Desenvolvimento de colimador retangular para uso com aparelhos de raios X em exames odontológicos

Abstract

Objectives: To develop an open project rectangular collimator to be attached to an intraoral dental X-ray unit, using recycled lead sheets as a radiation-absorbing element. Methods: The collimator was dimensioned for use with the Procion® brand model Ion 70X-Mobile Column equipment, with 70 kV-3mA Class 1 type B common head and the autoclavable radiographic film holder devices Indusbello and Kerr? brand number 900170. After defining the collimator dimensions, a STL (Structure Triangular Language) file for 3D printing was generated and a calculation was performed to define the number of recycled lead sheets used to absorb radiation. The reduction in radiation dose in patients undergoing analysis was estimated from geometrical considerations and simulations carried out with Spektr 3.0 software.The rectangular collimator here proposed reduced radiation dose in patients in 65% percent when using four layers of recycled lead sheets (saturating at 70% reduction in radiation dose in the limit of eight or more lead sheets). The rectangular collimator does not negatively impact the quality of the radiologic image. The rectangular collimator here designed is available as an open project for 3D printing and may be built using materials easily accessible to dentists, thus facilitating its use in clinical practice and benefiting patients by reducing exposure to ionising radiation. [resumo fornecido pelo autor]