Abstract:
A modular beam-limiting device for use with an x-ray machine includes a base portion and an attachment portion. The base portion includes at least one magnet. The attachment portion includes at least one magnet. The base portion is adapted to be received on an x-ray tubehead housing. The attachment portion is selectively removably couplable to said base portion. The modular beam-limiting device may further include a magnetic field modulator, which is operable to shape a magnetic field; an insert for configuring a size, a shape, or an orientation of an aperture of the beam-limiting device; or an adapter for increasing an axial length of the beam-limiting device.
Abstract:
A removable radiation sensor for connecting to a panoramic dental radiation imaging system. The sensor includes a radiation sensor unit mounted in a housing. Connector bearings are positioned within the housing so as to engage with a pair of connector pins provided as part of the upright support of the imaging system. A lock pin within the housing is selectively slidable between Locked and Unlocked, and biased toward Locked. The lock includes a locking pin with a groove, and when the groove is aligned with the respective connector pin, the lock is unlocked, and that connector pin is slidable axially within the bearings. When the groove is not aligned with the connector pin, the lock is locked, the locking pin engaging with a groove formed for that purpose in the connector pin. The sensor has a field-replaceable electrical connector, to reduce maintenance cost.
Abstract:
An x-ray tube (10) includes an anode (16), a cylindrical stem (22), and a rotor (24). The rotor (24) includes a cylindrical sleeve portion (32) and a head portion (34) which are joined together at a joint (36). The joint (36) is formed by a mating of a lip (46) in the sleeve portion (32) and a lip (48) in the head portion (34). The lip (48) of the head portion (34) fits about the lip (46) of the sleeve portion (32). The sleeve portion (32) is formed of a first material and the head portion (34) is formed of a second material, the first material having a thermal expansion coefficient greater than that of the second material such that the head portion (34) expands less than the sleeve portion (32) upon heating and thereby maintains the integrity of the joint (36) inasmuch as the head portion (34) overlaps the sleeve portion ( 32) in the region of the joint (36). The stem (22) is attached to the anode (16) at a first end (50) and attached to the head portion (34) at a second end (52). The stem (22) is attached at the second end (52) by both pipe threaded engagement and by brazing. A shaft (70) is mounted within the interior of the rotor (24) and connected to the head portion (34) by screws (80) having gettering properties. The shaft (70) is supported for rotation by bearings (66), and a collar (74) is incorporated to prevent debris from entering into the bearings (66).
Abstract:
A high-voltage cable connection (10) includes a standard terminal (12) which fits into a female receptacle in apower supply or x-ray tube to make an electrical connection. A cable (14) is routed through a proximal end (30) of the terminal (12). A clamp (18) secures a jacket (42) of the cable (14) to a cap (16) at the prominal end (30). A boot (20) envelops the cable (14) at a point where the cable (14) enters the terminal (12). A collar (22) which is split into halves or segments (22A, 22B) fits conformably about a boundary formed between the proximal end (30) of the terminal (12) and the boot (20). A ring (24) fits about the collar (22) to hold the segments (22A, 22B) together. A nut (26) having an external thread portion fits over the collar (22) and the ring (24), the nut (26) being rotatable about the collar (22) and the ring (24) and mating with internal threads which form a part of the female receptacle in the power supply or the x-ray tube.
Abstract:
A patient positioning system for a panoramic dental radiation imaging system, including an upright support, and a patient positioning arm with chin rest mounted thereto. Wands are each rotatably connected to the patient positioning arm and connected together so as to move at identical angles of rotation, but in the opposite direction. Lasers, including a mid-sagittal, a Frankfort Plane, two cuspid, and one toe laser, each providing a line of visible laser light directed at a respective area of a patient's face, or at the floor, assist a technician in properly positioning the patient. A mirror is mounted to the upright support by a mechanism that permits the mirror to be pivoted outward from the support, in either of two directions, so as to enable the technician to see the lasers on the patient's face from the technician's position on either side of the positioning arm.
Abstract:
A dental x-ray apparatus (10) includes a tube head (11) formed from a cast zinc material. Structural components of tube head (11) include such component (20) formed from a plastic material impregnated with a high molecular weight substance, such as barium sulfite. X-ray apparatus 10 has a control panel (15) in close proximity to the tube head (11), and is preferably DC powered.
Abstract:
A motion system for use in a panoramic dental radiation imaging system, including apparatus for rotating an overhead arm with respect to a support column, apparatus for rotating a C-arm with respect to the overhead arm, and apparatus for moving the C-arm axially with respect to the overhead arm. The overhead arm is rotatably mounted to the support column at a rotation point. The apparatus for rotating the overhead arm is a linear actuator, one end of which is connected to the support column at a first point spaced apart from the rotation point, while the other end is connected to the overhead arm at a second point spaced apart from the rotation point and from the first point. The C-arm rotating apparatus includes a C-arm rotation motor driving a wheel, which is engaged with the C-arm in such a way that the rotation of the wheel causes rotation of the C-arm.
Abstract:
A dental x-ray apparatus (10) includes a tube head (11) formed from a cast zinc material. Structural components of tube head (11) include such component (20) formed from a plastic material impregnated with a high molecular weight substance, such as barium sulfite. X-ray apparatus 10 has a control panel (15) in close proximity to the tube head (11), and is preferably DC powered.
Abstract:
A friction control mechanism for an articulating arm including an arm, a pivot connector, an axial washer, and at least one set screw. An axial washer is placed around each side of a center aperture in the pivot connector. The pivot connector is connected to the arm with a pivot pin through the center aperture in the pivot connector and aligned holes in the first and second sides of the arm. At least one threaded hole is located adjacent the aligned hole in the first side of the arm. A set screw is placed through each threaded hole, making contact with the axial washer. This contact creates a friction force between the pivot connector and the axial washer, keeping the articulating arm from drifting away from its set position. The pivot connector may be connected to another device such as another arm or a machine such as an x-ray machine, or to another pivot connector.