'Wireless Digital Dental X-Ray Sensor with Positioning Apparatus' Patent Granted

The USPTO grants a patent to Dr. Dov Glazer for a digital dental x-ray devise. The sensor is directly connected to the bite block, paralleling rod and targeting ring, with all the required electronics, battery, media storage and transmitter included within the instrument.

New Orleans, LA (PRWEB) -- Digital Dental X-ray, Unlimited (DDXray) is pleased to announce that on August 15, 2006 its founder, Dov Glazer, D.D.S. was granted Patent Number 7,090,395 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The invention is a Wireless Digital Dental X-Ray Sensor with Positioning Apparatus.

Exploiting advances in digital photography and radiography, the inventor was able to combine the workings of a digital camera, an x-ray scintillator plate and a set of five oral x-ray positioning instruments into a single universal dental x-ray sensing device, just slightly larger than a conventional bitewing holder. There are several version of the device described in the patent. The common element is having a digital dental x-ray sensor directly connected to the bite block, which in turn has all the necessary electronic built inside the paralleling and targeting portion of the device. In one version there is an onboard display screen and removable storage media, another has the devise placed on a docking station from which dental x-ray images can be printed, transmitted to a computer or the Internet, and yet another version has a built in transmitter that instantly transmits the images to a nearby computer monitor.

The invention was born out of necessity. “As a practicing dentist, years ago I appreciated the advantages of digital radiography” reports Dr. Glazer. “I tried several systems in my office, but with the cords, the bulkiness and the steep learning curve, I was disappointed, and knew there had to be a better way.” Having some experience with digital photography, and working with the Tulane University Department of Biomedical Engineering, the solution finally emerged.

A digital x-ray is much like a digital photo; the main difference is that the sensor in the digital camera is sensitive to the “visual” portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, while the x-ray is sensitive to the “x-ray” waves of the spectrum. Place a scintillator in front of the photo camera sensor and the energy is converted so that we humans can see it. That’s how every digital x-ray works. “Remove the lens, the flash, view finder and then stuff the remaining electronics (including battery, media storage) into the paralleling potion of the holder and you’ve go the camera that senses x-rays”. Glazer continues: “Because the sensor is directly attached to the holder, with the placement of hinges, similar to those found in cell phones, we are able to rotate the sensor so that the one instrument can take a full mouth series of digital x-rays”.

It is expected that this innovative digital x-ray devise will make it easier, faster, and less expensive to take and produce dental x-rays than conventional film. In addition, greater diagnostic acuity is possible through manipulation of the digital image.

About DDXray
Digital Dental X-ray (DDXray) is a sister organization to UAppoint, Inc., and Dr. Glazer is a co-founder of both. The company is a bootstrap start-up dedicated to improving all aspects of dental diagnostic imaging.

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