Dental bite block for 2D imaging

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10939882-B2
Application number	US-201415307502-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 23, 2014
Priority date	Jun 25, 2014
Publication date	Mar 9, 2021
Grant date	Mar 9, 2021

Abstract

Dental radiographic imaging systems and/or methods for using the same can provide panoramic 2D dental radiographic images. Providing improved panoramic 2D image quality can depend on imaging a desired/selected focal trough, which is itself based on a correct positioning of the patient's head inside the panoramic dental imaging system. Exemplary dental radiographic imaging systems and/or methods for using the same can provide a patient positioning device (e.g., bite stick embodiments) that can position or urge patients to get the right positioning (such as head tilt) to increase probabilities of the improved/best panoramic image reconstruction. Further, certain exemplary bite stick embodiments can repeatedly, consistently and/or correctly position patient after patient for panoramic imaging.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A dental imaging apparatus for obtaining a radiographic image of an object, the apparatus comprising:
a movable mount comprising at least one of a radiation source and a digital imaging sensor;
an actuator that is energizable to move the movable mount in a scan pattern about an imaging area;
a computer in signal communication with the digital imaging sensor and configured to acquire one or more of two-dimensional images of the digital imaging sensor positioned relative to the radiation source for the scan pattern; and
a patient support structure to provide a spatial relationship to the scan pattern, where the spatial relationship aligns an occlusal plane determined by the patient support structure in the imaging area, where the spatial relationship comprises a 6° to 10° angle with a scanning plane of the scan pattern of the movable mount, and
where the patient support structure comprises a chin rest, where the chin rest is connected to the dental imaging apparatus with a prescribed relationship to the movable mount;
where the patient support structure further comprises a set of fixed bite pieces selectively tilted in a range of 7-8 degree angles for a subsequent dental imaging exposure, and
where the patient support structure that is configured to couple to the set of fixed bite pieces is not pivotable.

2. A dental imaging apparatus for obtaining a radiographic image of an object, the apparatus comprising:
a movable mount comprising at least one of a radiation source and a digital imaging sensor;
an actuator that is energizable to move the movable mount in a scan pattern about an imaging area;
a computer in signal communication with the digital imaging sensor and configured to acquire one or more of two-dimensional images of the digital imaging sensor positioned relative to the radiation source for the scan pattern; and
a patient support structure to provide a spatial relationship to the scan pattern, where the spatial relationship aligns an occlusal plane determined by the patient support structure in the imaging area, where the spatial relationship comprises a 6° to 10° angle with a scanning plane of the scan pattern of the movable mount, and
where the patient support structure comprises a set of at least one fixed, rigid bite pieces selectively tilted in a range of 7-8 degree angles for a subsequent dental imaging exposure, and where the patient support structure that is configured to couple to the set of fixed, rigid bite pieces is not pivotable.

Assignees

• Trophy

Inventors

• Alric Stephane
• Vlachomitrou Anna-Sesilia

Classifications

• A61B6/032 Primary

  Transmission computed tomography [CT] · CPC title

• A61B6/04

  Positioning of patients; Tiltable beds or the like · CPC title

• A61B6/488

  involving pre-scan acquisition · CPC title

• A61B8/0875

  for diagnosis of bone · CPC title

• A61B6/145 Primary

  Human Necessities · mapped topic