Automatic image capture based upon intra-oral image alignment

Abstract

Systems and methods are presented for assisting in providing consistent alignment of a handheld intra-oral imaging device for a series of images. Live image data of the patient is received from the intra-oral image capture device and displayed on the display. A previously stored intra-oral image of the patient is accessed from the non-transitory memory and an alignment mask is generated based on the accessed previously stored intra-oral image. The system determines whether the live image data is aligned with the alignment mask. The system then automatically captures a new intra-oral image of the patient from the live image data in response to determining that the live image data is aligned with the alignment mask and stores the new intra-oral image to the non-transitory memory, displays the new intra-oral image on the display, or both.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An intra-oral imaging system comprising:
 a manually-positionable, intra-oral image capture device;   a display;   a processor coupled to the intra-oral image capture device and the display; and
 a non-transitory memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the intra-oral imaging system to 
 receive live image data of a patient from the intra-oral image capture device, 
 access a previously stored intra-oral image of the patient from the non-transitory memory, 
 generate an alignment mask based on the previously stored intra-oral image, 
 determine whether the live image data is aligned with the alignment mask, 
 automatically capture a new intra-oral image of the patient from the live image data in response to determining that the live image data is aligned with the alignment mask, and 
 store the new intra-oral image to the non-transitory memory, display the new intra-oral image on the display, or both. 
   
     
     
         2 . The intra-oral imaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the system to apply an edge-finding routine to generate a first outline of at least a portion of a tooth in the previously stored intra-oral image of the patient. 
     
     
         3 . The intra-oral imaging system of  claim 2 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the system to generate the alignment mask based on the first outline. 
     
     
         4 . The intra-oral imaging system of  claim 3 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the system to apply the edge-finding routine to generate a second outline of at least a portion of a tooth in the live image data, and cause the system to determine whether the live image data is aligned with the alignment mask by determining whether the first outline matches the second outline. 
     
     
         5 . A method of aiding alignment of a manually-positionable, intra-oral image capture device, the method comprising:
 receiving live image data of a patient from the intra-oral image capture device,   accessing a previously stored intra-oral image of the patient from a non-transitory memory,   automatically generating, with a computer system, an alignment mask based on the previously stored intra-oral image,   determining, with the computer system, whether the live image data is aligned with the alignment mask,   automatically capturing, with the computer system, a new intra-oral image of the patient from the live image data in response to determining that the live image data is aligned with the alignment mask, and   storing the new intra-oral image to the non-transitory memory.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising generating a first outline of at least a portion of a tooth in the previously stored intra-oral image of the patient by applying an edge-finding routine. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein generating the alignment mask based on the previously stored intra-oral image includes generating the alignment mask based on the first outline. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising applying the edge-finding routine to generate a second outline of at least a portion of a tooth in the live image data, and wherein determining whether the live image data is aligned with the alignment mask includes determining whether the first outline matches the second outline. 
     
     
         9 . An intra-oral imaging system comprising:
 a manually-positionable, hand-held infrared intra-oral image capture device, the intra-oral image capture device configured to project infrared light onto a tooth and capture an image of at least a portion of the tooth illuminated with the projected infrared light;   a display;   a processor; and   a non-transitory memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the intra-oral imaging system to   receive live image data of the patient from the intra-oral image capture device,   access a previously stored intra-oral image of the patient from the non-transitory memory,   apply an edge-finding routine to generate a first outline of at least a portion of a tooth in the previously stored intra-oral image of the patient,   apply the edge-finding routine to generate a second outline of at least a portion of a tooth in the live image data,   determine whether the first outline matches the second outline, and   automatically capture a new intra-oral image of the patient from the live image data in response to determining that the first outline matches the second outline.