David A Tasman

US Patent:

20020028418, Mar 7, 2002

Filed:

Apr 26, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/842587

Inventors:

Aly Farag - Louisville KY, US
David Tasman - Louisville KY, US
Sameh Yamany - Weston FL, US

Assignee:

University of Louisville Research Foundation, Inc.

International Classification:

A61C003/00
A61C011/00

US Classification:

433/029000, 433/213000

Abstract:

Systems and methods are provided through which a model-based vision system for dentistry which assists in diagnosis, treatment planning and surgical simulation. The present invention includes an integrated computer vision system that constructs a three-dimensional (3-D) model of the patient's dental occlusion using an intra-oral video camera. A modified shape from shading technique, using perspective projection and camera calibration, extracts the 3-D information from a sequence of two-dimensional images of the jaw. Data fusion of range data and 3-D registration techniques develop a complete 3-D digital jaw model. Triangulation of the 3-D digital model is then performed, and optionally, a solid 3-D model is reconstructed.