Integrated digital dental x-ray system

• US 7,006,600 B1
• Filed: 01/15/2004
• Issued: 02/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Midmark Corporation
• Original Assignee: Progeny Incorporated (McDonough Medical Products Corp.)
• Inventors: Stantchev, George, Krema, Alan P., Greenwood, Mark, Cekov, Lyubomir
• Primary Examiner(s): Glick, Edward J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KAO, CHIH CHENG G
• Application Number:
  US10/758,682
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 378/96, 378/97, 378/98.7, 378/108, 378/168
• US Class Current: 378/98.7
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/465 adapted to display user selection data, e.g. graphical user interface, icons or menus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/467 characterised by special input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/468 allowing annotation or message recording
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/512 Intraoral means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/544 dependent on patient size
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/32 Transforming X-rays cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from X-rays H04N23/30; circuitry of SSIS for transforming X-rays into image signals H04N25/30

Abstract

An integrated digital x-ray diagnostic system and a method for conducting dental radiography which includes optimizing exposure settings based on certain physical parameters of a patient, communicating the operational status of the x-ray generator and the exposure settings directly to the a CCD sensor without radiation sensitive detector elements, and supplying various viewing stations with image data thereby improving dental office workflow. The activation of the sensor and the x-ray source are coordinated so as to avoid pre-integration of charge in the image sensor, and at the same time reduce risk of over-exposure to the patient.

Claims

1. An integrated digital x-ray imaging system for dental radiography, comprising:

an x-ray source;

a source control unit operably connected to the x-ray source which controls operation of the x-ray source and exposure settings of the x-ray source;

a control panel coupled to the source control unit which provides the exposure settings to the source control unit;

an image sensor positioned for receiving x-ray radiation from the x-ray source passed through a patient, and for delivering an analog output x-ray image of the patient;

a sensor driver coupled to the image sensor receiving the analog output x-ray image from the image sensor;

an image processor coupled to the sensor driver for converting the analog output x-ray image received from the image sensor to a digital format image and for processing the digital format image, wherein the image processor interfaces with the source control unit for receiving the exposure settings of the x-ray source; and

a display for presenting the digital format image.

2. The digital x-ray imaging system of claim 1 wherein the exposure settings comprise pre-determined x-ray exposure times based on the category of tooth and the physical size of the patient.

3. The digital x-ray imaging system of claim 2 further comprising a calibrator for calculating the exposure settings based on certain anatomical parameters of the patient.

4. The digital x-ray imaging system of claim 3 wherein the anatomical parameters used for calculating exposure times are based on the category of tooth and the physical size of the patient.

5. The digital x-ray imaging system of claim 4 wherein the image sensor is a CCD or CMOS x-ray image detector.

6. The digital x-ray imaging system of claim 5 wherein the display is a personal computer monitor, a flat panel display, or a television.

7. The digital x-ray imaging system of claim 6 wherein an additional display is coupled to the image processor.

8. The digital x-ray imaging system of claim 7 wherein the display is a flat panel display located on the control panel.

9. The digital x-ray imaging system of claim 8 wherein the control panel is a portable PDA-type device.

10. The digital x-ray imaging system of claim 9 wherein the image processor comprises digital detection software supplied with the image processor.

11. An integrated digital x-ray imaging system for dental radiography, comprising:

an x-ray source;

a source control unit operably connected to the x-ray source which controls operation of the x-ray source and signals pre-determined x-ray exposure times based on the category of tooth and the physical size of a patient and displays an x-ray image;

a control panel coupled to the source control unit which provides exposure settings to the source control unit and comprises a PDA-type device with a flat panel display;

a CCD image sensor positioned to receive x-ray radiation from the x-ray source passed through the patient, and for delivering an analog output x-ray image of the patient;

a sensor driver coupled to the image sensor receiving the analog output x-ray image from the image sensor;

a calibrator capable of calculating the exposure settings based on the category of tooth and the physical size of the patient;

an image processor coupled to the sensor driver and the control panel for converting the analog output x-ray image received from the image sensor to a digital format image and for processing the digital format image, wherein the image processor interfaces with the source control unit for receiving the exposure settings of the x-ray source; and

a display unit for presenting the digital format image.

12. A method for performing dental radiography on a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

arranging an x-ray source in a desired location, in relation to the mouth of the patient to be irradiated, and opposite an image sensor;

activating the x-ray source and the image sensor in a coordinated manner, so as to avoid pre-integration of charge in the image sensor, and at the same time reduce risk of over-exposure;

coupling a sensor driver and an image processor to the image sensor for receiving an analog output x-ray image from the image sensor and converting the analog output x-ray image to a digitally formatted x-ray image, wherein the image processor interfaces with a source control unit for receiving exposure settings from the x-ray source; and

receiving the digitally formatted x-ray image from the image processor at a control panel which provides the exposure settings to the source control unit.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising the steps of viewing the x-ray image from the control panel;

manipulating the x-ray image to provide a diagnosis quality image; and

storing the x-ray image.

14. The method as recited in claim 13 further comprising the step of measuring an exposure rate and calculating a dosage for each of multiple x-ray pictures or series.

15. A method for performing dental radiography on a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

placing the patient in a dental chair, and arranging an x-ray source in a desired locations in relation to the mouth to be irradiated and opposite an image sensor;

activating the x-ray source;

coupling a sensor driver and an image processor to the image sensor for receiving an analog output x-ray image from the image sensor and converting the analog output x-ray image to a digitally formatted x-ray image wherein the image processor interfaces with a source control unit for receiving exposure settings from the x-ray source;

receiving the digitally formatted x-ray image from the image processor at a control panel which provides the exposure settings to the source control unit;

viewing the x-ray image from the control panel;

manipulating the x-ray image to provide a diagnosis quality image;

storing the x-ray image; and

measuring an exposure rate and calculating a dosage for each of multiple x-ray pictures or series.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of providing the control panel in a remote area, and wherein the control panel is a portable PDA-type x-ray control panel supplied with a flat panel digital display and image manipulation software.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of removing the control panel from its station to a different area of a dental office.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of activating the x-ray source is accomplished by pressing an exposure button located on the control panel.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the x-ray image is sent via a network connection to a storage database.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the x-ray image is manipulated for contrast, clarity, brightness, resolution, and accuracy.