Training method and system for oral-cavity-imaging-and-modeling equipment

Abstract

The current document is directed to methods and systems that provide semi-automated and automated training to technicians who use oral-cavity-imaging-and-modeling systems to accurately and efficiently generate three-dimensional models of patients' teeth and underlying tissues. The training methods and systems are implemented either as subsystems within oral-cavity-imaging-and-modeling systems or as separate system in electronic communication oral-cavity-imaging-and-modeling systems. The training methods and systems use an already generated, digital, three-dimensional model of a portion of the oral cavity of a particular patient or of a physical model of a portion of an oral cavity to compute a temporal, translational, and rotational trajectory of an oral-cavity-imaging-and-modeling endoscope, or wand, during a training scan. The temporal, translational, and rotational trajectory is used for a variety of different types of instruction and instructional feedback to facilitate training of technicians.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 displaying a training user interface including a three-dimensional (3D) representation of a physical model of a portion of an oral cavity;   displaying, in the training user interface, one or more graphical indicators to indicate a scan segment to be carried out on the physical model;   receiving scanned images from a wand that is illuminating one or more surfaces of the physical model and receiving reflected and scattered light as the wand is moved over the physical model to take a training scan of the physical model;   rendering a 3D digital model of the physical model from the scanned images as the wand is moved over the physical model;   adjusting the display of the one or more graphical indicators to indicate an acceptable or optimal trajectory for scanning as the wand is moved over the physical model; and   displaying, within the training user interface, information regarding an accuracy and efficiency of the training scan.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the information regarding accuracy and efficiency of the training scan includes one or more of: scan time, scan rate, number of captured images, degree of coverage, degree of completion of the 3D digital model, and degree of accuracy of the three-dimensional digital mode. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the information regarding accuracy and efficiency of the training scan includes one or more of:
 indications of a translational velocity of the wand;   indications of a rotational velocity of the wand;   indications of an elapsed time of the scan;   indications of an accuracy of the 3D digital model;   indications of a degree of coverage of the actual model by the 3D digital model;   indications of a spatial trajectory of the wand during the training scan;   indications of points, in a spatial trajectory of the wand during the training scan;   indications of a similarity of the spatial trajectory of the wand during the training scan to an acceptable-trajectory envelope within which images can be captured and used to construct an accurate 3D digital model of the physical model; and   indications of a similarity of the spatial trajectory of the wand during the training scan to an optimal trajectory envelope within which images can be captured and used to construct an accurate 3D digital model of the physical model.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the 3D digital model is displayed over the 3D representation of the physical model. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein displaying, in the training user interface, the one or more graphical indicators comprises displaying one or more arrows. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the scan segment to be carried out comprise an acceptable or optimal trajectory segment displayed over the 3D representation of the physical model. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is performed by a subsystems within an oral-cavity-imaging-and-modeling system including the wand. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying the training user interface on a display of a remote computer system. 
     
     
         9 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 displaying a training user interface including a three-dimensional (3D) representation of a physical model of a portion of an oral cavity;   displaying, in the training user interface, one or more graphical indicators to indicate an acceptable or optimal trajectory segment to be used to scan the physical model;   receiving scanned images from a wand that is illuminating one or more surfaces of the physical model and receiving reflected and scattered light as the wand is moved over the physical model to take a training scan of the physical model;   rendering a 3D digital model of the physical model from the scanned images as the wand is moved over the physical model;   adjusting the display of the one or more graphical indicators to update the acceptable or optimal trajectory for scanning as the wand is moved over the physical model; and   displaying, within the training user interface, information regarding an accuracy and efficiency of the training scan.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the information regarding accuracy and efficiency of the training scan includes one or more of: scan time, scan rate, number of captured images, degree of coverage, degree of completion of the 3D digital model, and degree of accuracy of the three-dimensional digital mode. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the information regarding accuracy and efficiency of the training scan includes one or more of:
 indications of a translational velocity of the wand;   indications of a rotational velocity of the wand;   indications of an elapsed time of the scan;   indications of an accuracy of the 3D digital model;   indications of a degree of coverage of the actual model by the 3D digital model;   indications of a spatial trajectory of the wand during the training scan;   indications of points, in a spatial trajectory of the wand during the training scan;   indications of a similarity of the spatial trajectory of the wand during the training scan to an acceptable-trajectory envelope within which images can be captured and used to construct an accurate 3D digital model of the physical model; and   indications of a similarity of the spatial trajectory of the wand during the training scan to an optimal trajectory envelope within which images can be captured and used to construct an accurate 3D digital model of the physical model.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the 3D digital model is displayed over the 3D representation of the physical model. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein displaying, in the training user interface, the one or more graphical indicators comprises displaying one or more arrows. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the method is performed by a subsystems within an oral-cavity-imaging-and-modeling system including the wand. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising displaying the training user interface on a display of a remote computer system. 
     
     
         16 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 displaying a training user interface including a three-dimensional (3D) representation of a physical model of a portion of an oral cavity;   displaying, in the training user interface, one or more graphical indicators to indicate an acceptable or optimal trajectory segment to be used to scan the physical model;   receiving scanned images from a wand that is illuminating one or more surfaces of the physical model and receiving reflected and scattered light as the wand is moved over the physical model to take a training scan of the physical model;   rendering a 3D digital model of the physical model from the scanned images as the wand is moved over the physical model;   computing an orientation of the wand by matching a received scanned image to a projection of the representation of a physical model, as the wand is moved over the physical model;   displaying, in the user interface, the orientation of the wand as the wand is moved over the physical model;   adjusting the display of the one or more graphical indicators to update the acceptable or optimal trajectory for scanning as the wand is moved over the physical model; and   displaying, within the training user interface, information regarding an accuracy and efficiency of the training scan.