Oral imaging sensor holding assembly and holder for oral imaging sensor thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides an oral imaging sensor holding assembly and an oral imaging sensor holder used therein, comprising: a holder having a shaft and a support member, the support member extending laterally from the shaft in an extension direction relative to the shaft; and a limiting skin covering a photosensitive portion of the oral imaging sensor to limit the photosensitive portion; wherein the limiting skin has an insertion groove formed on the side; the support member is inserted between the limiting skin and the photosensitive portion through the insertion groove, thereby engaging with the limiting skin and the photosensitive portion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an oral imaging sensor holding assembly and a holder for an oral imaging sensor used therein. Background Technology

[0002] Typically, in dental treatments, an intraoral sensor is used to perform radiographic imaging of the oral cavity structures. The intraoral sensor receives radiation emitted from an external light source. Specifically, it is an image sensor that receives radiation that passes through the oral cavity structures (e.g., teeth and alveolar bone) being imaged and converts this projection data into electrical signals for output.

[0003] The oral imaging sensor should be positioned in the patient's mouth to correspond to the path of radiation emitted from the light irradiation device. For this purpose, the medical staff typically hold the oral imaging sensor with their hand. This method presents a problem where the medical staff's hand is exposed to the light emitted from the light irradiation device. To keep the medical staff's hand away from the oral imaging sensor, a retainer for placing the sensor is being used.

[0004] One part of the retainer, held in the healthcare professional's hand, is located outside the patient's mouth, while the other part, conversely, should be inserted into the patient's mouth along with the oral imaging sensor. To extend the imaging area of ​​the oral imaging sensor to the tooth root, the healthcare professional needs to push the retainer deeper into the root. During this process, due to the combined structure of the retainer and the oral imaging sensor, there is often discomfort caused by the retainer colliding with the teeth or gums.

[0005] Furthermore, integrating an oral imaging sensor into a retainer is not a simple process. It requires at least multiple integration steps. This complicates the process of integrating an oral imaging sensor into a retainer. Summary of the Invention

[0006] (The problem to be solved)

[0007] One object of the present invention is to provide an oral imaging sensor holding assembly and a holder for an oral imaging sensor used therein, wherein the oral imaging sensor is disposed deep inside the mouth in the direction of the teeth, which can maximize the radiographic imaging area while minimizing the discomfort felt by the patient.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide an oral imaging sensor holding assembly that achieves engagement with an oral imaging sensor through a single action when combined with the oral imaging sensor, and a holder for the oral imaging sensor used therein.

[0009] (Solutions)

[0010] An oral imaging sensor holding assembly of one aspect of the present invention for achieving the above-mentioned objectives includes: a retainer having a shaft and a support member extending laterally from the shaft in a direction relating to the shaft; and a limiting skin covering a photosensitive portion of the oral imaging sensor to limit the photosensitive portion; wherein the limiting skin has an insertion groove formed laterally; the support member is inserted between the limiting skin and the photosensitive portion through the insertion groove, thereby being able to engage with the limiting skin and the photosensitive portion.

[0011] Here, the connecting portion that connects the support member in the shaft and the limiting skin can be arranged side by side on the same plane.

[0012] Here, the connecting portion may be located outside the sensing area occupied by the photosensitive portion on the same plane.

[0013] Here, the restrictive outer skin includes: a first horizontal portion; a vertical portion extending from the first horizontal portion and forming the insertion groove; and a second horizontal portion having an entrance that allows the photosensitive portion to enter, and located opposite the first horizontal portion with respect to the vertical portion; wherein, as the support member is inserted into the insertion groove, the first horizontal portion and the second horizontal portion can elastically compress the photosensitive portion and the support member.

[0014] Here, the support member may have a plate shape.

[0015] Here, the shaft includes a handle portion and a head connected to the support member, wherein the connecting portions in the head connected to the support member can be arranged to extend in a direction that bends along the extension direction of the handle portion.

[0016] Here, the oral imaging sensor holding assembly may also have a fixing unit, which is combined between the handle and the head and is fixedly connected to the wires of the photosensitive part.

[0017] Here, the fixing unit may include: a bracket portion inserted between the handle portion and the head; and a fixing portion extending laterally from the bracket portion toward the shaft and fixing the wire.

[0018] Another aspect of the oral imaging sensor holding assembly of the present invention includes: a retainer having a shaft and a support member, the shaft having a handle portion and a head, the head extending in a direction bent relative to the extension direction of the handle portion; the support member being coupled to the shaft; and a limiting skin covering the photosensitive portion of the oral imaging sensor to limit the photosensitive portion; wherein the limiting skin has an insertion groove having a size that allows the support member to enter; the support member being inserted between the limiting skin and the photosensitive portion through the insertion groove, and being coupled to the limiting skin and the photosensitive portion.

[0019] Here, the restrictive outer skin includes: a first horizontal portion; a vertical portion extending from the first horizontal portion and forming the insertion groove; and a second horizontal portion having an entrance that allows the photosensitive portion to enter, and located opposite the first horizontal portion with respect to the vertical portion; wherein, as the support member is inserted into the insertion groove, the first horizontal portion and the second horizontal portion can compress the photosensitive portion and the support member.

[0020] Here, the support member may include a support plate that extends laterally in the extension direction at the head.

[0021] Another aspect of the present invention provides a holder for an oral imaging sensor, comprising: a shaft having a handle portion and a head, the head extending in a direction bending relative to the extension direction of the handle portion; and a support member extending laterally in the head relative to the extension direction; wherein, when the support member supports the photosensitive portion of the oral imaging sensor, a connection portion in the head connected to the support member may be located outside the sensing area occupied by the photosensitive portion and the projection area projected along the central axis of the photosensitive portion.

[0022] Here, the support member may include a support plate located in the projection area and having an area corresponding to the photosensitive part.

[0023] (The effect of the invention)

[0024] According to the oral imaging sensor holding assembly and the oral imaging sensor holder used therein of the present invention, as described above, a support member extends laterally on the axis to be inserted into an insertion groove in a limiting skin, and the photosensitive part of the oral imaging sensor, which is limited by the limiting skin, is combined with the holder. The oral imaging sensor is disposed deep in the direction of the teeth in the oral cavity, which can maximize the radiographic imaging area and minimize the discomfort felt by the patient.

[0025] In addition, with the photosensitive area covered by the restrictive outer skin, medical personnel can integrate the oral imaging sensor with the retainer simply by inserting the support into the restrictive outer skin. Attached Figure Description

[0026] Figure 1 This is a combined perspective view showing the state of the oral imaging sensor holding assembly 100 combined with the oral imaging sensor IS in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Exploded stereo view of the oral imaging sensor holding assembly 100.

[0028] Figure 3It is along Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the combined state of the oral imaging sensor holding assembly 100 and the oral imaging sensor IS, taken from line Ⅲ-Ⅲ.

[0029] Figure 4 It is shown Figure 1 A conceptual diagram showing the relationship between the photosensitive part LR of the oral imaging sensor IS and the connection part 217 of the retainer 200.

[0030] Figure 5 This is a conceptual diagram of the oral imaging sensor holding assembly 100 and the oral imaging sensor IS in the patient's oral cavity. Detailed Implementation

[0031] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the oral imaging sensor holding assembly and the holder for the oral imaging sensor used herein will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this specification, even in other embodiments, the same or similar reference numerals are used for the same or similar structures, and the description is replaced by the initial description.

[0032] Figure 1 This is a combined perspective view showing the state of the oral imaging sensor holding assembly 100 combined with the oral imaging sensor IS in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Referring to the accompanying drawings, the oral imaging sensor holding assembly 100 is used to hold the oral imaging sensor IS. Here, the oral imaging sensor IS has a photosensitive part LR and a wire C. The photosensitive part LR senses radiation irradiated from a light irradiation device (not shown), and the wire C is used to transmit data acquired from the photosensitive part LR to the outside.

[0034] The oral imaging sensor holding assembly 100 can be divided into a retainer 200 and a limiting skin 300.

[0035] The retainer 200 is formed into an elongated shape so that it can be held in the hand by a medical person. A restrictive outer skin 300 is attached to one end of the retainer 200.

[0036] The outer skin 300 encloses and restricts the photosensitive part LR. The outer skin 300 is a hollow body to accommodate the photosensitive part LR.

[0037] The specific structure of the oral imaging sensor holding assembly 100 will be referred to Figure 2 Please provide an explanation. Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Exploded stereo view of the oral imaging sensor holding assembly 100.

[0038] Referring to the accompanying drawing, the retainer 200 may have a shaft 210, a support 230, and a fixing unit 250.

[0039] The shaft 210 can be divided into a handle portion 211 and a head portion 215. The handle portion 211 and the head portion 215 are each manufactured as separate components, but can be detachably joined together. The handle portion 211, which is the part gripped by the medical personnel, can generally be a rod with a circular cross-section. The head portion 215 can generally be thinner than the handle portion 211. A support member 230 is connected to the free end portion of the head portion 215, and is therefore called a connecting portion 217. Furthermore, the connecting portion 217 can extend in a direction that bends along the extending direction of the handle portion 211.

[0040] The support member 230 is a structure used to support the photosensitive part LR. The support member 230 is connected to the photosensitive part LR by restricting the outer skin 300. The support member 230 has a connecting portion 231 and a support plate 235, which can be configured to extend laterally with respect to the axis 210, specifically with respect to the extending direction of the connecting portion 217. Accordingly, the connecting portion 217 and the support plate 235 are arranged side-by-side and therefore do not overlap. The support plate 235 may have an area corresponding to the photosensitive part LR. The connecting portion 231 may be a tubular portion having a shape that inserts into and fixes the connecting portion 217.

[0041] The fixing unit 250 is a structure for fixing the wire C. This fixing unit 250 can be combined with the handle portion 211 and the head 215. Specifically, the fixing unit 250 may have a support portion 251 and a fixing portion 255. The support portion 251 can be inserted between the handle portion 211 and the head 215. The fixing portion 255 may extend laterally from the support portion 251 toward the shaft 210. The fixing portion 255 is fork-shaped, thus allowing the wire C to be inserted and fixed.

[0042] The limiting skin 300 corresponds to the shape of the photosensitive part LR and can generally have a rectangular hexahedral shape. Specifically, the limiting skin 300 can have a first horizontal part 310, a vertical part 330 and a second horizontal part 350.

[0043] The first horizontal portion 310 can form the bottom surface that restricts the outer skin 300. The vertical portion 330 is the portion extending vertically from the corner of the first horizontal portion 310. An opening insertion slot 340 can pass through the vertical portion 330. The second horizontal portion 350 is the portion located opposite the first horizontal portion 310 with reference to the vertical portion 330. An entrance 360 ​​is formed in the center of the second horizontal portion 350 to allow the photosensitive part LR to enter.

[0044] The connection relationship between the support member 230, the limiting outer skin 300, and the photosensitive part LR will be referred to Figure 3 and Figure 4 Please provide an explanation.

[0045] first, Figure 3 It is along Figure 1A cross-sectional view of the combined state of the oral imaging sensor holding assembly 100 and the oral imaging sensor IS, taken from line Ⅲ-Ⅲ.

[0046] Referring to the accompanying drawing, the support member 230, and particularly the support plate 235, is inserted into the limiting outer skin 300 via an insertion slot 340 on the side of the vertical portion 330. Here, the insertion slots 340 can be formed on a pair of vertical portions 330 respectively. Therefore, even if the support plate 235 protrudes on one side other than the connecting portion 217, it can still be inserted into the corresponding insertion slot 340. This is to easily accommodate situations where the support plate 235 changes direction depending on whether the image is of the left or right teeth when it enters the oral cavity.

[0047] If the photosensitive part LR is already inserted into the limiting skin 300, the medical personnel can achieve the connection between the retainer 200 and the oral imaging sensor IS by simply inserting the support 230 into the limiting skin 300.

[0048] When the outer skin 300 is made of an elastic material, the first horizontal part 310 and the second horizontal part 350 elastically compress the photosensitive part LR and the support member 230 in the above-described combined state.

[0049] Then, Figure 4 It is shown Figure 1 A conceptual diagram showing the relationship between the photosensitive part LR of the oral imaging sensor IS and the connection part 217 of the retainer 200.

[0050] Referring to the accompanying drawing, in the head 215, the connecting portion 217 and one end face of the limiting outer skin 300 can be placed on the same plane P. In this case, the connecting portion 217 and the limiting outer skin 300 are arranged side by side on this plane.

[0051] Specifically, the connecting portion 217 is located outside the area (sensing area) occupied by the photosensitive part LR on the plane P. In contrast, the support member 230 is located in a region parallel to the sensing area, that is, the region where the sensing area is projected along the central axis of the photosensitive part LR (projection area). The connecting portion 217, in addition to the sensing area, is also located outside the projection area on the plane P' where the projection area is located. This is according to the support member 230, specifically the support plate 235 (see reference 230). Figure 3 The design principle is that it does not overlap with the connecting part 217 but extends to the side.

[0052] For practical reference of this design principle Figure 5 Please provide an explanation.

[0053] Figure 5 This is a conceptual diagram of the oral imaging sensor holding assembly 100 and the oral imaging sensor IS in the patient's oral cavity.

[0054] Referring to the accompanying drawing, a medical professional can place the head 215 into the patient's mouth while holding the handle 211. Accordingly, the photosensitive part LR of the head 215, which is attached to the support 230 and the limiting skin 300, can be positioned in the mouth.

[0055] During this process, the connecting portion 217, and further the head 215 (and handle portion 211), are located outside the area occupied by the photosensitive portion LR. This is because the support member 230 extends to the side of the connecting portion 217, so even if the support member 230 overlaps with the photosensitive portion LR, the shaft 210 will not overlap.

[0056] Because of this configuration, the connecting part 217, and further, the head 215, can be positioned deep within the patient's tooth root, within a range that does not interfere with the tooth T. Thus, the photosensitive part LR can acquire an image up to the tooth root. During this process, the head 215 does not interfere with the tooth, therefore the patient will not experience discomfort caused by the head 215 colliding with the tooth or gum.

[0057] The oral imaging sensor holding assembly and the holder for the oral imaging sensor used therein, as described above, are not limited to the structure and operation of the embodiments described above. Various modifications can also be achieved by selectively combining all or part of the various embodiments.

[0058] Industrial applicability

[0059] This invention has industrial applicability in the field of manufacturing oral imaging sensor holding components and holders for oral imaging sensors.

Claims

1. An oral imaging sensor holding assembly comprising: a holder having a shaft and a support member, the support member extending laterally from the shaft with respect to an extension direction of the shaft; and a restriction skin wrapping a light receiving portion of an oral imaging sensor to restrict the light receiving portion; wherein the restriction skin has an insertion slot formed laterally; the support member is inserted between the restriction skin and the light receiving portion through the insertion slot to be combined with the restriction skin and the light receiving portion, the restriction skin includes: a first horizontal portion; a vertical portion extending from the first horizontal portion and formed with the insertion slot; and a second horizontal portion having an entrance allowing the light receiving portion to enter and located opposite the first horizontal portion with the vertical portion as a reference; wherein the first horizontal portion and the second horizontal portion elastically press the light receiving portion and the support member as the support member is inserted into the insertion slot.

2. The oral imaging sensor holding assembly according to claim 1, wherein: a connection portion connecting the support member in the shaft and the restriction skin are arranged side by side on the same plane.

3. The oral imaging sensor holding assembly according to claim 2, wherein: the connection portion is located outside a sensing area occupied by the light receiving portion on the same plane.

4. The oral imaging sensor holding assembly according to claim 1, wherein: the support member has a plate shape.

5. The oral imaging sensor holding assembly according to claim 1, wherein: the shaft includes: a handle portion; and a head portion connecting the support member; wherein a connection portion connecting the support member in the head portion is arranged to extend in a direction curved along an extension direction of the handle portion. further comprising:

6. The oral imaging sensor holding assembly of claim 5, wherein, a fixing unit combined between the handle portion and the head portion and fixing an electric wire connected to the light receiving portion.

7. The oral imaging sensor holding assembly according to claim 6, wherein: the fixing unit includes: a bracket portion inserted between the handle portion and the head portion; and a fixing portion extending laterally from the bracket portion with respect to the shaft and fixing the electric wire.

8. An oral imaging sensor holding assembly comprising: a holder having a shaft and a support member, the shaft having a handle portion and a head portion, the head portion extending in a direction curved along an extension direction of the handle portion; the support member combined with the shaft; and a restriction skin wrapping a light receiving portion of an oral imaging sensor to restrict the light receiving portion; wherein the restriction skin has an insertion slot having a size allowing the support member to enter; the support member is inserted between the restriction skin and the light receiving portion through the insertion slot to be combined with the restriction skin and the light receiving portion, the restriction skin includes: a first horizontal portion; a vertical portion extending from the first horizontal portion and formed with the insertion slot; and a second horizontal portion having an entrance allowing the light receiving portion to enter and located opposite the first horizontal portion with the vertical portion as a reference; ​ ​ Wherein, as the support is inserted into the insertion slot, the first horizontal portion and the second horizontal portion press the photosensitive portion and the support. 9.The oral imaging sensor holding assembly of claim 8, wherein, the support includes a support plate member, the support plate member extends to the side of the head portion with respect to the extension direction.

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