Planmeca Oy

Planmed Oy

Automed Oy

Arto Virta

Pekka Strommer

Timo Sulin-Saaristo

Arto Huotari

Timo Muller

Pekka Strömmer

Timo Müller

Timo M&uuml;ller

Jan Fröjdman

Jorma J&auml;nk&auml;vaara

Jan Fr&ouml;jdman

Liina Nyholm

Juha Sormunen

An integrated dental care apparatus includes a patient chair and a dental care unit. The dental care unit is mounted on a floor while the dental care unit and the patient chair are structurally connected by a structure which supports the patient chair. Both the dental care unit and the patient chair have means for enabling them to be turned in relation to a vertical axis.

Integrated dental care apparatus

The present invention relates to 3D mammography, in which individual images of a breast are taken at different projection angles and a 3D image subsequently synthesized from this image information. According to the invention, a breast to be imaged is arranged locked in a locking means () and during the imaging process, the x-ray source () is continuously moved with respect to location of the breast and the breast is irradiated at a number of angular positions of the x-ray source (). During an irradiation period of the imaging process, the locking means () is turned as synchronized with the movement of the x-ray source (). The imaging process preferably further includes such non-irradiation periods during which the locking means () is turned in a direction opposite to that when turned as synchronized with the movement of the x-ray source () during an irradiation period.

3D mammography

The present invention relates to medical radiography, in which individual images of an object are taken at different projection angles and a 3D image subsequently synthesized from this image information. The object to be imaged is arranged locked in an object positioning means and during the imaging process, the x-ray source is continuously moved with respect to location of the object. During the continuous movement of the x-ray source there are irradiation periods and non-irradiation periods and during an irradiation period, the object positioning means is moved as synchronized with the movement of the x-ray source so as to follow the movement of the x-ray source.

Medical radiography in 3D

The invention relates to a dental unit and a method for feeding water to instruments and/or to other water outlet points of a dental unit. The object of the invention is to enable keeping pressure of the water lines of a dental unit essentially stable, especially also when the relatively stable pressure typical for public water systems cannot be taken advantage of because of potential backflow of water contaminated at the point of use to the public water system. According to the invention there is arranged a pressure chamber () to the feed water line () of a dental unit, the said pressure chamber () being arranged in functional connection with pressure control means (), and upstream of the said pressure chamber () a pump (), which is arranged to be able to pump water to the said pressure chamber () also when it is pressurized.

Dental unit and method for feeding water

A digital imaging apparatus and method which includes a radiation source and a sensor arrangement for detecting radiation. The sensor arrangement contains one or more sensors formed of one or more preferably elongated sensor modules, which sensor module contains one or more pixel columns which receive image data. The digital imaging apparatus includes means for positioning the object to be Imaged which is situated within the area between the radiation source and the sensor arrangement, and means for limiting the beam from the radiation source essentially according to the active sensor surface of the said sensor arrangement. Also included is means to move the beam across the object being positioned to be imaged and means to move the at least one sensor belonging to the sensor arrangement in synch with the scanning movement of the beam in order to keep the active sensor surface essentially at right angles to the beam on the plane formed by the scanning movement.

Digital imaging method and apparatus for mammography

The imaging apparatus used in mammography generally having a cassette tunnel () or a similar space for the placement of an image data receiving device (') in the imaging area of the apparatus. In such a space or in its immediate vicinity, device () for moving the cassette in the space can be provided, thus making the imaging process in many ways faster and easier to carry out. Such device for moving the cassette can also be utilized in various ways to achieve a more versatile and more accurate use of the imaging apparatus.

Arrangement and method for means for receiving image data in mammography

The object of the invention is a method and apparatuses used in tissue imaging, in particular for positioning the tissue to be imaged in the imaging area. For example, in mammography the tissue has generally been, among other things, compressed with compression plates and/or even physically pulled into the imaging area. In accordance with the invention, a tissue stretching solution is presented, whereby a tissue stretching means, which comprises a layer of flexible material that is translucent to the energy form, containing image information, used in imaging, is simply, quickly and effortlessly feedable and attachable to the tissue stretching device.

Method and apparatus for tissue imaging

The present invention relates to a cranial radiography apparatus, particularly intended for dental panoramic radiography, said apparatus comprising a first body part to which is connected a second body part ( ) having thereto connected a third body part ( ) to which is connected a fourth body part ( ). To the opposite ends of said fourth body part ( ) are connected an x-ray source and an x-ray detector. The body parts are connected to each other by means of pivot shafts aligned essentially parallel to each other. The pivot shafts are rotated by means of active actuators and their rotational movement is programmably controlled by means of a computer, thus permitting the x-ray source and the x-ray detector to be moved over any predetermined orbit. The apparatus further includes means for radiography using a cephalostat. The apparatus can be adapted for robotic change of the x-ray detector by virtue of said movements of the body parts of the apparatus and a storage post designed to store the x-ray detectors used in different radiography modes.

Cranial radiography apparatus

The invention concerns a method and an apparatus for marking a radiographic film in a dark room with patient data and/or similar information. The marks to be produced are made latent onto the film (F) in a form turning visible during the development of the film (F). The film (F) to be marked is transferred linearly in the marking apparatus, while the film (F) is simultaneously subjected to exposing marking radiation. The marking characters to be formed are sequentially composed from vertically adjacently placed elements (C.sub.1 . . . C.sub.N) using the above-mentioned linear motion of the film (F) as the shift in the direction of the marking character row. In conjunction with the entry of patient data, the identification information for the film cassette to be marked is entered from a keyboard such as a cassette number which is marked on the cassette in a form visible in the dark. The identification information for the film cassette is shown by the marking apparatus so assuring the marking of the correct data onto the correct film.

Method and apparatus for marking a film in a dark room

The invention concerns a method and apparatus for narrow-beam tomography in which a narrow x-ray beam (X) emitted from an x-ray source (12) is aimed to pass through the object area to be radiographed onto a transferrable x-ray film (F). The object area to be imaged in the patient (P) is kept stationary in a certain preset position, while the x-ray source (12) is rotated about a virtual axis of rotation (R.sub.0) and the film cassette (14) is simultaneously transferred. In the first imaging mode for the panoramic radiography of the dental arch (L), the patient (P) is supported by patient positioning means (20 . . . 30) so that the sharply imaging plane is located between the virtual axis of rotation and the film plane. In addition to said first imaging mode, the panoramic x-ray apparatus is adjustable for a specific mandibular joint imaging mode in which the patient is supported in the panoramic x-ray apparatus using said patient positioning means (20 . . . 30). The speeds (v.sub.R, v.sub.1) of the rotating motor (31) and the film transfer motor (32) in a frame part (15) supporting the x-ray source (12) and the film cassette (14) are varied, or alternatively, the profiles of said speeds are set so that the shape of the sharply-imaging layers (P.sub.1 -P.sub.1,P.sub.2 -P.sub.2) is appropriately contoured so as to make the mandibular joints (K) coincide with the imaged layer irrespective of the position of the patient (P) in the medial-sagittal plane (MS).

Method and apparatus for panoramic radiogragraphy

The invention concerns a method and apparatus for narrow-beam tomography in which x-ray radiation is aimed to pass through the object to be radiographed onto a movable (v.sub.1) x-ray film (F). The object (P) is kept stationary in a certain position, while the x-ray source and the film cassette (14) are rotated about a vertical virtual axis of rotation (A-A). In the first operating mode for the panoramic radiography of the dental arch the patient (P) is supported by positioning means so that the sharply imaging plane (P-P) is located between the virtual axis of rotation (A-A) of the x-ray beam (X) and the film plane. In the second operating mode for the radiography of transversal projections of the dental arch (L) the patient (P) is supported in such a stationary position that the virtual axis of rotation (A-A) of the x-ray beam (X) is located in the area between the sharply imaging tissue layer (P-P) and the film plane (F). In the second operating mode the film (F) is moved in a direction which is opposite to the film transfer direction in the first operating mode.

Method and apparatus for panoramic radiography

A method and apparatus for radiographic techniques using an x-ray source (13). The radiographed object (M) is subjected to a beam (X) of radiation which is employed for forming a radiographic image of the object (M) onto a film (25). Between the radiographed object (M) and the film (25) is utilized a grid assembly (20) that prevents the disturbing effect of backscattered radiation or secondary radiation generated in the radiographed object on the radiographed image. The grid assembly (20) comprises a grid plate (22) having several equidistantly spaced lamellas opaque to x-rays. The x-rays can pass in the direction of the beam axis between the spaces (24) of said lamellas to the film (25). The grid plate is reciprocatingly oscillated at a varying amplitude so that the stops and changes of travel direction (K.sub.1 . . . K.sub.5) are appropriately evenly distributed over the interlamellar spaces of the grid plate (22), thereby avoiding the imaging the grid lamellas (23) in a disturbing manner onto the film (25) or other imaging means.

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Helsinki, Finland

Arto Virta