EP0203060B1

EP0203060B1 - System for mounting x-ray films

Info

Publication number: EP0203060B1
Application number: EP19840900555
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gunilla Tiselius
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-01-18
Filing date: 1984-01-18
Publication date: 1990-06-06
Also published as: WO1985003213A1; DE3482401D1; EP0203060A1

Abstract

System for mounting dental X-ray films, comprising mounting sheets (1), each of which has transparent areas (3) for receiving X-ray films (13, 15, 17, 19) and fastening elements (23, 25, 27, 29), each having a transparent window area, the size of which corresponds to the size of an X-ray film and which is surrounded by non-transparent areas (31). Each fastening element is formed with a "pocket" on the underside of the window area, the pocket having a size corresponding to the size of an X-ray film and is provided on its underside outside the X-ray film pocket with binder so that the fastening element can be fastened on to a mounting sheet above a transparent area thereof with an X-ray film in the X-ray film pocket, the X-ray film (13, 15, 17, 19) being mounted on the mounting sheet (1) lying loosely in the X-ray film pocket but retained between the mounting sheet and the fastening element (23, 25, 27, 29).

Description

Technical field

The present invention relates to a system for mounting developed dental X-ray films.

Technical background

Dental X-ray films relating to one and the same patient are usually mounted (in order to be studied and stored) in one of the following three ways:

1) In carriers which have a plurality of rectangular pockets of transparent plastics, into which X-ray films may be inserted so as to be protected from being touched. The pockets have a single size, i.e. they are intended for full-size X-ray films (3x5 cm). Half-size (2x3 cm) X-ray films can thus not be mounted without special masking measures being taken. The insertion of films in the pockets in carriers of this kind must be done carefully, so that the picture masking or errant light passage on studying the films is avoided. However, the position of the films in the pockets can easily be changed in connection with later handling of the carrier, and subsequent adjustment must thus take place to avoid the problems mentioned.
2) In carriers with open X-ray film windows, in which an X-ray film is retained unprotected with the aid of a window flange going substantially all the way round, on which one side edge area of the film rests, and a plurality of coacting retaining flaps or tongues engaging against the edge area on the opposite side of the film. The window flange gives rise to not inconsiderable picture masking. These carriers are also intended solely for full-size films.
3) On sheet-like carriers with transparent film mounting areas defined by non-transparent frame areas. A plurality of distributed tongues or flaps punched in the carrier sheet are provided around each film mounting area for retaining the films, and the tongues or flaps may be bent up for gripping over the edges of the X-ray film, which is thus retained with one side unprotected. These carriers, which are only intended for a few full- size pictures, are relatively troublesome with regard to mounting the films and do not give satisfactory retention of the films.

None of these known kinds of carrier thus allows full-size and half-size pictures to be mounted on the same carrier without further measures. Since the known carriers have fixed rectangular mounting areas and the X-ray films can have either horizontal or vertical picture orientation it is practically always the case that orientation of the X-ray pictures varies on these carriers. When the pictures are studied it is then often necessary to turn or re-orient the carrier.
From DE-C-433 590 there is known a device for mounting dental X-ray films comprising a base sheet and one or more narrower upper sheets, the base sheet and the upper sheets being connected to each other by means of longitudinal and transversal joints so as to form square transparent pockets between the base sheet and the upper sheets for receiving dental X-ray films. The size of the pockets corresponds to full-size films, thus making it possible also to mount half-size films in the pockets. Since the entire pockets are transparent, there will be a substantial errant light passage around the mounted films both in connection with full-size films and in connection with half-size films.

Object of the invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a new system for mounting dental X-ray films, with the aid of which the disadvantages indicated above are removed and a series of advantages are gained such as:

Very good flexibility with respect to mounting X-ray pictures of different sizes;
It has no importance whether the X-ray picture is oriented horizontally or vertically;
Very good masking of errant light;
No, or in any case very little masking of the X-ray picture;
Simple and secure mounting with the film completely protected;
The availability of easy re-disposition of the order of the films after mounting has been started;
The required components for mounting are readily furnished.

Summary of invention

The above-mentioned object is attained by a system in accordance with the invention having the characterizing features disclosed in the accompanying claims.
The system in accordance with the invention is essentially distinguished in that it includes mounting sheets, each of which has transparent areas for receiving X-ray films, and fastening elements each with at least one transparent window area (optionally containing an open central area) the size of which at least substantially corresponds to, (is exactly equal to or insignificantly less than) the size of the X-ray film, and which is otherwise surrounded by non-transparent areas, each fastening element on the underside of the window area being formed with an open pocket (in a wide sense) with a size corresponding to the size of an X-ray film, and each fastening element on its underside outside the X-ray film pocket being provided with a binding agent, so that the fastening element can removably and thus several times be attached to a mounting sheet over a transparent area thereof with an X-ray film in the X-ray film pocket, whereby the film is mounted on the mounting sheet lying "loose" in the film pocket, but restrained between the mounting sheet and the fastening element. In accordance with the invention the fastening elements are to advantage quadratic and of equal size. However, there are fastening elements with differently large X-ray film pockets, e.g. corresponding to fullsize of the X-ray film for certain elements and for half-size for certain elements, whereby optional X-ray film size (particularly full- or half-size X-ray film) can be mounted with the same picture orientation on the mounting sheet while taking up an area of predetermined dimensions thereon.
As indicated above, the expression "pocket" in the present case shall be given a wide sense and thus covers every configuration which gives positional determination of an X-ray film placed therein such that the tendency of the latter to be displaced laterally from the correct position (particularly during mounting) is counteracted. Examples of pocket configurations are a depression, a frame going all the way round, a plurality of more or less separate and more or less projecting elements, the sides of which constitute abutments for the edges of the X-ray film, etc. The pocket may be defined by the binding agent utilized for retaining the fastening element.
The depth of the pocket has been found to be uncritical. Although a depth substantially corresponding to the thickness of the X-ray film is in many cases to be preferred, the pocket may also be extremely shallow with retained good function. This latter case may be suitable when the pocket is defined by the binding agent, as mentioned above.
In accordance with the invention the fastening elements are preferably in a store (comprising solely one pocket size or possibly two or more pocket sizes) in the form of their being mounted on a carrier with utilization of the binding agent intended for attaching to the mounting sheet, the carrier provided with fastening elements then preferably being in the form of cards or rolled up. To advantage, the fastening elements have binding agent distributed around the respective X-ray film pocket, e.g. in the form of a "frame".
The sizes of the mounting sheets and fastening elements are to advantage adjusted to each other, so that a predetermined number of fastening elements mounted in rows and columns cover a mounting sheet with the exception of, for example, an edge area which is or can be made suitable for writing on. The fastening elements can be placed edge to edge on a mounting sheet, which may be transparent over the whole of the area on which fastening elements are intended to be applied. It is also possible to provide the mounting sheet with non-transparent square rulings with a certain line or band width. In such cases the squares can have a size which somewhat exceeds the size of the fastening elements, mounting of the fastening elements thus not being so critical (from the positioning aspect) since the passage of errant light cannot take place as long as the edges of the fastening elements lie on the square lines.
The mounting sheets are to advantage of a plastics material, and then particularly a material which is glass-clear in its areas over which the film windows of the fastening elements are intended to be located. The plastics material can be flexible or have a certain stiffness. The mounting sheets, which preferably have a somewhat reduced A5 size are to advantage arranged cohesively in rolled-up or folded stack form, tear and/ or crease lines being arranged between consecutive sheets. A plurality of cohesive mounting sheets which are foldable together can then be readily provided when a large number of X-ray films are to be mounted.
Each fastening element is to advantage made from soft, flexible plastics material so that on application to a mounting ark it is readily bent successively downwards into contact with the mounting sheet (while the X-ray film is kept in place in the respective pocket) after an edge on the fastening element has been put in register with, and attached to the mounting sheet. Each fastening element is to advantage provided on its upper side outside the X-ray film window with one or more surfaces (preferably going all the way round) on which notes or the like can be written.
According to one embodiment of the invention each fastening element includes an upper cover element and a lower frame element with at least one opening corresponding to the X-ray film pocket, the covering element and frame element being firmly attached to each other. To advantage here, the frame element is made from a non-transparent material, and the covering element may be glass-clear. If the X-ray film pocket thus not so exactly correspond to the X-ray film that the passage of errant light between the lateral defining edges of the pocket and the edges of the X-ray film is not entirely prevented, the covering element should at least have a screening non-transparent frame area going all the way round, which extends a small distance in towards the centre past the underlying X-ray film edge.
According to an embodiment of the invention the abovementioned lower frame element may entirely consist of binding agent.
The invention will now be described further with the aid of an exemplifying embodiment and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of drawings

Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of an X-ray film mounting carried out in accordance with the present invention.
Figure 2 is an enlarged, schematic, partial sectional view of a mounting according to Figure 1.

Description of embodiment

The mounting in accordance with the invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 is carried out on a mounting sheet 1 of somewhat reduced A5 size. The mounting sheet has twelve transparent, substantially quadratic film mounting areas 3. These are arranged in four rows and three columns so that in principle they cover the entire sheet, excepting an edge or marginal area 5 with a surface that may be written on. The mounting sheet 1 may be cohesive with a further sheet, as indicated at 7, via a crease line 9, so that a sheet of approximately A4 size is formed.
The transparent film mounting areas 3 are separated and defined by square pattern-forming, non-transparent lines or bands 11.
Four X-ray films 13, 15, 17, 19 are mounted on the mounting sheet with the aid of corresponding quadratic fastening elements 23, 25, 27, 29. The size of the fastening elements is such that they cover the film mounting areas 3 and extend in over the lines 11 where such are present. The film 13 is a full-size film with an upright or vertical picture, the film 15 is a half-size film with a horizontal picture, the film 17 is a full-size film with a horizontal picture and the film 19 is a half-size film with an upright picture.
The arrangement of X-ray films relative the mounting sheet and associated fastening elements, as well as an embodiment of the fastening elements are apparent in more detail from Figure 2.
There is thus illustrated in Figure 2 the mounting of X-ray film 15 between mounting sheet 1 and fastening element 25. The latter comprises a lower, non-transparent outwardly quadratic plastics frame 31 with an internal rectangular (apart from rounded corners) opening 33, and an upper transparent covering plastics film 35, which are firmly connected to each other. The opening 33 has a size exactly corresponding to the size of the film 15. The thickness of the frame 31 is here approximately equal to the thickness of the film 15, but could be substantially less, and in a special case consist in principle merely of a more or less thick binding agent coating. The opening 35 upwardly defined by the covering film 35 thus forms a pocket for the film 15. The frame 31 is provided with binding agent 37 on its underside, with the aid of which the fastening element 25 is removably attached to the surface of the mounting sheet 1.
The upper side of the covering plastics film 35 may be written on, at least outside the film window itself.
It should be understood that if the fastening elements are placed edge to edge, i.e. without intermediate gaps such as gap 39, the mounting sheet 1 can be completely transparent with no trouble, i.e. it may lack the lines 11. It should be further understood that if the size of the film is not exactly the same as the size of the film pocket, when gaps passing through errant light can be formed between the inner edges of the frame 31 and the edges of the film, it may be suitable to make the cover film non-transparent in corresponding areas, e.g. above the indicated areas 41. Overlap between the areas 41 and the edge area of the film 15 should be as small as possible, however, to prevent masking which blanks out information. On utilizing non-transparent areas 41, the frame 31 may naturally be transparent material or binding agent.

Claims

1. A system for mounting dental X-ray films, characterized in that it comprises mounting sheets (1) each of which has transparent areas (3) for receiving X-ray films (13, 15, 17, 19) and fastening elements (23, 25, 27, 29), each of which has at least one transparent window area (35), of a size at least substantially corresponding to the size of an X-ray film, and which is surrounded by non-transparent areas (31), each fastening element on the underside of the window area being formed with a pocket (33) having a size corresponding to the size of an X-ray film, and each fastening element being provided on its underside outside the X-ray film pocket with binding agent (37) so that the fastening element can removably and thus several times be attached to a mounting sheet (1) over a transparent area (3) thereof with an X-ray in the X-ray film pocket, the X-ray film being thus mounted on the mounting sheet to lie loosely in the X-ray film pocket but retained between the mounting sheet and fastening element.

2. System as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the fastening elements (23, 25, 27, 29) are quadratic and of equal size and have an X-ray film pocket (35) with a size corresponding to full size X-ray film for certain elements and half size for certain elements, whereby a full or half size X-ray film (13, 17 or 15,19) may be optionally mounted with the same orientation on the mounting sheet (1) while taking up a predimensioned area thereon.

3. System as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each fastening element (23, 25, 27, 29) comprises an upper covering element (35) and a lower frame element (31) with at least one opening (33) corresponding to the X-ray film pocket, the covering element and frame element being joined to each other.

4. System as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the frame element (31) is made from a non-transparent material.

5. System as claimed in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the frame element comprises binding agent.

6. System as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each fastening element (23, 25, 27, 29) may be written on at least partially on its upper side outside the X-ray film window (33).

7. System as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the fastening elements (23, 25, 27, 29) are kept in a store in the form of them being mounted on a carrier while utilizing the binding agent (37) intended for attaching to the mounting sheet (1), the carrier provided with the fastening elements preferably being kept in card form or rolled up.

8. System as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the mounting sheets (1), which are preferably of somewhat reduced A5- size, are kept cohesive in rolled-up form or folded stackform, tear and/or crease lines (9) being arranged between consecutive sheets.

9. System as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the sizes of the mounting sheets (1) and fastening elements (23, 25, 27, 29) are adjusted to each other so that a predetermined number of fastening elements mounted in rows and columns cover a mounting sheet, with the exception of at least one edge area (5) which is or may be made such as can be written on.

10. System as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the mounting sheet (1) has non-transparent square markings (11) indicating the mounting positions of the fastening elements.