A61B1/00172

Occlusion-crossing devices
11793400 · 2023-10-24 · ·

A catheter system includes a catheter that includes an outer shaft and a rotatable inner shaft having a drill tip. The catheter can be configured to bend laterally when the inner shaft is rotating within the other shaft for maneuvering within a blood vessel, for example, as the drill tip crosses an occlusion. Catheter bending can be activated by translating the inner shaft relative to the outer shaft in a distal direction, proximal direction, or both. The outer shaft may include a locking feature to rotatably lock the inner shaft with the outer shaft and allowing bidirectional lateral bending of the catheter. The inner shaft can include one or more imaging sensors for collecting images outside of the catheter. The inner shaft may be removable from the outer shaft, for example after an occlusion is crossed, to allow insertion of a guidewire or other device within the outer shaft.

Augmented reality enhancements for dental practitioners

An image of a dental arch comprising a preparation tooth is generated by an image capture device associated with an augmented reality (AR) display. The image of the dental arch is registered to previous image data associated with the dental arch. A visual overlay associated with a dental prosthetic to be placed on the preparation tooth is generated based on the registering of the image of the dental arch to the previous image data associated with the dental arch. The visual overlay is output to the AR display, wherein the visual overlay is superimposed over a view of the preparation tooth on the AR display.

Video endoscope and brake element
11550141 · 2023-01-10 · ·

A video endoscope with lateral viewing direction including a shaft having proximal and distal ends, an objective lens in the distal end, an image sensor, and a main body at the proximal end. Where a first grip rotationally fixed relative to the shaft and the main body to rotate the shaft and the main body to change the viewing direction of the objective lens. A second grip is disposed on the main body to be rotatable relative to the shaft and the main body to maintain a horizontal position of the image sensor when the viewing direction is changed. An annular seal is disposed between the second grip and the main body and/or the first grip. The seal includes a circumferentially wound coil spring having windings oriented such that a surface vector of a surface spanned by a single winding points substantially in a circumferential direction of the seal.

Intraoral 3D scanner employing multiple miniature cameras and multiple miniature pattern projectors

An apparatus for intraoral scanning includes an elongate handheld wand that has a probe. One or more light projectors and two or more cameras are disposed within the probe. The light projectors each has a pattern generating optical element, which may use diffraction or refraction to form a light pattern. Each camera may be configured to focus between 1 mm and 30 mm from a lens that is farthest from the camera sensor. Other applications are also described.

System and method for generating a three-dimensional model of a surgical site
11793402 · 2023-10-24 · ·

A system for generating a 3D model of a surgical site includes a 3D endoscope and a computing device coupled to the 3D endoscope. The 3D endoscope includes a scanner for scanning a surface of a surgical site and a camera source for generating images of the surgical site. A 3D model of the surgical site, including objects therein, is generated using scan data and image data. The 3D model is updated by detecting a change in the surgical site, isolating a region of the surgical site where the change is detected, generating second scan data by scanning the surface of the isolated region, and updating the 3D model generated using the second scan data of the surface of the isolated region.

Method for sub-gingival intraoral scanning
11806210 · 2023-11-07 · ·

Methods and systems are described that receive intraoral scan data in response to an optical scan of a surface of the tooth and a material disposed between the tooth and a gingiva surrounding the tooth, the material separating the surrounding gingiva from the tooth and covering a sub-gingival surface of the tooth. The received intraoral scan data is processed to differentiate the first optical scan data associated with the sub-gingival surface of the tooth and the second optical scan data associated with the material covering the sub-gingival surface of the tooth. The three-dimensional model of the tooth is generated based on the first optical scan data that is associated with the sub-gingival surface of the tooth and the third optical scan data associated with the tooth surface that is not covered by the material such that the three-dimensional model of the tooth includes the sub-gingival surface of the tooth.

ORAL IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, ORAL DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE FOR PERFORMING OPERATION ACCORDING THERETO, AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM IN WHICH PROGRAM FOR PERFORMING METHOD IS STORED
20230337898 · 2023-10-26 · ·

An intraoral image processing method according to an embodiment includes: acquiring a first intraoral image generated by scanning, at a first time point, at least one tooth to which at least one orthodontic device is attached; acquiring a second intraoral image generated by scanning, at a second time point subsequent to first time point, at least one tooth to which at least one orthodontic device is attached; extracting an image of at least one orthodontic device from each of first intraoral image and second intraoral image; obtaining movement information of an orthodontic device based on image of at least one orthodontic device extracted from first intraoral image and an image of at least one orthodontic device extracted from second intraoral image; and generating a third intraoral image representing a movement of at least one orthodontic device from first time point to second time point based on movement information.

3-axis side-view confocal fluorescence endomicroscope

An optical probe assembly as a confocal endomicroscope includes an optical focusing stage that focuses an output beam onto a sample and a mirror scanning stage that is movable for scanning the output beam in both a lateral two dimensional plane and an axial direction, using a side-view configuration. The side-view configuration allows for output beam illumination and fluorescent imaging of the sample with greater imaging resolution and improved access to hard to reach tissue within a subject.

DIAGNOSTIC INTRAORAL METHODS AND APPARATUSES

Methods and apparatuses for taking, using and displaying three-dimensional (3D) volumetric models of a patient's dental arch. A 3D volumetric model may include surface (e.g., color) information as well as information on internal structure, such as near-infrared (near-IR) transparency values for internal structures including enamel and dentin.

Intraoral 3D scanner employing light projectors with pattern generating optical elements

An apparatus for intraoral scanning comprises an elongate handheld wand comprising a probe at a distal end, one or more light projectors, and two or more cameras. Each light projector comprises at least one light source configured to generate light and a pattern generating optical element configured to generate a pattern of light when the light is transmitted through the pattern generating optical element. Each camera comprises a camera sensor and one or more lenses and is configured to capture a plurality of images that depict at least a portion of the projected pattern of light on an intraoral surface, wherein each camera is configured to focus at an object focal plane that is located between about 1 mm and about 30 mm from a lens of the one or more lenses that is farthest from the camera sensor.