Abstract: Computed tomography apparatus for odontology, which includes an arm part arranged to be turnable, to which arm part at a distance from each other a radiation source and a receiver of image information have been arranged, in which apparatus said arm part is arranged to locate or to be transferred to such location with respect to the volume desired to be imaged that when the arm part is turned during the imaging, at least over a substantial angular range only a portion of the volume arranged to become imaged is within the radiation beam, and in which the control system of the apparatus comprises a control routine which then controls said radiation source to generate radiation as pulsed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a patient support (17) for an odontological x-ray apparatus, which can be arranged e.g. to a patient support station (18) of the x-ray apparatus (10). The patient support (17) includes a substantially uniform, substantially curved or bendable to be curved band structure (21) substantially extending at least from one patient's temple to the other. The material and layer thickness of the band structure (21) are chosen such that the band structure (21) is soft, elastic and/or flexible and its density with respect to attenuation of x-radiation is substantially lower than that of cranial soft tissues.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to generating digital dental panoramic images from multiple frame images acquired during a dental panoramic imaging scan about a patient's head. This generating includes using information of location and orientation of the x-ray beam and the x-ray detector at times when taking the frames in the procedure of summing information of the frames.

Abstract: To create a digital surface model of an intra-oral anatomy, a recess or a hole in an impression material having a predetermined shape and size is scanned. The scanning results and information on the predetermined shape and size are used for determining a threshold value representing interface between the impression material and another material. The threshold value is then used in generating the digital surface model from CT scanning data of an impression of an intra-oral anatomy on said impression material.

Abstract: An arm construction of an intra-oral x-ray device according to the present invention comprises at least two elongated support arms (55, 56, 55?, 56?) jointed to each other, into connection with a substantially first end of the first support arm (55) of which is arranged a radiation source (4) and in which at least one of the support arms (55, 56) comprises a cover which is arranged to comprise a structure openable or detachable in the longitudinal direction of the support arm, which structure is substantially of the length of the support arm or covers at least a significant portion of the length of the support arm.

Abstract: The invention relates to an intra-oral x-ray imaging arrangement which includes an imaging sensor (30) arranged positionable within a patient's mouth and a control system of the imaging arrangement. The control system is arranged in functional connection with a means that has been arranged to send measurement signals to the control system informing on position of at least one component included in the arrangement. In connection with the imaging sensor (30), and a radiation source (4) included in the arrangement, means (A, M, G) have been arranged to measure their spatial position and to send measurement signals based on these measurements to the control system arranged with a means to determine, based on said measurement signals, information on mutual spatial position of the imaging sensor (30) and the radiation source (4), or of a component (40, 50) arranged to the radiation source (4).

Abstract: The invention relates to an intra-oral x-ray imaging arrangement which includes as separate structures, first, a radiation source (4) having a collimator structure (4?, 40) limiting an x-ray beam for producing the beam used in imaging and for aiming it to the object to be imaged, secondly, an imaging sensor (30) arranged positionable within a patient's mouth (30), and a control system of the imaging arrangement. The collimator structure (4?, 40) is implemented as a structure (40) which enables adjusting a collimator opening limited by the collimator for at least one of the following: its size, its shape, its location, its position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dental imaging apparatus which includes an x-ray imaging means and at least one color camera for photographing the face of a patient positioned at the imaging station of the apparatus, which at least one color camera is arranged to image the patient's face positioned at the patient support station from different directions, and means arranged into functional connection with said at least one color camera for creating a virtual three-dimensional texture model of the patient's face.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dental computed tomography apparatus which includes an x-ray imaging means and at least one color camera for photographing the face of a patient positioned at the imaging station of the apparatus from different directions and at least one laser or a corresponding lighting arrangement, which is fitted to direct a light pattern at different locations on the face of a patient positioned at the imaging station, and a means arranged into functional connection with said at least one color camera for creating a virtual three-dimensional surface model from the light-pattern information directed at different locations on the face of the patient positioned at the imaging station, and a means for combining said face image information detected by said at least color camera to said surface model of the patient's face to create a virtual three-dimensional texture model of the patient's face.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dental care apparatus which comprises a dental care unit (4) and a patient chair (5) arranged in the immediate vicinity of each other and to which is structurally connected at least a treatment arm (7) for dental care instruments (9) and/or an arm for holding some other appliance or device used in a dental environment, such as a display (3), and which additionally comprises at least one arm part (11) arranged in the immediate vicinity of the dental care unit (4) whereon at least either of the imaging means an X-radiation source (14) and an image information receiver (15) is arranged, in which apparatus (2) the mutual position of said arm part (11) and patient chair (5) is arranged such that the arm part (11) is located or is positionable substantially above said patient chair (5), and in which apparatus said arm part (11) carrying at least one imaging means (14, 15) and/or the patient chair (5) is arranged rotatable by an actuator.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to generating digital dental panoramic images from multiple frame images acquired during a dental panoramic imaging scan about a patient's head. This generating includes using information of location and orientation of the x-ray beam and the x-ray detector at times when taking the frames in the procedure of summing information of the frames.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: The invention relates to digital imaging implemented using X-radiation and to a detector arrangement designed to be used in such imaging, the operation of said arrangement being based on counters counting signal pulses. In the invention, the detector arrangement comprises switch arrangements which are always connectable to at least two counters and which allow at least one of the counters to be always disconnected from a pixel. It is thus always possible to read out the information from at least one counter while another counter is simultaneously being used for counting signal pulses. The invention provides the advantage that the integration of image information need not be interrupted when information is to be read out from the detector during exposure as a change of the integrating counter can be effected during exposure without losing any image information.

Abstract: A dental CT apparatus includes a control system arranged to move a radiation source and an imaging sensor on the opposite sides of an imaging station. The control system includes at least a first imaging mode designed for imaging patients and means for selecting at least one second imaging mode in which the source of radiation and the imaging sensor are driven during an exposure at an angular velocity of less than 4 degrees/second. A digital three dimensional models of teeth are generated based on imaging impressions or models of teeth by a CT apparatus provided with at least one specific imaging mode for the purpose.

Abstract: An arm construction of an intra-oral x-ray device according to the present invention comprises at least two elongated support arms (55, 56, 55?, 56?) jointed to each other, into connection with a substantially first end of the first support arm (55) of which is arranged a radiation source (4) and in which at least one of the support arms (55, 56) comprises a cover which is arranged to comprise a structure openable or detachable in the longitudinal direction of the support arm, which structure is substantially of the length of the support arm or covers at least a significant portion of the length of the support arm.

Abstract: The invention relates to an intra-oral x-ray imaging arrangement which includes an imaging sensor (30) arranged positionable within a patient's mouth and a control system of the imaging arrangement. The control system is arranged in functional connection with a means that has been arranged to send measurement signals to the control system informing on position of at least one component included in the arrangement. In connection with the imaging sensor (30), and a radiation source (4) included in the arrangement, means (A, M, G) have been arranged to measure their spatial position and to send measurement signals based on these measurements to the control system arranged with a means to determine, based on said measurement signals, information on mutual spatial position of the imaging sensor (30) and the radiation source (4), or of a component (40, 50) arranged to the radiation source (4).

Abstract: An arm construction of an intra-oral x-ray device according to the present invention comprises at least two elongated support arms (55, 56, 55?, 56?) jointed to each other, into connection with a substantially first end of the first support arm (55) of which is arranged a radiation source (4) and in which the jointing between the support arms is implemented such that the successive support arms (55, 56, 55?, 56?) connect to each other from sides (68, 69) of the support arms facing each other.