Positioning method and apparatus for X-ray tomography

摘要

A method and apparatus accurately positions the apparatus at a selected cranial implant site for x-ray tomography of the mandible and/or maxilla and the temporomandibular joint. The method and apparatus comprise making a stent of the mandible and/or maxilla of a patient and making a mark on the stent at a position that corresponds to the selected dental implant site. The stent is then positioned on a fixating device and the x-ray imaging apparatus is positioned with regard to tomographic imaging so that (a) the mark on the stent is at the intersection of the projected cross light beam and (b) the arm of the cross is aligned with the tangent of the dental arch at the site of interest. This positioning data is input to a program that will then operate the positioning motors and the x-ray source to project the tomographic images of the selected site. The projection of the temporomandibular joint is located by placing a basal view of the cranium on a flat plate located on the apparatus in the area of the projected cross and the relevant anatomical landmarks are then located and input to the program that will operate the positioning motors and x-ray source to project the tomographic images of the temporomandibular joints.