Granted Patent B2

US 7,608,834 · App. 10/580,395 · Granted Oct 27, 2009

Abstract

Claims (14)

1. Dental radiology apparatus, characterized in that it comprises:

an intraoral sensor comprising a detector that includes an active pixel array produced using biCMOS technology, the active pixel array converting received x-rays into at least one analog electrical output signal,

an electronic module encapsulated in a case and which has at least one detector activation device connected to the case, the module being distinct from and linked to the sensor by a wire link for the transmission to said sensor of a detector activation signal generated in the module and for the transmission to the module of said at least one analog electrical output signal, the module having an analog-digital converter for converting said at least one analog electrical output signal into at least one digital output signal,

a remote processing and display unit of said at least one digital output signal which is linked to the electronic module by a wire link intended to ensure the transmission to the unit of said at least one digital output signal.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that the encapsulated electronic module has weight and dimensions suited to enable, when the apparatus is used, the sensor to be held in a patient's mouth when said encapsulated electronic module is suspended from said sensor.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that each wire link is a cable.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 , characterized in that each cable is inserted at one of its ends into the case, the electronic module fitted with anti-pull devices each capable of working together with one end of one of the cable to prevent removal of the corresponding cable from the case by pulling action exerted on said cable.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 , characterized in that each cable comprises a coaxial sheath with a bundle of electrical wires, opposite the end of each cable that inserts into the case, part of the wire bundle being solid with a metal anti-pull body of the corresponding anti-pull device.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 , characterized in that the electronic module comprises a printed circuit board with an overall elongated shape along a longitudinal axis and having, at each of the two opposite longitudinal ends, an axial cut-out open to an outside of the circuit to house in the longitudinal direction the metal anti-pull body and part of the corresponding wire bundle made solid and aligned, the cut-out being made to prevent removal of the body in this longitudinal direction.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 , characterized in that each metal anti-pull body comprises fitting elements arranged on opposite sides parallel to a direction of the part of the wire bundle made solid with the body and which work together with the complementary fitting elements respectively arranged on the opposite longitudinal edges of the corresponding cut-out.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 , characterized in that each part of each of the wire bundles made solid with an anti-pull body is made solid with a cylindrical drum that surrounds the anti-pull body and is held solid with the corresponding body.

9. The apparatus according to claim 6 , further comprising two metal half shells, one arranged on either side of the printed circuit board and assembled together so as to shield the printed circuit board.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that the case comprises at least two plastic parts forming a cover and which are assembled together to encapsulate the electronic module.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 , characterized in that the case comprises a drip proof surface.

Assignments (16)