Dental X-ray Forehead Rest with Pivotable Carrying Arm
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dental X-ray apparatuses require patients to maintain an uncomfortable position with limited head movement and obstructed operator vision, complicating the positioning process.
Innovation Solution
A dental X-ray apparatus with a patient-positioning system featuring a horizontally pivotable carrying arm with a forehead rest, allowing the patient to be positioned without changing their view, and incorporating a swivel joint with locking and unlocking mechanisms for stable imaging and easy access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the patient is positioned with the line of vision directed toward the column, then the patient can be positioned for imaging, but the patient's comfort and operator vision are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The carrying arm is made horizontally pivotable, allowing it to dynamically adjust between an entry position (away from the patient) and an imaging position (around the patient's head). This dynamic positioning enables the forehead rest to be brought into place only when needed for imaging, while allowing the patient to face forward during positioning, thereby improving comfort without permanently complicating the device layout
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning system is divided into separate functional components: the carrying member that supports the X-ray emitter and detector, and the separately pivotable carrying arm that holds the forehead rest. This segmentation allows the forehead rest to be independently positioned without affecting the main imaging components, resolving the contradiction by enabling comfortable patient positioning while maintaining a clean, organized device structure
2Manufacturing precision
If the carrying arm is positioned around the patient's head, then precise head positioning is achieved, but operator visibility of the patient's head is obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The carrying arm is designed to be horizontally pivotable between an entry position where it is disposed at a distance from the patient's position (allowing operator visibility) and an imaging position where it passes around the patient's head in an arcuate manner (enabling precise positioning). This dynamic repositioning resolves the contradiction by allowing the operator to access and position the patient's head when the arm is in the entry position, and then secure precise positioning when the arm is in the imaging position
3Reliability
If the carrying arm is fixed in position, then stable imaging is achieved, but patient positioning and device access become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The carrying arm incorporates a swivel joint with locking means that enable it to transition between a movable state (for easy patient positioning and device access) and a locked state (for stable imaging). The locking means secure the carrying arm in the imaging position to prevent movement during X-ray capture, while the unlockable nature allows easy repositioning when needed, thereby resolving the contradiction between stability and ease of operation
Data Source
AI summary
The invention proposes a dental X-ray apparatus comprising a patient-positioning system arranged on a support and having a forehead rest. A horizontally pivotable bearing arm is arranged on the support, and the forehead rest is in turn arranged thereon.