Dental imaging system

Abstract

An imaging system has an optical assembly that can be removably attached to an elongated housing for insertion therewith into a narrow orifice. The housing has an imager such as a CCD array disposed therein. The housing and the optical assembly are secured together by a bayonet connector that is centered on the distal end of the housing. The housing has a plurality of light guides for transmitting light energy through the distal end of the housing via ports that are radially more distant from the axis of the housing than the outermost surface of the bayonet connector. The optical assembly has passages that align with the light guides of the housing, so that light energy passes from the light guides in the housing through the optical assembly along pathways that are outboard of the bayonet connector. The system can be employed for dental imaging, wherein the housing has an elliptical profile and is dimensioned to fit in the mouth of a patient. The housing further has a smooth, continuous exterior surface for receiving a protective sheath thereon. The exterior surface of the optical adapter is aligned with the exterior surface of the housing so that the unit has a smoothly continuous surface.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.