3D Dental X-ray Core Volume Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dental X-ray devices face challenges in creating optimal 3D images of the jaw region with minimal radiation exposure, as the cylindrical exposure volume often exceeds the jaw size, including sensitive areas and interrupting structures, and fails to maintain image quality while keeping radiation low.
Innovation Solution
The method involves positioning the patient so that the jaw region is within a cylindrical core volume with a flat base area, aligning the bottom edge of the lower jaw parallel to the base area, allowing for a reduced exposure volume that covers the entire jaw region, and using positional corrections to maintain image quality and reduce radiation exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the exposure volume is increased to cover the entire jaw region including the jaw joint, then the complete jaw area can be imaged, but the radiation dosage increases and sensitive areas may be included
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a core volume with specific geometric properties (cylindrical shape with flat base area) that is optimized for the jaw region. The core volume is positioned and sized to cover only the necessary anatomical structures (jaw region and jaw joint) while excluding sensitive areas, thereby providing localized high-quality imaging coverage with minimized radiation exposure to unnecessary areas.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the exposure volume is reduced to minimize radiation, then radiation dosage is lowered, but the complete jaw region including jaw joint may not be fully covered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs parameter changes by precisely defining the core volume's geometric parameters (cylindrical shape, flat base area, specific height and radius) and its position relative to the patient's anatomy. By optimizing these parameters, the core volume is sized and positioned to cover the complete jaw region including the jaw joint while maintaining minimal radiation exposure, thus achieving both adequate coverage and image quality with reduced dosage.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the core volume is optimized to cover the jaw region, then radiation exposure is minimized, but the patient positioning becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining the core volume's geometric configuration (cylindrical shape with flat base area) and its optimal position relative to the jaw region before the actual imaging process. This pre-planned core volume design allows for standardized positioning protocols and positioning aids to be developed in advance, simplifying the actual patient positioning during imaging while ensuring the core volume is optimally aligned to minimize radiation exposure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach minimizes radiation dosage, avoids sensitive areas, and maintains image quality by optimizing the core volume size and position, enabling efficient and cost-effective 3D dental X-ray imaging with reduced exposure volume and improved image accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of projection exposures of an exposure volume having a cylindrical core volume with a flat base area, generated during a circulation of an X-ray emitter and an X-ray detector
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a method for creating a 3D dental X-ray image of a jaw region of a patient from a plurality of projection exposures of an exposure volume having a cylindrical core volume with a flat base area, generated during a circulation of an X-ray emitter and an X-ray detector about the head of the patient. The patient may be positioned relative to the core volume so that the jaw region is located within the core volume, and where a bottom edge of the lower jaw of the patient and the base area of the core volume are aligned at least approximately parallel.