JP2002360565A - Dental x-ray photographic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a dental X-ray photographic apparatus capable of performing X-ray photographing and photographing by simple operation. SOLUTION: The dental X-ray photographic apparatus 10 has an X-ray source 36, a digital camera 56 and a patient fixing part 46 for positioning a patient. This photographing apparatus has an X-ray photographic mode for photographing the patient positioned at the patient fixing part by driving the X-ray source, and a photographic mode for photographing the patient positioned at the patient fixing part by driving the camera and continuously performs the X-ray photographic mode and the photographic mode.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dental radiography apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in the field of dental treatment, particularly in the field of orthodontics, in order to present a face after correction to a patient before correction, a face before correction and a face after correction are compared. In order to present it to the patient, a pre-correction photograph showing the face taken by a digital camera was prepared, and a dentition imaged after the correction and a digital camera were taken based on the digital cephalometric data. 2. Description of the Related Art A corrected reference photograph synthesized with a face is created using an image processing technique called morphing.

For this reason, conventionally, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a patient 104 is first positioned on a patient positioning section 102 of a digital cephalometric X-ray apparatus 100 ready for radiography, and then a digital camera 106 ( Alternatively, the digital camera 106 ') provided at another position is connected to the X-ray imaging apparatus 100.
After taking a photograph of the face of the patient 104 while removing the digital camera 106 or 106 ′, the X-ray imaging apparatus 10 is positioned to perform X-ray imaging.

[0004]

However, in such a conventional imaging method, X-ray imaging and photography are performed as separate operations. Therefore, it is necessary to attach / detach the digital camera to / from the X-ray imaging apparatus, and it is necessary to adjust the focus, zoom, and camera angle of the digital camera each time a picture is taken, and further, to adjust the focus of the X-ray tube. It was necessary to match the axis (position) with the focal axis (position) of the digital camera, both of which were time consuming.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a dental X-ray imaging apparatus which does not require the above-mentioned operation.

[0006]

To achieve this object, a dental X-ray apparatus according to the present invention comprises an X-ray source, a camera, a patient fixing unit for positioning a patient, and the X-ray source. An X-ray imaging mode in which the patient positioned by driving the camera is cephalometrically photographed; a photographing mode in which the camera is driven to image the patient positioned by the patient fixing portion; And a control unit for continuously executing the photographing mode.

A dental X-ray imaging apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention includes a mechanism for moving the X-ray source and a mechanism for moving the camera, wherein the control unit controls the mechanism, and The position of the X-ray source in the X-ray imaging mode is substantially matched with the position of the camera in the photographing mode.

[0008] A dental X-ray imaging apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention includes a single switch, and based on a signal from the switch, the controller continuously switches between the X-ray imaging mode and the photographing mode. It is characterized by executing.

A dental X-ray imaging apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the camera is a digital camera.

A dental X-ray imaging apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention includes a panoramic X-ray imaging apparatus.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dental X-ray imaging apparatus, wherein a scale plate and / or a beam pointing means for positioning a patient are provided on a slit plate provided on a patient fixing portion for the cephalometric imaging. It is characterized by.

[0012]

FIG. 1 shows a dental X-ray imaging apparatus 10 according to the present invention.
2 and a cephalometric X-ray imaging unit (device) 14. The panoramic X-ray imaging unit 12 includes a column 18 fixed to a floor 16 of a building (not shown) that accommodates the X-ray imaging apparatus 10.
Having. The column 18 supports an elevating frame 20 that moves up and down along the column. The elevating frame 20 includes a vertical portion 22 extending vertically along the column 18, and an upper protruding portion 24 protruding forward from an upper portion of the vertical portion 22.
And a lower protruding portion (patient fixing portion) 26 protruding forward from a lower portion of the vertical portion 22. The upper projecting portion 24 includes a vertical axis (not shown), a mechanism for rotating the vertical axis (rotation mechanism), and a mechanism for moving the vertical axis forward, backward, left and right in a horizontal plane (horizontal movement mechanism). A mechanism 66 is provided, and the swing arm 28 is supported on the vertical axis. The turning arm 28 includes a horizontal part 30 supported on a vertical axis, an X-ray irradiator 32 provided at one end of the horizontal part 30, and a first X-ray for panoramic X-ray photography provided at the other end of the horizontal part 30. And a line image receiving section 34. X
The X-ray irradiator 32 is connected to a rotating mechanism 68 that rotates the X-ray irradiator 32 with respect to the horizontal unit 30 about a vertical axis (not shown). The X-ray source (X-ray tube) 36 and this X-ray A primary slit plate 69 having a slit (primary slit) 67 for emitting X-rays emitted from the source 36 is provided. On the other hand, the X-ray image receiving unit 34 has a slit plate 38 having a panorama secondary slit for transmitting X-rays emitted from the X-ray source 36 through the primary slit 67, and is detachably mounted behind the slit plate 38. A digital X-ray receiver 40 such as a first CCD sensor is provided. Therefore, X is applied to the head of the patient P positioned on the lower protrusion 26.
X-rays are emitted from the radiation source 36 through the primary slit 67,
By receiving the X-ray transmitted through the patient through the secondary slit with the X-ray image receiving body 40, it is possible to take a panoramic X-ray image of the target site of the patient. At the time of this panoramic X-ray imaging, the swivel arm 28 moves along a predetermined trajectory while rotating according to the imaging purpose or the site.

The cephalometric X-ray unit 14 has a horizontal frame 42 extending horizontally from the lifting frame 20. The free end of the horizontal frame 42 supports a horizontal support 44. The horizontal support section 44 includes a patient fixing section (head fixing section) 46 for positioning the head of the patient P. The horizontal support unit 44 also includes an X-ray image receiving unit 48 including a second CCD sensor for cephalometric X-ray imaging and a slit plate 50 disposed on both sides of the patient fixing unit 46. A second digital X-ray receiver 52 is accommodated in the section 48 so as to be detachable and movable in the horizontal direction, and a secondary slit 54 is formed in the slit plate 50. These second X-ray image receiving unit 48 and slit plate 50
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a first position (the cephalometric imaging position in FIG. 2) located on both sides of the patient fixing portion 46 and a second position retracted backward from both sides of the patient fixing portion 46 (Photographing position in FIG. 3). Therefore, the second X-ray image receiving unit 48 and the slit plate 5
Numeral 0 is connected to the horizontal support 44 via a horizontal moving mechanism 64. The horizontal movement mechanism 64 is also operatively connected to a primary slit plate 69 arranged near the X-ray source 36, and the primary slit plate 69 is located in front of the X-ray source 36 at the cephalometric imaging position shown in FIG. And functions as a cephalometric slit. Although the image receiving section 48 is described using a CCD sensor as an example, other digital X-ray sensors may be used. Alternatively, an image may be taken using an X-ray film and converted into a digital signal by a scanner.

The X-ray imaging apparatus 10 also includes a digital camera 56 fixed to the X-ray irradiator 32 for photographing a patient positioned at the cephalometric imaging position, as shown in FIGS. ing. In addition, the digital camera 56
The computer 72 synthesizes the photographic image of the patient P photographed in the above and the correction data based on the X-ray image data of the patient P obtained by the cephalometric X-ray photography, and continuously performs the photography and the X-ray photography. In order to perform this, the control unit 5 shown in FIG.
8 (see FIG. 4). As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 58 controls the primary slit plate 69 of the X-ray source 36,
A horizontal moving mechanism driving unit 64 for horizontally driving the line image receiving unit 48 and the slit plate 50;
6. The control unit 58 is electrically connected to the horizontal rotation mechanism 68 of the X-ray irradiation unit 32 and the imaging start switch 70, and the control unit 58 controls each drive unit at a predetermined timing based on a signal from the start switch 70. To work with.

A control unit 58 which continuously processes cephalometric X-ray photography and photography to acquire information necessary for morphing.
Will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, as shown in FIG. 1 to FIG.
6, the patient P is positioned at the cephalometric imaging position.
From this state, when the operator turns on the start switch 70 and the imaging is instructed from the control unit 58 based on the signal, the apparatus enters the X-ray imaging mode. Next, the horizontal rotation mechanism 68 of the X-ray irradiation unit 32 and the rotation and movement mechanism 66 of the turning arm 28 are driven, and the X-ray source 36, the primary slit plate 69, the second X-ray image receiving unit 48, the slit plate 50 Are arranged on the same straight line (see FIG. 2).

If necessary, a first panoramic radiography
The X-ray image receiving unit 34 may be retracted upward or forward and backward.
Next, X-rays are emitted from the X-ray source 36. At the same time, while driving the horizontal moving mechanism driving unit 64 to synchronize the second X-ray image receiving unit 48 with the secondary slit plate 50 and the primary slit plate 69 and move in the horizontal direction at a predetermined speed, different patients P The X-ray that has passed through the site is received by the second X-ray image receiving body 52. Note that the X-ray source 36 does not need to rotate with respect to the swivel arm 28 during imaging.

When the cephalometric radiography is completed, the mode is shifted to the photographing mode while the patient P is held in the patient fixing section 46. In this photographing mode, first, the horizontal moving mechanism driving unit 66 is driven to drive the second X-ray image receiving unit 48 and the slit plate 50.
To the photographing position. Further, the rotation arm 28 is rotated and / or moved by driving the rotation arm rotation and movement mechanism 66, and the digital camera 56 is installed at or near the place where the X-ray source 36 was located at the time of X-ray imaging. Is also good. If necessary, the digital camera 56 is adjusted. When the adjustment of the digital camera 56 is completed, the control unit 5
8 starts the digital camera 56 via the digital camera driving unit 62. This started the photography,
The patient P positioned by the patient fixing part 46 is imaged.

When the photographing is completed, the X-ray photographed image data and the digital photographic image data are input (transferred) to a computer 72 (see FIG. 1) equipped with morphing software, and the two images are combined before and after correction. An image reflecting the face is created.

A slit plate 50 provided on the patient fixing portion 46 for the cephalometric imaging is provided with a scale plate (not shown) that is opaque to X-rays and a beam pointing means (not shown) for positioning the patient, as necessary. May be. If the scale plate is made of a slit plate 50 in which thin lines of lead or the like that are difficult to transmit X-rays are horizontally arranged at regular intervals in the slits 54 of the slit plate 50 and the slit plate 50 is detachable, a horizontal scale line appears in the X-ray image. An image is obtained. If the scale plate is fixed to the head fixing portion 46 before or after the secondary slit plate 50 or in front of the X-ray image receiving portion 48 and is mounted so as to cover the entire head, a grid-like scale is formed. A captured cephalometric X-ray image is obtained. Further, the positioning beam indicating means may indicate the Frankfurt plane using a laser pointer or the like.

As described above, the above-described operations of X-ray photography and photography can be continuously performed based on one activation switch 70 or a signal. However, if necessary, X
A start switch for line imaging and a start switch for photography may be provided, and each of these switches may be activated when the operator turns on these switches. In this case, it is possible to perform only X-ray photography or photography alone. Further, it is naturally possible to take out the image data of the X-ray photography and the image data of the photography independently from the computer 72 and process them, or store them in another medium. Furthermore, in the above description, X-ray photography is performed first, and then photography is performed. However, photography may be performed first, and then the procedure may shift to X-ray photography. Furthermore, in the above description, a digital camera is used for photographing, but an analog camera may be used. In this case, before starting the morphing, it is necessary to digitize the image taken by the analog camera to create image data necessary for the morphing.

[0021]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the dental X-ray imaging apparatus of the present invention, it is not necessary to attach or detach a digital camera every time a photograph is taken. In addition, every time you take a photo, you can adjust the focal length, zoom,
There is no need to adjust the camera angle. Furthermore, the focal axis (position) of the X-ray tube and the focal axis (position) of the digital camera
There is no need to match with Since there is almost no distortion between the X-ray image and the photographic image, the process of correcting the distortion at the time of morphing becomes unnecessary, and morphing can be performed in a short time. In addition, cephalometric analysis and patient positioning can be easily performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a dental X-ray imaging apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the dental X-ray imaging apparatus showing a state of an X-ray imaging mode.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the dental X-ray apparatus showing a state of a photographing mode.

FIG. 4 is a circuit configuration diagram including a control unit.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing control contents of a control unit.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a conventional dental X-ray imaging apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the dental X-ray imaging apparatus shown in FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

 10: Dental X-ray imaging apparatus 12: Panoramic X-ray imaging section (apparatus) 14: Cephalometric X-ray imaging section (apparatus) 36: X-ray source 46: Patient fixing section 56: Digital camera 58: Control section

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A dental X-ray imaging apparatus, comprising: an X-ray source, a camera, a patient fixing unit for positioning a patient, and a patient positioned on the patient fixing unit by driving the X-ray source. An X-ray imaging mode for cephalometric imaging, a photographing mode for driving the camera to image a patient positioned on the patient fixing unit, and a control unit for continuously executing the X-ray imaging mode and the photographing mode. A dental X-ray imaging apparatus comprising: 2. A mechanism for moving the X-ray source, and a mechanism for moving the camera, wherein the control unit controls the mechanism, the position of the X-ray source in the X-ray imaging mode, and the photograph The dental X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position of the camera in the imaging mode is substantially matched. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising one switch, wherein the control unit continuously executes the X-ray imaging mode and the photographing mode based on a signal from the switch. The dental X-ray imaging apparatus according to any one of the above. 4. The dental X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the camera is a digital camera. 5. The dental X-ray apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a panoramic X-ray imaging apparatus.
X-ray equipment. 6. A dental instrument according to claim 1, wherein a scale plate and / or a beam pointing means for positioning the patient are provided on a slit plate provided on the patient fixing portion for the cephalometric imaging. X-ray imaging device.