Wall-Mounted C-Arm Radiographic Apparatus with Telescopic Post
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional extraoral dental radiography apparatuses are cumbersome and pose safety risks due to their large floor-based structure, which limits their compactness and frequent use, especially when performing panoramic, CBCT volumetric, and teleradiographic acquisitions.
Innovation Solution
A radiographic apparatus with a C-arm support system that can be fixed to a wall, featuring a telescopic post and modular design, allowing for reduced dimensions and multiple configurations to accommodate different types of radiographic acquisitions, including panoramic, CBCT, and teleradiographic imaging, while minimizing the need for a large floor base.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a floor-based structure with a base is used to support the C-arm, then the apparatus provides stability during operation, but the apparatus becomes cumbersome and occupies excessive space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a floor-based horizontal support structure to a wall-mounted vertical support structure. The C-arm is supported by a vertical post fixed to the wall, allowing the apparatus to utilize vertical space instead of horizontal floor space, thereby reducing the occupied area while maintaining stability during operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the support function from the floor base and relocates it to a wall-mounted post. The base is eliminated entirely, and the support structure is detached from the floor, reducing the apparatus footprint and making it less cumbersome while still providing adequate support for the C-arm
2Stability of the object's composition
If a large floor base is provided to ensure stability, then the apparatus remains stable during operation, but it creates safety risks by exposing patients and operators to stumbling hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the floor base entirely and mounts the support structure to the wall. This extraction of the base eliminates the stumbling hazard while the wall-mounted post provides alternative structural support, maintaining stability without creating safety risks for patients and operators
3Area of stationary object
If the apparatus is designed with reduced dimensions for compactness, then it is safer and more space-efficient, but it may compromise the ability to perform various radiographic acquisitions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a telescopic post that can extend and retract vertically. This dynamic structure allows the apparatus to adapt to different acquisition requirements: extending to provide sufficient arm length for panoramic and CBCT acquisitions, and retracting to minimize space occupation when not in use, thereby maintaining both compactness and versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The wall-mounted apparatus with telescopic post is designed to perform multiple radiographic acquisitions including panoramic, CBCT volumetric, and teleradiographic imaging. The universal design allows a single compact apparatus to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate devices or a large complex apparatus, maintaining imaging capability while reducing dimensions
4Area of stationary object
If the C-arm is mounted on a vertically mobile support with a telescopic post, then the apparatus achieves compact dimensions when retracted, but it requires additional mechanical complexity for extension and retraction
Solution Approach 1:
The telescopic post consists of nested tubular sections that slide within each other. When retracted, the inner sections are contained within the outer sections, creating a compact configuration. When extended, the sections telescope outward to provide the necessary arm length, achieving compact dimensions without requiring a completely separate mechanical extension mechanism
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus (11, 21, 31) for acquiring panoramic and optionally CBCT volumetric images, comprising a X-ray source (5) projecting a collimated X-ray bundle through a patient, a bi-dimensional X-ray sensor (6) placed so as to measure the intensity of the radiation after it crossed the patient, a support group supporting said source (5) and sensor (6), which group comprises a C-arm (4) to which said sensor and said source are fixed/fixable, said C arm (4) being fixed to a vertically mobile support (3) supported by a post (2); a mechanical system capable to allow the rotation and the translation of said C-arm around the patient, so as to acquire radiographic images from different positions; a patient positioning device (7) for positioning the patient in an intermediate position between said X-ray source (5) and said sensor (6); According to the invention, the said mobile support (3) having a C shape and wherein said mobile support (3) and said support group (400 5, 6) have a double C configuration and wherein the C arm of said mobile support (3) and of the said support group (400, 5, 6) are opposed to each other with their top arms or ends overlapping to each other amd furthermore wherein said C or set down C shaped arm of the said mobile support (400) comprises a second lower arm (402), parallel to a first arm (401) articulated to a mobile portion (62), supporting at its free end said X-ray sensor (6), said X-ray source (5) being fixed at the lower end of a third transversal arm (403) linking said horizontal or substantially horizontal arms (401) and (402), while the position of the free end of arm (402) to which sensor (6) is fixed is such that sensor and source are diametrically opposed to each other with respect to the position of the patient as requested for acquiring radiographic images.