US-12616434-B2 - Sensor holder and method for optimum positioning during intraoral imaging

Abstract

A method for determining the optimum relative position of at least one sensor and/or at least one imaging source of an imaging device for at least one intraoral imaging, and for the non-overlapping imaging of at least two tooth root canals. The disclosure also relates to a sensor holder ( 1 ) for intraoral imaging including at least one biting device ( 2 ) that is insertable into the mouth of a patient, at least one holding device ( 3 ) at least indirectly engaged with the biting device ( 2 ) for fixing at least one sensor, and at least one centering device ( 4 ) for aligning at least one imaging device. The centering device ( 4 ) is at least indirectly in operative connection with the biting device ( 2 ) via at least one centering device holding portion ( 5 ).

Inventors

• Wolf BLECHER

Assignees

• DENTSPLY SIRONA INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20201127

Priority Date

20191128

Claims (9)

1. 1 . A computer-implemented method for determining the optimum relative position of at least one sensor or at least one imaging source of an imaging device for at least one intraoral imaging, and for the non-overlapping imaging of at least two tooth root canals, the method comprises: a) evaluating at least one digital image of a patient; b) computing an optimum position of the sensor and the imaging source based on the evaluation mentioned under a); and c) manually, semi-automatically or automatically adjusting, by at least one actuator, the optimum position or the optimum angle of the sensor or the imaging source, relative to at least one predetermined position of the patient, by at least one sensor holder, wherein the evaluating comprises an evaluation of a digital recording, namely a volumetric tomography (DVT) imaging, which comprises the simulation of a projection of at least one virtual sensor or at least one virtual imaging source from at least two different angles or positions for the imaging, or DVT imaging of the intraoral anatomy of the patient, wherein, the simulation is carried out several times, and wherein an optimum angle or the optimum position is computed so that overlapping of the root canals is minimized, and largely avoided, and wherein, to enable automatic positioning, for receiving or for displaying the positioning enabling data, the sensor holder is provided with at least one actuator, at least one motor receiver selected from the group consisting of Bluetooth, RFID, NFC or a combination thereof, or a scale, of the sensor holder.
2. 2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the intraoral anatomy comprises at least one position or aligning of at least two teeth, at least two root canals, at least one area of the soft tissue of the patient.
3. 3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one intraoral imaging of at least one patient is generated.
4. 4 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein, at least one intraoral imaging is produced after adjustment of the optimum position of the sensor or the imaging source.
5. 5 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein a positioning of a holding device of the sensor holder and a centering means holding portion is carried out manually, semi-automatically or automatically, and wherein for enabling a manual adjustment of the positioning, for receiving or displaying data supporting the positioning, the sensor holder is provided with at least one receiver selected from the group consisting of Bluetooth, RFID, NFC or a combination of these, or the scale.
6. 6 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein irradiation by the imaging device is directed to an active or sensitive sensor surface of the sensor, wherein radiation of the imaging device is at least partially stopped or attenuated by a centering means.
7. 7 . A data processing unit comprising at least one processor configured to perform the steps of the method according to claim 1 .
8. 8 . Computer program comprising instructions which when executed a data processing unit causes the data processing unit to perform the steps according to claim 1 .
9. 9 . A non-transitory computer readable media storing instructions which when executed by a computer system causes the computer system to perform the steps of claim 1 .

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This is a National Phase application of International Application No. PCT/EP2020/083691, filed Nov. 27, 2020, which claims the benefit of and priority to European Application Ser. No. 19212176.2, filed on Nov. 28, 2019, which are herein incorporated by reference for all purposes. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a sensor holder for intraoral imaging, its use in a method for intraoral imaging, a method for determining an optimum positioning in intraoral imaging and a method for producing such imaging. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Following endodontic treatment, an intraoral control scan is usually performed to verify that all root canals have been successfully treated. For this purpose, it is necessary to capture each root canal without overlap by other root canals. Due to the anatomical situation, however, it is often difficult to align the imaging device and the sensor (for example, detectors such as a film or a phosphor plate) at the correct angle, so that all root canals may be imaged without overlapping and with a single image. Usually, one attempts to estimate the angle by means of a so-called eccentric X-ray, and thus avoid the problem of root canal overlapping. Alternatively, multiple images may be taken from different angles in order to capture each root canal at least once without overlapping. There are numerous variations in the prior art how the position of the imaging device and the sensor may be optimized or aligned relative to each other. EP 3 066 984, EP 2 568 882, WO 2011/141763 and WO 2007/149402, for example, describe sensors and/or transmitters on the sensor and the imaging device in order to avoid the application of radiation that does not reach the sensor. In US 2014/0086389 or US 2016/0038105 the problem of additional irradiation is solved, for example, by means of diaphragms on the positioning units. EP 2 083 697 describes a sensor holder whose beam holder may be rotationally changed but without a reliable description of the corresponding angle through which it should rotate. US 2013/0162645 describes the projection of individual teeth from a 3D volume, without establishing a connection between the positioning of the imaging device and the sensor. U.S. Pat. No. 8,670,521 describes a tomosynthesis method in which different positions between the imaging device and the sensor are used to calculate a pseudo-3D representation. This results in the subsequent possibility of distinguishing the root canals, but requires more than a single image. However, none of the above methods describes a reliable positioning of the sensor and the imaging device to ensure non-overlapping imaging of all root canals without having to make an undesirable number of images. Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to provide a sensor holder and corresponding methods for intraoral imaging, which overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and provide a solution in which non-overlapping imaging, for example of the root canals, is made possible without increased radiation exposure. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above mentioned objectives of the present invention have been achieved through the computer-implemented method as defined in claim 1. The dependent claims define further developments and preferred embodiments of the present invention. According to a first aspect of the invention, the present invention provides a sensor holder for intraoral imaging, which comprises at least one biting device that is insertable into the mouth of a patient, at least one holding device that is at least indirectly in operative connection with the biting device for fixing at least one sensor, and at least one centering means for aligning at least one imaging device, wherein the centering means is at least indirectly operatively connected with the biting device via at least one centering means holding portion, further wherein the centering means holding portion is designed such that positioning of the holding device relative to the centering means with respect to angle and/or distance is continuously variable. The sensor holder according to the invention thus makes it possible to achieve flexible adjustment to enable intraoral imaging in an optimum manner. The principle of the sensor holder according to the invention is that a radiation source (i.e. an imaging source of an imaging system) is located outside the mouth while a sensor positioned in the patient's mouth is placed behind the tooth in the beam path, wherein the beam of the radiation source hits the sensor and thus an image of the tooth or certain parts thereof may be obtained. The radiation source is thereby aligned with a centering means located outside of the mouth. The parameters for the flexible adjustment of the sensor holder, i.e. the position of the holding device with respect to the centering means, are determined by a previously performed analysis method, in particular software-supported. Ex