FI118588B - Method for X-ray of head and neck area - Google Patents

Description

/ 118588

Method for X-ray of head and neck area

The present invention relates to a method for x-raying the head and neck region.

5

Traditionally, exposure of dental films and digital imaging sensors (radiation sensitive semiconductor sensor, e.g., CCD sensor or other sensor imaging system producing digital imaging information) to imaging the head and neck region has been treated with an intraoral X-ray device.

In order to produce three-dimensional X-rays, as disclosed, e.g., in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,668,844 and 5,359,637, the sensor must be exposed in different directions. Intra-X-ray equipment does not allow for automated multi-directional exposure and it is demanding to obtain reliable results with manual operation.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel method for imaging the head and neck region, particularly for producing three-dimensional X-rays. . * t as required. To this end,. The process according to the invention is characterized by the features set forth in the characterizing part of claim <** ".

In the following, the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic front view of a conventional panoramic X-ray device with a stationary sensor, * * • * 'Figure 2 is a top view of the device of Figure 1, and II ·' '. * · Fig. 3 schematically shows a possible range of motion of an x-ray source.

The method according to the invention can be carried out, for example, with the panoramic X-ray apparatus λ 118588 2 1 according to Figs. 1 and 2, comprising a support arm 8 connected to a vertical column 2 with a motorized rotor 7 arranged at its front. The rotor can rotate about the vertical axis 6. The rotor 7 is connected to a film cassette or other sensor portion 4 5 for receiving X-rays in conventional panoramic imaging, and an X-ray source branch 3 opposite the portion 4 to be used in the method of the invention. 10 6 patient support on.

The device according to the invention can also be implemented with a panoramic X-ray apparatus other than that shown in Figures 1 and 2, in which a motorized rotor 7 containing an X-ray source is arranged on a support arm so that the rotor can rotate about a certain or any horizontal axis.

In the method, the patient is positioned in the device, for example, such that the sensor 5 enters the patient's mouth, behind the subject, e.g., a tooth, as viewed from the x-ray source and x-rayed; the gen source is moved to expose the sensor from different directions * '**. In the method, the motion of the X-ray source is stopped for each ** ··· exposure in the desired direction. When the light is ... 25, the sensor forwards the received image information, eg to a microprocessor, for further processing. and is then ready for a new exposure from a new direction. Preferably, the method is implemented such that stops and exposures from different directions are automatically made in accordance with a predetermined program. X-ray,. The source of rotation about its articulation axis »6 in Fig. 1 to depict the subject may be selected * · * · * experimentally and is preferably about 10-40 degrees, but may also be smaller or larger. When using ·· »35 panoramic X-ray equipment other than that shown in Figure 1, in which a rotator with a * · * '* X-ray source is suspended such that: *. the rotor can rotate a particular horizontal axis «♦ '·, * ·; around, the angle of rotation of the X-ray source about its articulation axis to illustrate the subject can be experimentally selected and 118588 3 is preferably about 10-40 degrees, but the angle may also be less or greater. When using a panoramic X-ray apparatus other than that shown in Figure 1, in which the X-ray-containing rotor is suspended so that the rotor can rotate about any horizontal axis, the X-ray source may move, for example, on the surface of the spherical caliper 9 shown preferably about 10-20 degrees, but the angle may also be 10 degrees or less. The number of radiation directions within said angle range can be experimentally selected and can be, for example, 5-7, but also more or less.

The method of the invention may also be implemented by placing the sensor 5 outside the patient's mouth at an object to be imaged, e.g., a tooth or jaw joint, and moving the x-ray source so that the x-ray source illuminates from different directions to the patient's head.

Exposures produced by the method can be used to produce a 1-dimensional X-ray image, e.g., as disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,668,844 and 5,359,637.

IM

* ·· 1 25 Values used in the method (voltage kV, current mA

i t J

V. and time s) can be manually selected or the device can select • 1 i,: automatically.

30 The X-ray source can move normally along circular curves or, with certain devices, move along * · 2 straight paths.

• M

• · • · * * • · · ··· * ·· • · • • »• · ♦

* I

· 2 • I • ·

Claims (5)

118588 A method for X-ray imaging of an object located in the head and neck region, such as a portion of a tooth arch or a tooth or jaw joint, characterized in that the method employs a stationary digital image sensor (5) and a panoramic X-ray device (1) the sensor (5) is disposed within the X-ray source radiation field of the panoramic x-ray device; that in method 10, the patient is positioned within the device such that the sensor (5) is positioned in the patient's mouth or outside the mouth of the subject at the point of imaging from behind the X-ray source; moving the x-ray source of the device (1) to expose the sensor (5) from different directions; and that the X-ray source is stopped during exposure in each desired direction. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the stops and exposures from different directions occur automatically. A method according to claim 1 or 2,; : 1; characterized in that various directions of exposure are used to produce a three-dimensional X-ray image of the subject. • · • · · • · '··; 1 The method according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the imaging values (kv, mA and s) are selected manually. 30: 1 · 1: Method according to one of claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the imaging values (kv, mA * · · '• and s) are automatically selected by the device. ·· 1 1111 ··· • 1 • • · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ··· ··· ···