Apparatus for reproducibly positioning an image receptor for intraoral diagnostics

In apparatus for positioning an image receptor within a patient's mouth in predetermined relation to an energy beam generated by means located externally of the patient's mouth, whereby the energy beam passes through a target comprising a portion of the patient's alveolar ridge and such teeth as are supported thereby, is altered by predetermined characteristics of the target, and as so altered strikes the image receptor to cause production of an image which facilitates diagnostic studies of the target, the improvement comprising, in combination:

• a. image receptor support means;
• b. connecting means rigidly connecting the image receptor support means to the energy beam generating means, the connecting means including a connecting bar extending generally at a right angle to the axis of the energy beam, the image receptor support means being located at one end of the connecting bar;
• c. a rigid bite block having upper and lower bite surfaces adapted to be held between the patient's maxilla and mandible when the patient bites down thereon, the upper and lower bite surfaces being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the connecting bar, the bite block having a generally elongated shape, the longitudinal axis of the bite block forming an acute angle with the longitudinal axis of the connecting bar;
• and
• d. means removably attaching the bite block to the connecting means in a position such that the bite block can be held between the maxilla and the mandible of the patient at a location removed from the target, the attachment means further providing for attachment of the bite block at any of a plurality of discrete sites relative to the image receptor, the attachment means comprising, (i) a predetermined number of straight pins of uniform dimensions fixed to and projecting from the connecting bar, the pins being parallel and co-planar, the distances between adjacent pins being constant;
• and (ii) a plurality of parallel bores formed in the bite block at spacing equal to that of the pins, the size of the bores being such that the pins can be slidably closely received therein, the number of bores being at least one more than the number of pins, whereby a plurality of targets can be studied using one bite block position within the patient's mouth.