An apparatus for measuring a surface topography of a patient's teeth may include an optical probe, a light source configured to generate incident light, and focusing optics configured to focus one or more wavelengths of the incident light to a fixed focal position external to the optical probe, wherein the fixed focal position is fixed relative to the optical probe. The apparatus may further include a light sensor configured to measure a characteristic of returned light generated by illuminating the patient's teeth with the incident light and a processing unit operable to determine the surface topography of the patient's teeth based on the measured characteristic of the returned light.

Embodiments relate to techniques for real-time and post-scan visualization of intraoral scan data, which may include 3D images, 3D scans, 3D surfaces and/or 3D models. In one embodiment, an intraoral scanning system comprises a plurality of image sensors to periodically generate a set of intraoral two-dimensional (2D) images, wherein for each set of intraoral 2D images each image sensor of the plurality of image sensors is to generate an intraoral 2D image, and wherein relative positions and orientations of the plurality of image sensors are known. The intraoral scanning system further comprises a computing device, wherein the computing device is to perform the following for each set of intraoral 2D images: generate a combined intraoral image based on merging the set of intraoral 2D images together during scanning; and output the combined intraoral image to a display.

Disclosed are an apparatus and method for setting a margin line and a recording medium, wherein the apparatus and method set a margin line corresponding to the outline of the boundary between a tooth and a prosthesis on the basis of three-dimensional virtual model data of the tooth obtained by using a three-dimensional scanner such as an oral scanner or the like. The method for setting a margin line according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, comprises the steps of: generating curve information about the peripheral area of the margin line candidate points selected in a three-dimensional virtual model obtained for a tooth; and setting a margin line indicating the outline of the boundary between the tooth and a prosthesis on the basis of the curve information.

A method for controlling a three-dimensional scanning system includes a scanning step of scanning a target by using a three-dimensional scanner and acquiring a distance between the three-dimensional scanner and the target, and a switching step of switching an activation state of at least one feedback means on the basis of the distance.

According to the present disclosure, partial precision shape data is added to overall data by combining scan data obtained by a first scanner and a second scanner, respectively, and thus, missing data in a scan of the first scanner is supplemented by a scan of the second scanner. There is an advantage of being able to derive highly reliable data through such a supplementary process, and a user can provide a more suitable treatment to the patient.

Disclosed is a 3D scanner for recording the 3D topography of an object, the 3D scanner including: a projector unit configured for projecting a structured beam of probe light onto the object; an imaging unit arranged to acquire 2D images of the object when the object is illuminated by the structured probe light beam; and an actuator unit arranged to control the position of the structured probe light beam at the object by rotating a movable portion of the projector unit around a pivoting axis, the actuator unit including a rotation motor including or arranged to drive a wheel, where the surface of the wheel operatively coupled to the movable portion of the projector unit has a radial distance from the axis of the rotation motor which changes with the rotation.

An intra-oral scanning device includes a light source and an optical system, and communicates with a display system. The device has a reduced form factor as compared to prior devices, and it provides for more efficient transmission and capture of images.

A three dimensional scanning apparatus is used to detect a contour of an object, and includes an illumination light source, a first elliptic opening portion, a reference pattern generator, a second elliptic opening portion and an optical receiver. The illumination light source emits an illumination beam. The reference pattern generator provides a reference pattern by projection of the illumination beam, and transmits the reference pattern toward the object via the first elliptic opening portion. The optical receiver receives a detection pattern reflected from the object via the second elliptic opening portion, so as to analyze a difference between the reference pattern and the detection pattern for acquiring the contour.

A scanning system is described herein which incorporates projecting a plurality of patterns onto an object of interest and capturing the reflected image. Each pattern is based at least in part on traversing a hypercube graph or a Fibonacci cube graph using a Hamiltonian path. The patterns are used to help define the three-dimensional shape of the underlying object of interest, while also providing more robust error-correcting properties. After the reflected image of the projected pattern is captured, the scanning system further processes and displays a three-dimensional model of the captured object of interest.

A method of manufacturing customized ceramic labial/lingual orthodontic brackets by digital light processing, said method comprises measuring dentition data of a profile of teeth of a patient, wherein measuring dentition data is performed using a CT scanner or intra-oral scanner, based on the dentition data, creating a three dimensional computer-assisted design (3D CAD) model of the patient's teeth using reverse engineering, and saving the 3D CAD model on a computer, designing a 3D CAD bracket structure model for a single labial or lingual bracket structure, importing the 3D CAD bracket structure model into a Digital Light Processing (DLP) machine, directly producing the bracket by layer manufacturing.