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Image based orthodontic treatment viewing systemRelated Patent Categories: Dentistry, Prosthodontics, Preliminary Casting, Model, Or Trial DentureImage based orthodontic treatment viewing system description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060127852, Image based orthodontic treatment viewing system. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] The present invention relates to techniques for generating three dimensional (3D) graphics for orthodontic treatment. [0002] Conventionally, a 3D modeling and rendering process is used for representing different views of a 3D scene. The usual steps in constructing a 3D model include: loading an image or previous saved work; displaying the image; identifying one or more object features in the image; finding the object features in 3D space; displaying a model of object features in 3D space; measuring lengths, distances and angles of the objects; and saving the work. These steps can be repeated until satisfactory results are obtained. This process requires a great deal of user interaction and is time-consuming. The user has to construct detailed models (e.g., polygon or wire frame) of the objects appearing in an image. [0003] Once 3D models are obtained, the models may be animated by varying them and displaying the varied models at a predetermined frame rate. However, it is difficult to manipulate computer graphics representations of three-dimensional models, for example to rotate the object or "fly through" a scene. If many objects need to be displayed, or many surface textures need to be filled, the time required to compute new views can be prohibitive. The conventional 3D rendering process is thus compute intensive and also the rendering time depends on the complexity of the visible part of the scene. [0004] On another note, in many graphics applications, a special effect operation known as "warping" or "morphing" is used to gradually transform one image into another image. This is accomplished by creating a smooth transitional link between the two images. Some computer programs, for example, use warping to generate an animation sequence using the image transformations. Such an animation might, for example, show a first person's face transforming into a second person's face. [0005] The warping process preserves features associated with each image by mapping the features from a source image to corresponding features in a destination image. In particular, mesh warping warps a first image into a second image using a point-to-point mapping from the first image to the second image. A first lattice (mesh) is superimposed on the first image and second lattice is superimposed on the second image. For each point in the first lattice, a one-to-one correspondence with a corresponding point in the second lattice is defined. Mesh warping is generally described in George Wolberg, Digital Image Warping, IEEE Computer Society Press (1990). Variations on mesh warping include a version in which the user specifies lines on the first image corresponding to lines on the second image. [0006] Morphing is a name for animation sequences which display gradual transformation. This concept has been used for transformations of 2 D images, 3 D polygons, and voxels. The morphing operation changes one picture to another by creating a smooth transitional link between the two pictures. The process preserves features associated with each image by mapping the features from a source image to corresponding features in a destination image. Morphing couples image warping with color interpolation. Image warping applies two dimensional geometric transformations on images to align their features geometrically, while color interpolation blends their colors. In this way, a seamless transition from one picture to another is achieved. [0007] U.S. Pat. No. 6,268,846 discloses a computer-implemented method that generates a new view of a three-dimensional scene by receiving three or more pictures representing three or more different view points on a plane, each picture taken from a viewing direction perpendicular to the plane; selecting a new point on the plane; and generating the new view of the three dimensional scene from the new point by morphing among the three or more pictures. [0008] U.S. Pat. No. 6,573,889 discloses a computer-implemented system that performs a conformal warp operation using a unique warping function to map a first area to a second area. The first area is defined by a first enclosing contour and the second area is defined by a second enclosing contour. The system defines the first enclosing contour; modifies the first enclosing contour into the second enclosing contour; generates an analytic function to conformally warp the first area into the second area; and performs the conformal warp using the analytic function. The system does not require the user to define mappings from individual points within the fist contour to individual points within the second contour. Rather, the user needs to only specify the first and second contours and correspondences between them. This increases the ease of use with which the user can define a mapping between the first and second images and also allows for a more uniform warping which preserves angles. SUMMARY [0009] Systems and methods are disclosed for visualizing changes in a three dimensional (3D) model by receiving an initial 3D model for the patient; determining a target 3D model; and generating one or more intermediate 3D models by morphing one or more of the 3D models. [0010] In one embodiment, 3D geometry information is used to morph an untreated photograph of a patient into a photo realistic rendering of post-treatment view(s) of a patient's teeth, face or organ based and predicted 3D geometry after treatment. [0011] Advantages of the system include one or more of the following. The system enables patients/doctors/dentists to be able to look at photorealistic rendering of the patient as they would appear to be after treatment. In case of orthodontics for example, a patient will be able to see what kind of smile he or she would have after treatment. The system uses 3D morphing, which is an improvement over 2 D morphing since true 3D models are generated for all intermediate models. The resulting 3D intermediate object can be processed with an environmental model such as lighting, color, texture etc to realistically render the intermediate stage. Camera viewpoints can be changed and the 3D models can render the intermediate object from any angle. The system permits the user to generate any desired 3D view, if provided with a small number of appropriately chosen starting images. The system avoids the need for 3D shape modeling. System performance is enhanced because the morphing process requires less memory space, disk space and processing power than the 3D shape modeling process. The resulting 3D images are lifelike and visually convincing because they are derived from images and not from geometric models. The system thus provides a powerful and lasting impression, engages audiences and creates a sense of reality and credibility. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0012] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary visualization process for 3D animation using morphing. [0013] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary process for 3D morphing in the 3D visualization process of FIG. 1. [0014] FIG. 3 shows a system for visualizing 3D animation. [0015] FIG. 4 shows exemplary teeth before morphing. [0016] FIG. 5 shows an exemplary display of teeth after the 3D morphing process. DESCRIPTION [0017] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary process that uses 3D geometry information to morph an untreated photograph of a patient into a photo realistic rendering of post-treatment view(s) of a patient's teeth, face or organ based and predicted 3D geometry after treatment. [0018] The process of FIG. 1 first receives a 3 D face model for the patient and extracts environment information from the model (10). Next, a Virtual Treatment is designed (12). The process then predicts and generates a Post-Treatment 3D Model/Environment using 3 D Morphing and previously generated Information (14). A photo realistic image is then rendered (16), and the predicted Post-Treatment Photo can be viewed (18). [0019] In the virtual treatment design (12), the system generates or otherwise obtains one or more treatment plans specifying the treatment process in which the teeth are moved in order to perform the orthodontic treatment. The input to this process is the 3D geometry of the patient's jaw and/or teeth. In this process, a computer or computer operators design treatments for the patient. This treatment results in a predicted shape/position for the jaw and teeth in it after the orthodontic treatment has been applied. [0020] In the predicting and generating the 3D Post-Treatment Model/Environment (14), the Treatment Design is combined with the 3 D Teeth/Face Model with texture, environment, shadow, shading information in order to predict the 3D Post Treatment Teeth/Jaw and/or face model which will include the changes in the 3D Geometry Position Texture Environment Shading and Shadow of the face. [0021] Certain treatment design information such as how the teeth move during the orthodontic treatment and changes in the tooth movement can be used with the database on faces and teeth to determine how changes in a particular tooth position results in changes in the jaw and facial model. Since all data at this stage is 3 D data, the system can compute the impact of any tooth movement using true 3 D morphing of the facial model based on the prior knowledge of teeth and facial bone and tissue. In this manner, movements in the jaw/teeth result in changes to the 3D model of the teeth and face. Techniques such as collision computation between the jaw and the facial bone and tissue are used to calculate deformations on the face. The information is then combined with curves and surfaces based smoothing algorithms specialized for the 3D models and the database containing prior knowledge of faces to simulate the changes to the overall face due to localized changes in tooth position. The gradual changes in the teeth/face are visualized and computed using true 3D morphing. Continue reading about Image based orthodontic treatment viewing system... Full patent description for Image based orthodontic treatment viewing system Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Image based orthodontic treatment viewing system patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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