Combination radiographic apparatus

Claim 2

A combination radiographic apparatus comprising: a base member; an upright member coupled to the base member; an X-ray source; a film holder assembly coupled to the X-ray source and disposed opposite thereof enabling a subject to be positioned therebetween, said X-ray source and film holder assembly being coupled to the upright member; means for rotating the X-ray source and film holder assembly about the subject defining a pivot point of rotation thereabout enabling the taking of panoramic radiographs; a guide support assembly slidably mounted to the upright member; a platform coupled to the guide support assembly; a pivot bracket support structure interposed between and coupled to the X-ray source and film holder assembly, and coupled to said platform; and interchangeable means coupled to said pivot bracket support structure to enable the pivot point of rotation of the X-ray source and film holder assembly about a subject to be altered, said interchangeable means being coupled to said pivot bracket support structure.

Claim 3

A combination radiographic apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising: alignment means coupled to said pivot support structure and X-ray source enabling the X-ray source to freely rotate about its axis for taking intra-oral, occlusal, and cephalometric radiographs.

Claim 4

A combination radiographic apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for enabling the X-ray source and film holder assembly to rotate about the subject, comprises: a motor assembly coupled to said pivot bracket support structure, said motor assembly having a friction wheel engaging said platform.

Claim 5

A combination radiographic apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said interchangeable means comprises: a winged pivot bracket having a pair of winged elements and a base element, said winged elements being connected to the pivot bracket support structure; and a guide plate interposed between said pivot bracket support structure and said platform, and opposite said winged pivot bracket, said guide plate having a predetermined pattern therein.

Claim 6

A combination radiographic apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said interchangeable means includes: a cam follower pivot, said cam follower pivot being affixed to the winged pivot bracket and being of a suitable length for engaging said guide plate, the cam follower moving within the guide plate defining a pivot point of rotation of the X-ray source and film holder assembly about the subject as the X-ray source and film holder assembly rotate.

Claim 7

A combination radiographic apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said pivot bracket support structure has means for engaging said winged pivot bracket thereto.

Claim 8

A combination radiographic apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said platform is a circular configuration having an aperture therein, and where said guide plate has means for engaging said platform over said aperture.

Claim 9

A combination radiographic apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein translating means are provided to synchronize the movement of film within the film holder assembly with rotation of the X-ray source and the film holder assembly, a continuous film strip being exposed to X-ray radiation as the X-ray source and the film holder assembly traverse the subject.

Claim 10

A combination radiographic apparatus as defined in claim 1 said apparatus further comprising: pivot shifting means for shifting the upright member on the base member relative to a subject enabling the subject to remain stationary while the pivot point is shifted relative to said subject.

Claim 11

A combination radiographic apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said pivot shifting means comprises: a guide shift bar having a first and second end; a lever arm having a first end and an opposite end; a slot positioned in said lever arm adjacent said opposite end thereof, wherein said first end of the guide shift bar is coupled to said upright member and the second end thereof is coupled to said slot, said lever arm being coupled to the base member by a support bracket.

Claim 12

A combination radiographic apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said apparatus further comprises: a head positioning assembly coupled to the guide support assembly.

Claim 13

A combination radiographic apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said head positioning assembly comprises: a forehead member coupled to the guide support assembly; an adjustable chin member; a lateral shift distance assembly; and a head mask coupled to said guide support assembly, said adjustable chin member and lateral shift distance assembly being coupled to said head mask.

Claim 14

A combination radiographic apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said apparatus further comprises: a collimator coupled to the X-ray source for directing X-ray radiation from the X-ray source to the subject enabling said apparatus to take intra-oral radiographs, the X-ray source being aligned with the area to be radiographed by the alignment means.

Claim 15

A combination radiographic apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said apparatus includes means for taking cephalometric radiographs, said means comprising: a head positioner; a collimator coupled to said X-ray source; and a hinged support bar having one end coupled to the upright member and its opposite end coupled to the head positioner, The subject being positioned within said head positioner, and the X-ray source being positioned a predetermined distance from the head positioner by the alignment means.

Claim 16

A combination radiographic apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said X-ray source is a rotating anode tube.

Claim 17

A combination radiographic apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said apparatus includes means for taking occlusal radiographs, said means comprising: a head positioner; a collimator coupled to said X-ray source; and a hinged support bar having one end thereof coupled to the upright member and its opposite end coupled to the head positioner, the X-ray source being aligned with the head positioner by the alignment means, the subject being positioned between the X-ray source and the head positioner.

Claim 18

A combination radiographic apparatus for taking radiographs of a subjects head, teeth, jawbone and other parts of the subjects body, said apparatus comprising: a base member; an upright member coupled to the base member; an X-ray source; a film holder assembly coupled to the X-ray source and disposed opposite thereof enabling a subject to be positioned therebetween, said X-ray source and film holder assembly being coupled to the upright member; means for enabling the X-ray source and film holder assembly to rotate about the subject and defining a pivot point of rotation thereabout enabling the taking of panoramic radiographs; a guide support assembly slidably mounted to the upright member; a platform coupled to the guide support assembly; a pivot bracket support structure interposed between and coupled to the X-ray source and film holder assembly, and coupled to said platform; interchangeable means coupled to said bracket support structure enabling the pivot point of rotation of the X-ray source about a subject to be altered; and alignment means coupled to said pivot support structure and X-ray source enabling the X-ray source to freely rotate about its axis enabling the X-ray source to be aligned relative to the subject for taking intra-oral, occlusal and cephalometric radiographs.

Claim 19

A combination radiographic apparatus for taking radiographs of a subjects head, teeth, jawbone and other parts of the subjects body, said apparatus comprising: a base member; an upright member coupled to the base member; an X-ray source; a film holder assembly coupled to the X-ray source and disposed opposite thereof enabling a subject to be positioned therebetween, said X-ray source and film holder assembly being coupled to the upright member; means for enabling the X-ray source and film holder assembly to rotate about the subject and defining a pivot point of rotation thereabout enabling the taking of panoramic radiographs; a guide support assembly slidably mounted to the upright member; a platform coupled to the guide support assembly; a pivot bracket support structure interposed between and coupled to the X-ray source and film holder assembly, and coupled to said platform; interchangeable means coupled to said bracket support structure enabling the pivot point of rotation of the X-ray source about a subject to be altered; and alignment means coupled to said pivot support structure and X-ray source enabling the X-ray source to freely rotate about its axis enabling the X-ray source to be aligned relative to the subject for taking intra-oral, occlusal and cephalometric radiographs.

Claim 20

A combination radiographic apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said X-ray source is a rotating anode tube.

Claim 21

A combination radiographic apparatus as defind in claim 18 wherein said means for rotating the X-ray source and the film holder assembly about a pivot point comprises: a motor assembly coupled to the pivot bracket support structure.

Claim 22

A combination radiographic apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein said means for rotating the X-ray source and the film holder assembly about a pivot point further includes: a first friction wheel engaging said platform being coupled to said motor assembly; a second friction wheel adjacent the film holder assembly, said second friction wheel engaging the platform and coupled to said film holder assembly so that as the motor assembly drives the first friction wheel about the platform motion is imparted to the second friction wheel; and means for disengaging the first friction wheel from the platform.

Claim 23

A combination radiograph apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein the means for interchanging the pivot point of rotation of the X-ray source and film holder assembly relative to the subject, comprises: a guide plate positioned between the platform and the pivot bracket support structure. cam follower means coupled to the pivot bracket support structure for matingly engaging said guide plate.

Claim 24

A combination radiographic apparatus as described in claim 21 wherein said cam follower means comprises: a winged pivot bracket.

Claim 25

A combination radiographic apparatus as defined in claim 22, said apparatus further comprising: pivot shifting means for shifting the upright member on the base member relative to a subject, enabling the subject to remain stationary while the pivot point is shifted relative tO said subject.

Claim 26

A combination radiographic apparatus as defined in claim 23 wherein said pivot shifting means comprises: a guide shift bar having a first and second end; a lever arm having a first end and an opposite end; a slot positioned in said lever arm adjacent said opposite end thereof, wherein said first end of the guide shift bar is coupled to said upright member and the second end thereof is coupled to said slot, said lever arm being coupled to the base member by a support bracket.

Claim 27

A combination radiographic apparatus as defined in claim 24 wherein said apparatus further comprises: a head positioning assembly coupled to the guide support assembly.

Claim 28

A combination radiographic apparatus as defined in claim 25 wherein said head positioning assembly comprises: a forehead member coupled to the guide support assembly; an adjustable chin member; a lateral shift distance assembly; and a head mask coupled to said guide support assembly, said adjustable chin member and lateral shift distance assembly being coupled to said head mask.