Dental X-ray device and X-ray sensor
A dental radiography device has an X-ray sensor ( 12 ) with a sensitive surface ( 22 ) for detecting X-rays and oriented towards the front face ( 16 ) of the sensor and a device for positioning the sensor made up of a receiver ( 32 ), for receiving the sensor, and an oblong arm ( 34 ) with an end ( 35 ) fixed to the receiver and an outwardly directed portion ( 34 B) extending towards the front of the sensor and intended to extend out of the mouth of a patient, the receiver contained in a rear cylindrical space ( 33 B) extending at the rear of a rear face ( 18 ) of the sensor opposite the front face ( 16 ), the rear cylindrical space ( 33 B) defined by movement, along a lateral edge of the sensor, of a generating straight line ( 333 ) perpendicular to the sensitive surface.
1. A dental radiography device comprising:
an X-ray sensor ( 12 ; 112 ) which comprises a sensitive surface ( 22 ; 122 ) which is capable of detecting X-rays of an X-ray beam, the sensitive surface ( 22 ; 122 ) being oriented towards a front face ( 16 ; 116 ) of the sensor ( 12 ; 112 ); and
a device for positioning the X-ray sensor comprising:
a receiver ( 32 ; 132 ) for receiving the X-ray sensor ( 12 ; 112 ), the receiver ( 32 ; 132 ) and the received X-ray sensor ( 12 ; 112 ) being intended to be positioned in the mouth of a patient, behind the teeth of the patient to be radiographed, and
an oblong arm ( 34 ; 134 ) which is intended to extend out of the mouth of the patient, the oblong arm ( 34 ; 134 ) comprising:
an end ( 35 ; 135 ) fixed to the receiver ( 32 ; 132 ), and
an outwardly directed portion ( 34 B; 134 B) which extends forward of the sensor ( 12 ; 112 ) and which is intended to extend out of the mouth of the patient,
the dental radiography device being characterised in that the receiver ( 32 ; 132 ) is contained in a rear cylindrical space ( 33 B; 133 B) which extends at the rear of a rear face ( 18 ; 118 ) of the X-ray sensor ( 12 ; 112 ), opposite the front face ( 16 ; 116 ), the rear cylindrical space ( 33 B; 133 B) being defined by a movement, along a lateral edge of the sensor ( 12 ; 112 ), of a generating straight line ( 333 ) which is perpendicular relative to the sensitive surface ( 22 ; 122 ), one of the receiver ( 32 ; 132 ) or the X-ray sensor ( 12 ; 112 ) comprises a pin ( 26 ; 126 ), the other of the receiver ( 32 ; 132 ) or the X-ray sensor ( 12 ; 112 ) comprises a piece ( 38 ; 137 ) for receiving the pin ( 26 ; 126 ), the pin ( 126 ) comprises first energy and data exchange means ( 140 ), and the receiver ( 138 ) comprises second energy and data exchange means ( 142 ), cooperating with the first energy and data exchange means ( 140 ).
2. The dental radiography device according to claim 1 , further characterised in that the receiver ( 32 ; 132 ) is configured to allow rotation of the X-ray sensor ( 12 ; 112 ) about an axis of rotation (XX′) extending within five millimeters or less of a centre ( 24 ; 124 ) of the sensitive surface ( 22 ; 122 ).
3. The dental radiography device according to claim 2 , further characterised in that:
the sensitive surface ( 22 ) is substantially rectangular and comprises a long side ( 150 ), and the X-ray sensor is capable of rotating about the axis of rotation (XX′) in order to take up:
a first position, in which the outwardly directed portion is offset from the centre ( 24 ; 124 ) of the sensitive surface ( 22 ; 122 ) in accordance with an axis YY′ which is substantially parallel with the long side ( 150 ) of the sensitive surface ( 22 ; 122 ),
a second position, in which the outwardly directed portion is offset from the centre ( 24 ; 124 ) of the sensitive surface ( 22 ; 122 ), obliquely relative to the long side ( 150 ) of the sensitive surface ( 22 ; 122 ), and
a third position, which is a mirror image of the second position relative to a straight line which is parallel with the long side ( 150 ) and which extends through the centre ( 24 ; 124 ).
4. The dental radiography device according to claim 2 , further characterised in that
one of the receiver ( 32 ; 132 ) or the X-ray sensor ( 12 ; 112 ) comprises a pin ( 26 ; 126 ) and
the other of the receiver ( 32 ; 132 ) or the X-ray sensor ( 12 ; 112 ) comprises a piece ( 38 ; 137 ) for receiving the pin ( 26 ; 126 ) and
the pin ( 26 ; 126 ) is capable of rotating in the receiving piece ( 38 ; 137 ) about the axis of rotation (XX′).
5. The dental radiography device according to claim 1 , further characterised in that the receiver ( 32 ; 132 ) is configured to allow rotation of the X-ray sensor ( 12 ; 112 ) about an axis of rotation (XX′) extending at a centre of the sensitive surface ( 22 ; 122 ).
6. The dental radiography device according to claim 1 , further characterised in that it comprises a positioning piece ( 40 ; 140 ) which is fixed to the oblong arm ( 34 ; 134 ) and which is intended to be applied against a cylinder for indicating the position of an X-ray generator which is configured to generate an X-ray beam about a director axis, the positioning piece ( 40 ; 140 ) being such that, when the positioning piece ( 40 ; 140 ) is applied against the cylinder for indicating the position:
the director axis of the X-ray beam extends within five millimeters or less of a centre ( 24 ; 124 ) of the sensitive surface ( 22 ; 122 ), and
the sensitive surface ( 22 ; 122 ) is perpendicular to the director axis to within five degrees, preferably the director axis of the X-ray beam is in alignment with the axis of rotation (XX′).
7. The dental radiography device according to claim 1 , further characterised in that:
the X-ray sensor ( 12 ; 112 ) comprises the pin ( 26 ; 126 ), the pin ( 26 ; 126 ) projecting backwards,
the receiver ( 32 ; 132 ) comprises the piece ( 38 ; 137 ) for receiving the pin ( 26 ; 126 ).
8. The dental radiography device according to claim 7 , further characterised in that the X-ray sensor ( 12 ) comprises a data transfer cable ( 30 ) and in that the cable ( 30 ) extends out of the pin ( 26 ).
9. The dental radiography device according to claim 8 , further characterised in that the device for positioning the X-ray sensor further comprises a system ( 52 , 54 ) for guiding the cable ( 30 ).
10. The dental radiography device according to claim 1 , further characterised in that the first energy and data exchange means ( 140 ) and the second energy and data exchange means ( 142 ) are configured to exchange data via rotating electrical contacts.
11. The dental radiography device according to claim 1 , further characterised in that the first energy and data exchange means ( 140 ) and the second energy and data exchange means ( 142 ) are configured to exchange data via electromagnetic coupling.
12. The dental radiography device according to claim 1 , further characterised in that the first energy and data exchange means ( 140 ) and the second energy and data exchange means ( 142 ) are configured to exchange data via electromagnetic inductive coupling.