US2976416A

US2976416A - Dental x-ray apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2976416A
Application number: US750043A
Authority: US
Inventors: Irving A Ellman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1958-07-21
Filing date: 1958-07-21
Publication date: 1961-03-21
Anticipated expiration: 1978-03-21

Description

Filed July 21, 1958 FIG. 2.

M s h a a. m@ y r .41 i F M -m III/I'll United States 2,97 6,416 DENTAL X-RAY APPARATUS Irving A. Ellman, 1624 Sherbourne Road,

Valley Stream, N.Y.

Filed July 21, 1958, Ser. No. 750,043

Claims. (Cl. 25065) ment presently in common use is of the high voltage type,-

and consequently requires transformers and vacuum tubes.

' These elements are relatively bulky, hence the tubes and source of the X-rays must be positioned outside of the patients mouth.

Another aim of the present invention is to simplify the process of producing dental radiographs. In the present art of dental radiography, all techniques depend on a combination of angulations, which relate the head position, the angle of the tooth to be X-rayed, the angle of the photographic film, and the angle of the X-rays, to produce a radiograph which is as true to tooth size' as possible. Because of the presence of the tongue and the arched shape of the palate it is very diificult to place the film in the same relative position for each patient. As a result, angulations must be changed for each patient and for each separate radiograph. The source of the X-rays in the present invention is a radioactive isotope of pin point size, which may be centered inside the dental arch. The X-rays radiate from it like the spokes of a wheel, through the teeth to the fihn outside the dental arch.

.The angular relationship betweenthe X-rays, the teeth and the film is constant and remains so-for all patients, eliminating the need. for angular determinations.

Still another object of the present invention is to. produce an improved dental radiograph. .With present-day high voltage X-ray equipment, which is positioned outside a patients mouth, it isnecessary to take 16 separate '1 inch radiographs, to completely examine the mouth. Not only is it time consuming'to expose, develop and'mount 16 separate films, but it is difficult to read each film because of a small amount of overlapping which is necessarytO prevent omissionof any details. Since the device, which is the subject-matter. of the present application makes itpossible to position the film closer. to and more parallel to theteeth', the final radiographic image will be sharper and less distorted. V

; And a yet furthe'r purpose of the present invention is to provide means whereby all ofthe teeth'in a patients mouth will appear on a single film somewhat larger in size than the filmpresently in use, the teeth being filmed as they actuallyuappear in the mouth, thereby making it easier for a dentist to take, develop and read the film.

A further advantage of the present invention is to make it possible to take dental X-rays without a source of electricity. V

Another aim of the present invention is to reduce the ateIItC amount of radiation to a patient. With the apparatus of the present invention, the amount of radiation exposure necessary to make an exposure of all the teeth in a patients mouth on 1 film, is the same as that which'is necessary for a single X ray by the 16 series method presently. The radiation doseage to the patient is'therefore in use. I reduced considerably.

I 7 These and other meritorious aims and advantages, which will becomemorefully apparent as the description'hereof proceeds, are attained by the novel construction and combination of few and simple parts, hereinafter described,

and illustrated 'in the accompanying drawing, forming a material component of the present application, and in which:

. inside of the patients mouth.

Fig. 1a is a view similar to Fig; 1, but showing the right hand side of a patients mouth and further illustrating the film positioned outside the mouth.

Fig. 2'is an enlarged rearview of the lead container, partly in section to showthe interior construction.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view, partly in section,

drawn to an enlarged scale and showing the lead container open. V 1 f Fig. is a view of the device similar to Fig. 3 with the lead container closed.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the device which constitutes the subject-matter of the present invention.

1 Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the free end of the cable control.

Broadly, the present invention comprises a plastic (radioparentl bite plate on which is mounted a lead-(raw diopaque) base having a hingedly secured lead cover. I The said radiopaque base or box contains asegmentof a radio-active isotope such as cesium 137, the radio emis-" sion strength of which corresponds to that of-the average 9 dental X-ray tube now commonly in use; The said lead box is opened and closed by means of a cable, the cover serving as a protective cover as well as a means for makby a pin 5 to the rear edge of the lead base 2. Pin 5 1 also has secured thereto a spring 6, whereby the lead cover 4is closed. The X-rays from the radioactive isotope 3, radiate outwardly through the teeth 7 to produce a radiograph on a photographic film 11.

film directly as in Fig. l or whether the rays first pass through the cheek and lip tissues 10, as in Fig. 1a, before 7 striking the photographic film 11a because compared to the density of tooth structure, the cheek tissues are radio-f j lucent.

Referring to Figures 2, 3 and 4 of the drawing, a wire cable 8 extends in part through a transversly directed opening through the center of the bite plate 1. When the bite plate 1 .is positioned in a patients mouth, a partfof wire 9 will extend outwardly and this outwardly extending 5 portion is entered into and retained in an inwardly thread-p ed fitting 9. Near its other end, the said wire passes out of the central opening in bite plate 1 through an opening in the normally underside of the bite plate. Wire 8 then advances rearwardly to the normally inner edge. of plate 1 and then upwardly behind the lead cover 4 where it 2,916, 6 I Patented M It does not matter whether the rays, after passing through the teeth hit the V in the following manner.

-maxillary and mandibular frames.

retained in an opening in the lead cover4 at the rear edge screw fitting which is adapted to be enteredinto fitting 9. To the other end of cable 14, is connected a cross bar 15, which can be pulled back in groove22. in control cable housing 16. The rear opening of control housing 16 has an inside thread into which screws thumbrest 17. Return spring 18 is inside control cable housing 16 and helps to return all the cables helping cover 4 to close'after exposure is made.

A suitable timing device may be added to

parts

15, 16, 17, so that exposures may be automatically timed. Another choice, is a separate timer, with its own permanently connected

cable parts

13, 14, which can be connected directly to fitting 9.

Although in this apparatusthe control of exposure is through a cable, a variation ispossible where the patient can, by clenching the teeth on a double plastic bite plate open the lead container, and make the exposure. .By unclenching the teeth, the patient can close the lead container and stop the radiation. This type of apparatus would have an advantatge in that no hole would be necessary in the film, for a cable control to pass through.

The apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 through 6 operates Two kinds of film arepreferably used in connection with the present device, a large film when it is necessary to take an .Xray of the entire mouth, and a small film when it is necessary to X-ray only .a part of the mouth. The larger film, which is applied outside the patients mouth is provided with a slot through which the control mechanism is adapted to pass. This film is also preferably provided with an elastic band whereby the film is held in place while the exposure is made. A smaller film may be used inside the mouth. This film preferably has a groove centered on its upper and lower edge so that it will not interfere with the Fitting 9 of' plastic plate 1 is slipped through the center hole of a film then control

cable

13, 14, 15, 16, is screwed into fitting 9. Plastic plate 1 is placed inside the mouth of the patient and the patient is instructed to close the teeth on it. The film 7 is now adapted to the patients lips andcheeks, and the elastic band is carried over the top of the patients head and slipped down to the back of the head where it will exert a pull on the film keeping closely adapted to the patients face. The dentist now takes the

control cable

15, 17, between his thumb and index and forefinger. He now moves to the back of the patient,.so thathe will not stand in the path of the direct X-rays. By squeezing the

control

15, 17, he opens the cover 4 of lead container 2, permitting the rays to radiate from the isotope 3, through the teeth 7, exposing the photographic film 11. When enough exposure has been given he releases the control, 15, 17, and the lead container closes stopping the radiation of X-rays from the isotope 3. Plastic plate 1 is now removed from the mouth of the patient,

cable

13, 14, 15, 16, 17, disconnected from fitting 9 and film 11 is removed and is now ready to be developed in the dark room, in a developing solution and fixed in a hypo solution after which it can be read.

The apparatus is used in the same way for the smaller film except that the smaller film'is placed inside the lips and the cheeks against the outside of the patients teeth.

The apparatus can also be used to .take an X-ray on a regular 1 inch size radiographic 'film where an X-ray of only 2 or 3 teeth is wanted, as for example, in the case of a tooth ache. In this case the plate 1 and cable 13 are connected. The plate 1 is placed in the month between the teeth, and the small film is placed on the outside of the teeth desired to be X-rayed and held there by the patient while the exposure is made.

Having thus shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination and arrangement, but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for taking a radiograph of the teeth consisting of a flat plastic plate, shaped straight in the back and curved at the sides to match the arch of the teeth, and having a handle projecting out of the front with a hole in it which is placed and held between the teeth of the patient and which has on its rear edge a rectangular lead container made up of a lead base and a hinged cover, which hinge has a self closing spring incorporated in it, and which lead container encloses a small piece of radioactive isotope, and has a small loop on the back top of its lead cover to which is connected a thin braided 'cable said cable passes down behind the lead container and under the plastic bite plate, then coming forward to an opening in the center of the under surface of the plastic plate where it is connected to a wire rod which passes forward through a hole in the center of the plastic plate, and terminates at the front end of the plastic handle in an inside thread fitting, to which is connected a screw fitting on the end of a sheathed cable, said cable terminates in a control that when squeezed by the dentist produces a pulling action on the cables transmitting this" jaws.

2. An apparatus for taking radiographs of the teeth, said apparatus comprising a radiolucent bite plate shaped to conform to the contour of the arch of the teeth, said bite plate-adapted to be positioned in the month between the upper and the lower teeth, a handle extending outwardly from said bite plate, an opening extending centrally therethrough and through said bite plate, a lead container on the normally upper surface of said bite plate, a cover hingedly connected thereto, spring means normally retaining said cover in closed position upon said lead container, a segment of radioactive isotope in said lead container, and manually operable means extending through the opening in the bite plate to open said cover whereby the isotope will radiate X-rays to expose a photographic film.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2, wherein one end of said manually operable means is attached to said lead cover, said other end of said manually operable means extending outwardly through said handle, and outward pulling of saidsecond named end causing said first named end to open the radiopaque cover against the action of said spring.

4. An apparatus for the purpose defined, said apparatus comprising a radiolucent bite plate adapted to be removably positioned in a persons mouth between the upper and lower teeth, said bite plate terminating in a handle portion extending out of the person's mouth, a radiopaque base on said bite plate, a hinged cover for said base, spring means normally urging said cover to close said base, a segment of radioactive isotope in said base, and manually operable means extending through said handle and said bite plate and terminating in said cover,'said manually operable means opening said cover releasably against the action of said spring to expose f an X-ray film.

5. A device for the purpose described as set forth in claim 2, wherein said manually operable means comprise a wire, said wire extending through and out of said bite 2 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Forde et a1. Oct. 11, 1932 Resler Apr. 4, 1950 Shapiro Oct. 14, 1952 Stewart et a1. Apr. 13, 1954 'Untermyer July 2, 1957 Butler Apr. 1, 1958 Costello July 15, 1958