U.S. patent number RE44,465 [Application Number 13/440,470] was granted by the patent office on 2013-08-27 for method and apparatus for electronically generating a color dental occlusion map within electronic model images.
This patent grant is currently assigned to GeoDigm Corporation. The grantee listed for this patent is Bruce Willard Hultgren, Robert J. Isaacson, Michael Craig Marshall, Timothy W. Vadnais. Invention is credited to Bruce Willard Hultgren, Robert J. Isaacson, Michael Craig Marshall, Timothy W. Vadnais.
United States Patent |
RE44,465 |
Hultgren , et al. |
August 27, 2013 |
Method and apparatus for electronically generating a color dental
occlusion map within electronic model images
Abstract
A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide a system
for electronically generating a color dental occlusion map within
electronic model images. With the advances recently made
computational systems, these computer based image systems may be
used to permit end users to replace paper and physical models with
electronic images. A mechanism to capture image representations of
physical objects accurately and with sufficient resolution is
provided in a form that is both inexpensive to operate while
providing rapid turn-around for users. Second, a mechanism to
visually display interaction between parts of an object is also
provided. These features are expressly addressed for impressions of
human teeth that are scanned to allow electronic images of the
models of a patient's teeth to be represented and manipulated.
Inventors: |
Hultgren; Bruce Willard
(Victoria, MN), Vadnais; Timothy W. (Victoria, MN),
Marshall; Michael Craig (Sheboygan, WI), Isaacson; Robert
J. (Edina, MN) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Hultgren; Bruce Willard
Vadnais; Timothy W.
Marshall; Michael Craig
Isaacson; Robert J. |
Victoria
Victoria
Sheboygan
Edina |
MN
MN
WI
MN |
US
US
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
GeoDigm Corporation
(Chanhassen, MN)
|
Family
ID: |
29423592 |
Appl.
No.: |
13/440,470 |
Filed: |
April 5, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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60376091 |
Apr 29, 2002 |
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Reissue of: |
10426252 |
Apr 29, 2003 |
7716024 |
May 11, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
703/6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06T
19/20 (20130101); G06T 2219/2012 (20130101); G06T
2210/41 (20130101); A61C 19/05 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G06G
7/48 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;703/6 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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120867 |
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May 1997 |
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IS |
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120892 |
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May 1997 |
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IS |
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121872 |
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Sep 1997 |
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IS |
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WO 98/32394 |
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Jul 1998 |
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WO |
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Primary Examiner: Alhija; Saif
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Merchant & Gould P.C.
Parent Case Text
.Iadd.CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS.Iaddend.
.Iadd.This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application Ser. No. 60/376,091, filed Apr. 29, 2002, and titled
Method and Apparatus for Electronically Generating a Color Dental
Occlusion Map within Electronic Model Images..Iaddend.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for electronically generating a color dental occlusion
map within electronic model images on a computing device including
a processor and memory, the method comprising: obtaining an
electronic model of an upper set of teeth and a lower set of teeth
from the memory of the computing device, the upper and lower sets
of teeth being represented by opposing polygonal meshes, each
polygonal mesh including a plurality of triangles, a first one of
the polygonal meshes is configured to pivot at a point of rotation
relative to a second one of the polygonal meshes, wherein at least
one point on each triangle of the first polygonal mesh travels
through a respective series of points that defines an arc of motion
when the first polygonal mesh pivots relative to the second
polygonal mesh; manipulating a spatial separation between the first
polygonal mesh and the second polygonal mesh by instructing the
processor of the computing device to pivot the first polygonal mesh
at the point of rotation; for at least one point on each triangle
of the first polygonal mesh, instructing the processor to calculate
a separation distance to an opposing point on one of the triangles
of the second polygonal mesh, the distance being determined by the
processor at least partially based on the arc of motion along which
the respective point of the first polygonal mesh travels; for each
triangle in the first polygonal mesh, instructing the processor to
paint the triangle of the first polygonal mesh a color
corresponding to the respective separation distance between the
point on the triangle and the corresponding opposing point on the
second polygonal mesh; and wherein manipulating the spatial
separation changes the separation distances between the points of
the first polygonal mesh and the corresponding opposing points of
the second polygonal mesh.
2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
--generating the electronic model including: scanning a surface of
a physical model of teeth; and generating at least the first
polygonal mesh to correspond to the scanned surface; and storing
the electronic model in the memory of the computing device.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the manipulating the
spatial separation comprises accepting input from a user with an
input device, the input indicating how the first and second
polygonal meshes are to be manipulated.
4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising defining the
point of rotation including: displaying an electronic image of a
skull of the patient to the user on a display device; displaying
the electronic model over the electronic image of the skull; and
accepting input from a user indicating the point of rotation.
5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the electronic image
corresponds to a digital representation of an x-ray.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the painting the
triangles of at least the first polygonal mesh paints each triangle
a flat single color chosen from a color value table.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the painting the
triangles of at least the first polygonal mesh uses a smooth
surface shading applied to a color chosen from a color value
table.
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the painting the
triangles of at least the first polygonal mesh uses a Gouraud
shading applied to a color chosen from a color value table.
9. A computer program product embodied on a .Iadd.non-transitory
.Iaddend.computer-readable medium and comprising code that, when
executed, causes a computer to implement a method to generate a
color dental occlusion map, the method comprising: providing a
computing system, wherein the computing system includes distinct
software modules, and wherein the distinct software modules include
a generation module, a separation specification module, a
separation calculation module, and separation mapping module;
generating an electronic model of an upper set of teeth and a lower
set of teeth, the electronic model including a first triangular
mesh representing the upper set of teeth and a second triangular
mesh representing the lower set of teeth, the triangular meshes
including a plurality of triangles, each triangle having a
respective vertex, wherein each triangular mesh is configured to
pivot at a point of rotation relative to the other triangular mesh,
wherein each vertex of each triangle of one of the triangular
meshes travels along a corresponding arc of motion when the
triangular mesh pivots relative to the other triangular mesh,
wherein the generating of the electronic model is performed by the
generation module; manipulating a spatial separation of the first
triangular mesh representing the upper set of teeth relative to the
second triangular mesh representing the lower set of teeth by
pivoting at least one of the triangular meshes about the point of
rotation, wherein the manipulating is performed by the separation
specification module; calculating a curvilinear distance from at
least one of the triangle vertices of each triangle in at least a
portion of the first triangular mesh to a corresponding triangle
vertex of the second triangular mesh, the curvilinear distance
being determined at least partially based on the arc of motion
corresponding to the vertex, wherein the calculating is performed
by the separation calculation module; and painting each of the
triangles in the portion a color corresponding to the distance
calculated for the respective triangle vertices, the painting being
performed by the separation mapping module.
10. The computer program product according to claim 9, wherein
manipulating the spatial separation of the triangular meshes
comprises: superimposing the electronic model over an electronic
medical image showing a dentition of a patient; determining the
point of rotation based on the electronic medical image.
11. The computer program product according to claim 9, wherein the
point of rotation is defined using an electronic image of an x-ray
of a skull.
12. The computer program product according to claim 9, wherein
painting each of the triangles comprises painting each triangle a
flat single color chosen from a color value table.
13. The computer program product according to claim 9, wherein
painting each of the triangles uses a smooth surface shading
applied to a color chosen from a color value table.
14. A method for electronically generating a color dental occlusion
map on an electronic display device for a patient, the method being
implemented using an electronic computing system including a
computer processor, the method comprising: generating on the
computer processor a first electronic model representing a first
set of teeth of the patient and a second electronic model
representing a second set of teeth of the patient, a surface of
each electronic model being formed from a polygonal mesh, each
polygonal mesh including a plurality of polygons, each of the
electronic models being configured to rotate relative to each other
at a rotation point; graphically displaying the polygonal mesh of
each electronic model on the electronic display device; positioning
the second electronic model relative to the first electronic model
on the electronic display device; calculating on the computer
processor a distance from at least one point on at least one
polygon in the polygonal mesh of the first electronic model to a
corresponding point on at least one polygon in the polygonal mesh
of the second electronic model, the distance being determined at
least partially based on the point of rotation and a distance
extending between the point of rotation and the point on the
polygonal mesh of the first electronic model; painting on the
electronic display device the polygon associated with the point a
color to indicate the distance calculated; moving at least one of
the electronic models such that the first set of teeth and the
second set of teeth are shown on the displayed device as arranged
in an occluded position; recalculating on the computer processor
the distance from the point on the polygon in the polygonal mesh of
the first electronic model to the corresponding point in the
polygonal mesh of the second electronic model; and painting on the
electronic display device the polygon associated with the point on
the first polygonal mesh a different color to indicate the
recalculated distance.
15. The method according to claim 14, wherein calculating a
distance includes calculating a distance from a plurality of
polygon vertices in the polygonal mesh of the first electronic
model to corresponding polygon vertices in the polygonal mesh of
the second electronic model.
16. The method according to claim 15, wherein painting a polygon
includes painting a plurality of polygons, each polygon
corresponding to one of the plurality of polygon vertices.
17. The method according to claim 14, wherein painting a polygon
includes painting the polygon a flat, single color.
18. The method according to claim 14, wherein painting a polygon
includes painting the polygon multiple colors using smooth surface
shading.
19. The method according to claim 18, wherein painting the polygon
multiple colors includes painting the polygon using Gouraud
shading.
20. The method according to claim 14, wherein calculating a
distance includes calculating a curvilinear distance.
21. The method according to claim 14, wherein the first electronic
model corresponds with an upper set of teeth and the second
electronic model corresponds with a lower set of teeth.
22. The method according to claim 14, further including determining
the point of rotation based on an electronic medical image.
23. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one point on each
triangle of the first polygonal mesh comprises three vertices of
the triangle.
24. The method of claim 14, wherein calculating on the computer
processor the distance comprises calculating on the computer
processor the distance between a vertex of the polygon on the
polygonal mesh of the first electronic model to a corresponding
polygonal vertex on the polygonal mesh of the second electronic
model.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates generally to a distributed computing system
for the creation and distribution of electronic models of objects
and more particularly to a system, method and article of
manufacture for electronically generating a color dental occlusion
map within electronic model images.
BACKGROUND
Computational resources available for use by various end users of
computing systems has increased significantly. This increase in
capability of systems has created the ability for many more end
users to utilize computer based image systems to replace processes
that utilize paper and physical model processes. In the past,
computer aided design, drafting, and manufacture (CAD/CAM) tools
represented an area of applications in which computer based image
systems have migrated from paper and model based processes to
electronic systems.
These CAD/CAM system typically consist of design and drafting tools
that allow technical designers to build systems that were
previously designed on paper using draftsmen. Over time, the
computing system and their respective tools have allowed increasing
interactive manipulation of components during the design process.
This advance in design of items that are then manufactured has
occurred using these computer aided systems.
These CAD/CAM systems, however, typically start their processes
with a set of predefined libraries of components that may be used
by the user of the computing system. For example, electronic
schematics possess a library of components that are used to specify
a circuit and its layout. The creation of these libraries, as well
as the amount of computational resources needed to perform the
operations related to these systems, has prevented the widespread
use of these systems in other areas of technology.
With the advances recently made computational systems, these
computer based image systems may be used to permit end users to
replace paper and physical models with electronic images. Two areas
of technology present additional obstacles to the more wide-spread
use of these systems. First, a mechanism to capture image
representations of physical objects accurately and with sufficient
resolution is needed in a form that is both inexpensive to operate
while providing rapid turn-around for users. Second, a mechanism to
visually display interaction between parts of an object is needed.
This problem is especially acute when impressions of human teeth
are to be scanned to allow electronic images of the models of a
patient's teeth to be represented and manipulated as individual
teeth. Neither of these latter obstacles have been overcome in
existing imaging systems.
SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a method, apparatus, and article
of manufacture for electronically generating a color dental
occlusion map within electronic model images.
Other embodiments of a system in accordance with the principles of
the invention may include alternative or optional additional
aspects. One such aspect of the present invention is a method and
computer data product encoding instructions for automatically
determining the location of individual teeth within an electronic
model image of a patient's mouth to allow the manipulation of the
electronic model images by end users. The method determines
possible horizontal cut lines within a horizontal plane cut through
the electronic model image corresponding to possible separation
lines between teeth, determines possible vertical cut lines within
a vertical plane cut through the electronic model image
corresponding to possible separation lines between teeth, and
automatically determines the locations of individual teeth using
the possible horizontal cut lines and the possible vertical cut
lines.
These and various other advantages and features of novelty which
characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in
the claims annexed hereto and form a part hereof. However, for a
better understanding of the invention, its advantages, and the
objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the
drawings which form a further part hereof, and to accompanying
descriptive matter, in which there are illustrated and described
specific examples of an apparatus in accordance with the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates an electronic model image of a patient's mouth
in which individual teeth have been identified and moved locations
in support of a plan of treatment according to one embodiment of
the present invention.
FIGS. 2a-2b illustrates an example of an object from which an
electronic model is generated according to yet another example
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 illustrates a representation of the object in FIG. 2 using a
polygonal mesh according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 4 illustrates a simplified representation of the object in
FIG. 2 using a reduced polygonal mesh according to yet another
example embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 illustrates a format for an electronic model data file
according to yet another example embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 6 illustrates an electronic image of an electronic model
having an upper and low set of teeth that has been superimposed
upon a other medical image of a patient according to one possible
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 illustrates an electronic image of an upper and low set of
teeth that has been superimposed upon another medical image of a
patient according to one possible embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary computing system useful for
implementing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 illustrates two opposing teeth having multiple points of
occlusion and having known separation distances according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 illustrates a color mapping value table for use in
generating color dental occlusion maps according to an example
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 illustrates a block diagram for a processing system to
generate color dental occlusion maps according to another
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 illustrates a function processing flow diagram for a
processing system to generate color dental occlusion maps according
to yet another embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The present invention relates to a code generation method,
apparatus, and article of manufacture for providing a distributed
computing system for the creation and distribution of electronic
models of objects including a system, method and article of
manufacture for electronically generating a color dental occlusion
map within electronic model images.
FIG. 1 illustrates an electronic model image of a patient's mouth
in which individual teeth have been identified and moved locations
in support of a plan of treatment according to one embodiment of
the present invention. An electronic model of a patient's upper
teeth are shown 101 as they are located within a patient's mouth in
position relative to a corresponding model of the patient's lower
teeth 102. In order for this process to occur, two events must
occur. First, an electronic model for the teeth must be generated.
This occurs when a physical mold or impression of the mouth is
generated. This impression is then electronically scanned to
generate the model. The process for generating an electronic model
for the teeth is described in commonly assigned U.S. patent
application entitled "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ELECTRONIC DELIVERY
OF DENTAL IMAGES", Ser. No. 09/846,037 filed Apr. 29, 2001, which
is incorporated by reference.
Once the electronic model has been generated for the impression,
the locations of the individual teeth relative to opposing teeth in
the opposite jaw may be determined. Generally, locations where
these teeth first make contact as the jaws close is of particular
interest. Because these upper and low teeth are known within a
common coordinate system, these locations may be easily determined
and these points of interest marked for viewing. These points of
interest are typically marked with a different color that indicates
the distance between the teeth as the jaw is closing.
FIGS. 2a-2b illustrates an example of an object from which an
electronic model is generated according to yet another example
embodiment of the present invention. A simple geometric 3D shape
201 is presented as an example of how a reduced polygonal mesh is
generated that may be used as an electronic model. This shape 201
has two visible faces: a small triangular side face 212 and a
larger rectangular face 211. Three other faces that are not visible
from the perspective shown in FIG. 2a make up this simple
object.
FIG. 2b shows this object 201 having a set of surface data points
superimposed upon the object 201 faces. When a laser line scanner
passes its sensor over a face of the object 201, a line of points
corresponding to the position of the objects' surface are obtained.
These points are separated by the spatial resolution of the
scanner. The data points, P0 221 are specified using a 3 coordinate
position X0, Y0, Z0. As the object 201 is moved within the scanning
area of the multi-axis platform, the scanner translates the data
points to a common coordinate system such that the collection of
all points represents the points in a 3D coordinate system that
corresponds to the surface of the item 201. These data points are
contained within the point cloud data file 500.
FIG. 3 illustrates a representation of the object in FIG. 2 using a
polygonal mesh according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As discussed above, the point cloud data file 500 is reduced to a
polygonal mesh of triangles in which the surface of the triangles
are used to approximate the surface of the item 201. In this
example, a triangle, T1 300, is located on the larger surface 211
of the item 201. The triangle T1 300 is specified using the three
corner points P0 301, P1 302, and P3 303. As before, each of these
three points are specified using a 3D coordinate system such that
T1 300 is defined: T1: {P0, P1, P2} or T1: {[X0, Y0, Z0], [X1, Y1,
Z1], {[X2, Y2, Z2]}.
Each triangle in the polygonal mesh is specified using the three
points as shown above. No particular order for the points making up
the triangle is necessary. The smaller side 212 of the item 211 in
this example is initially shown with six triangles 311-316. The
triangles in the polygonal mesh may be created using any number of
well known methods for reducing point position data into a
polygonal mesh that approximates the surface of the object.
FIG. 4 illustrates a simplified representation of the object in
FIG. 2 using a reduced polygonal mesh according to yet another
example embodiment of the present invention. A reduced polygonal
mesh is generated by combining adjacent triangles in the original
polygonal mesh when the two or more triangles are sufficiently
coplanar that they may be represented using a single triangle. In
this example, a large number of small triangles may have been
originally generated mesh shown in FIG. 3. When a flat surface of
the simple object 201 is considered, the number of triangles needed
is reduced significantly 401-407. In the example, all of the small
triangles from the small side 212 of the item 201 have been
combined into a single triangle 411. The processing associated with
this filtering operation controls the amount of triangle
combination by setting a threshold relating to the minimum amount
of deviation from a single plane for the two or more triangles that
is permitted before two or more triangles are required to remain
separate. This filtering process may be accomplished using a number
of commercially available polygonal mesh processing products
without deviating from the present invention as recited within the
attached claims.
FIG. 5 illustrates a format for an electronic model data file
according to yet another example embodiment of the present
invention. The electronic model data file 500 consists of a file
header info block 501 and a triangle specification block 502. The
triangle specification block consists of the set of triangle
definitions 511-513 that are used to define the reduced polygonal
mesh.
The file header info block 501 includes a set of searchable
identification information that may be used to identify a
particular model from any number of related models. The mouth and
teeth electronic models, for example, will likely contain patient
identification information such as name, date of birth, address,
social security number that may be used to uniquely identify the
patient from which the model was generated. The info block 511 may
also contain dental care provider information such as the dentist
name and address as well as the date on which the impression was
taken that generated the electronic model.
The file header info block 501 includes a set of searchable
identification information that may be used to identify a
particular model from any number of related models. The mouth and
teeth eModels, for example, will likely contain patient
identification information such as name, date of birth, address,
social security number that may be used to uniquely identify the
patient from which the model was generated. The info block 511 may
also contain dental care provider information such as the dentist
name and address as well as the date on which the impression was
taken that generated the eModel.
This data file 500 is typically ASCII encoded data that may be
easily searched and processed as necessary. One skilled in the art
will recognize how this file header info block 501 may be modified
to include any information needed by a particular application
without deviating from the spirit and scope of the present
invention as recited within the attached claims.
FIG. 6 illustrates an electronic image of an upper and low set of
teeth that has been superimposed upon another medical image of a
patient according to one possible embodiment of the present
invention. In order to generate an accurate color dental occlusion
map, the location of the upper teeth 602 must be known relative to
the location of the lower teeth 601 as the jaw opens and closes.
This location data may be obtained by superimposing the electronic
model for the teeth upon another image, such as an x-ray 603 shown
in FIG. 6, in which common locations in both images are identified.
Using these common location points, the electronic model image and
the other medical image may be scaled and oriented onto a common
frame of reference. While the example shown herein uses an x-ray
image 603, one skilled in the art will recognize that any other
medical image having sufficient resolution to permit the accurate
registration of the images may be used without deviating from the
spirit and scope of the present invention as recited within the
attached claims.
Alternatively, the electronic model may be used to generate the
color occlusion map without the use of another image if the user
provides independently obtained measurements for the arc of the jaw
as it opens and closes. The x-ray image 603 is useful in
determining the point of rotation for the lower jaw to provide a
proper definition of the motion of the upper teeth 602 relative to
the lower teeth 601 as the jaw moves.
FIG. 7 illustrates an electronic image of an electronic model
having an upper and low set of teeth that has been superimposed
upon another medical image of a patient according to one possible
embodiment of the present invention. In this image, the upper teeth
602 and the lower teeth 601 are again superimposed upon another
image 603 of the patient. After the two set of images are properly
scaled and registered, the point of rotation for the jaw 701 may be
identified. From this point 701, and its distance from the
individual teeth, the arc of motion 702 for the lower jaw 601 may
be defined. Once the movement of the teeth relative to the opposing
set of teeth is defined, the color dental occlusion map may be
created.
FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary system for implementing the
invention includes a general-purpose computing device in the form
of a conventional personal computer 800, including a processor unit
802, a system memory 804, and a system bus 806 that couples various
system components including the system memory 804 to the processor
unit 800. The system bus 806 may be any of several types of bus
structures including a memory bus or memory controller, a
peripheral bus and a local bus using any of a variety of bus
architectures. The system memory includes read only memory (ROM)
808 and random access memory (RAM) 810. A basic input/output system
812 (BIOS), which contains basic routines that help transfer
information between elements within the personal computer 800, is
stored in ROM 808.
The personal computer 800 further includes a hard disk drive 812
for reading from and writing to a hard disk, a magnetic disk drive
814 for reading from or writing to a removable magnetic disk 816,
and an optical disk drive 818 for reading from or writing to a
removable optical disk 819 such as a CD ROM, DVD, or other optical
media. The hard disk drive 812, magnetic disk drive 814, and
optical disk drive 818 are connected to the system bus 806 by a
hard disk drive interface 820, a magnetic disk drive interface 822,
and an optical drive interface 824, respectively. The drives and
their associated computer-readable media provide nonvolatile
storage of computer readable instructions, data structures,
programs, and other data for the personal computer 800.
Although the exemplary environment described herein employs a hard
disk, a removable magnetic disk 816, and a removable optical disk
819, other types of computer-readable media capable of storing data
can be used in the exemplary system. Examples of these other types
of computer-readable mediums that can be used in the exemplary
operating environment include magnetic cassettes, flash memory
cards, digital video disks, Bernoulli cartridges, random access
memories (RAMs), and read only memories (ROMs).
A number of program modules may be stored on the hard disk,
magnetic disk 816, optical disk 819, ROM 808 or RAM 810, including
an operating system 826, one or more application programs 828,
other program modules 830, and program data 832. A user may enter
commands and information into the personal computer 800 through
input devices such as a keyboard 834 and mouse 836 or other
pointing device. Examples of other input devices may include a
microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, and scanner. These
and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit
802 through a serial port interface 840 that is coupled to the
system bus 806. Nevertheless, these input devices also may be
connected by other interfaces, such as a parallel port, game port,
or a universal serial bus (USB). A monitor 842 or other type of
display device is also connected to the system bus 806 via an
interface, such as a video adapter 844. In addition to the monitor
842, personal computers typically include other peripheral output
devices (not shown), such as speakers and printers.
The personal computer 800 may operate in a networked environment
using logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as
a remote computer 846. The remote computer 846 may be another
personal computer, a server, a router, a network PC, a peer device
or other common network node, and typically includes many or all of
the elements described above relative to the personal computer 800.
The network connections include a local area network (LAN) 848 and
a wide area network (WAN) 850. Such networking environments are
commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computer networks,
intranets, and the Internet.
When used in a LAN networking environment, the personal computer
800 is connected to the local network 848 through a network
interface or adapter 852. When used in a WAN networking
environment, the personal computer 800 typically includes a modem
854 or other means for establishing communications over the wide
area network 850, such as the Internet. The modem 854, which may be
internal or external, is connected to the system bus 806 via the
serial port interface 840. In a networked environment, program
modules depicted relative to the personal computer 800, or portions
thereof, may be stored in the remote memory storage device. It will
be appreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary,
and other means of establishing a communications link between the
computers may be used.
Additionally, the embodiments described herein are implemented as
logical operations performed by a computer. The logical operations
of these various embodiments of the present invention are
implemented (1) as a sequence of computer implemented steps or
program modules running on a computing system and/or (2) as
interconnected machine modules or hardware logic within the
computing system. The implementation is a matter of choice
dependent on the performance requirements of the computing system
implementing the invention. Accordingly, the logical operations
making up the embodiments of the invention described herein can be
variously referred to as operations, steps, or modules.
FIG. 9 illustrates two opposing teeth having multiple points of
occlusion and having known separation distances according to an
embodiment of the present invention. As defined above, the
electronic model represents the two opposing teeth 901, 902 as a
polygonal mesh in which the mesh is constructed using a set of
triangles having explicitly known locations for the respective
vertices. These locations are also known relative to the point of
rotation for the jaw as discussed above in FIG. 7.
Using this location data, the separation distances between the
teeth may be easily determined. In calculating the separation
distances, each of the vertices A 921, B 922, and C 923 are
considered independently. For each of these vertices, a
corresponding point A' 931, B' 932, and C' 933 are located. These
corresponding points are the locations on the opposing teeth where
a perpendicular distance is found between the vertices A 921, B
922, and C 923 and the surface of the opposing polygonal mesh.
Once these corresponding points, A' 931, B' 932, and C' 933, are
found, a separation distance 911 may be calculated. This calculated
distance may represent the perpendicular distance 911 between a
vertex A 921 and its corresponding occlusion point A' 931. This
calculated distance may also represent the curvilinear distance 912
between a vertex A 921 and its corresponding occlusion point A' 931
along an arc defined in reference to the point of rotation for the
jaw 701. These calculated distances are determined for each vertex
in both the polygonal mesh for the upper teeth 702 and the
polygonal mesh for the lower teeth 701 for use in generating the
color dental occlusion map.
FIG. 10 illustrates a color mapping value table for use in
generating color dental occlusion maps according to an example
embodiment of the present invention. Once the separation distances
are determined, a color dental occlusion map may be generated by
painting each triangle a color that corresponds to the separation
distance for its vertices to the opposing teeth. In one embodiment,
a color map is defined as having seven (7) different colors in
which each different color represents a different range of
separation distances. These separation distances may correspond to
either the perpendicular distances or the curvilinear distances
without deviating from the spirit and scope of the present
invention.
The number of different colors, and corresponding ranges of
separation distances, may be easily specified using a color mapping
table shown in FIG. 10. When a triangle in a polygonal mesh is
processed, its separation distance is used to index into one of the
regions within the color mapping table 1001-1007 to determine the
color to be used to paint the particular triangle. Thus, the
electronic model will appear to be a standard electronic model with
Red, Green and/or Blue locations that indicate the corresponding
separation distance. Of course, one skilled in art will recognize
that the number of ranges and the range values may be altered
without deviating from the scope of the patent invention.
In the particular embodiment shown in FIG. 10, a Blue location
corresponds to teeth 1031, 1032 having a separation 1033 between +1
and +5 mm. Similarly, a Green location corresponds to teeth 1021,
1022 having a separation 1023 between -0.1 and +0.1 mm and a Red
location corresponds to teeth 1011, 1012 having a separation 1013
between 1 and 5 cm. When the triangles are painted, the surfaces
may be painted in a number of ways. Typically, these surfaces are
either painted using a flat (solid), single color for the triangle.
The color corresponds to the color of the vertex that is closed to
the opposing surface. Alternatively, a Garound or smooth surface
shading may be used to provide shading between colors deferred by
each of the vertices of the triangle as desired without deviating
from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
FIG. 11 illustrates a block diagram for a processing system to
generate color dental occlusion maps according to another
embodiment of the present invention. The processing system includes
a set of processing modules to perform the tasks associated with
generating a color dental occlusion map. The set of processing
modules includes an electronic model Mesh Shading module 1111, an
electronic model polygon reduction module 1112, an electronic model
generation module 1113, a teeth separation color mapping module
1121, a teeth vertex separation calculation module 1122, a teeth
separation specification module 1123, and an image output module
1131.
The electronic model Mesh Shading module 1111, the electronic model
polygon reduction module 1112, and the electronic model generation
module 1113 perform the operations needed to generate and shade the
electronic model. These modules implement the process for
generating an electronic model for the teeth is described in
commonly assigned U.S. patent application entitled "METHOD AND
APPARATUS FOR ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF DENTAL IMAGES", Ser. No.
09/846,037 filed Apr. 29, 2001, which is incorporated by
reference.
The teeth separation color mapping module 1121 paints the triangles
the color corresponding to the calculated separation distance using
a color map table 1001-1007 as discussed in detail above. The
s-teeth vertex separation calculation module 1122 performs the
processing needed to determine the separation distance between a
triangle vertex and it's corresponding mesh face along either a
perpendicular or a curvilinear path as described above. The teeth
separation specification module 1123 accepts input from the user to
manipulate the two parts of an electronic model. This module
implements the process for manipulating an electronic model for the
teeth as described in concurrently filed and commonly assigned U.S.
patent application entitled "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
ELECTRONICALLY SIMULATING JAW FUNCTION", Ser. No. 60/376,111, filed
Apr. 29, 2002, which is incorporated by reference. The image output
module 1131 generates the image seen by a user on a display device
that includes an electronic model after it has been painted using a
color map.
FIG. 12 illustrates a function processing flow diagram for a
processing system to generate color dental occlusion maps according
to yet another embodiment of the present invention. The processing
starts 1201 and an electronic model is generated for both the upper
teeth and the lower teeth in module 1211. The process for
generating an electronic model for the teeth is described in
commonly assigned U.S. patent application entitled "METHOD AND
APPARATUS FOR ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF DENTAL IMAGES", Ser. No.
09/846,037 filed Apr. 29, 2001, which is incorporated by
reference.
Once the electronic models are generated, module 1212 allows a user
to move the upper and lower teeth to a desired separation distance
for the upper and lower teeth in the electronic model using an
input device such as a mouse. The teeth move along an arc of motion
defined by a point of rotation for the jaw and the distance of the
teeth from this point of rotation. The separation distance of the
two parts of the electronic model then are used to calculate an
individual separation distances for each vertex in the two
polygonal meshes in module 1213. These individual separation
distances for each vertex are then passed through a color map
1001-1007 to paint the individual triangles a color corresponding
to the individual separation distance for each triangle.
The process of manipulating the separation of the two parts of the
electronic model, calculating individual separation distances, and
painting the triangles colors from a color map may be interactively
repeated as necessary based upon input from a user. Once the
electronic model has been painted a color, the electronic model may
also be manipulated, rotated, zoomed, etc as the user performs
analysis of the interaction of the patient's teeth.
FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a suitable operating environment
in which the invention may be implemented. The operating
environment is only one example of a suitable operating environment
and is not intended to suggest any limitation as to the scope of
use or functionality of the invention. Other well known computing
systems, environments, and/or configurations that may be suitable
for use with the invention include, but are not limited to,
personal computers, server computers, held-held or laptop devices,
multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems, programmable
consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe
computers, distributed computing environments that include any of
the above systems or devices, and the like.
The invention may also be described in the general context of
computer-executable instructions, such as program modules, executed
by one or more computers or other devices. Generally, program
modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data
structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement
particular abstract data types. Typically the functionality of the
program modules may be combined or distributed in desired in
various embodiments.
A computing system 1101 typically includes at least some form of
computer readable media. Computer readable media can be any
available media that can be accessed by the network server 110. By
way of example, and not limitation, computer readable media may
comprise computer storage media and communication media. Computer
storage media includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable and
non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for
storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data
structures, program modules or other data. Computer storage media
includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or
other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or
other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic
disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium
which can be used to store the desired information and which can be
accessed by the computing system 1101.
Communication media typically embodies computer readable
instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a
modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport
mechanism and includes any information delivery media. The term
"modulated data signal" means a signal that has one or more of its
characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode
information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation,
communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or
direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF,
infrared and other wireless media. Combinations of any of the above
should also be included within the scope of computer readable
media.
The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the
invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and
description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the
invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and
variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is
intended that the scope of the invention be limited not with this
detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto.
Thus the present invention is presently embodied as a method,
apparatus, computer storage medium or propagated signal containing
a computer program for electronically generating a color dental
occlusion map within electronic model images.
* * * * *
References