DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a support device for endoral radiology equipment.

As is well known in the dental sector, before proceeding with the specific treatment of one or more teeth it is necessary to check their condition, especially internally, through the exposure of an X-ray film or through an optical sensor connected to a computer, systems that also allow the inside of the tooth to be observed in order to determine the most suitable interventions.

For this purpose, dental surgeries are equipped with X-ray equipment consisting essentially of an X-ray tube, at the end of which the positioning device for the X-ray material to be exposed is applied.

This X-ray material is placed in the vicinity of the tooth or teeth to be analysed and this is done, depending on the devices in use, with the patient’s mouth open or with the patient’s mouth closed after the X-ray material to be exposed has been appropriately positioned in the vicinity of the tooth.

Whatever device is associated with the X-ray tube, it is necessary that the X-ray material is held by the support at right angles to the longitudinal axis common to the device and to the X-ray tube, automatically ensuring perfect alignment.

According to Italian Patent no. 1379546 of 2007, an X-ray material positioning device is described.

In said device, the hollow cylindrical end of the X-ray tube is associated with an annular member mounted coaxially to this X-ray tube and which is rotatable about a distal position.

This annular member has a vice mechanism that comprises a clamping means such as to enclose an appendage that sustains the support of the X-ray material to be exposed.

With such a vice mechanism, the appendage supporting the X-ray material can be adjusted in distance and position as required and always remains coaxial to the X-ray tube axis.

A further Italian Patent no. 102016000034998 filed in 2016 and granted in 2018 essentially relates to a sleeve applied to the end of the X-ray tube having a longitudinal axis coincident with the main axis of the X-ray tube, wherein said sleeve is provided with expansion means in the radial direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve itself.

The expansion means allow the annular member to be coupled to X-ray tubes of slightly different diameters.

There is also the use of bushings of appropriate diameter and thickness around the free end of the proximal portion of the sleeve so that there is an appreciable difference between the diameters of the proximal portion of the sleeve and the X-ray tube.

While effective in meeting the needs outlined above, the patent briefly mentioned can be applied on X-ray tube diameters that vary by only a few millimetres.

An object of the invention is to provide a support device for endoral X-ray equipment to be attached to the end of an X-ray tube that is of essentially simple construction and that can connect with X-ray tube diameters that span the entirety of X-ray tubes, all while keeping the axes of the X-ray tube and the support device always coinciding with each other.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide said support device with reduced overall dimensions while still being able to adjust to different diameters.

These and other purposes will be better highlighted in the description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, provided by way of non-limiting indication and illustrated in the attached drawings where:

- fig. 1 shows the support device of the invention as a whole connected to the end of an X-ray tube;

- fig. 2 is a further perspective view of the support device of fig. 1 ;

- fig. 3 is an exploded view of the components constituting the support device of the invention;

- fig. 4 shows an annular member of the support device of the invention before coupling to the end of an X-ray tube;

- fig. 5 shows the support device of the invention coupled with the X-ray tube;

- fig. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the support device according to the invention;

- fig. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the support device in a first operating arrangement;

- fig. 8 shows the same view as fig. 7 with the support device arranged in a second operating arrangement;

- fig. 9 shows the same view as figs. 7 and 8 with the support device in a third operating arrangement.

With reference to figs. 1 and 2, it is noted that the support device for endoral radiology equipment of the invention, denoted overall by 1 , comprises an annular member, denoted overall by 12, adapted to support at least one adjusting rod 15 to which a support for an X-ray material, denoted by 16, is connected, which support 16 is perfectly aligned with the main axis X of the support device 1 shown in fig. 3.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 1 , there are three adjusting rods 15.

On the opposite side of the adjusting rods 15 of said annular member 12, there is an expansible device 300 which is intended to be firmly connected to a sleeve element 10, or rather to a distal portion 20 of said sleeve element 10, which is the end part of the X-ray equipment which emits rays and to which X-ray apparatus said support device 1 is to be connected.

More particularly, the annular member 12 has a vice device 13 in which housings 131 are provided which pass through and are adapted to house the adjusting rods 15; these adjusting rods 15 are lockable by means of compression means, for example screws 14, when at least one adjusting rod 15, which sustains the support 16 for the X-ray material to be exposed, is inserted into the housings 131, or into some of them.

In the case under consideration, both in fig. 1 and fig. 2, there are three adjusting rods 15 and they sustain, as mentioned, the support 16 intended to receive the exposable material.

The expansible device indicated overall with 300 is clearly visible in its components and function in fig. 3.

More specifically, the expansible device 300 comprises a ring 30, which has in one part of its circumference a rack 31 that is moved via a worm screw 310 contained in the box 36 visible in fig. 5.

The ring 30 comprises, in addition to the rack 31, rods 32 arranged parallel to the main axis X.

In the present non-limiting embodiment of the invention, there are three rods 32 and they are arranged, for example, spaced 120° angularly apart.

The rack 31 of said ring 30 of said annular member 12 is engaged to a worm screw 310 arranged inside a box 36 fixed to the base 37 of a frame 35.

Said worm screw 310 can be rotated, for example, by means of an Allen key that can be inserted into the recess 311 in said worm screw. The base 37 of said frame 35 has a ring 38 with a diameter such that it fits into the inner diameter 12a of the annular member 12.

The ring 38 is locked in the mounting position by means of screw elements 120

When the worm screw 310 is rotated, the rack 31 also rotates and so do the rods 32 integral therewith.

A frame 35, as shown in fig. 3, accommodates fins 34 that rotate around pins, not shown for simplicity of presentation, housed in holes 341 of the frame 35. Such fins 34 may, for example and not exclusively, have a curved outer geometry.

The section in fig. 7 shows the fins 34 retracted and having the smallest footprint, as they are not pushed outwards by the action of the rods 32 belonging to the ring 30.

In this case there is no coupling with the distal portion 20 of the support device 1

When the ring 30 rotates through the action of the rack 31 , as can be seen in the section in fig. 8, the rods 32 belonging to the ring 30 also rotate and contrast with the geometry of the fins 34 so that they are prominent outwards and are in contrast with the distal portion 20.

The opening of the fins 34 continues until the fins 32 meet the inner surface of the distal portion 20 of the sleeve element 10, i.e. until the maximum possible insertion of the rods 32 below the respective fins 34, which corresponds precisely to the maximum expansion of the fins 34, as can be seen in fig. 9.

Last but not least, we would like to point out that the aperture of the annular member 12, through which the radiation passes to strike the support 16 for the X-ray material, is reduced with a screen 17 having an aperture 171, so that the radiation emitted only restrictedly affects the part involved in the dental examination.

The material of such a screen 17 is suitable for absorbing radiation and will therefore be made of a radioprotective material, e.g. components made of bismuth oxide or barium sulphate.

From what has been described so far, it is clear that the fins 34 have the ability to expand outwards significantly so that it is possible, with such a support device 1, to embrace and clamp a wide range of sleeves belonging to the most well-known brands of X-ray equipment on the market. The aim was thus achieved of creating a support device for endoral radiology equipment that can embrace a wide range of internal diameters of sleeve elements of X-ray tubes.

The aim was achieved with a very simple and inexpensive construction that is also easy and straightforward to use.

It is also important to point out that the easy manoeuvrability of the device of the invention decisively simplifies the dentist’s work, as he/she can position the exposable plate supported by the device with the patient’s mouth open and thus with the most suitable vision for the purpose, in order to avoid X-ray distortions.

It is also highlighted that the patient’s cooperation is no longer necessary (as was the case with closed-mouth X-rays).

This is particularly important in the case where disabled patients are involved. Another advantage of the invention is that, with such a device, it is no longer necessary to remove from the mouth the so-called “dam” that is often placed around the tooth to be isolated.

In fact, it is sufficient to move the bow of the dam to take an excellent X-ray.