Holder for dental sensors
AssigneeTimothy G. Willis
InventorTimothy G. Willis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Dental sensors receive X-rays and transmit signals showing the condition of a patients's teeth to a computer or other recorder, thereby replacing X-ray film packets. Such sensors vary in dimensions. Holders are provided which accommodate such variations. Thus, a clasp engaging one edge of a sensor is adjustably movable to cause a fixed portion of the holder to engage the opposite edge of the sensor. Interfitting ratchet teeth on clasp and holder retain the parts in the required position. The holder assists in properly and rapidly locating the sensor relative to the teeth being examined. For certain usages a bite block holds the patient's jaws apart. The sides of the bite blocks are non-parallel, thereby reducing the shadows of such sides on the X-ray usage.
Claims26
A holder for an X-ray sensor of the type having spaced, substantially rectangular front and back and peripheral side edges, said holder comprising a body configured for placement between the upper and lower teeth of a patient's mouth, a locating edge to engage said front of said sensor, a first gripper adjacent said locating edge shaped to engage a first side edge of said sensor, a second gripper adjacent said locating edge shaped to engage a second side edge of said sensor opposite said first side edge to retain said sensor lingually adjacent selected teeth when said body is gripped between said upper and lower teeth, said second gripper mounted on a clasp movable toward and away from said body, cooperating means on said clasp and said body to hold said clasp in a selected position of adjustment relative to said body, said body including a bite block shaped to hold the patient's jaws apart, said bite block having an opening in its center and having a proximal end at one end of said opening, a distal end opposite said proximal end and an opposed side interconnecting said ends, said distal end including said locating edge.
A holder for an X-ray sensor of the type having spaced, substantially rectangular front and back and peripheral side edges, said holder comprising a body configured for placement between the upper and lower teeth of a patient's mouth, a locating edge to engage said front of said sensor, a first gripper adjacent said locating edge shaped to engage a first side edge of said sensor, a second gripper adjacent said locating edge shaped to engage a second side edge of said sensor opposite said first side edge to retain said sensor lingually adjacent selected teeth when said body is gripped between said upper and lower teeth, said second gripper mounted on a clasp movable toward and away from said body, cooperating means on said clasp and said body to hold said clasp in a selected position of adjustment relative to said body, said body includes a bite block shaped to hold the patient's jaws apart, said bite block being formed with an opening bounded by an end wall substantially parallel to said locating edge, a first side substantially normal to said end wall, and a second side substantially parallel to said first side.
A holder for a radiographic receiver comprising a bite block having first and second sides, said sides converging relative to a locating edge on said bite block, said sides having top and bottom surfaces shaped to fit between the upper and lower jaws of a patient, a distal end connecting said sides and forming said locating edge and a gripper on said distal end to engage said receiver and hold said receiver aligned with said locating edge.
A holder for an X-ray sensor of the type having spaced, substantially rectangular front and back and peripheral side edges, said holder comprising a body configured for placement between the upper and lower teeth of a patient's mouth, a locating edge to engage said front of said sensor, a first gripper adjacent said locating edge shaped to engage a first side edge of said sensor, a second gripper adjacent said locating edge shaped to engage a second side edge of said sensor opposite said first side edge to retain said sensor lingually adjacent selected teeth when said body is gripped between said upper and lower teeth, said second gripper mounted on a clasp movable toward and away from said body, cooperating means on said clasp and said body to hold said clasp in a selected position of adjustment relative to said body, an extension on said clasp, said body being shaped to receive said extension in a plurality of positions of adjustment parallel to said locating edge, a second body on said clasp shaped to be gripped by the patient's teeth, a bite block on said body positioned to hold a patient's jaws spaced apart in which said bite block includes a longitudinal member extending laterally substantially parallel to said locating edge, in which said projection has a top edge slanting downwardly distally.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.