Flexible intra-oral x-ray imaging device

1. An electronic intra-oral x-ray sensor, comprising:

a single flexible solid-state imager, having a single continuous detector that is made of flexible material; and

a housing containing a rigid mating portion that includes a read-out circuit, the rigid mating portion being housed separate from and physically mated with the imager, at least electrically connected to the imager, said read-out circuit adapted to actively obtain image data from the imager.

2. A sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible solid-state imager is sized to fit within a patient's mouth.

3. A sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible solid-state imager and the rigid mating portion are sized to both fit within a patient's mouth.

4. A sensor according to claim 1 ,

wherein the flexible solid-state imager includes an array of solid-state imaging devices, and the array is an away of a plurality of flexible TFTs, and

wherein each TFT of the away corresponds to a pixel of an image.

5. A sensor according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a scintillator, which converts x-ray photons to visible-light photons; and

a FOP, which attenuates x-ray photons that pass through the scintillator without being convened to visible-light photons.

6. A sensor according to claim 1 , further comprising a FOP doped with a scintillating material that converts x-ray photons to visible-light photons.

7. A sensor according to claim 1 , further comprising a photoconductor, wherein x-rays absorbed by the photoconductor directly cause generation of charge carriers in the photoconductor.

8. A sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible solid-state imager is detachable from the rigid mating portion, and wherein the flexible solid-state imager is disposable.

9. A sensor according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a wireless transmitter, which transmits the image data to an external device, and

a battery, which provides electrical power for operating the read-out circuit and the solid-state imager.

10. A sensor according to claim 1 , further comprising a USB interface, which transmits the image data to an external device according to USB standards.

11. A sensor according to claim 1 , further comprising a flexible housing, wherein the flexible solid-state imager is contained within the housing,

wherein the housing is impervious to liquids, and

wherein the housing is transparent to x-rays.

12. A sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the rigid portion is comprised of a plurality of rigid circuit portions that are separate from each other, and wherein the plurality of rigid circuit portions are electrically connected to wiring interconnections arranged in or on the flexible solid state imager.

13. An electronic intra-oral x-ray sensor, comprising:

a flexible solid-state imager, made of flexible material, that includes an away of TFTs; and

a housing containing a rigid mating circuitry portion that includes:

a read-out circuit, which actively obtains image data from the array, and

a control circuit, which provides signals for controlling the array,

wherein the rigid mating circuitry portion is housed separate from and physically mated with the imager and is at least electrically connected to the imager.

14. A sensor according to claim 13 , wherein the flexible solid-state imager is detachable from the rigid mating circuitry portion.

15. A sensor according to claim 13 , wherein the flexible solid-state imager is adapted to receive incident x-ray radiation from an x-ray source.

16. A sensor according to claim 13 , wherein the flexible solid-state imager is sized to fit within a patient's mouth.

17. A sensor according to claim 13 , wherein the flexible solid-state imager and the rigid mating circuitry portion are sized to both fit within a patient's mouth.

18. A sensor according to claim 13 , further comprising:

a transmitter, which transmits the image data to an external device.

19. A sensor according to claim 13 ,

wherein the rigid circuitry portion is comprised of a plurality of rigid portions that are separate from each other, and

wherein the plurality of rigid portions are electrically connected to wiring interconnections arranged in or on the flexible solid-state imager.

20. An electronic intra-oral x-ray sensor, comprising:

detection means for detecting incident x-rays, the detection means being made of flexible material; and

housing means that houses read-out means for actively reading out data from the detection means, the read-out means being housed separate from, physically mated with, and at least electrically connected to the detecting means and being physically rigid.

21. An electronic intra-oral x-ray sensor, comprising:

a single flexible solid-state imager, having a single continuous detector that is made of flexible material; and

a housing containing a rigid mating portion that includes a processing circuit, the rigid mating portion being housed separate from and physically mated with the imager, at least electrically connected to the imager, said processing circuit adapted to actively process image data from the imager.

22. A sensor according to claim 21 , wherein the processing circuit comprises a read-out circuit adapted to obtain image data from the imager.