NVision Helps Orthodontic Company Recalibrate CT Scanner

The use of CT scans in orthodontics has increased in recent years, primarily because such scans can provide practitioners with an enhanced view of a patient's facial anatomy. Unlike traditional 2D X-rays, CT scans provide a three-dimensional image of the patient's skull, teeth, roots, and jaw that can be viewed from all angles, providing extra information that can't be obtained soley with X-rays. This information can aid orthodontists and oral surgeons in diagnosing problems and planning treatment.

The orthodontic company needed a high-precision 3D scan of the skull to compare to measurement results obtained from its own cone-beam CT scanner. They sent NVision the skull and engineers began scanning it with NVision's HandHeld laser scanner.

The NVision Handheld scanner is a powerful portable scanning device that is capable of capturing 3D geometry from objects of almost any size or shape. The scanner is attached to a mechanical arm that moves about the object, freeing the user to capture data rapidly with a high degree of resolution and accuracy. An optional tripod provides complete portability in the field. Intuitive software allows full model editing, polygon reduction, and data output to all standard CAD packages.

Our scan of the skull confirmed that the orthodontic company's CT machine, although only 1/1000 of an inch off in its measurements, was in need of some recalibration, says Colin Ellis, Engineering Manager at NVision. The company subsequently used our skull measurements as its key tool in the recalibration process.