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EP-4739194-A1 - A SCANNING DEVICE

EP4739194A1EP 4739194 A1EP4739194 A1EP 4739194A1EP-4739194-A1

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to scanning devices for imaging human extremities. The scanning devices comprise a substantially transparent base (110) comprising a first side (110a) and a second side (110b), the first (110a) side being configured to accommodate the human extremity. The devices further comprise a stereoscopic camera (120) comprising one or more infrared lasers configured to emit a laser beam which hits the second side (110b) of the transparent base in one or more incidence points. Further, one or more opaque items (130) are located between the one or more laser beams (125) and the one or more incidence points.

Inventors

  • RAUL, Trujillo Aceituno

Assignees

  • Zonapies SL

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240502

Claims (15)

  1. 1. A scanning device (100) for imaging a human extremity comprising: a substantially transparent base (110) comprising a first side (110a) and a second side (110b), the first (110a) side being configured to accommodate the human extremity; a stereoscopic camera (120) comprising one or more infrared lasers, configured to emit a laser beam (125) which hits the second side (110b) of the substantially transparent base in one or more incidence points, and wherein one or more opaque items (130) are located between the one or more laser beams (125) and the one or more incidence points.
  2. 2. The scanning device (100) of claim 1 , wherein the stereoscopic camera (102) is a static camera.
  3. 3. The scanning device (100) of any of claims 1 - 2, wherein the human extremity is a human foot.
  4. 4. The scanning device (100) of claim 3, wherein the substantially transparent base (110) is configured to accommodate a sole of the human foot.
  5. 5. The scanning device (100) of any of claims 1 - 4, wherein the substantially transparent base (110) is made of methacrylate or glass.
  6. 6. The scanning device (100) of any of claims 1 - 5, wherein the second side (110b) of the substantially transparent base is an inner side of the scanning device (100).
  7. 7. The scanning device (100) of any of claims 1 - 6, wherein the opaque items (130) are arranged on or in the substantially transparent base (110), and wherein the number of opaque items (130) on or in the substantially transparent base (110) is equal to the number of infrared lasers comprised in the stereoscopic camera (120).
  8. 8. The scanning device (100) of any of claims 1 - 7, wherein the stereoscopic camera (120) comprises at least two lenses, and wherein the camera comprises one infrared laser per lens.
  9. 9. The scanning device (100) of any of claims 1 - 8, wherein the opaque items (130) cover at least an area of the incidence points of the laser beams (125).
  10. 10. The scanning device (100) of any of claims 1 - 9, wherein the opaque items (130) are attached to the second side (110b) of the transparent base.
  11. 11. The scanning device (100) of any of claims 1 - 10, wherein the opaque items (130) are stickers.
  12. 12. The scanning device (100) of any of claims 1 - 11 , wherein the opaque items (130) comprise a substantially round or squared shape.
  13. 13. A method (300) for imaging a human extremity comprising: providing an imaging device (302) according to any of claims 1 - 12; accommodating the human extremity on the first side of the substantially transparent base (304); scanning (306) and obtaining a 3D image.
  14. 14. The method (300) of claim 13, wherein processing the 3D image comprises removing the opaque items from the obtained image.
  15. 15. The method (300) of claims 13 or 14, further comprising processing the 3D image and obtaining a 3D image comprising substantially only the accommodated human extremity.

Description

A SCANNING DEVICE [0001] The present application claims the benefit of EP23382459.8 filed on May 16th, 2023, 2023. [0002] The present disclosure relates to devices for imaging human extremities, particularly feet. The present disclosure further relates to methods for imaging human extremities using such devices. BACKGROUND [0003] Orthotic insoles are customized to patients with the objective of treating or correcting various diseases or conditions. In order to obtain a customized insole, the morphological parameters of the plantar footprint of the patient may need to be obtained. [0004] Phenolic foams or plaster moulds have been commonly used to obtain moulds of the footprints of patients. However, these techniques require expertise to obtain a mould with the correct parameters, and in addition, they cannot directly provide a digitalized image of the plantar footprint, which can be very useful e.g. to store or manipulate the obtained data. [0005] Different techniques which enable digitalization of data are becoming more and more popular. One way of digitalizing the morphological parameters of the plantar footprint of a patient is via digital scanners which capture the three-dimensional shape of the plantar appearance of human feet e.g. for the purpose of designing customized insoles. [0006] These scanners generally comprise a frame comprising a transparent area and an inner enclosure which comprises three-dimensional imaging means. The transparent area is where a patient would be asked to place a foot, such that a digital image can be obtained. [0007] With these scanners, the morphological parameters of the feet of a patient can be provided directly to a computer. A medical professional can visualize the images and parameters on a suitable display and study them in a comfortable and efficient manner. In addition, programs have been developed in order to modify such parameters and e.g., obtain personalized insoles, which can then be printed and used to treat certain conditions of the patient. [0008] Stereoscopic cameras, also known as three-dimensional (3D) cameras, are able to capture three-dimensional images. These images can then be digitalized and further processed in a computer program. [0009] Stereoscopic cameras can be placed inside the frame of a foot scanner and be used to obtain images of the foot sole. One problem that has been encountered with these cameras is that they use infrared lasers as depth sensors, which cause reflections during the scanning process when the lasers reach the transparent area of the scanner. These reflections lead to inaccurate or defective images of the foot sole. [0010] In order to solve this problem, it is known to use imaging systems using infrared lasers that are not in a fixed position inside the frame. Rather they are installed on moving platforms or chassis which allow them to slide e.g. in a longitudinal direction of the scanner while taking the images. Because multiple images are obtained, the inaccuracies in individual images caused by the infrared lasers can be compensated such that the infrared lasers do not interfere in the quality of the images. [0011] As a result, the scanning process is relatively complex and the cost of three- dimensional imaging scanners tends to be relatively high. [0012] Three-dimensional scanners have been developed which instead of having a transparent area, have silicone membranes, where the foot soles of the patients are accommodated. Since they do not comprise a transparent base, these scanners do not have the problem of reflections. However, with these scanners, the membrane rather than the foot sole, is scanned. [0013] The present disclosure intends to solve at least some of the above-mentioned difficulties. SUMMARY [0014] In a first aspect, a scanning device for imaging a human extremity is provided. The scanning device comprises a substantially transparent base comprising a first side and a second side, the first side being configured to accommodate the human extremity. The scanning device also comprises a stereoscopic camera comprising one or more infrared lasers which are configured to emit a laser beam which hits the second side of the substantially transparent base in one or more incidence points. One or more opaque items are located between the one or more laser beams and the one or more incidence points. [0015] The opaque items prevent the laser beams from directly hitting the second side of the substantially transparent base. When the laser beams hit the substantially transparent base, the laser beam is distorted and the scanning device obtains three- dimensional images with undesired reflections. The one or more opaque items avoid the distortion of the laser beams and therefore enable the obtention of 3D images of morphological parameters of a human extremity of good quality. At the same time, standard, well-known stereoscopic cameras without further modifications may be used, thus simplifying the design and const