Digital X-Ray Scanner

EVA Dental Digital X-Ray Sensor is a filmless, digital dental imaging radiology system that produces highest resolution, diagnostic quality images. EVA produces high efficiency, low noise images which are digitized and transmitted to your computer via a standard USB (Universal Serial Bus) port and is compatible with laptop or desktop systems.

EVA system includes a portable interface adapter and an x-ray sensor which provides dentists with a rugged replacement for film measuring only a few millimeters thin. Its unique CMOS sensor technology yields crisp, clear radiographs with virtually any intraoral x-ray head.

Although this system looks simple, its design is quite sophisticated. The system will be discussed based on its two distinct components; the main interface unit and sensor. Each component has its unique set of design criteria.

The interface module was designed to house an interface PC board which included a special connector, designed for extensive numbers of repeated insertions. In addition the housing was designed to be attractive, compact, robust, easily manufactured and easily used by the technician.  It also had to provide a pouch for storing the sensor.

The sensor required a careful balance between minimizing size around a rectangular shaped internal printed circuit board and soft edges for optimizing comfort in the mouth.

Concepts for the connector module were developed after our design team gained a comprehensive understanding of the product requirements. CAD assemblies for each portion of the module were detailed to address all the functional and engineering requirements, including molding. The following pictures will provide you with an overview of the intricacies of the production design.

SLA models of the module were made directly from our CAD files to verify the ergonomic, aesthetic and functional features of the design. The following pictures will depict the SLA assembly which performed precisely as expected.

Although the sensor was much smaller than the sensor and had fewer parts, it was equally as challenging. The sensor design requirements included strain relieving the cable, minimizing size, maximizing comfort and selecting the proper materials.

The following concepts illustrate a few of the many ideas explored during early stages of design development.

After numerous concepts were evaluated based on technical parameters a concept was selected. Subtle surface undulations were highlighted with special software to verify comfort of overall surface contours as shown in this picture.

Extensive time was invested in optimizing the form based on ergonomic and technical constraints.

After our client approved the design a plastic 3D model was created directly from our CAD file using stereolithography.

The enclosure was designed to optimize packing density without adversely affecting comfort within the mouth. Significant attention was also dedicated to the strain relief on the back side of the sensor.

After a finalized design was tested and approved, alternative graphics concepts were created to provide AFP with strong product branding. The following pictures illustrate some of the graphics concepts developed and applied to the sensor.

The EVA has enabled AFP to position itself as a leader in digital dental x-ray imaging technology.  It is distributed by a number of major dealers worldwide and is advertised as one of the most comfortable high resolution dental x-ray scanners on the market today.