Dental imaging device

Abstract

A support to acquire dental images. The support includes at least a portion for fastening an image acquisition apparatus to the support. The support includes at least a portion that is degradable by composting and/or biodegradable.

1 . A support to acquire dental images, comprising means for fastening an image acquisition apparatus to the support, the support comprising at least a portion which is degradable by composting and/or biodegradable. 
     
     
         2 . A support according to  claim 1 , in which said portion is in a fibrous cellulosic material. 
     
     
         3 . A support according to  claim 1 , in which a lateral part comprises an elastic part. 
     
     
         4 . A support according to  claim 1 , the support comprising a rigid portion and a deformable portion. 
     
     
         5 . A support according to  claim 4 , in which the rigid portion has a tubular shape. 
     
     
         6 . A support according to  claim 4 , the deformable portion allowing an extension and/or a collapsing of the support. 
     
     
         7 . A support according to  claim 4 , the deformable portion is configured to allowing the insertion of the deformable portion into the rigid portion and the extraction from said rigid portion. 
     
     
         8 . A support according to  claim 4 , the deformable portion is detachable of the rigid portion. 
     
     
         9 . A support according to  claim 1 , being extendable from a collapsed configuration to a fully extended configuration, and/or collapsible from said fully extended configuration to said collapsed configuration. 
     
     
         10 . A support according to  claim 9 , in which the support is configured so that, in the fully extended configuration and/or in an intermediate configuration between the collapsed and fully extended configurations, the angulation between an optical axis of the image acquisition apparatus fastened to the support, preferably rigidly fastened to the support, and a retractor opening of the support, through which an image is acquired, and/or the distance between the image acquisition apparatus and the retractor opening is (are) different than in the collapsed configuration. 
     
     
         11 . A support according to  claim 1 , the support having the form of a box having a lateral wall defining a chamber in communication with the outside and through which, when the acquisition apparatus is fastened to the support, said acquisition apparatus receives at least one image. 
     
     
         12 . A support according to  claim 11 , in which said degradable portion is included in said lateral wall, or includes said lateral wall or is said lateral wall. 
     
     
         13 . A support according to  claims 11 , in which the lateral wall being extendable and/or collapsible. 
     
     
         14 . A support according to  claim 13 , in which said lateral wall is extendable from a collapsed configuration in which at least one overall dimension of the chamber has a “collapsed” value D c , to a fully extended configuration in which said dimension has an “extended” value D e  greater than the collapsed value Dc. 
     
     
         15 . A support according to  claim 14 , in which a ratio D c /D e  is less than 0.5. 
     
     
         16 . A support according to  claims 11 , in which the box has the general shape of a tube, in particular a tube having a circular cross-section. 
     
     
         17 . A support according to  claim 11 , in which the lateral wall is foldable. 
     
     
         18 . A support according to  claim 11 , in which said lateral wall comprises a bellow. 
     
     
         19 . A support according to  claims 11 , said support being configured to be introduced in a mouth of a patient. 
     
     
         20 . A support according to  claim 1 , in which extension and/or collapsing of the support is fully or partly guided, so as to hinder some deformation of the support and/or to make some deformations of the support substantially more difficult than other deformations. 
     
     
         21 . A support according to  claim 1 , in which the support carries guiding information to guide the patient during the acquisition of images and/or advertising information. 
     
     
         22 . A support according to  claim 1 , in which the degradable portion of the support, preferably the support, is made from a precursor, said precursor being in a fibrous material and having the shape of at least a sheet, the thickness of which being less than 6 mm and greater than 0.5 mm, said precursor preferably representing folding lines and/or cutting lines and/or comprising tearable weakening lines. 
     
     
         23 . A method to manufacture a support according to  claim 1   said method comprising the following steps:   A) manufacturing of a precursor of the support in a first place, and providing said precursor to an operator chosen from the patient or an orthodontist, in a second place away from the first place, the distance between the first place and the second place being greater than 1 km and/or less than 20 000 km;   B) transformation of said precursor into said support.   
     
     
         24 . A method according to the immediately preceding  claim 23 ,
 in which, at step A), the precursor is in a fibrous material and has the shape of at least a sheet, the thickness of which being less than 6 mm and greater than 0.5 mm, said precursor representing folding lines and/or cutting lines and/or comprising tearable weakening lines, and   in which, at step B), the patient cuts the precursor along said cutting lines, and/or folds the precursor along said folding lines, and/or tears the precursor along said weakening lines, and/or fixes different parts of the precursor on each other, by insertion of tabs, or lugs, into corresponding slots or with glue or with staples or clips.   
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 23 ,
 in which, at step A), the precursor is a set of parts of the support and is provided to the operator by mail, and   at step B), the operator assembles said parts, manually or with a tool.   
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claims 23 ,
 in which, at step A), the precursor is a support in a collapsed configuration;   and in which, at step B), the operator extends the support to a fully extended configuration.   
     
     
         27 . A method to manufacture a support according to  claim 1   in which, at step A), the precursor is a feedstock for a 3D-printer, and the operator is provided with a file to control said 3D printer to transform said feedstock into the support, and   in which, at step B), the operator programs the 3D printer with said file so that the 3D printer manufactures the support.   
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claims 20 , in which the precursor is used to form a dental retractor. 
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 28 , the dental retractor being integral with the support. 
     
     
         30 . A kit comprising a support according to  claim 1  and a dental retractor defining a retractor opening and configured for a patient to put his lips around said retractor opening, so that patient's teeth are visible through said retractor opening. 
     
     
         31 . A kit according to  claim 30 , in which the dental retractor is formed as an integral part of the support. 
     
     
         32 . A kit according to  claim 30 , comprising an obturator configured to obturate a gap between the support and the dental retractor when the dental retractor is moved relative to the support. 
     
     
         33 . A kit according to the immediately preceding  claim 32 , wherein the obturator has the shape of a flexible membrane. 
     
     
         34 . A kit according to  claims 30 , said kit comprising an image acquisition apparatus fastened, preferably rigidly fastened, to the support in a position in which the acquisition apparatus is oriented so as to receive an image of a patient's teeth through said retractor opening. 
     
     
         35 . A kit according to  claim 34 , wherein the image acquisition apparatus is fastened with a fastening means chosen in the group consisting of a clip fastener, a self-gripping strip, clamping jaws, a screw, a magnet, a cover, a complimentary shape between the support and the acquisition apparatus, and an elastic member.