US6328567B1
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US
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Method, apparatus and system for automated tooth shade analysis and matching
Assignee: Dentech LLC
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Filing: 2000-01-04
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Granted: 2001-12-11
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Expires: 2020-01-04
Abstract
Abstract Methods, apparatuses and systems for tooth shade analysis and matching are disclosed. A method embodiment according to the invention includes acquiring at least one image, the image including one or more teeth of a patient and normalization references, normalizing the at least one image in accordance with the normalization references, determining the color of the teeth as composed of colors from one or more selected shade standards, communicating the standardized color information to a dental laboratory, manufacturing a dental prosthesis based on the standardized color information and installing the dental prosthetic. Normalization is performed to correct patient images for variations in lighting conditions and image source. Normalization references include a black reference, a white reference and at least one color reference. The normalized image is standardized by matching the pixels of the normalized image to selected shade standards. Selected shade standards may include incisal tooth shade standards. The standardized color image and/or analysis may be communicated to a dental laboratory according to aspects of the invention. The dental prosthesis can then be manufactured by a lab technician by referring to the standardized image. Color models according to the invention may include RGB, HSI and other models for representing color images. The methods, apparatuses and systems for tooth shade analysis and matching are also applicable to direct restorations of natural teeth, such as repair of chipped or broken teeth.
Inventors
- 👤 Alan C. Morris
- 👤 Craig A. Mabrito
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 21:07
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C19/00; A61C19/10; G; G01; G01J; G01J3/00; G01J3/02; G01J3/0264; G01J3/46; G01J3/50; G01J3/508; G01J3/52; G01J3/524; G01J3/463
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of effecting a dental repair or replacement, the method comprising: acquiring at least one image of a patient's tooth, said at least one image containing normalization references; normalizing said at least one image in accordance with said normalization references; standardizing said at least one normalized image by matching said at least one normalized image to selected shade standards, according to a selected color model; and producing a restorative modification of said patient's tooth in accordance with said standardized image.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of effecting a dental repair or replacement, the method comprising: acquiring at least one image of a patient's tooth, said at least one image containing normalization references; normalizing said at least one image in accordance with said normalization references; standardizing said at least one normalized image by matching said at least one normalized image to selected shade standards, according to a selected color model; and producing a restorative modification of said patient's tooth in accordance with said standardized image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 , further including acquiring said at least one image containing black and white normalization references.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 2 , further including acquiring said at least one image containing at least one color reference.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein acquiring said at least one image includes acquiring the at least one image using an input device selected from the group consisting of a digital camera, an analog camera, a scanner, an Internet connection, a modem and a computer-readable storage medium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said selected color model is a Red-Green-Blue (RGB) color model.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said selected color model is a Hue Saturation Intensity (HSI) color model.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising converting from one color model to another color model.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said producing said restorative modification of the patient's teeth comprises manufacturing a dental prosthetic.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein acquiring said at least one image, normalizing said at least one image, standardizing said at least one normalized image, and making said dental prosthetic occur in sequential order.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 8 , further comprising comparing average Red, Green, and Blue values of an image of said dental prosthetic with average Red, Green, and Blue values of said standardized image.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending said at least one acquired image to a dental laboratory using a delivery means selected from the group consisting of electronic mail, an Internet connection, a modem-to-modem connection, and a computer-readable storage medium.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said normalizing said at least one image in accordance with said normalization references includes normalizing a look-up table associated with said at least one image.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
92 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein standardizing said at least one normalized image comprises: selecting a standardization sensitivity level; determining a color distance between Red, Green, and Blue values associated with each pixel of said at least one normalized image and each color of said selected shade standards; determining a minimum color distance for each pixel; and for each pixel, when the minimum color distance for the pixel is less than said selected standardization sensitivity level, matching the particular selected shade standard associated with the minimum color distance to the pixel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said selected shade standards includes incisal tooth shade standards.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising mapping pseudo-colors representative of each of said selected shade standards onto said standardized image to form a pseudo-color image.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 15 , further comprising processing said pseudo-color image with an image processing filter to smooth transitions between colors.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said producing said restorative modification of said patient's tooth comprises repairing a broken, chipped or damaged tooth.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising communicating digital images between a dentist office and a dental laboratory where said prosthetic is manufactured.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 18 , wherein said communicating is performed by electronic mail.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising installing said restorative modification in said patient's mouth.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of whitening a patient's teeth, comprising: acquiring at least one pre-whitening image of the patient's teeth containing first normalization references; normalizing said at least one pre-whitening image in accordance with said first normalization references; standardizing said at least one normalized, pre-whitening image by matching said at least one normalized, pre-whitening image to selected shade standards; whitening the patient's teeth; acquiring at least one post-whitening image of the patient's teeth containing second normalization references; normalizing said at least one post-whitening image in accordance with said second normalization references; standardizing said at least one normalized post-whitening image by matching said at least one normalized post-whitening image to selected shade standards; and comparing said at least one standardized pre-whitening image and said at least one standardized post-whitening image.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of whitening a patient's teeth, comprising: acquiring at least one pre-whitening image of the patient's teeth containing first normalization references; normalizing said at least one pre-whitening image in accordance with said first normalization references; standardizing said at least one normalized, pre-whitening image by matching said at least one normalized, pre-whitening image to selected shade standards; whitening the patient's teeth; acquiring at least one post-whitening image of the patient's teeth containing second normalization references; normalizing said at least one post-whitening image in accordance with said second normalization references; standardizing said at least one normalized post-whitening image by matching said at least one normalized post-whitening image to selected shade standards; and comparing said at least one standardized pre-whitening image and said at least one standardized post-whitening image.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein said first normalization references and said second normalization references each include: a black reference, a white reference, and at least one color reference.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of performing image analysis on a patient's teeth, comprising: acquiring at least one image of the patient's teeth containing normalization references including a black reference, a white reference, and at least one color reference; normalizing said at least one image in accordance with said normalization references; and standardizing said at least one normalized image by matching said at least one normalized image to selected shade standards.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of performing image analysis on a patient's teeth, comprising: acquiring at least one image of the patient's teeth containing normalization references including a black reference, a white reference, and at least one color reference; normalizing said at least one image in accordance with said normalization references; and standardizing said at least one normalized image by matching said at least one normalized image to selected shade standards.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
102 words
A computer-readable storage medium containing computer program instructions for causing a computer to operate in accordance with a method for performing image analysis on a patient's teeth, said computer program instructions configured for causing said computer to: acquire at least one image of the patient's teeth said at least one image containing normalization references, said normalization references including a black reference, a white reference, and at least one color reference; normalize said at least one image in accordance with said normalization references; and standardize said at least one normalized image by matching said at least one normalized image to selected shade standards.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
102 words
A computer-readable storage medium containing computer program instructions for causing a computer to operate in accordance with a method for performing image analysis on a patient's teeth, said computer program instructions configured for causing said computer to: acquire at least one image of the patient's teeth said at least one image containing normalization references, said normalization references including a black reference, a white reference, and at least one color reference; normalize said at least one image in accordance with said normalization references; and standardize said at least one normalized image by matching said at least one normalized image to selected shade standards.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
72 words
An apparatus for performing image analysis on a patient's teeth, comprising: an input device for acquiring at least one image of the patient's teeth containing normalization references; and a processor device coupled to the input device, said processor device configured for normalizing said at least one image in accordance with the normalization references contained therein and matching the normalized image to selected shade standards to standardize said at least one normalized image.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
72 words
An apparatus for performing image analysis on a patient's teeth, comprising: an input device for acquiring at least one image of the patient's teeth containing normalization references; and a processor device coupled to the input device, said processor device configured for normalizing said at least one image in accordance with the normalization references contained therein and matching the normalized image to selected shade standards to standardize said at least one normalized image.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein said normalization references include: a black reference; a white reference; and at least one color reference.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the input device is selected from a group comprising a digital camera, an analog camera, a scanner, an Internet connection, a modem and a computer-readable storage medium.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein said processor device comprises a digital signal processor.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 25 , further comprising an output device for displaying information related to the image analysis.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
98 words
The apparatus of claim 25 , further comprising a memory device in communication with said processor device for storing a computer program implementing a method of effecting a dental repair or replacement, said method comprising: acquiring an image of a patient's tooth using said input device said image containing said normalization references; normalizing said image in accordance with said normalization references; standardizing said normalized image by matching said normalized image to selected shade standards, wherein said shade standards include incisal tooth shade standards; and producing a restorative modification of said patient's tooth in accordance with said standardized image.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
110 words
An electronic system for performing image analysis of a patient's teeth, the electronic system comprising: an input device for acquiring an image of said patient's teeth said image containing normalization references; a processor device coupled to said input device for performing image analysis on said image in accordance with a method of tooth shade matching; a memory device coupled to said processor device for storing a computer program implementing said method of tooth shade matching; an output device coupled to said processor device for displaying results of the image analysis responsive to said method of tooth shade matching; and a storage device coupled to said processor device for storing data.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
110 words
An electronic system for performing image analysis of a patient's teeth, the electronic system comprising: an input device for acquiring an image of said patient's teeth said image containing normalization references; a processor device coupled to said input device for performing image analysis on said image in accordance with a method of tooth shade matching; a memory device coupled to said processor device for storing a computer program implementing said method of tooth shade matching; an output device coupled to said processor device for displaying results of the image analysis responsive to said method of tooth shade matching; and a storage device coupled to said processor device for storing data.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electronic system of claim 31 , wherein the processor device comprises a computer system.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electronic system of claim 31 , wherein the processor device comprises a digital signal processor.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electronic system of claim 31 , wherein said normalization references include: a black reference; a white reference; and at least one color reference.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
78 words
The electronic system of claim 31 , wherein said method of tooth shade matching includes: acquiring an image of a patient's tooth from said input device said image containing said normalization references; normalizing said image in accordance with said normalization references; standardizing said normalized image by matching said normalized image to selected shade standards, wherein said shade standards include incisal tooth shade standards; and producing a restorative modification of said patient's tooth in accordance with said standardized image.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-12-10 | 2005-06-11 | 2005-12-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-12-10 | 2009-06-11 | 2009-12-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-12-10 | 2013-06-11 | 2013-12-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |