Align Technology, Inc.
INTRAORAL SCANNER WITH DEFOGGING ELEMENT

Abstract:

An intraoral scanner comprises an optical element for transmission of optical signals and a primary housing that houses the optical element, the primary housing comprising a head configured for insertion into a patient oral cavity, the head of the primary housing defining an aperture for transmission of the optical signals, wherein the primary housing comprises a longitudinal axis, and wherein a vector normal to a plane defined by the aperture is at a right angle or an acute angle to the longitudinal axis. The intraoral scanner further comprises a defogging element coupled to the primary housing, the defogging element comprising a transparent substrate aligned with the aperture, at least one side of the transparent substrate facing an external environment, and a transparent conductive layer on a surface of the transparent substrate, wherein responsive to application of electrical power to the transparent conductive layer, the transparent conductive layer generates heat.