Three-dimensional reconstruction of the temporomandibular joint using CT images with a new device

本研究的目的是建立一种颞下颌关节三维重建的方法来分析髁突的位置，我们开发了一种新的设备（CT设备），以匹配一个平面的咬合髁突的三维重建。对正常人颞下颌关节最大牙尖交错位的CT轴位图像进行三维重建。髁状突图像和窝图像分别由大约8000点和大约15000点组成。以下颌窝与髁突之间的距离为单位，每隔1 mm测量0- 5 mm的距离，并将各距离的分布区域叠加在可视化图像中重建的髁突上，评价髁突的三维位置。结果表明，髁状突位于两侧下颌窝的中心位置，颞下颌关节三维重建方法可用于髁状突功能位置的检测。

The aim of this study was to establish the method for analyzing the three-dimensional condylar position using a reconstruction method of the temporomandibular joint.We developed a new device (CT-device) to match a three-dimensional reconstruction of the condyle with a plane of occlusion. Three-dimension reconstructions of the temporomandibular joint osseous components in normal subjects were made from the corrected axial CT images at maximum intercuspation. A condyle image and a fossa image were composed of approximately 8000 points and approximately 15000 points respectively. The three-dimensional condylar position was evaluated with the distribution of the distance between the mandibular fossa and the mandibular condyle at 1mm intervals for a distance of 0-5mm.The distribution areas of all distances were superimposed on the reconstruction of the mandibular condyle in the visual images. The distribution of all distances indicated that the mandibular condyles are located centrally in mandibular fossas at both sides.It is concluded that our new evaluation method of the three-dimensional condylar position using the reconstruction method of temporomandibular joint is useful to examine functional condylar position clinically.