A REPLACEMENT X-RAY CONE TOTO REDUCE DENTAL X-RAY DOSAGE

THE LONG-TERM OBJECTIVE OF OUR PROGRAM IS TO DEVELOP THE REPLACEMENT X-RAY CONE (RXC) SO THAT IT WILL BECOME THE X-RAY CONE OF CHOICE IN DENTAL OFFICES. THE RXC GIVES A LCD DISPLAY OF THE X-RAY FILM IN THE PATIENT'S MOUTH, THEREBY PERMITTING A RAPID ALIGNMENT OF THE X-RAY CONE WITH THE CENTER OF THE FILM. WITH THE ASSURED ALIGNMENT THE BEAM CROSS SECTION CAN BE COLLIMATED TO THE DIMENSIONS OF THE FILM. IN CONTRAST, THE STANDARD X-RAY CONE HAS A CROSS- SECTIONAL AREA 3 TO 4 TIMES THE FILM AREA. THIS GIVES THE PATIENT 3 TO 4 TIMES THE X-RAY DOSE NECESSARY FOR A FILM EXPOSURE. THE RXC IS ALSO DESIGNED SO THAT AN X-RAY CAN ONLY BE TAKEN WHEN THERE IS ALIGNMENT, THEREBY PREVENTING THE OCCURRENCE OF CONE CUTTING.