Patent Application
20230251562
This application relates generally to a device for holding an x-ray image receptor, film or digital sensor, in a patient's mouth. Dental and medical professionals often take x-rays of patients' teeth to assess the status, visualize anatomy, document treatment, or to monitor the patient for disease states. However, because the x-ray image receptor is hidden or partially hidden within the patient's mouth, it can be difficult to align the x-ray image receptor and/or x-ray beam so that the resulting x-ray image provides the desired diagnostic value.
A device for holding an x-ray image receptor according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, among other possible things includes a bracket including a first arm and a second arm and an x-ray image receptor holder rotatably connected to the first arm. The holder includes a base portion with an opening configured to receive a bite piece, and a wall extending from the base portion. The wall is configured to support an x-ray image receptor. The device also includes an alignment ring positioned on the second arm, such that upon rotation of the bracket relative to the holder, a center of the alignment ring corresponds to a center of the holder along the wall.
A method of positioning an x-ray image receptor in a patient's mouth according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, among other possible things includes positioning an x-ray image receptor holder in a patient's mouth. The holder is rotatably connected to a first arm of a bracket. The holder includes a base portion with an opening, a bite portion received in the opening, a wall extending from the base portion, and an x-ray image receptor supported between the wall and the patient's teeth.
X-rays are one way to visualize a patient's teeth and underlying bone during various treatments and for monitoring the patient's oral health, which is important to early identification of certain disease states. Dental x-rays are typically taken by first placing an x-ray image receptor, such as film or digital sensor, in the patient's mouth, next aligning the x-ray beam outside the patient's mouth, and then capturing the x-ray image. However, after placing the image receptor in the patient's mouth, it becomes hidden or partially hidden and may in some cases shift after its initial placement. Therefore, it can be difficult to align the x-ray image receptor and/or x-ray beam to capture the desired visualization of the patient's teeth and/or underlying bone. Often multiple x-ray images must be taken in order to obtain the desired visualization, which can interfere with the patient's comfort, increase radiation exposure, and add to the procedure time. Additionally, during certain dental procedures, devices such as dental dam isolation are arranged in the patient's mouth, and those devices may need to be removed to situate the x-ray image receptor and then replaced afterwards, which also adds to procedure time and reduces asepsis.
In some examples, the opening 22 includes an engagement feature 26 for engaging the bite piece 18 and retaining it in the opening 22. In this example, the engagement feature 26 includes slots 26a/26b formed in the side walls 24a/24b. The slots are configured to receive tabs 27 on the bite piece 18. The engagement feature 26 may allow for relative rotation of the holder 16 when it is engaged with the bite piece 18. For instance, the holder 16 may rotate with respect to the bite piece 18 between a first position where it is generally parallel to an orientation of the bite piece 18 as in
Extending from the base portion 20 is a wall 28. The wall 28 provides support for the x-ray image receptor (e.g., the film or digital sensor), and is configured to be placed on the medial side or inside of the patient's teeth such that the bite piece 18 extends between the occluding teeth. The wall 28 may be tapered, as best seen in
The holder 16 includes a connector 32 for connecting to the first arm 12a. As best seen in
Turning again to
The alignment ring 36 is positioned on the arm 12b, and due to the fixed nature of the arms 12a/12b relative to one another, and the rotation of the arms 12a/12b relative to the holder 16, the center of the alignment ring 36 corresponds to the center of the holder 16 along the wall 28. In other words, certain positions of the alignment ring 36 indicate a corresponding x-ray beam angulation, while the holder 16 remains stable in the patient's mouth via the bite piece 18. Accordingly, because the alignment ring 36 remains outside of the patient's mouth, it serves as an indicator for the positioning of the x-ray tube head to remain center and perpendicular to the holder 16 and x-ray image receptor held therein. This decreases x-ray image distortion and/or error and increases the diagnostic value of the x-ray images. Moreover, when the bite piece 18 is detached, the alignment ring 36 and arms 12a/12b with support 14 allow for positioning and stabilization of the holder 16 in the patient's mouth, even when devices such as dental dam isolation are in the patient's mouth. That is, the assembly can be used even without the bite piece 18 when needed.
In some examples, arm 12a and/or the base 20 may include markings that indicate certain angulations/positions of the x-ray beam (via the alignment right 36) with respect to the bite piece 18.
Although example embodiments have been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this disclosure. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the scope and content of this disclosure.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 63/307,792 filed Feb. 8, 2022, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63307792 | Feb 2022 | US |
