High resolution imaging system for digital dentistry

• US 20110182406A1
• Filed: 01/18/2011
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Minnesota Imaging and Engineering LLC
• Original Assignee: Robert Sigurd Nelson, William Bert Nelson
• Inventors: Nelson, Robert Sigurd, Nelson, William Bert
• Granted Patent: US 9,384,864 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/62
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4216 using storage phosphor screens
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4291 the detector being combined with a grid or grating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4494 Means for identifying the diagnostic device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/51 for dentistry
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/20 with scintillation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/2012 using stimulable phosphors, e.g. stimulable phosphor sheets
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/2992 Radioisotope data or image processing not related to a particular imaging system; Off-line processing of pictures, e.g. rescanners for measuring radiation intensity G01T1/1663; digital computing or data processing equipment or methods specially adapted for nuclear physics or nuclear engineering G06F15/00; general purpose image data processing G06T1/00; computerized tomography G06T11/003
• CPC Class Codes: G21K 2004/06 with a phosphor layer
• CPC Class Codes: G21K 4/00 Conversion screens for the conversion of the spatial distribution of X-rays or particle radiation into visible images, e.g. fluoroscopic screens photographic processes using X-ray intensifiers G03C5/17; discharge tubes comprising luminescent screens H01J1/62; cathode ray tubes for X-ray conversion with optical output H01J31/50

Abstract

The invention provides methods and apparatus for detecting radiation including x-ray photon (including gamma ray photon) and particle radiation for dental x-ray imaging, radiation monitoring, and related industrial and scientific applications. Flat or shaped small (and small hybrid) area storage phosphor plates, available in multiple sizes, are encased in SP-carriers and used as detectors for intraoral dental x-ray imaging as a replacement for analog x-ray film and digital x-ray cameras, offering good detection efficiency, high spatial and contrast resolution, and a wide dynamic range. After removal of the SP-carrier, a small area storage phosphor plate is loaded into a dental storage phosphor scanner for readout. Intermediate and large area storage phosphor plates (including hybrid versions) are suitable for non-intraoral dental x-ray imaging. Suitable storage phosphors may be used in radiation monitoring, replacing current detectors employed in a film badge format. Simple external readers or electronic SP-carriers can provide data readout and thus enable dosimetry.

Claims

1. A storage phosphor plate detector system for dental x-ray imaging, wherein the system is comprised of

Storage phosphor plate detectors of at least one size,

A SP-carrier to protect each storage phosphor plate,

A dental storage phosphor scanner device, and

An electronic communications link to a computer for data processing, storage, and display.

2. The storage phosphor plate of claim 1, wherein the storage phosphor plate is a small area storage phosphor plate.

3. The storage phosphor plate of claim 1, wherein the storage phosphor plate is a structured small area storage phosphor plate.

4. The storage phosphor plate of claim 1, wherein the storage phosphor plate is a hybrid, small area storage phosphor plate.

5. The storage phosphor plate of claim 1, wherein the storage phosphor plate is a mixed, small area storage phosphor plate.

6. The storage phosphor plate of claim 1, wherein the storage phosphor plate is flat or shaped.

7. The storage phosphor plate of claim 1, wherein the storage phosphor plate is an intermediate area storage phosphor plate.

8. The storage phosphor plate of claim 1, wherein the storage phosphor plate is a large area storage phosphor plate.

9. The storage phosphor plate of claim 1, wherein the storage phosphor plate includes at least one of a filter, a transmissive optical coating, a reflective optical coating, an absorptive optical coating, a conversion coating, a protective layer.

10. The storage phosphor plate of claim 1, wherein the storage phosphor plate or its frame includes at least one tag with a unique identification code.

11. The storage phosphor plate of claim 1, wherein the storage phosphor plate includes a thin foil or deposited layer of attenuating material.

12. The SP-carrier of claim 1, wherein the SP-carrier includes a thin foil or deposited layer of attenuating material.

13. The dental storage phosphor scanner of claim 1, wherein at least one single or dual readout optical scanner is included.

14. The dental storage phosphor scanner of claim 1, wherein the readout scanning beam cross section is adjustable by optical methods.

15. The dental storage phosphor scanner of claim 1, wherein an adjustable readout scanning beam cross section is synthesized electronically.

16. The dental storage phosphor scanner of claim 1, wherein sub-region optical scanning or entire storage phosphor plate illumination is enabled.

17. The storage phosphor plate detector system of claim 1, wherein slit collimators, slot collimators and x-ray grid x-ray scatter reduction mechanisms are incorporated.

22. The storage phosphor plate detector system of claim 1, wherein the system is adapted for radiation monitoring.

23. The storage phosphor plate detector system of claim 22, wherein the SP-carrier has a film-badge format, including appropriate filters for single or mixed radiation fields.

24. The SP-carrier of claim 22, wherein the SP-carrier is an electronic SP-carrier.

18. A storage phosphor imaging unit comprising one or more storage phosphor plates integrated with a storage phosphor optical scanning device and communications capability for x-ray imaging.

19. The storage phosphor imaging unit of claim 18, wherein the storage phosphor plates are of intermediate area suitable for dental x-ray imaging or diagnostic x-ray imaging.

20. The storage phosphor imaging unit of claim 18, wherein the storage phosphor plates are of large area suitable for panoramic dental x-ray imaging or diagnostic x-ray imaging.

21. The storage phosphor imaging unit of claim 18, wherein slit collimators, slot collimators and x-ray grid x-ray scatter reduction mechanisms are incorporated.

25. A method for evaluating mixed radiation fields, wherein mixed storage phosphors are combined to form a storage phosphor plate that is evaluated by analyzing the fluorescence spectrums of the different storage phosphors.