Low emmission full mouth xray apparatus

Abstract

The apparatus the present invention provides the ability to take an x-ray image of an entire mouth in one exposure while significantly reducing the amount of escaped x-ray energy. This is accomplished by using a full mouth insert that has slots for two strips of film, one for the upper set of teeth and one for the lower set of teeth, or an embedded imaging sensor.

Description

[0001]This application for patent claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application 61 / 808,453 filed Apr. 4, 2013.BRIEF DESCRIPTION[0002]The subject of this invention relates to x-ray imaging, specifically, to a full mouth x-ray apparatus. The disclosed invention presents an apparatus that allows the entire mouth to be imaged in one exposure, with very low radiation escape providing superior protection for the patient. The disclosed invention may be used with contemporary medical / dental x-ray devices.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]The need for the medical / dental practitioners to take x-ray images of the human mouth remains as necessary modernly as it has historiocally. Over time the technology has remained the same, but the equipment used to implement the technology has continued to advance.[0004]Contemporarily, if an x-ray image of patient's full mouth is needed, it is done in segments. That is, a film card or image sensor is placed in one quadrant or another of the patient's mo...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]The apparatus the present invention provides the ability to take an x-ray image of an entire mouth in one exposure while significantly reducing the amount of escaped x-ray energy. This is accomplished by using a full mouth insert that has slots for two strips of film, one for the upper set of teeth and one for the lower set of teeth, or an embedded imaging sensor.

[0012]Additionally, the full mouth insert has a waveguide means that directs the beam of x-ray energy from the horn of the transmitter to the inside of the mouth. Advantageously, the waveguide of the present invention is configured such that conventional x-ray machines may be used to accomplish the x-ray process. Misalignment of the x-ray machine is minimized since the waveguide of the present invention interfaces in an accurate and repeatable manner with the horn of the contemporary x-ray machine. Once the x-ray energy is present in the inside of the inner u-shaped segment, it is directed outward, through the teeth and then into a barrier that significantly reduces any excess radiation from exiting the apparatus. In this way the apparatus allows an accurate image of the entire mouth with only one shot with very low possibility of misalignment.

Problems solved by technology

While functional, this method has several serious drawbacks.

First, the patient is exposed to multiple x-ray bursts.

A third drawback of contemporary methods is that the operator of the apparatus must exit the room while the x-ray burst is applied.

A fourth drawback of current methods is the need for the operator to focus the equipment in the blind.

While this method improves the time required to take and analyze x-ray images, it still requires the four separate exposures to the x-rays and has the same excess radiation problem.

Images