Shield for patient positioning in extra-oral imaging

Abstract

A patient positioning apparatus for an extra-oral imaging system includes a mount for revolving an x-ray source and an imaging sensor panel about a patient's head and a substantially transparent shield suspended from the mount. The shield has a chin support coupled to the shield and comprises a chin rest and a bite element and a forehead support coupled to the shield and comprises a head rest.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An extra-oral imaging system, comprising:
 a mount;   a gantry movable coupled to the mount for revolving an x-ray source and an imaging sensor panel about a patient's head, the gantry extending between a first end mounting the x-ray source and a second opposing end mounting the imaging sensor panel; and   a patient positioning apparatus suspended from the mount, comprising:   a substantially transparent shield including a support; and   a head positioning apparatus mounted at the patient positioning apparatus, and where the support of the substantially transparent shield is used to attach the patient positioning apparatus to the mount and suspend the patient positioning apparatus from the mount through the gantry between the x-ray source and the imaging sensor panel.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , where the head positioning apparatus comprises:
 a chin support mounted to the inside of the substantially transparent shield and includes a chin rest and a bite element; and   a forehead support mounted to the inside of the substantially transparent shield and includes a head rest.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising an open window in the substantially transparent shield completely disposed between the chin support and the forehead support to expose at least the bite element in the open window. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the substantially transparent shield is formed from a molded polycarbonate material. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the chin support further comprises a height adjuster for the bite element. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the forehead support is connected to the substantially transparent shield, where the forehead support is configured to be adjustably pivotable relative to the transparent shield toward the patient using its connection to the substantially transparent shield. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , where the substantially transparent shield extends between the chin support and the forehead support, where the transparent shield is positioned between the x-ray source and the imaging sensor panel, and wherein the substantially transparent shield further comprises one or more controls thereon for setting a column height adjustment for the mount. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially transparent shield further comprises one or more handles for gripping by the patient during imaging. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially transparent shield further comprises one or more markings to assist in patient positioning. 
     
     
         10 . A method for positioning a patient for extra-oral imaging, the method comprising:
 providing a movable mount;   providing a gantry, movably coupled to the mount, that extends between a first end mounting an x-ray source and a second opposing end mounting an imaging sensor panel for revolving about an imaging area; and   suspending a patient positioning apparatus comprising an elongated patient cover including a support from the mount, wherein the elongated patient cover comprises a first positioning apparatus mounted at the patient positioning apparatus, and where the support of the elongated patient cover is used to attach the patient positioning apparatus to the mount and suspend the patient positioning apparatus from the mount through the gantry between the x-ray source and the imaging sensor panel.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , where the first positioning apparatus comprises:
 a chin support mounted to the inside of the shield and includes a chin rest and a bite element; and   a forehead support mounted to the inside of the shield that includes a head rest.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising providing the elongated patient cover with an open window in the elongated patient cover entirely disposed between the chin support and the forehead support. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the forehead support is connected to the elongated patient cover, where the forehead support is disposed to be adjustably pivotable relative to the elongated patient cover toward the patient using its connection to the substantially transparent elongated patient cover. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the elongated patient cover further comprises one or more controls thereon for setting a column height adjustment for the gantry. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the patient positioning apparatus is suspended from the mount through the gantry using the elongated patient cover and supported by its attachment to the mount. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus to position a patient for dental imaging, the apparatus comprising:
 means for providing a movable mount;   means for providing a gantry, movably coupled to the mount, that extends between a first end mounting an x-ray source and a second opposing end mounting an imaging sensor panel for revolving about an imaging area for a patient's head; and   means for suspending a patient positioning apparatus comprising an elongated patient cover including a support from the mount, wherein the elongated patient cover comprises a head positioning apparatus mounted at the patient positioning apparatus, and where the support of the elongated patient cover is used to attach the patient positioning apparatus to the mount and suspend the patient positioning apparatus from the mount through the gantry between the x-ray source and the imaging sensor panel.