Dental X-ray Apparatus Positioning Guide

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical X-ray photography apparatuses for dental panoramic photography require complex operations and can result in incorrect positioning, leading to suboptimal image quality and increased burden on patients, especially in intraoral radiography where precise alignment is crucial.

Innovation Solution

A medical X-ray photography apparatus with a support mechanism that includes a turning part and a moving part, an image processor, a photographic region assignment receiving part, and a control part to simplify the operation of moving the support to a predetermined starting position for pseudo intraoral radiography, allowing for easy selection and adjustment of photographic regions and irradiation angles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If intraoral radiography is performed with X-ray detection means disposed in a mouth cavity, then the mechanical configuration is simplified, but the burden on the patient increases and positioning accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical configurationVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A positioning guide structure with multiple positioning protrusions and corresponding positioning grooves is introduced as an intermediary mechanism. This guide ensures accurate relative positioning between the X-ray generator and detector without requiring manual alignment by the operator, thereby maintaining simplicity while improving positioning accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The positioning guide structure is pre-configured with specific positioning protrusions and grooves that automatically align the X-ray generator and detector when the apparatus is assembled. This preliminary arrangement eliminates the need for complex real-time adjustments during operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If panoramic photography is performed with a turning arm mechanism, then positioning accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases and operation becomes more troublesome

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidmechanical configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The complex turning arm mechanism is extracted and replaced with a simplified support structure that holds the X-ray generator and detector in fixed relative positions. The positioning guide structure takes over the alignment function, eliminating the need for mechanical turning arms while maintaining positioning accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The positioning guide structure is designed to automatically align and position the X-ray generator and detector through its own geometric features (protrusions and grooves) without requiring external control mechanisms or complex operations by the user

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If manual operation is required to move the support to the turning start position, then the device structure is simplified, but the operation becomes troublesome and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice structureVSAvoidphotography efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure is designed with self-positioning features including positioning protrusions that automatically guide the support to the correct starting position when the apparatus is assembled or reset. This eliminates the need for manual operation to move the support to the turning start position, improving productivity while keeping the device structure simple

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

Simplifies the photography starting operation, reduces patient burden, and ensures accurate image capture by facilitating easy movement and positioning of the X-ray generator and detector, thereby improving the quality and safety of X-ray photography.

Implementation Method 1

an X-ray generator configured to emit an X-ray beam

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectX-ray emission: X-Ray

Data Source

PatentEP2774540B1Medical x-ray photography apparatus
Publication Date: 2020.06.10 J MORITA MANUFACTURING CORP
  • EP2774540B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2774540B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2774540B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The turning arm (30) supports an X-ray generator (10a) and an X-ray detector (21). The moving mechanism (200) includes a turning part (201) that is configured to turn the turning arm (30) and a moving part (202) that is configured to move the turning arm (30) along a two-dimensional plane orthogonal to an axial direction of a turning shaft. A photographic region assignment receiving part (610) is configured to receive an operation to assign a part of a dental arch (90) as a pseudo intraoral radiography region (CA). A main-body control part (60) is configured to control the moving mechanism (200) based on a movement starting signal to move the turning arm (30) to a predetermined photography starting position (L2) corresponding to the pseudo intraoral radiography region (CA). A signal output switch (71) includes a movement starting signal output part (711) is configured to output the movement starting signal to the main body control part (60).