Real-Time, Noninvasive Recording And Three-Dimensional Display Of The Functional Movements Of An Arbitrary Mandible Point
F. Mesqui, F. Kaeser, Peter Fischer · Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE · 1986
The monitoring of the motion of an arbitrary mandibular point is essential in dentistry in order to extract from typical motion patterns relevant parameters indicating normal or abnormal masticatory function. After first experiences of nonrestrictive jaw motion quantification with the help of a Selspot I we designed a new real-time optoelectronic system. The recording system includes three cameras. Each camera contains a cylindrical lens and a linear optosensor (CCD). Two extra-oral lightweight target frames (2g) containing each three light emitting diodes are fixed on the patients's teeth. The system fires each LED cyclically and computes their three-dimensional coordinates in a reconstruction unit. From these coordinates another processing unit computes the three-dimensional coordinates of an arbitrary jaw point in a head fixed coordinate system. The computed trajectories are drawn on-line with the help of a dedicated 3D viewing hardware on a CRT where they can be directly rotated and zoomed to follow intricate motion details. The system is easy to handle, low-cost, stand-alone, has an excellent linearity and a resolution better than 0.1 mm.