Apparatus for producing a video and digital image directly from dental x-ray film

A film digital radiological imaging apparatus which will capture the image formed on a dental x-ray film during its developing process and convert the image into a video and digital image, while still allowing for the completed developing of said dental x-ray film, comprising:

• a reaction tank, which is an integral part of an automated or manual film processing system, capable of holding developer solutions;
• sized and configured to receive at least one x-ray film with holder, said reaction tank defining a front, back, and side walls, at least one of which is composed of a window of tinted-clear material which will allow a properly configured and mounted video camera to capture the image forming on said film while the film is being developed;
• one or more video cameras configured and mounted in such a way so that the image forming on the film when said film is bathed by developer solutions in said reaction tank will be captured by said video camera(s);
• a mounting device which will hold said camera(s) in said configuration which will allow for the capture of the image forming on said film during development procedures;
• a computer programmed to accept the image sent to said computer from said video camera which will allow said image to be digitized for the storage and modification of said image and allow the image to be sent to:
• a video monitor which is electronically coupled with said computer which will display a video image of said film image;
• a printer which is electronically coupled with said computer which will form a paper hard copy of said film image;
• a control means operable to cause said video camera to activate as desired by the operator when developer solutions bathe the exposed film in said reaction tank forming said image.