The Self-Orienting Imaging Device and Methods of Use sense the orientation of the handheld imaging, and apply the rotational correction by rotating the image to be displayed. When a scanner is used, the scanning element in the scanner is adjusted, such that the eventual scanning direction remains unchanged referencing the subject anatomy. The self-orienting mechanism for the scanner may be implemented in hardware mechanisms.

A pulp cavity distance measurement system according to the present invention comprises: a first scan unit which acquires surface data; and a second scan unit which acquires volume data that is scan information different from the surface data, wherein the surface data and volume data are delivered via a database unit included in a control unit, and are merged into a single piece of data by a data merging unit. The shortest distance (pulp cavity distance) from the surface of the enamel of a tooth to the surface of the pulp cavity is calculated from the merged data, and the pulp cavity distance may be visually displayed by a distance stage display unit by using the calculated distance information (data). Here, the visual display may be expressed using colors or patterns having specific markings, and have a plurality of patterns so that the distance is displayed so as to be divided in stages. Accordingly, the system is advantageous in that a therapist can minimize tooth preparation in a part in which the distance to the pulp cavity is short, and reduce the discomfort of a patient due to vibrations caused by tooth preparation.

A medical system includes a medical device and an end cap. The medical device includes a handle, including an actuation device, and a shaft extending from the handle. A distal end of the shaft includes a tab, and the tab is movable based on movement of the actuation device. The end cap includes a modular camera assembly. The modular camera assembly includes a camera, a support, an arm, and a cavity. The tab is coupleable to the modular camera assembly via the cavity, and movement of the tab controls a position of the support and the camera.

An intraoral scanning system includes an intraoral scanner and a computing device. The computing device receive a plurality of intraoral scans from the intraoral scanner during an intraoral scanning session; registers the plurality of intraoral scans together based on overlapping features of the plurality of intraoral scans; generates a first three-dimensional (3D) surface based on the plurality of intraoral scans; receives one or more additional intraoral scans; determines that the one or more additional intraoral scans fail to satisfy one or more registration criteria for registering to at least one of the plurality of intraoral scans or the first 3D surface; and generates a second 3D surface based on the one or more additional intraoral scans.

The cannula (1) comprises a tube (2) with a front end (4) at which there is provided at least one suction opening (10), and with a back end (3) intended to be connected to a source of vacuum; in the tube (2) there being defined at least one longitudinal flow conduit (8, 9) for the aspirated material; and an imaging apparatus (11, 12) capable of supplying first signals or data allowing the generation of a visual representation of the environment in close proximity to the front end of the tube (2) of the cannula (1) down to a first depth or distance, and second signals or data allowing the generation of a visual representation of the environment around the front end of the tube (2) of the cannula (1) down to a second depth or distance, greater than the said first depth or distance.

This method is for calibrating an optical scanning apparatus that includes an optical fiber with a tip supported to allow vibration and an actuator that drives the tip of the optical fiber in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical fiber. The method includes arranging a position sensitive detector that detects a position of emitted light from the tip of the optical fiber (step S02) and detecting the position of the emitted light with the position sensitive detector while supplying light to the optical fiber and driving the tip of the optical fiber (step S03). The step of detecting (step S03) is performed using an interference fringe reducer that reduces interference fringes occurring along an optical path reaching the position sensitive detector.

An apparatus for measuring a scanning pattern of an optical scanning apparatus can easily reduce the effect of stray light and improve the measurement accuracy of the scanning pattern. An apparatus for measuring a scanning pattern of an optical scanning apparatus (100), which scans an object being illuminated with illumination light and generates a display image of the object being illuminated, includes a screen (11) scanned by the illumination light and an optical position detector (12) that detects the position of an irradiation spot of the illumination light on the screen (11). The apparatus for measuring a scanning pattern sequentially detects a position of the irradiation spot at predetermined time points with the optical position detector (12) during scanning of the screen (11) to measure the scanning pattern of the illumination light.

A scanning observation apparatus (10) deflects illumination light with an actuator (25) through an illumination optical system (26) to scan an object (32), subjects light from the object (32) to photoelectric conversion with an optical detector (44), performs processing with an image processor (46), and displays an image of the object (32) on a display (60). A memory (35) stores information on optical characteristics related to chromatic aberration of magnification of the illumination optical system (26) relative to light of predetermined colors. A scanning pattern calculator (45) calculates a scanning pattern, on the object (32), of light of each color using the information. Using the scanning pattern, the image processor (46) calibrates a plot position yielded by a photoelectric conversion signal from the optical detector (44) for light of each color and generates an image of the object (32), thereby more easily correcting the chromatic aberration of magnification.

A method and an apparatus for setting driving conditions applied in an optical scanning apparatus. The method for setting driving conditions includes attaching a scanning pattern detector and adjusting a scanning pattern detected by the scanning pattern detector by changing a drive signal applied to an actuator (steps S03 to S06). The step of adjusting includes setting a first drive signal value of the drive signal applied to the actuator and a target amplitude of the scanning pattern (step S03) and determining a frequency of the drive signal applied to the actuator by comparing an amplitude of the scanning pattern detected by changing the frequency of the drive signal applied to the actuator with the target amplitude while vibrating the actuator at the first drive signal value (step S04).

A method of assessing tissue health comprises the steps of obtaining depth-resolved spectra of a selected area of in vivo tissue, and assessing the health of the selected area based on the depth-resolved structural information of the scatterers. Obtaining depth-resolved spectra of the selected area comprises directing a sample beam towards the selected area at an angle, and receiving an angle-resolved scattered sample beam. The angle-resolved scattered sample beam is cross-correlated with the reference beam to produce an angle-resolved cross-correlated signal about the selected area, which is spectrally dispersed to yield an angle-resolved, spectrally-resolved cross-correlation profile having depth-resolved information about the selected area. The angle-resolved, spectrally-resolved cross-correlation profile is processed to obtain depth-resolved information about scatterers in the selected area.