Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
14, 1969
w. J. UPDEGRAVE
3.4731126
-2 Sheets-Sheet 1
IFICTA
w. J. UPDEGRAVE
3.473,02;6
lCe
3,473,026
Patented Oct. 14, 1969
2
rected perpendicular to the imaginary plane, elongation
3,473,026
5 Claims
10 do not agree upon what the proper angle between the ?lm
resulting radiograph.
perience is required.
X-ray ?lm in a manner such that the X-ray ?lm will engage
the interior of the mouth at a point to maintain the X-ray
?lm in a flat plane and at a predetermined angle with re
3,473,026
0
FIG.
FIG.
present
FIG.
technique.
24, while the lower surface 19, likewise includes a bite 40 various components of the bite block of the present in
vention will assure that the ?lm-backing plate, and conse
section 30 and a lower extended surface 21 thereon, which
quently, the ?lm associated therewith, will be disposed
is opposed to and parallel with the upper extended sur
at an angle of from 25 to 35 degrees with respect to the
face 20, all of which will be discussed in more detail
tooth being X-rayed. It is now to be recalled that the ?lm
later.
Disposed at one end of the bite block 16 is a ?lm-back 45 backing plate 22 is disposed at a ?xed angle of 105 degrees
with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bite portion
ing portion or plate 22. The plate extends from its base
of the bite block. Consequently, the bisector of the angle
portion 23 upwardly from the bite portion 17 of the bite
formed between the ?lm-backing plate 22 and long axis
block 16 to a predetermined height, as will also be dis
of the tooth 34 will accordingly vary from 5 degrees to
cused in more detail later.
50
portion.
The inclined bite section 30 is, in the preferred embodi~
ment of FIG. 4, disposed at an angle of 15 degrees- with
of the bite block 16. The ?rst end of the rod 39 is con
structed and arranged such that it will extend away from
the bite portion 17 of the bite block in a direction per
pendicular to the longitudinal and vertical axes of the
3,473,026
This X-ray beam will also be directed at an angle of 15 15 tend therethrough parallel to the opposed extended upper
degrees from perpendicular with respect to the vertical
and lower surfaces 54 and 55, respectively thereof. A ?rst
axis of the ?lm-backing plate 22, and, equally as impor
end portion 61 of the X-ray unit aligning rod 56 is con
tant, perpendicular to the horizontal axis thereof.
nected to the forked connecting member 58 and is so
Referring now to FIG. 2, the securement of the bite
constructed as to be disposed behind the bite portion of
block 16 within the mouth is further facilitated by means 20 the bite block and extend downwardly therefrom in a
of a plurality of corrugations 48 disposed on the upper
direction perpendicular to the opposed extended surfaces
and lower bite sections 24 and 30, respectively.
54 and 55. A second portion 62 of the aligning rod 56
The base 23 of the ?lm-backing plate 22 terminates in
extends away from the ?rst portion 61 thereof, by means
a ?lm retaining groove 25. On one side of the ?lm retain
of a ?xed right angle 63, in a direction parallel to, but off
ing groove 25 is a ?lm clamping projection 26. The width 25 set from, the longitudinal axis of the bite portion of the
of the ?lm retaining groove is slightly larger than the
bite block 50. The ?xture 57, like the ?xture 38 of the
greatest thickness of ?lm which is anticipated to be used,
posterior instrument, further includes a nose cone or ex
and the ?lm clamping projection 26 is so constructed and
tension tube aligning ring 64, which is disposed perpen
designed that it extends into the ?lm retaining groove 25
dicular to the second end 62 of the aligning rod 56 and
a distance to close the groove in that area to a dimension 30 is so dimensioned that the center of the ring 64 is in
less than the smallest thickness of ?lm anticipated to be
alignment with the center of the ?lm back-up plate 51.
used. The retaining groove is allowed to depend into the
This arrangement, as shown in FIG. 6, will direct the
bite block a sut?cient distance to provide an area 27 of
X-ray beam at an angle perpendicular to the bisector of
reduced cross-sectional area.
the angle between the long axis of the tooth 65 being X
The bite block is made of a plastic material which is 35 rayed and the ?lm back-up plate 51, whenever the an
soft enough to be comfortable to the patient while holding
terior instrument is held between the opposing teeth 65
it within his mouth and at the same time, rigid enough to
and 66 and the X-ray extension tube 66 is aligned parallel
provide the necessary support for the associated compo
to the second end portion 62 of the aligning rod and
nents. In the preferred embodiment being discussed, the
centered on and disposed perpendicular to the plane of
material is preferably a polyethylene material which is 40 the aligning ring 64. The foregoing arrangement also pro
resilient and has an elastic memory.
vides for proper horizontal angularity of the X-ray beam
In order to insert the ?lm into the bite block 16 as
as well, since the second end portion 62 of the aligning
shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the ?lm-backing plate 22 is de
rod is disposed perpendicular to the horizontal axis of the
?ected to the rear of the bite block. Due to the reduced
than 1% inches, as in the case of the posterior block. Fur 60 allowed tolerances have been found to be between zero
3,473,026
appended claims.
1,906,223
5/1933 Buck ______________ __ 250-70
said inclined upper surface, said inclined portion of said
8/1933 Harrison ________ __ 25070 X
lower surface of said bite portion, and said ?lm-back 30 1,923,669
2,034,049
3/1936 Levy ___________ __ 25069 X
ing portion being juxtapositioned one to another so
2,090,933
8/1937 Bolin ____________ .__ 2507O X
that when said bite block is held between the teeth
2,777,068
1/1957 Bowser __________ __ 250~7O X
the ?lm-backing portion will be maintained at an
angle of between 25 degrees and 35 degrees with
respect to the long axis of the tooth being X-rayed 35 WILLIAM F. LINDQUIST, Primary Examiner