CephX, Las Vegas, announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted the company its first patent for technology that automates the cephalometric tracing process and enables immediate analysis. The process uses machine learning and AI technology.

The company developed the technology in response to calls from the orthodontic industry which found the annotation of dozens of landmarks of interest in cephalometric radiograph images time-consuming.

The technology automatically detects anatomical landmarks on a cephalometric x-ray image, incorporating this method in a real-time system and process for generating cephalometric analyses. According to the company, the outcome is a full and precise cephalometric analysis within 3 seconds, and includes access to an online cloud-based service which may be used from any mobile or desktop device.

“Our first patent is an important step in our evolving portfolio of patented dental algorithms that are capable of changing the way dentistry will be diagnosed and executed,” said Daniel Abraham, founder and president of CephX. “We are confident that CephX’s expanding intellectual property estate, including this newly issued patent, will make a change in the effectiveness and success associated with orthodontic treatment. This is particularly important as our vision is a world where dental diagnostics, visual treatment suggestions and pathology findings are immediately and seamlessly performed.”

CephX, which was founded in 2001, has partnered with a number of dental imaging manufacturers including Dentsply Sirona, Planmeca, and Cefla.