Intraoral scanner

Abstract

A method of scanning an oral cavity including: acquiring, using an intraoral scanner (IOS) head, without changing a position of the IOS head, a first image of a first region of interest (ROI) and a second image of a second ROI where the first and the second ROIs are of different portions of a dental arch of the oral cavity and do not overlap; reconstructing depth information for the first and the second ROI; and generating a single model of the dental arch by combing the depth information.

What is currently claimed: 
     
         1 . A method of scanning an oral cavity comprising:
 acquiring, using an intraoral scanner (IOS) head, a first image of a first region of interest (ROI) and a second image of a second ROI, wherein said first and said second ROIs are of different portions of a dental arch of the oral cavity and do not overlap;   reconstructing depth information for said first and said second ROI; and   generating a single model of said dental arch by combing said depth information;   wherein said IOS includes at least one imager and a splitter which splits a field of view (FOV) of said at least one imager into a first FOV for acquiring said first image and a second FOV for acquiring said second image.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said acquiring of said first image and said second image is simultaneous. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising performing further acquisitions of images while moving said IOS. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said IOS includes at least two imagers,   said first FOV is of a first imager, and   said second FOV is of a second imager.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said splitter comprises one or more mirror. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said splitter is part of an attachment connected to said IOS. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said dental arch lacks one or more tooth. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein said dental arch includes one or more tooth abutment. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said first ROI is of a first side of said dental arch and said second ROI is of a second side of said dental arch. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising changing a position of said IOS and repeating said acquiring, said reconstructing and said generating. 
     
     
         11 . An intraoral scanner (IOS) comprising:
 a body comprising a body head;   at least one imager configured to acquire a field of view (FOV);   wherein:   said IOS comprises a splitter which splits said FOV of said at least one imager into a first FOV for acquiring a first image and a second FOV for acquiring a second image, and   said first FOV and said second FOV do not overlap.   
     
     
         12 . The intraoral scanner according to  claim 11 , further comprising a processor configured to receive said first image and said second image and further configured to reconstruct depth information for said first FOV and said second FOV, wherein said processor is further configured for generating a single model by combing said depth information. 
     
     
         13 . The intraoral scanner according to  claim 12 , wherein said processor is further configured for acquiring said first image and said second image simultaneously. 
     
     
         14 . The intraoral scanner according to  claim 11 , wherein said splitter comprises one or more mirror. 
     
     
         15 . The intraoral scanner according to  claim 11 , wherein said splitter is part of an attachment connected to said IOS. 
     
     
         16 . A method of scanning an oral cavity comprising:
 imaging a first ROI using a scanner in a first location;   imaging a second ROI at least 1 cm from said first ROI while said scanner is positioned within 0.1 mm of said first location; and   determining a spatial relation between a feature in said first ROI and a feature in said second ROI, wherein said determining is independent of the position of features between said first ROI and said second ROI.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said imaging of said first ROI and said imaging of said second ROI are performed simultaneously. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said imaging said first ROI and said imaging said second ROI are performed within a time period of less than a frame rate of an imager. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said determining is to an accuracy of within 30 μm. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said determining is without forming an image of an area connect said first ROI and said second ROI.