Method and apparatus for the registration of 3D ear impression models
US8086427B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 7, 2006 |
| Grant date | Dec 27, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 15, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04R2225/77
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method of designing hearing aid molds is disclosed whereby two shapes corresponding to graphical images of ear impressions are registered with each other to facilitate joint processing of the hearing aid design. In a first embodiment, a first graphical representation of a first ear impression is received and a feature, such as the aperture of the ear impression, is identified on that graphical model. A first vector is generated that represents the orientation and shape of that first feature. The three-dimensional translation and rotation of that first vector are determined that are necessary to align the first vector with a second vector representing the orientation and a shape of a feature, once again such as the aperture, of a second ear impression. In another embodiment, this alignment is then refined by minimizing the sum of the distances between points on the first and second graphical representations.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.