Intraoral imaging system
First Claim
1. An intraoral dental imaging system, comprising:
- a processor unit having a power supply, a light source, and video output circuitry;
a video camera having a first plug-in module for releasably connecting the video camera to said processor unit, said first plug-in module connected to a probe containing a miniature video camera by a first umbilical cord;
an x-ray camera assembly having a second plug-in module for releasably connecting the x-ray camera assembly to said processor unit, said second plug-in module connected to a second probe containing an x-ray camera by a second umbilical cord,each of said first and second plug-in modules having processing means for producing video output signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An intraoral dental imaging system employs a service unit having a power supply and a light source, and selectively using a video camera having a plug-in module for releasably connecting the video camera to the power supply, or an x-ray camera having a second plug-in module for releasably connecting the x-ray camera to the power supply. In either case the modules have processing means for producing video output signals. These video output signals may be sent to a wide variety of devices connected to the service unit. For instance, they may be used to display an image on a video monitor, such as a CRT, they may be sent to a printer for printing, and they may be sent to a modem for eventual display at another location. In essence, these video output signals may be sent to any device known in the art. Thus, the plug-in modules are highly portable while allowing for interchangeability within the same service unit, thereby allowing a practitioner to use the modules in multiple operatories. In the intraoral x-ray camera the plug-in module may be connected to a sensing head by an umbilical cord. The sensing head includes a first means for converting x-ray input signals into electrical output signals and forwarding those signals to a video processor within the plug-in module, an x-ray sensor means for detecting x-rays, and a triggering means for triggering x-ray acquisition from a sensor, which enables the first means when x-rays are detected and disabling the first means when x-rays are not detected by the sensor means.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. An intraoral dental imaging system, comprising:
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a processor unit having a power supply, a light source, and video output circuitry; a video camera having a first plug-in module for releasably connecting the video camera to said processor unit, said first plug-in module connected to a probe containing a miniature video camera by a first umbilical cord; an x-ray camera assembly having a second plug-in module for releasably connecting the x-ray camera assembly to said processor unit, said second plug-in module connected to a second probe containing an x-ray camera by a second umbilical cord, each of said first and second plug-in modules having processing means for producing video output signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An intraoral dental imaging system, comprising:
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a processor unit having a power supply, a light source, and video output circuitry; a video camera assembly having a first plug-in module for releasably connecting the video camera assembly to said processor unit, said first plug-in module connected to a probe containing a miniature video camera by a first umbilical cord; an x-ray camera assembly having a second plug-in module for releasably connecting the x-ray camera assembly to said power supply, said x-ray camera assembly including a sensing head connected to a second umbilical cord to a second plug-in module, said second plug-in module being received within said processor unit, converting means in the sensing head for converting x-ray input signals into electrical output signals and forwarding said electrical output signals to a video processor mounted in the second plug-in module, an x-ray sensor means in the sensing head for detecting x-rays, and a triggering means for triggering x-ray acquisition from a sensor, said triggering means associated with said sensor means for enabling said converting means when x-rays are detected and disabling said converting means when x-rays are not detected by said sensor means; and each of said first and second plug-in modules having processing means for producing video output signals. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for using an intraoral dental imaging system, said system including a processor unit having contained therein a power supply, a light source, and processing circuitry, said system further including a video camera module and an x-ray video module, said method including the steps of:
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operably attaching one of said x-ray module and said video camera module to said processor unit; acquiring one of x-ray images and video images using said attached module; and removing said module from said processor unit; and operably attaching the other of said x-ray module and said video module to said processor unit to acquire corresponding images. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification