CN218391324U - Smartphone dental imaging attachment device - Google Patents

Abstract

A smartphone dental imaging attachment apparatus is provided herein for monitoring a subject's teeth during orthodontic treatment. In particular, described herein is a device with a fixed focal length for coupling to a patient smartphone that includes a built-in lip/cheek retractor. These smartphone dental imaging devices may be configured to interface easily and robustly with a user's smartphone to allow capture of dental images.

Description

Smartphone dental imaging attachment device

Cross Reference to Related Applications

This patent application claims priority from: us provisional patent application No. 63180008, us provisional patent application No. 63212583, us 18, 2021, entitled "smart phone DENTAL IMAGING ATTACHMENT APPARATUS", filed on 26.4.2021, us design patent application No. 29780745, us 29827, us smart phone DENTAL application a SMARTPHONE, filed on 26.4.2021, entitled "smart phone DENTAL IMAGING ATTACHMENT APPARATUS", and us design patent application No. 29827, us 292, us 17, filed on 17.2.2022, entitled "smart phone DENTAL IMAGING ATTACHMENT", each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Incorporation by reference

All publications and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

Technical Field

The application relates to a smartphone dental imaging attachment apparatus.

Background

It is often important to image a patient's teeth before and during orthodontic treatment. Orthodontic procedures typically involve repositioning the individual's teeth to a desired arrangement in order to correct malocclusions and/or improve aesthetics. The treatment plan may include the use of 3D tooth models created from scans or models of the individual's teeth. The 3D tooth model may include, for example, a raw tooth point cloud (points), a tooth mesh (teeth) or a reduced parametric representation of the 3D teeth.

At the beginning and/or during the course of treatment plan delivery, it may be beneficial for the patient (or a caregiver, such as a parent) to take one or more images of the patient's teeth, which may be used to assist in treatment planning or to monitor the treatment plan. It would be particularly helpful to provide a patient or caregiver with one or more ways to take images using a readily available smartphone without the need to use a professional dental camera or imaging system.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

Methods and apparatus are described herein that can provide a low cost and simplified way to take images of a patient's teeth using the patient's own smart phone. These images can be taken in precise locations, automatically retract the patient's lips, and provide imaging enhancements as part of a robust, handheld system. In particular, smartphone dental imaging apparatuses (e.g., systems, devices, etc.) are described herein.

These smartphone dental imaging devices may be configured as a smartphone accessory for taking high quality intraoral images of a patient's dentition at home or a clinic. The accessory-patient interface may be configured to avoid excessive stress within the patient's mouth. These devices provide a convenient patient interface, allow the smartphone to be clipped on, and avoid fogging or smudging of the lens of the smartphone camera. These devices may include or may be used with one or more processing algorithms that may improve image quality. These devices provide high quality blur-free snap imaging. These devices may also use smart phone built-in lights to provide unshaded lighting.

These methods and apparatus may provide techniques (e.g., methods) and apparatus for a patient or caregiver to assist in tracking or monitoring a treatment plan without the use of expensive or complex equipment. For example, methods and devices are described herein that may be used with a personal telephone of a patient or caregiver. In some examples, an accessory or other device may be coupled to a phone of the patient or caregiver; these auxiliary devices may be adapted for use with software, hardware or firmware for assisting in taking images of sufficiently high quality (or guiding a user subject to take images) so that the images can accurately track the patient's teeth in a treatment plan.

Of particular interest herein are methods and apparatus for assisting a subject (e.g., a patient or caregiver (e.g., parents, guardians, etc.), collectively referred to herein as a "user subject") in collecting one or more images of sufficient size and with sufficient information regarding distance from teeth, etc., in order to capture sufficient dentition such that it can be readily analyzed by one or more automated agents (agents, executives), including machine learning agents, other software, etc., and/or human agents (e.g., technicians, dental professionals, etc.). The user subject may be a professional user, although the user subject may be different from the user professional. For example, a professional user may use the methods and/or apparatus described herein on a patient, and thus act as both a user subject and a professional user.

In some examples, a user subject may be instructed to take a plurality of images of a patient's teeth and/or oral cavity using a phone camera coupled with the device. The device can automatically adjust to a variety of different user telephone configurations, and can be robust and simple to use.

In general, the devices described herein are imaging devices that are adapted to couple to virtually any smartphone and have a body that includes a tubular passage and a mouth insert that is configured to be secured in the patient's mouth to hold the device in a predetermined position with the lips retracted so that the teeth can be imaged consistently and reliably. These devices may be specially constructed so that light quality is maintained and so that the apparatus does not fog or obscure the camera on the phone. Further, these devices may be configured to releasably engage with various phone types regardless of the size of the phone or the position of the camera.

In general, the various phones used by the patient may have one or more cameras positioned at different locations on the phone, including but not limited to the corners of the phone. The devices described herein may provide a "universal" adapter configuration that may allow the device to be used with a variety of different phone types, including but not limited to those phones having a camera on the corners and/or near the center of the phone. Accordingly, the devices described herein may be referred to as "generic".

In general, the devices described herein may include a patient interface (e.g., lip retractor portion) that is also configured to have a shape that allows it to be used by a large number of patients without interfering with imaging quality when imaging teeth. The patient interface region is also configured for a large number of patients of different heads and ages. These devices may also include an elongated cylindrical (tube) body region; the tube region separates the patient interface (and hence the patient's teeth) from the camera by a predetermined distance configured to allow clear imaging while separating the lens (es) of the device from the mouthpiece (mouthpiece) to prevent fogging. Further, the columnar body may include one or more vents. The cylindrical body may be tapered. In some examples, the cylindrical body tapers from a narrower base at the smartphone interface region and widens toward the patient interface region. In some examples, the cylindrical body tapers from a wider base at the smartphone interface and narrows towards the patient interface region. The taper may be between 5 degrees and 30 degrees (e.g., between 5 degrees and 20 degrees, etc.).

The base may generally be configured as a smartphone interface area and may be coupled to (or integrally formed with) a clamp, clip, or other releasable attachment mechanism, including a universal accessory, for coupling to a smartphone.

Any of these devices may also be configured to operate with software, including in particular with a smartphone application that may operate the device in coordination to capture one or more images of a patient's mouth (e.g., teeth, gums, gingiva, arch, etc.).

Thus, these devices may thus combine a cheek/lip retractor (generally referred to herein as a cheek retractor) and a phone/camera holder. In some cases, these devices may include two (or more) components, such as a releasable phone attachment portion and an oral component/spacer portion, including a cheek retractor and a tubular body. Application software (e.g., app) may also be part of the system.

In any of these devices, the universal adapter (also referred to herein as a phone accessory) may be a clamp as described above, and may be integrally formed with the patient interface and the tubular body, or may be separate and connectable to the patient interface and the tubular body.

Generally, a universal adapter for releasably coupling to a telephone may be configured as a clip or clamp configured to clamp and secure to the back and sides of the telephone without obstructing or contacting the front of the telephone (e.g., the screen). In some examples, the adapter may have three (or more) operational positions, including a first position in which the adapter is loosely held on the phone, but may be moved around the edge(s) and/or back of the phone to position the tubular body over the one or more cameras, and a second locked position in which the tubular body is locked in place until it is intentionally released. The third unlocked/unattached position allows the adapter and device to be removed from the phone.

For example, the phone accessory may be a clip-on clip that is coupled to the side and/or back of the user's phone. The phone accessory can be clipped and secured to the phone from one side (or sides) and the back of the phone. Typically, the phone accessory and hence the device does not cover the front of the phone, and in particular the screen of the phone. The phone accessory may include three states. In a first state, the telephone accessory may be coupled to the body of the telephone such that the position of the telephone relative to the patient interface and the tubular body may be adjusted. The phone accessory may be loosely coupled to the body of the phone. Alternatively or additionally, the telephone accessory may be coupled to the body of the telephone, but the connection with the patient interface and the tubular body portion may be adjusted. This may allow the device to be finely positioned with respect to the phone body, in particular with respect to the camera(s) of the phone. Subsequently, the device may be transitioned to a fixed configuration in which the patient interface and the tubular body are rigidly coupled to the phone body by the phone accessory. Finally, the device can be detached from the phone body by completely detaching the phone accessory from the phone body.

The opening at the patient interface may be configured to fit comfortably within a variety of patient oral sizes while still maximizing the field of view (field of view) as much as possible. For example, the patient interface may have a maximum outer diameter that is between 75mm and 60mm in the length dimension (e.g., between about 70mm-60 mm) and between about 45mm-30mm in the width dimension (e.g., between about 40mm-35 mm). The patient interface may be generally saddle-shaped.

The length of the tubular body may also be configured to optimize the focal point and field of view. For example, the length of the tubular body from its base interfacing with the telephone to the patient interface may be about 70-95mm (e.g., between about 75 and about 90 mm). Shorter body lengths generally result in a larger field of view, but may be more difficult to focus, while longer body lengths may have a narrower field of view.

The devices described herein may also be generally configured and adapted to avoid or reduce fogging or fouling of the camera by patient breathing. Any of these devices may include one or more passive vent chambers, for example, positioned on the tubular body. In some examples, the tubular body may be more open, e.g., may include one or more windows or openings through the body. However, it may be beneficial to enclose the tubular body to control lighting, prevent shadows, etc. In some examples, the wall(s) of the tubular body may be adapted and configured to reflect light and/or help uniformly illuminate the oral cavity for capturing images. For example, the tubular body may include soft lighting, a reflector (e.g., formed of a light diffusing material such as an opaque polymeric material), and/or a material having a light diffusing texture or coating. In some examples, a portion of the elongated body may be formed of a reflective material. In some examples, the elongated body may include one or more light pipes to help diffuse light within the elongated body to more evenly illuminate the oral cavity (e.g., teeth, gums, etc.).

In some examples, the patient interface (e.g., mouthpiece) and/or the elongated tubular body may be pivotably connected such that images of different angles may be taken relative to the patient's mouth. Alternatively, in some examples, the patient interface, the elongate tubular body, and the telephone accessory may be rigidly coupled together to prevent movement relative to one another.

The patient interface may include a saddle-shaped rim (rim) that extends convexly from the tubular body, which may be configured for placement behind the lips of the user to retract the lips and keep the lips spaced from the rest of the mouth when capturing images. The saddle-shaped patient interface may include a lip or rim region extending 3-8 mm from the elongated body. The rim may be rounded to prevent squeezing or injury to the gums and lips. The rim may have a generally elliptical outer shape and may be curved away from the tubular body so as to conform to the teeth. The curvature (arc) of the patient-facing side of the patient interface may closely mimic the curvature of the patient's dentition (e.g., the gum). The patient interface is typically configured to be easily inserted into and removed from the mouth of the patient.

In some examples, as described above, the patient interface and the elongate body may form part of a device and may be removably coupled to a phone attachment portion. This may allow the patient interface to be cleaned separately, including within a dishwasher or other device.

Although many of the examples described herein may be used without additional lenses or other optical components (other than the elongate tubular body), in some examples, the apparatus may include additional lenses, light sources, and the like. For example, focusing optics may be included. In some examples, one or more illumination sources (e.g., LEDs) may be included.

Also described herein are methods and systems for monitoring the progress of a dental subject during a course of treatment. At any particular point in time during the course of treatment, a model (one or more 2D images, 3D models, etc.) of the expected positions of the subject's teeth at that point in time can be compared to one or more images of the subject's teeth taken during the course of treatment using any of these devices. A camera phone may be used with any of these devices to capture two-dimensional (2D) images of a subject's teeth during a treatment procedure. The 2D image represents the actual position of the subject's teeth at that particular point in the orthodontic treatment.

The monitoring system can compare the input 2D image with the rendered 2D image to determine how closely the actual or current position of the subject's tooth trajectory is to the expected or desired position according to the orthodontic treatment plan.

The subject may use application software (e.g., "app") in conjunction with any of these devices for their handheld device, such as a smartphone. The application software may direct the subject to take the image(s) and may process the image(s), for example, locally using one or more processors in the handheld device or remotely by transferring the image to a remote server.

Other examples OF techniques AND systems that may benefit from the methods AND apparatus described herein may be found, for example, in U.S. patent application No. 16/370,788, entitled "photo-BASED DENTAL TREATMENTS AND PROCEDURES," filed on 29/3/2019, which is a continuation OF U.S. patent application No. 14/831,548, entitled "photo-BASED evaluation OF DENTAL TREATMENTS AND PROCEDURES," filed on 20/8/2015 as published by U.S. patent No. 10,248,883, published on 2/4/2019. The entire contents of each of these applications are incorporated herein by reference.

In general, the methods and devices described herein can be performed at very low cost and complexity for subject at-home monitoring, without the need for a dental practitioner or expensive scanning equipment.

For example, described herein is a system (e.g., a smartphone dental imaging device) comprising: a tubular body having a central lumen extending therethrough from a first end to a second end; a patient interface located on the first end of the tubular body, wherein the patient interface comprises a saddle-shaped mouth region having a rim extending at least partially around a perimeter of the first end of the tubular body and configured to rest between a patient's lips and gums; and a smart phone interface located at the second end of the tubular body, wherein the smart phone interface comprises: a camera opening configured to be placed over a camera of a smartphone; a base projection extending perpendicularly from the tubular body at a second end; and a clip or clamp configured to clamp or grip to one or more sides of the smartphone, the clip or clamp further comprising a plate comprising an array of protruding members extending from the plate and configured to engage the base protrusion against the patient's smartphone.

For example, a system (e.g., a smartphone dental imaging device) may include: a tubular body having a central lumen extending therethrough from a first end to a second end; a patient interface located on the first end of the tubular body, wherein the patient interface comprises a saddle-shaped mouth region having a circular rim extending between 3mm and 10mm around a circumference of the first end of the tubular body and configured to sit between a patient's lips and a gum; and a smart phone interface located at the second end of the tubular body, wherein the smart phone interface comprises: a camera opening into the interior cavity and configured to be placed over a camera of the smartphone; a base projection extending perpendicularly from the tubular body at a second end, the base projection including a plurality of engagement openings; and a clip or clamp configured to clamp or grip to one or more sides of the smartphone, the clip or clamp further comprising a plate comprising an array of protruding members extending from the plate and configured to engage the engagement openings of the base projections.

The tubular body may include a diffusing material configured to diffuse light within the lumen, as described above. The diffusing material may be a coating, or in some examples, the tubular body may be formed of a light diffusing material (such as an opaque and/or translucent material).

In any of the devices (e.g., systems) described herein, the rim may extend as a protruding edge on either end of the first side of the tubular body. For example, the rim may include a pair of sections (flange sections) on opposite sides of the first end that flare outwardly to form a saddle shape. In some examples, a region of the first end of the tubular body between the pair of segments does not include a flange. The region between the flanges that may fit into the mouth (e.g., between the cheeks and the teeth) may be a cut-down region extending away from the first end.

In any of the apparatuses (e.g., systems) described herein, the apparatus can include a frame portion coupled to the second end (e.g., second end region) of the tubular body. The base projection portion of the device may be part of the frame, for example, it may be integral with the frame, or it may be coupled to the frame. The framework may be part of a smartphone interface. The frame can be configured to attach to the tubular body in a variety of configurations such that attaching at a first region near an upper end of the frame (opposite the base projection) can cause the device to have a longer length from the first end to the camera opening, while attaching at a second region at or near a lower end of the frame (e.g., closer to or adjacent the base projection) can cause the device to have a shorter length from the first end to the camera opening. For example, the smartphone interface may include a frame configured to be coupled to the second end of the tubular body to form a camera opening, wherein the base protrusion is integral with or coupled to the frame.

The tubular body may be straight or tapered, for example tapering from a first end to a second end. The tubular body may optionally include one or more vents configured to allow air to pass through but restrict the passage of light from the outside into the lumen.

In some examples, the length of the tubular body extends between 70mm and 95mm (e.g., between 75 and 90mm, etc.). This length may allow the phone camera to be easily used and focused on dentition (e.g., teeth, gums, etc.).

The rim of the patient interface may extend protrudingly from the tubular body. The patient interface may form an opening into the lumen, for example between 50mm and 70mm long (e.g., between 35mm and 50mm wide).

The smartphone interface may include, for example, a gasket surrounding the second end to prevent light from entering the internal cavity between the smartphone and the second end. The gasket may be a compressible material (e.g., silicone, foam, etc.).

The base projection may include a plurality of openings configured to engage with the array of projecting members. The protruding member may be a peg or may include an interlocking portion that may securely engage within the opening. The protruding member may be equally located on the base protrusion and the opening may be equally located on the plate.

In some examples, the clip or clamp may be a clamp formed of two or more parts configured to be secured together to apply compression to the subject's phone.

As mentioned, described herein are devices (including systems) for taking one or more images that adapt a smartphone to take patient dentitions (e.g., teeth, gums, etc.). For example, a system as described herein may include: a tubular body having a central lumen extending therethrough from a first end to a second end; a patient interface on the first end of the tubular body having a rim configured to sit between the patient's lips and gums; and a smart phone interface located at the second end of the tubular body, wherein the smart phone interface comprises: an annular base region forming an opening into the central lumen, the opening configured to be placed over one or more cameras of the smartphone; and a base projection extending parallel to and laterally offset from the annular base region; and a mount configured to clamp or clip to one or more sides of the smartphone to hold the base protrusion against the back of the smartphone, wherein the mount comprises a plate comprising an array of accessories configured to engage complementary accessories on the base protrusion, wherein the annular base region is configured to be suspended above the back of the smartphone when the base protrusion is held against the back of the smartphone by the mount. The annular base region may be suspended between 2mm and 15mm above the back of the smartphone when the base projection is held against the back of the smartphone by the fixture.

In any of these examples, the fixture is hinged to the annular base region and/or the tubular body. The mount may comprise a clamp formed of two or more parts configured to be secured together to apply compression to the subject's phone. In some examples, the fixture includes a clip.

For example, a system may include: a tubular body having a central lumen extending therethrough from a first end to a second end; a patient interface on the first end of the tubular body having a rim configured to sit between the patient's lips and gums; and a smart phone interface located at the second end of the tubular body, wherein the smart phone interface comprises: an annular base region forming an opening into the central lumen, the opening configured to be placed over one or more cameras of the smartphone; and a base projection hinged to the annular base region, the base projection having a folded configuration in which it is parallel to the central lumen of the tubular body and an unfolded configuration in which it extends parallel to the annular base region and is laterally offset from the annular base region; and a mount configured to clamp or clip to one or more sides of the smartphone to be held in an expanded configuration against a back base projection of the smartphone, wherein the mount comprises a plate comprising an array of accessories configured to engage complementary accessories on the base projection, wherein the annular base region is configured to hang over the back of the smartphone when the base projection is held against the back of the smartphone by the mount.

Methods of capturing one or more images of a patient's teeth using any of these devices are also described herein. For example, a method may comprise: attaching a base projection of a smartphone imaging adapter against a back face of a smartphone such that an annular base region forming an opening into a central lumen of a tubular body is positioned over one or more cameras of the smartphone; securing the base tab region to the back of the smartphone by attaching a fastener to the base tab region such that the annular base region is held suspended above the back of the smartphone with a gap of between 2-15 mm between the bottom of the annular base region and the back of the smartphone; and capturing one or more images of the patient's teeth through the central lumen of the tubular body.

All methods and apparatus described herein, in any combination, are contemplated herein and may be used to realize the benefits as described herein.

Drawings

A better understanding of the features and advantages of the methods and apparatus described herein will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description that sets forth illustrative embodiments and the accompanying drawings of which:

fig. 1A shows one example of an imaging device (e.g., a smartphone imaging device) coupled to a smartphone as described herein.

Fig. 1B and 1C show alternative views of the device of fig. 1A.

Fig. 2 illustrates one example of a field of view for one example of a smartphone imaging device as described herein.

Fig. 3 shows an example of a smartphone adapter end of an imaging device as described herein.

Fig. 4 is a side view of one example of an imaging device as described herein.

Fig. 5A-5D illustrate top, bottom, side, and front perspective views, respectively, of one example of a smartphone imaging device as described herein.

Fig. 6 illustrates one example of a phone attachment clip for a device as described herein, including a flexible clip-on base for coupling a tube portion of a smartphone device to a phone.

Fig. 7 shows one example of a phone attachment base for a device as described herein, forming a cradle with a tube attachment pin that can be clipped to a phone on its side.

Figures 8A-8B illustrate one example of a phone attachment edge that may be used with a phone attachment base such as that shown in figure 7. In this example, one or more slide pins and fastening screws (not shown) may be used to secure the base to the rim as shown. Fig. 8A shows a front perspective view, and fig. 8B shows a rear side view.

Fig. 9 shows another example of a device as described herein.

Fig. 10 is an example of an image taken with a device as described herein.

Figure 11 shows an example of a device as described herein that includes a pivoting patient interface region.

Fig. 12 shows an example of a device as described herein, comprising a mirror portion.

13A-13C illustrate another example of a portion of an imaging device as described herein. Fig. 13A shows a front perspective view. Fig. 13B shows a side view. Fig. 13C shows a front view.

Figure 14 shows another example of a fixture similar to that shown in figure 6 with a cylindrical accessory engaging member. The fixture may be part of a system, including a system for dental imaging using a smartphone.

Fig. 15A is an exploded view of a device for dental imaging using a smartphone as described herein. The smart phone shown in fig. 15A does not form part of the system.

Fig. 15B shows one example of the device of fig. 15A assembled on a sample smartphone.

Fig. 16A-16B illustrate adjusting the position of the elongate tubular body such that the opening of the annular base region into the channel of the elongate tubular body is aligned with one or more cameras on the smartphone.

Fig. 17 shows an example of the front of a smartphone having a device such as that shown in fig. 16B attached thereto.

Fig. 18A-18B illustrate another example of a device as described herein, including a mount configured to be secured by clamping to a smartphone without obscuring the smartphone.

Fig. 19A-19B illustrate front and rear views, respectively, of one example of a device as described herein, showing the separation between the base of the elongate tubular body and the back of the smartphone when the device is secured to the smartphone.

Fig. 20A-20D illustrate side perspective, side, front, and bottom views, respectively, of an example of a system as described herein.

Fig. 21A-21B illustrate an example of a device in which a base projection (e.g., a tab or leg) is hinged to an elongated tubular body so that it can be folded relative to the elongated tubular body.

22A-22E illustrate examples of a smartphone imaging device as described herein. 22A-22C illustrate perspective views of a smartphone imaging device; fig. 22D and 22E show exploded views of a smartphone imaging device.

23A-23B illustrate one example of a frame portion of a smartphone imaging device. Fig. 23A shows a top perspective view and fig. 23B shows a bottom perspective view.

24A and 24B illustrate an example of a stationary portion of a smartphone imaging device as described herein; fig. 24A shows an upper left perspective view, and fig. 24B shows an upper right perspective view.

Fig. 25A-25B illustrate top perspective and side views, respectively, of a tube portion of a smartphone imaging device as described herein.

Fig. 26A-26B show top perspective and side views, respectively, of a tube portion of a smartphone imaging device, similar to that shown in fig. 25A-25B, but sized for a child.

Fig. 27A-27B illustrate a smartphone imaging device as described herein having an alternative connection to a frame portion of the device to extend the length of the device.

Detailed Description

Described herein are apparatuses (e.g., systems, computing device-readable media, devices, etc.) and methods for monitoring, analyzing, correcting, and/or tracking the progress of orthodontic treatment of a subject. In particular, described herein is a device for capturing and recording images of a subject's teeth (input 2D images) with a smartphone, which is a smartphone add-on that can adapt to a variety of different smartphones and take high quality color dentition images using the smartphone back camera(s) and flash. The attachment includes all of the features required for imaging buccal (buccal), lingual (lingual) and occlusal images without the need for additional (separate) cheek retractors.

In general, these devices may include a patient interface region configured to remain in the subject's mouth and retract the lips/cheeks and a tubular body region, and a smartphone interface region. The smartphone interface area may be configured as a universal adapter for coupling to smartphones of a variety of different shapes and types without obscuring the smartphone's screen or interfering with controls on the smartphone, including on the side of the smartphone.

The device described herein, which may be referred to as a smartphone attachment, may include a plastic tubular body ("tube") having an approximately elliptical cross-section. One end of the device is configured as a patient interface and is configured to be placed into the mouth of a patient to keep it open enough relative to the interior of the tube to enable buccal, lingual or occlusal imaging of the patient's teeth and/or gums. The second end of the device may be adapted to attach to a smartphone rear camera or to couple as a separate smartphone interface for coupling the tubular body to the camera.

For example, fig. 1A-1C illustrate one example of a smartphone dental imaging device as described herein. In fig. 1A, the apparatus 100 comprises an elongated tubular body 105. In this example, the tubular body tapers slightly from a first end forming the patient interface 103 to a second end forming (or attached to) the smartphone interface 107. In this example, a pair of vents 109 are formed about one third of the way along the tubular body (on the half of the tubular body closer to the patient interface). The vents are formed such that they allow airflow into/out of the tubular body to reduce moisture, but prevent light from entering or exiting the tubular body, which can create shadows.

In fig. 1A, the device 100 forms a patient interface 103 at a first end. The patient interface has a curved shape and includes a rim 113 that is rounded and atraumatic to fit between the patient's lips and their gums, whether the mouth is open (having space between the teeth) or closed (allowing cusps of the upper and lower teeth to coincide). In fig. 1A, the device further comprises a smart phone interface 107 formed at a second end engaged with the clip-on portion 111.

In this example, the clip portion captures the user's smartphone 101 between the first and second clamping portions 115, 117 of the clip area to secure the corners of the smartphone between these portions. The smartphone interface also includes a biasing member 119 (shown as a spring) that can apply a biasing force to press the smartphone between the first and second clamping portions. In this example, the clip portion is configured to have a first portion hinged to a second portion, and a bias on one side of the spring drives the clip closed. The clip-on area also includes a thumb area configured to be pushed to open the clip of the smartphone interface to allow it to be adjusted or removed.

In fig. 1A-1C, the clamp can be formed as part of (e.g., integral with) the end of the tubular body 105. In some examples, the smartphone interface may be removably or releasably coupled to the clip-on area (or other attachment area).

The tubular body of the device may be passive, without secondary optics or electronics. Thus, the device may instead utilize smart phone camera(s) and flash LEDs to acquire video and still images of the patient's dentition. These devices may be configured to be used with virtually any smartphone model by providing adjustability/adaptability to fit a smartphone's back camera cluster. The same tube may be used with different smart phone interfaces (modules) or different smart phone interfaces. In some cases, the smartphone interface may be a universal adapter that may interface with various smartphone configurations. Typically, these devices do not require removal of the phone protective case (e.g., for cases with wall thicknesses up to 1.5 mm).

In use, the device may be attached and detached from the user's smartphone by the user. The user may insert her or his mouth over the patient interface portion and may take images without special user/patient skills. The device may be operated with a single hand. As described above, the device may only minimally block (or not block) the smartphone display during use. Furthermore, the device may avoid obscuring smartphone buttons; in particular, the smartphone interface (e.g., clip-on region, etc.) may avoid blocking or interfering with the smartphone buttons.

The patient interface may be configured to provide minimal discomfort to the patient when the device is used to insert, remove, and take images. For example, fig. 2 shows one example of a mouthpiece portion of an apparatus, which shows an end view of an edge or rim (e.g., a lip) of a mouthpiece portion having exemplary dimensions. Other sizes (e.g., +/-5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, etc.) may be used. In this example, the mouthpiece region may have a length of between about 50mm to about 75mm (e.g., between about 55mm to about 67mm in fig. 2), and a width of between about 35mm to about 55mm (e.g., between about 38mm to about 46mm shown in fig. 2).

When capturing an image, the device may capture a snap image by tilting the device (e.g., the tubular body) up and down. The apparatus may allow for the taking of buccal images by shifting the tubular body side to side around the patient's dentition. The range of adaptability of the apparatus may enable imaging of all angles specified without cropping the dentition image.

The tubular body may be formed as a diffuse white wall for shadow-free imaging. Typically, the device may be configured to withstand a drop or impact without damage (e.g., after dropping from a height of 1 meter onto a hard floor). As mentioned, the entire device (or in some examples, the tubular body and patient interface that may be detached from the smartphone interface portion) may be dishwasher safe and compatible with common household cleaners to allow cleaning/sanitizing.

The smartphone interface end region may be configured with a circumference to attach over the entire rear camera/LED cluster for most smartphones, as depicted in fig. 3. In this example, the smartphone interface region may be formed at an end of the tubular body; fig. 3 shows an exemplary wall thickness (e.g., between about 0.3mm and 2 mm), and may include a gasket 305 around the base of the tubular body wall, which may rest against the phone. The gasket may allow the tubular body to conform to a curved or slightly irregular shaped body to prevent light from entering the tubular body and interfering with the illumination of the teeth/mouth. The end of the tubular body may also be adapted to engage (e.g., releasably engage) with an adapter (such as a clamp) of a smartphone interface.

Fig. 4 shows an example of a side view of one example of the tubular body 105 (including the patient interface 103 region and a pair of vents 109). Fig. 4 also includes a base portion 131, which may be part of the smartphone interface or may be configured to couple with the smartphone interface. The example also includes exemplary dimensions. For example, the tubular body may have a length of between about 70mm and about 95 mm. In the non-limiting example shown in fig. 4, the tubular body has a length of between about 75mm and about 90 mm. Figure 4 also shows the saddle curvature of the patient interface region 103.

Fig. 5A-5D illustrate another example of a device as described herein. In fig. 5A, the device includes a tubular body 505 that is not tapered (as shown in fig. 1-4) but includes a pair of vents 509 and also includes a patient interface region 503. The example shown in fig. 5A-5D also includes a base protrusion 541 of the smartphone interface. The base protrusion 541 extends from a side of the tubular body 505 and may be coupled with a releasable accessory (e.g., a clamp, clip, etc.) coupled to the phone.

In the example shown in fig. 5A-5D, the base protrusion 541 extends perpendicularly from the central axis of the tubular body 505 and includes an array of openings 544 into which releasable attachments may be coupled to secure the device to a phone. For example, fig. 6-8B illustrate an example of a releasable accessory forming an adapter for coupling a tubular body to a patient phone. In fig. 6, the clip 600 shown includes an array of protruding members 647 (also shown as 747 in fig. 7) extending from a plate that will engage with a base protrusion similar to that shown in fig. 5A-5D and provide stable engagement with the tubular body and the rest of the device.

Fig. 7 and 8A-8B illustrate portions of another releasable attachment that may be used with a device similar to that shown in fig. 5A-5D. The first portion 700 shown in fig. 7 may be clipped to the second portion 800 (shown in front and rear perspective views in fig. 8A-8B), may be connected to the base projection from the tubular body and may be clipped over an edge of the smartphone. The two portions 700, 800 may be coupled together by fasteners (e.g., bolts, etc.) that may be manually tightened or loosened. The examples shown in fig. 7 and 8A-8B may be attached on either side of the sides of the smartphone across the back of the smartphone without obscuring the front, and may remain compressed against the side(s) of the phone.

The smartphone dental imaging apparatus described herein (e.g., a smartphone accessory) can typically take high quality intraoral images of a patient's dentition at home or a clinic. The attachment-patient interface is designed to avoid excessive stress in the patient's mouth. In particular, the smartphone dental imaging apparatus described herein provides a convenient patient interface, using a gentle retractor to expand the patient's cheeks, thereby enabling near complete viewing of the patient's mouth. In some examples, as described above in fig. 1A-1C, the device may include a spring-loaded smartphone clip-on portion that may provide easy attachment/detachment of an accessory to the smartphone, whether or not the smartphone is housed in a protective cover. These devices may also avoid phone lens fogging, for example, by including vents (e.g., louvered vents) on the tubular body (such as on the top and/or lower surface of the tubular body) to allow moisture to be expelled from the patient's mouth outside the tubular body, thereby avoiding fog formation on the smartphone lens while blocking external light, which may cause shadows or uneven lighting.

In some examples, these devices may optionally provide relatively high quality, blur-free snap image capture using a tube pivot or mirror attachment that can assist in capturing the snap image. This is illustrated in fig. 11 and 12, which will be described in more detail below.

As mentioned, in any of these examples, unshaded lighting may be achieved using built-in smartphone light. In some examples, the interior of the tubular body may include a white diffuse texture that causes unshaded illumination and minimizes reflections from the teeth. For example, fig. 9 shows another example of a device 900 that includes a tubular body 905 having a pair of vents 909 and a patient interface region. Fig. 10 shows an example of an image of a patient's dentition, taken using a device similar to that shown in fig. 9. The lips and cheeks are retracted by the patient interface area (not shown) so that a virtually unobstructed view can be obtained.

Thus, these devices include a gentle cheek retractor for improved patient comfort and can be easily attached/detached to/from the smartphone. Further, these devices can be coupled to a smartphone without blocking the smartphone screen, and fogging can be prevented. In addition, these devices provide nearly orthogonal snap image capture and shadow-free illumination. The smartphone dental imaging apparatus may be used in the home or clinic. The attachment-patient interface is designed to avoid excessive stress in the patient's mouth.

The tubular body may be equipped with a gentle retractor for expanding the patient's cheeks, a spring-loaded smart phone clip-on mechanism, vents on either side of the tube, a white diffuse texture on the inner tube surface. In some examples, as described above, the device may be configured to pivot, for example, at the tubular body or between the patient interface 1103 (e.g., cheek retractor) and the tubular body, as shown in fig. 11. In this example, the patient interface 1103 includes a pivot point 1141. As shown in the example of fig. 11, the device may be used to capture an image of the side of the dentition (e.g., the right side of the patient) by tilting the tube relative to the patient interface, as shown. Thus, the patient interface end may be pivoted about the long tube cross-sectional axis, allowing the tube and smartphone to be tilted, for example, about 30 degrees or more, relative to the patient's jaw for capturing bite images.

Any of these devices may also or additionally include a flip-in, flip-out fold mirror that may be attached to the first end of the tube, as shown in fig. 12. In this example, a mirror 1239 is coupled to the tubular body, as shown, and the mirror can be held within the patient's mouth to allow imaging of the lingual side or other region of the teeth (and thus the dentition). The mirror may be held by a mirror attachment 1237 that may protrude into the mouth of the patient when the patient interface is secured in the mouth. Thus, these devices may be used to capture a snap image using a tube pivot and/or mirror attachment to provide a snap image.

Furthermore, by taking multiple photographs in a very short time (short burst of time), these methods may include exposing each photograph to a different light intensity and focus. Because the device can hold the dentition in a relatively fixed orientation relative to the phone's camera, the device can further assume that there is no movement of the camera between photographs. Due to different photograph conditions, each pixel between photographs will have different properties in terms of focus and saturation. For each pixel, its best value may be selected from one of the images, and these values may then be blended together. An example of blending may be Poisson blending (Poisson blending). An example of a value selection criterion is to select a pixel from the photograph that is neither saturated (at the pixel) and has the best focus.

Fig. 13A-15B illustrate another example of an imaging device as described herein, similar to that shown in fig. 4 and 5A-5D described above. In fig. 13A-13C, the device is configured to be releasably attached to a smartphone to capture orthodontic images, as described above. In this example, the device includes a tubular body 1305 having a central lumen 1327 extending therethrough (e.g., from a first end to a second end of the tubular body). A patient interface 1313 (e.g., mouthpiece) is formed or attached on the first end of the tubular body. In this example, the patient interface has a saddle-shaped mouth region with a rim extending around the circumference of the first end of the tubular body. As described above, the rim is configured to fit between the patient's lips and the gums.

In this example, the tubular body does not include a vent cover (e.g., 109 in fig. 1A-1C) covering the vent, but instead includes a vent opening 1309 flush with the side of the tubular body. In this example, the tubular body has a wider base region 1307 at the second end than at the first end (at the mouthpiece). The device also includes a smartphone interface at the second end of the tubular body. The smartphone interface forms a camera opening configured to sit over the camera(s) of the smartphone. The smartphone interface also includes a base protrusion 1341 at the base that extends perpendicularly from the tubular body at the second end. In this example, the base protrusion includes one or more appendages 1344 (e.g., an array), shown as attachment openings, disposed across the length and width of the top of the base protrusion. The bottom of the base projection may be smooth and may be configured not to scratch or damage the phone against which it may be placed, as will be described below. In some examples, the base may include a soft and/or non-corrosive material.

Fig. 13B shows a side view of the tubular body portion of the apparatus. In this example, the base projection 1341 extends slightly below the annular base 1307 area of the tubular body when the base projection extends perpendicular to the tubular body, as also shown in fig. 13C. In this example, the offset distance 1355 between the base of the tubular body and the bottom of the base projection 1341 is between about 2mm and about 15mm (e.g., between about 2mm and 12mm, between about 2.5mm and 10mm, between about 2.5mm and about 8mm, between about 3mm and about 6mm, etc.). Thus, when the base projection is mounted to the back of the smartphone, the tubular body may float above the surface of the smartphone.

The tubular body may be integrally formed with the base projection (e.g., as a single component), or it may be formed as a separate component. In some examples, the base projections may be hinged or movable, and in some examples lockably coupled to the tubular body, as described below. Thus, in any of these examples, the smartphone interface may include an annular base region 1307 and a base protrusion 1341. The annular base region may be separate from the base projection, and they may be coupled together.

The base projection may be adjustably coupled to a fixture (e.g., a clip, clamp, etc.) that secures (e.g., clamps or grips) the base projection against the back and/or side(s) of the smartphone to hold the base projection (and thus the tubular body) to the smartphone. In some examples, the position of the tubular body relative to the one or more cameras on the back of the smartphone may be adjusted by adjusting the manner in which the base projection is coupled to the clip.

Figure 14 illustrates an example of a fixture 1400 similar to that shown in figure 6. Fig. 7 and 8A-8B show other examples of the fixing. In this example, the mount includes a plurality of accessory engaging members (shown in this example as a plurality of projections or posts 1447) arranged in an array extending from the mount. The accessory engagement member engages an accessory on the base projection (see, e.g., accessory 1344 in fig. 13A). In the example shown in fig. 14, all of the accessory engaging members extend as cylindrical posts that engage the attachment openings, as described below. The accessory engagement member can have any suitable cross-section, such as cylindrical, rectangular, triangular, plus sign, X-shaped, and the like.

Fig. 15A shows an exploded view of one example of a system including a tubular body 1505 having a base region 1507 at a second end and a base projection 1541. In this example, the tubular body also includes a plurality of vents 1509 through the tubular body near the second end (base) to allow air to flow into the tubular body to prevent fogging of the camera(s) 1537 on the smartphone 1560. A plurality of vents may be included. The vents may be positioned on one side, two sides, three sides, or all four sides of the elongate tubular body. The system also includes a fixture 1501, which in this example is configured as a clip. Fig. 15B shows the system attached to a smartphone 1560, where the bottom surface of the base projection 1541 is held flat against the back side of the smartphone 1560 by a fixture 1501, which includes an array of accessory engagement members (not visible) that engage with attachment openings in the base projection and apply a hold down force against the base projection to hold it securely against the back of the handset, as shown. The applied force is sufficient to keep the elongated tubular body hanging on (and over) the one or more cameras while allowing the user to hold the phone and/or the elongated tubular body with the lip region of the elongated tubular body 1513 remaining in the subject's mouth.

The position of the elongated tubular body 1605 relative to the smartphone, and in particular, above the one or more cameras, may be adjusted by adjusting the coupling of the mount 1601 with the base projection 1647, as shown in fig. 16A-16B for one example of an apparatus for a smartphone. In fig. 16A, a mount 1601, shown as a clip similar to that shown in fig. 14, is engaged with a first portion of the base projection 1647 such that the opening of the elongated tubular body is centered along the midline of the long axis of the back of the smartphone. In this position, only one smartphone camera 1637 is positioned within the elongated tubular body. The base opening of the elongate tubular body may alternatively be fixed such that it is centered over the one or more cameras, as shown in fig. 16B. The camera(s), light sensor(s), and flash are all within the base opening of the elongated tubular body. In both fig. 16A and 16B, the fixture may be coupled to the base projection by a plurality of accessory engagement members on the fixture (e.g., a clamp) engaging attachment openings on the base projection. Alternatively, in any of these examples, the base projection may include an accessory engagement member that may engage with an attachment opening on the fixture. In operation, the elongate tubular body 1605 can be first positioned (and/or centered) over the camera(s) and optical components on the back of the smartphone, and the mount 1601 can then be engaged with and clamped over the base projection 1647. In this way, the base opening of the elongated tubular body 1605 can be positioned virtually anywhere above the back (or in some variations, the front) of the phone.

Fig. 17 shows a front view of the front of the smartphone 1660 of fig. 16B, with the device clipped to the back of the phone. Although the mount variation shown in fig. 14-17 is configured as a clip that attaches to the front side of the smartphone, in some examples, the clip may be configured to grip the sides of the phone without obscuring any front surface of the smartphone, as shown in fig. 18A-18B.

Fig. 18A illustrates a bottom perspective view of another example of a system as described herein, including an elongate tubular body 1805 with which a fixture 1801 configured as a clamp may be engaged. The base protrusion 1841 extends perpendicularly to the elongated tubular body 1805 and forms part of a smartphone interface with the base region (annular base region) 1807. The mount 1801 is formed of two components that may be slidably engaged with one another and may include a mechanism (e.g., a clip, spring, screw, etc.) that secures the two components together and over opposing edges of the smartphone to hold the base protrusion 1841 pressed against the body of the smartphone. The fixture (e.g., clamp 1801) includes an array of protruding members 1847 extending from the fixture and configured to engage engagement openings on the base projections. Fig. 18B shows a side view of the system shown in fig. 18A. In any of these examples described herein, when the system is attached to a smartphone, the annular base region 1807 at the second end of the elongated tubular body 1805 may be separated from the back of the phone, including the region around the perimeter of the camera (or camera component). Alternatively, the elongate tubular body may be suspended above the camera/camera component(s). This may allow the device to be used with a variety of different phones having different configurations. It may also provide ventilation (or additional ventilation) over the camera(s) to prevent fogging of the camera(s). This is shown in fig. 19A and 19B. For example, in fig. 19A, the annular base region 1907 of the elongated tubular body 1905 is suspended over the back face of a smartphone 1960, which includes a slightly protruding camera and optics assembly 1961 of the smartphone 1960. As described above, the base region 1907 of the elongate tubular body 1905 may be separated from the back of the smartphone 1960 by any suitable distance 1955, such as between about 2mm and about 20mm (e.g., between about 2mm and about 15mm, between about 2mm and about 12mm, between about 2.5mm and about 10mm, between about 2mm and about 6mm, etc.). The base protrusion 1941 may be lower than the annular base region 1907 such that when the base protrusion 1941 is clamped against the back of the smartphone by the fixture 1901 (shown as a clip in fig. 19A-19B, similar to the clip shown in fig. 14), the annular base region and the elongated tubular body are suspended above the camera on the back of the smartphone. In any of these devices, the base projections may be referred to as legs or tabs.

Fig. 20A-20D illustrate an apparatus (e.g., system) as described herein similar to that shown in fig. 19A-19B. Fig. 20A shows a perspective view of the device, wherein the fixture 2001 is coupled with a base projection 2041 of the smartphone interface, which is coupled (in this example, integrally formed) with the elongated tubular body 2005. The base of the tubular body proximate the wall includes five vent openings. Fig. 20B, 20C and 20D show right, front and bottom side views, respectively, of the device of fig. 20A.

In some examples, the fixation portion may function as both a clamp and a clip; for example, the fastener may be coupled to a base projection extending from an annular base region of the elongate cylindrical body, and may clamp to the sides as well as the back of the phone, not just the sides or back. For example, the mount may comprise two (or more) parts that move (to clamp/unclamp) relative to each other and a clamping part that may extend at least partially over the front of the phone. In any of the clamp fixtures described herein, the movement of the fixture may be a sliding movement, and may be biased closed, for example by a spring. Alternatively, in some examples, movement may be locked or unlocked by engaging/disengaging a locking member (screw, cam, etc.). One of the two fastener parts may comprise a clamping part.

In some examples, the base projection (or tab or leg) may be hinged relative to the elongate tubular body, and in particular, hinged with respect to the annular base region of the elongated tubular body. This may allow the base projection to fold upwards against the side of the elongate tubular body for compact storage and/or packaging. The base projection may be a rigid member that is hinged such that it can be folded into a compact closed configuration, but can be deployed perpendicular to the elongate tubular body. The base projection may be configured to lock in this perpendicular configuration such that it cannot extend further than the plane of the annular base region, and may (in some examples) remain fixed in this configuration.

For example, fig. 21A shows a portion of the device where the base protrusion (tab) 2141 is hinged 2173 so that it can fold 2171 up against the outside of the elongated tubular body 2105. The hinge may be configured such that it cannot fold down more than parallel to the annular base region 2107. Fig. 21B shows this portion of the device in a folded, folded configuration. In fig. 21B, the base projection 2141 folds up against the elongate tubular body 2105 into a compact configuration that may be more easily packaged and transported. Prior to use, the device may be deployed by folding the base projection 2141 downward so that it is perpendicular to the elongate tubular body 2105 as shown. The base projection may then engage with the mount and remain against the exterior of the smartphone, as described above.

Another example of a device (e.g., a smartphone imaging device) is shown in FIGS. 22A-22E, 23A-23B, 24A-24B, 25A-25B, 26A-26B, and 27A-27B. As shown in fig. 22A-22E, in this example, a device (e.g., system) includes a tubular body 2205 having a central lumen extending therethrough from a first end to a second end. In this example, the tubular body includes a vent 2209. The tubular body is tapered and includes a patient interface on a first end of the tubular body having a raised rim 2213, 2213 'configured to be placed between the patient's lips and gums. In this example, the projecting rim is discontinuous, but extends at an angle relative to the long axis of the tubular body on opposite sides of the first end. The first end also includes two cut-out regions 2283 located on opposite sides of the first end and located between the flanges 2213, 2213'. The second end of the tubular body is connected to a smartphone interface that includes a frame 2258 forming an annular base region that includes an opening into a central lumen configured to sit over one or more cameras of the smartphone. The frame also includes (or is coupled to) a base protrusion 2241 that extends parallel to but laterally offset from the annular base region. The device further includes a fixture 2201 configured to clamp or clip to one or more sides of the smartphone to hold the base protrusion 2241 against the back of the smartphone. The mount 2201 comprises a plate including an array of appendages 2247, the appendages 2247 configured to engage complementary appendages on a base projection (e.g., openings 2344 in fig. 23A). The annular base region is configured to hang over the back of the smartphone when the base projection is held against the back of the smartphone by the fixture.

In fig. 22A-22E, the smartphone interface includes a frame 2258 coupled to the second end of the tubular body to form a camera opening. The base protrusion 2241 is integrally formed with or coupled to the frame 2258. The frame may be coupled to the second end of the tubular body 2205 by one or more connectors 2288. The connector may be a snap-fit or friction-fit connector. In fig. 22A-22E, the connector 2288 on the tubular body is configured to mate with a complementary connector on the frame. For example, the connector 2288 on the tubular body may include a projection (e.g., a tab) that protrudes from the body. The complementary connector 2289 on the frame may include an opening, cavity, or channel into which the protrusion may engage. The arrangement of the connector and the complementary connector (e.g., male/female connector) may be reversed (e.g., female/male). The connection between these connectors is releasable.

As shown in the exploded views of fig. 22D and 22E, the fixture 2201 may comprise a clip or clasp having two or more portions, including a biasing member 2291 (e.g., a spring) that is biased to pull the two L-shaped portions forming the clip or clasp toward each other to hold the phone securely against the base protrusion. When the device is secured to the phone, as described above, the annular base region is suspended above the back of the phone (e.g., between about 2mm-15mm above the back of the smartphone).

Fig. 23A and 23B illustrate an example of a frame 2358 including an integral base protrusion 2341. The base tab also includes an array of openings 2344 into which accessories (e.g., posts 2447) on the clamping portion of the mount 2401 can be coupled to secure the device to a telephone, as shown in fig. 24A-24B. In fig. 24A-24B, the clasp or clamp forming the mount 2401 includes indicia 2369 of a tape flag (e.g., number) that may be visualized through a window 2368 on the base projection to indicate the position of the frame (and thus the tubular body) relative to the clamp (and thus relative to the phone to which it is attached).

Any suitably sized tubular body may be used, including sizes specific to adults or children. For example, fig. 25A-25B illustrate a tubular body 2505 sized to fit an adult, and including raised edge regions 2613, 2613' and an attachment 2588 for attachment to a frame, as described above with reference to fig. 22A-22E. For comparison, fig. 26A-26B show a tubular body 2605 sized for children and including slightly smaller ledge regions 2513, 2513' and an attachment 2688 for attachment to the same sized frame so that both children and adult sized tubes can be used with the same frame and fixture, as described above. The child-sized tubular body is slightly more conical.

The length (focal length) of these devices can be adjusted or selected as shown in fig. 27A and 27B. In this case, the device may have two lengths, a shorter length (fig. 27A) and a longer length (fig. 27B), despite having the same tubular body 2705. The same device may select between these lengths depending on which internal complementary connector within frame 2758 mates with the connector on the tubular body. The longer dimension may be selected by engaging the connector near the end of the frame furthest from the base tab 2741. The shorter dimension may be selected by engaging a connector near the end of the frame closer to the base tab 2741.

In general, the devices described herein may be completely passive, e.g., without any electronics or power supply components. Alternatively, any of these devices may include one or more active components, such as lighting (e.g., LEDs). For example, one or more of visible, fluorescent, UV, near IR, blue, and/or other wavelengths may be provided. Any of these devices may also include one or more optical components, even passive optical components, such as lenses, mirrors, and the like. In some variations, one or more of the inner walls of the elongate tubular body may comprise a mirror to provide a kaleidoscope effect, which provides images at multiple (simultaneous) angles. In some examples, the interior of the elongate tubular body may include one or more targets or calibration marks for calibrating the smartphone camera(s).

In use, in some cases, these devices may be used as part of a method by which a patient takes images of dentition and soft tissue (gums, tongue, cheek) and uploads to a remote site (e.g., cloud, including a remote processor). Subsequently, problems requiring dental tracking, such as plaque, caries, gum recession/inflammation, jagged teeth, bruxism, lesion repair, etc., can be detected using manual (e.g., physician) or automated means (e.g., machine learning algorithms). Generally, these methods and apparatus may be used for dental office records (dental office records).

The apparatus and/or methods described herein may be used to design and manufacture dental appliances, including elastomeric polymeric positioning appliances, which are described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,975,893 and published PCT application WO98/58596, which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. Systems of dental instruments employing the techniques described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,975,893 are commercially available from Align Technology, inc. of Santa Clara, calif. under the trade name Invisalign System.

As used herein, the use of the terms "orthodontic appliance," "appliance," or "dental appliance" are synonymous with the use of the terms "appliance" and "dental appliance" in dental applications. For clarity, examples are described below in the context of use and application of the instrument, more specifically within the context of a "dental instrument".

As used herein, a "subject" (or alternatively and equivalently, an "individual") can be any subject (e.g., human, non-human, adult, pediatric, etc.), and can alternatively be a patient, a subject receiving treatment, etc. The subject may be a medical patient. An individual or subject may include a person receiving orthodontic treatment, including orthodontic treatment with a series of orthodontic appliances.

The apparatus and/or methods (e.g., systems, devices, etc.) described below may be used with and/or integrated into an orthodontic treatment plan. The devices and/or methods described herein may include comparing an image taken with the device to a three-dimensional model, such as a 3D mesh model or a 3D point cloud.

The methods described herein may be performed by a device (such as a data processing system) that may include hardware, software, and/or firmware for performing many of the steps described above.

Thus, any of the methods described herein (including user interfaces) may be implemented as software, hardware, or firmware, and may be described as a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a set of instructions capable of being executed by a processor (e.g., a computer, tablet, smartphone, etc.) that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to control the execution of any steps, including but not limited to: display, communicate with a user, analyze, modify parameters (including timing, frequency, intensity, etc.), determine, alert, etc.

While preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions will now occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. It should be understood that various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention described herein may be employed in practicing the invention. Various different combinations of the embodiments described herein are also possible, and such combinations are also considered part of the present disclosure. Moreover, all features discussed in connection with any of the embodiments herein may be readily adapted for use in other embodiments herein. It is intended that the following claims define the scope of the invention and that methods and structures within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered thereby.

When a feature or element is referred to herein as being "on" another feature or element, it can be directly on the other feature or element, and/or intervening features and/or elements may also be present. In contrast, when a feature or element is referred to as being "directly on" another feature or element, there are no intervening features or elements present. It will also be understood that when a feature or element is referred to as being "connected," "attached" or "coupled" to another feature or element, it can be directly connected, attached or coupled to the other feature or element or intervening features or elements may be present. In contrast, when a feature or element is referred to as being "directly connected," "directly attached," or "directly coupled" to another feature or element, there are no intervening features or elements present. Although described or illustrated with respect to one example, features and elements so described or illustrated may be applied to other examples. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that references to a structure or feature disposed "adjacent" another feature may have portions that overlap or underlie the adjacent feature.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular examples only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. For example, as used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items and may be abbreviated as "/".

Spatially relative terms, such as "below," "lower," "over," "upper," and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element or feature or features as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is inverted, elements described as "below" or "beneath" other elements or features would then be "oriented" above "the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term "below" can include both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. Also, as used herein, the terms "upward," "downward," "vertical," "horizontal," and the like are for explanatory purposes only, unless expressly stated otherwise.

Although the terms "first" and "second" may be used herein to describe various features/elements (including steps), these features/elements should not be limited by these terms unless the context indicates otherwise. These terms may be used to distinguish one feature/element from another feature/element. Thus, a first feature/element discussed below could be termed a second feature/element, and similarly, a second feature/element discussed below could be termed a first feature/element without departing from the teachings of the present invention.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", mean that the various elements may be used in conjunction with the methods and articles (e.g., the elements and devices comprising the apparatus and methods). For example, the term "comprising" will be understood to imply the inclusion of any stated elements or steps but not the exclusion of any other elements or steps.

In general, any devices and/or methods described herein should be understood to be inclusive, but all or a subset of components and/or steps may alternatively be exclusive, and may be represented as "consisting of" or alternatively "consisting essentially of" various components, steps, sub-components, or sub-steps.

As used in this specification and claims, including as used in the examples, unless otherwise expressly specified, all numbers may be read as if prefaced by the word "about" or "approximately", even if the term does not expressly appear. The phrase "about" or "approximately" may be used when describing magnitudes and/or locations to indicate that the described values and/or locations are within a reasonable range of expected values and/or locations. For example, a numerical value can have a value that is +/-0.1% of the value (or range of values), +/-1% of the value (or range of values), +/-2% of the value (or range of values), +/-5% of the value (or range of values), +/-10% of the value (or range of values), and the like. Any numerical value given herein is also to be understood as encompassing or approximating such value, unless the context indicates otherwise. For example, if the value "10" is disclosed, then "about 10" is also disclosed. Any numerical range recited herein is intended to include all sub-ranges subsumed therein. It is also understood that when a value "less than or equal to" the value is disclosed, then a possible range between "greater than or equal to the value" and the value is also disclosed, as would be well understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, if the value "X" is disclosed, "less than or equal to X" and "greater than or equal to X" are also disclosed (e.g., where X is a numerical value). It should also be understood that throughout this application, data is provided in a number of different formats, and that the data represents endpoints and starting points, and ranges for any combination of data points. For example, if a particular data point "10" and a particular data point "15" are disclosed, it is understood that greater than, greater than or equal to, less than or equal to, equal to 10 and 15 are considered disclosed, and between 10 and 15 are considered disclosed. It is also understood that each unit number between two particular unit numbers is also disclosed. For example, if 10 and 15 are disclosed, 11, 12, 13 and 14 are also disclosed.

Although various illustrative examples are described above, any of numerous variations may be made to the various examples without departing from the scope of the invention as described by the claims. For example, the order in which the various described method steps are performed may often be changed in alternative examples, and in other alternative examples, one or more method steps may be skipped altogether. Optional features of various apparatus and system examples may be included in some examples and not in others. Accordingly, the foregoing description is provided primarily for the purpose of illustration and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention as described in the claims.

The examples and illustrations included herein show by way of illustration, and not limitation, specific examples of a single subject matter that may be practiced. As described above, other examples may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. These examples of the inventive subject matter may be referred to herein, individually or collectively, by the term "utility model" merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any single utility model or utility model concept if more than one is in fact disclosed. Thus, although specific examples have been illustrated and described herein, any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific examples shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or examples of various examples. Combinations of the above examples, and other examples not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description.

Claims (38)

1. A smartphone dental imaging attachment device, comprising:

a tubular body having a central lumen extending therethrough from a first end to a second end;

a patient interface located on the first end of the tubular body, wherein the patient interface includes a saddle-shaped mouth region having a rim extending around at least a portion of a perimeter of the first end of the tubular body and configured to rest between a patient's lips and gums; and

a smartphone interface located at the second end of the tubular body, wherein the smartphone interface comprises:

a camera opening configured to be placed over a camera of a smartphone;

a base projection extending perpendicularly from the tubular body at the second end; and

a clip or clamp configured to clip or clamp to one or more sides of the smartphone, the clip or clamp further comprising a plate comprising an array of protruding members extending from the plate and configured to engage the base projection against the smartphone.

2. The smartphone dental imaging attachment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rim includes a pair of segments on opposite sides of the first end, the pair of segments flaring outward to form a saddle shape.

3. A smartphone dental imaging attachment apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein a region of the first end of the tubular body between the pair of segments does not include a flange.

4. The smartphone dental imaging attachment device of claim 1, wherein the smartphone interface includes a frame configured to be coupled to the second end of the tubular body to form the camera opening, wherein the base protrusion is integrally formed with or coupled to the frame.

5. The smartphone dental imaging attachment device of claim 1, wherein the tubular body comprises a diffusive material configured to diffuse light within the lumen.

6. The smartphone dental imaging attachment device of claim 1, wherein the tubular body tapers from the first end to the second end.

7. The smartphone dental imaging attachment device of claim 1, wherein the tubular body includes one or more vents configured to allow air to pass but restrict light from passing externally into the internal cavity.

8. A smartphone dental imaging attachment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the length of the tubular body extends between 70mm and 95 mm.

9. A smartphone dental imaging attachment apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the rim of the patient interface extends protrudingly from the tubular body.

10. A smartphone dental imaging attachment apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the patient interface forms an opening into the internal cavity, the opening being between 50mm and 70mm in length.

11. A smartphone dental imaging attachment apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the opening into the internal cavity is between 35mm and 50mm wide.

12. The smartphone dental imaging attachment device of claim 1, wherein the smartphone interface includes a gasket surrounding the second end to prevent light from entering the internal cavity between the smartphone and the second end.

13. The smartphone dental imaging attachment device of claim 1, wherein the base projection includes a plurality of openings configured to engage with the array of projecting members.

14. The smartphone dental imaging attachment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the clip or clamp comprises a clamp formed of two or more components configured to be secured together to apply compression to the smartphone.

15. A smartphone dental imaging attachment device, comprising:

a tubular body having a central lumen extending therethrough from a first end to a second end;

a patient interface located on the first end of the tubular body, wherein the patient interface comprises a saddle-shaped mouth region having a circular rim extending at least partially along a perimeter around the first end of the tubular body between 3mm and 10mm and configured to sit between a patient's lips and gums; and

a smartphone interface located at the second end of the tubular body, wherein the smartphone interface comprises:

a camera opening into the interior cavity and configured to be placed over a camera of a smartphone;

a base projection extending perpendicularly from the tubular body at the second end, the base projection including a plurality of engagement openings; and

a clip or clamp configured to clamp or pinch to one or more sides of the smartphone, the clip or clamp further comprising a plate comprising an array of protruding members extending from the plate and configured to engage the engagement openings of the base tabs.

16. The smartphone dental imaging attachment device of claim 15, wherein the smartphone interface includes a frame configured to be coupled to the second end of the tubular body to form the camera opening, wherein the base projection is integrally formed with or coupled to the frame.

17. The smartphone dental imaging attachment device of claim 15, wherein the tubular body comprises a diffusive material configured to diffuse light within the internal cavity.

18. The smartphone dental imaging attachment device of claim 15, wherein the tubular body tapers from the first end to the second end.

19. The smartphone dental imaging attachment device of claim 15, wherein the tubular body includes one or more vents configured to allow air to pass through but restrict light from passing externally into the internal cavity.

20. The smartphone dental imaging attachment apparatus of claim 15, wherein the length of the tubular body extends between 70mm and 95 mm.

21. A smartphone dental imaging attachment apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the rim of the patient interface extends protrudingly from the tubular body.

22. The smartphone dental imaging attachment apparatus of claim 15, wherein the patient interface forms an opening into the internal cavity, the opening having a length between 50mm and 70 mm.

23. A smartphone dental imaging attachment apparatus as claimed in claim 22 wherein the opening into the internal cavity is between 35mm and 50mm wide.

24. The smartphone dental imaging attachment device of claim 15, wherein the smartphone interface includes a gasket surrounding the second end to prevent light from entering the internal cavity between the smartphone and the second end.

25. The smartphone dental imaging attachment apparatus of claim 15, wherein the clip or clamp comprises a clamp formed of two or more parts configured to be secured together to apply compression to the smartphone.

26. A smartphone dental imaging attachment device, the smartphone dental imaging attachment device comprising:

a tubular body having a central lumen extending therethrough from a first end to a second end;

a patient interface on the first end of the tubular body having a rim configured to sit between a patient's lips and gums;

a smartphone interface located at the second end of the tubular body, wherein the smartphone interface comprises:

an annular base region forming an opening into the central lumen, the opening configured to be placed over one or more cameras of a smartphone; zxfoom

A base projection extending parallel to and laterally offset from the annular base region; and

a mount configured to clip or clamp to one or more sides of the smartphone to hold the base protrusion against the back of the smartphone, wherein the mount comprises a plate comprising an array of accessories configured to engage complementary accessories on the base protrusion,

wherein the annular base region is configured to hang above the back of the smartphone when the base projection is held against the back of the smartphone by the fixture.

27. The smartphone dental imaging attachment device of claim 26, wherein the smartphone interface includes a frame configured to be coupled to the second end of the tubular body to form the camera opening, wherein the base protrusion is integrally formed with or coupled to the frame.

28. The smartphone dental imaging attachment device of claim 26, wherein the annular base region is suspended between 2mm and 15mm above the back of the smartphone when the base protrusion is held against the back of the smartphone by the fixture.

29. The smartphone dental imaging attachment device of claim 26, wherein the tubular body tapers from the first end to the second end.

30. A smartphone dental imaging attachment apparatus according to claim 26 in which the mount is hinged to the annular base region and/or the tubular body.

31. The smartphone dental imaging attachment device of claim 26, wherein the tubular body includes one or more vents configured to allow air to pass through but restrict light from passing externally into the internal cavity.

32. The smartphone dental imaging attachment apparatus of claim 26, wherein the length of the tubular body extends between 70mm and 95 mm.

33. A smartphone dental imaging attachment apparatus as claimed in claim 26 wherein the rim of the patient interface extends protrudingly from the tubular body.

34. The smartphone dental imaging attachment device of claim 26, wherein the patient interface forms an opening into the internal cavity, the opening having a length between 50mm and 70 mm.

35. The smartphone dental imaging attachment device of claim 26, wherein the base projection includes a plurality of openings configured to engage with the array of accessories.

36. The smartphone dental imaging attachment apparatus of claim 26, wherein the fixture includes a clamp formed from two or more components configured to be secured together to apply compression to the smartphone.

37. The smartphone dental imaging attachment apparatus of claim 26, wherein the fixture comprises a clip.

38. A smartphone dental imaging attachment device, comprising:

a tubular body having a central lumen extending therethrough from a first end to a second end;

a patient interface on the first end of the tubular body having a rim configured to rest between a patient's lips and gums; and

a smartphone interface located at the second end of the tubular body, wherein the smartphone interface comprises:

an annular base region forming an opening into the central lumen, the opening configured to sit over one or more cameras of a smartphone; and

a base projection hinged to the annular base region, the base projection having a folded configuration in which the base projection is parallel to the central lumen of the tubular body and an unfolded configuration in which the base projection extends parallel to and is laterally offset from the annular base region; and

a mount configured to clip or clamp to one or more sides of the smartphone to hold the base protrusion in the deployed configuration against a back of the smartphone, wherein the mount comprises a plate comprising an array of accessories configured to engage complementary accessories on the base protrusion,

wherein the annular base region is configured to float above the back of the smartphone when the base projection is held against the back of the smartphone by the fixture.

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