Digital tomosynthesis systems, methods, and computer readable media for intraoral dental tomosynthesis imaging

US9907520B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · US
• XINTEK, INC. · US

Inventors

• Otto Z. Zhou · Chapel Hill, US
• Jianping Lu · Chapel Hill, US
• Jing Shan · Chapel Hill, US
• Andrew Tucker · Cary, US
• Pavel Chtcheprov · Chapel Hill, US
• Enrique Platin · Cary, US
• André Mol · Chapel Hill, US
• Laurence Rossman Gaalaas · Carrboro, US
• Gongting Wu · Chapel Hill, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 8, 2016
• Grant date: Mar 6, 2018
• Expiry date: Jul 8, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B6/587
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Digital tomosynthesis systems, methods, and computer readable media for intraoral dental tomosynthesis imaging are disclosed. In some aspects, an intraoral tomosynthesis imaging system includes an x-ray source array for positioning outside a mouth of a patient, wherein the x-ray source array contains multiple x-ray focal spots that are spatially distributed on an anode, an area digital x-ray detector for positioning inside the mouth of the patient, a geometry calibration mechanism for connecting the x-ray detector to the x-ray source array, an x-ray collimator for confining x-ray beams to a region of interest, a controller for regulating x-ray radiation and synchronization of the x-ray radiation with the x-ray detector, such that multiple 2D projection images of the ROI are acquired without mechanical motion of the x-ray source array, the x-ray detector, or the mouth of the patient, and a computer program and workstation for 3D tomosynthesis image reconstruction and display.