 2006Nov 2, 2010Olympus CorporationImage processing system and cameraUS7876955Nov 3, 2008Jan 25, 2011Olympus CorporationImage processing system which calculates and displays color grade data and display image dataUS7889919Jul 12, 2010Feb 15, 2011Olympus CorporationImage processing system and photographing apparatus for illuminating a subject* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification433/26, 433/215, 433/29International ClassificationA61C19/04, G01J3/02, A61B5/00, G01J3/52, G01J3/51, G01J3/50, A61C1/00, A61C19/10, A61C5/00Cooperative ClassificationA61C19/04, A61B5/4547, G01J3/51, G01J3/0291, G01J3/508, G01J3/0218, G01J3/02, A61B2560/0233, A61B5/0088, A61C19/10, A61B2562/247, G01J3/513, G01J3/50, G06K9/4652, G01J3/0278, A61B5/061, G01J3/52European ClassificationA61B5/45R2B, A61B5/00P12D, A61C19/10, G01J3/50, A61C19/04, G01J3/52, A61B5/06C, G01J3/51A, G01J3/50T, G01J3/02R, G01J3/02B5, G01J3/02K, G01J3/51, G01J3/02Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionSep 23, 2013FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Jul 27, 2007ASAssignmentOwner name: JJL TECHNOLOGIES LLC, ILLINOISFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:LJ LABORATORIES LLC;JUNG, WAYNE D.;JUNG, RUSSELL W.;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:019597/0461Effective date: 20070727Owner name: JJL TECHNOLOGIES LLC,ILLINOISFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:LJ LABORATORIES LLC;JUNG, WAYNE D.;JUNG, RUSSELL W. 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