Transport container for photo-stimulable phosphor imaging plates

Abstract

A transport container for intraoral imaging plates comprising a base member and a cover member, the base member and the cover member each defining a cavity, each of the cavities being completely filled with partially resilient padding, such that when the base and the cover are brought into foldable contact, the padding comes in contact with the respective opposing padding with slight compression thereby gently holding in place any imaging plates that may have been removed from their barrier envelope and placed on the padding, the closing of the cover and base defining a lightless area for the transport of the intraoral imaging plates, the padding also cooperative with the imaging plates and the user's finger tips to insure that the transported intraoral imaging plates may be removed from the padded surface without engaging the exposed side of the imaging plate, but rather, engaging the edges.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A transport container for light sensitive intra-oral imaging plates which contain an image which has not yet been scanned, said transport container comprising: 
 a base member having first and second end walls, first and second side walls, and a bottom wall thereby defining a cavity, the depth of said cavity being the distance from said bottom wall to an upper peripheral edge defined by said first and second end walls and said first and second side walls, said cavity having positioned therein a resilient, deformable padding material coextensive with said depth of said cavity;    a cover member defined by a first and second end wall, and a first and second side wall, and an upper wall, thereby defining a cavity, the depth of said cavity being the distance from said upper wall to the peripheral edge defined by said first and second end walls and first and second side walls, said cavity having positioned therein a resilient, deformable padding coextensive with the depth of said cavity, the periphery of said base member and said cover member being complimentary such that a plurality of intra-oral imaging plates containing images may be positioned discretely on said resilient, deformable padding of said base member, said cover member engagable with said base member such that said intra-oral imaging plates are cushioned and positioned between said resilient, deformable padding of said base member and said resilient, deformable padding of said cover member for transport by a technician to an intra-oral imaging plate scanner without exposing said imaging plates to a light source.    
     
     
         2 . The transport container for intra-oral imaging plates in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said base member and said cover member are secured in hingeable relationship.  
     
     
         3 . The transport container for intra-oral imaging plates in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said resilient, deformable padding of said base member and said cover member is depressible by fingers of said technician to permit removal of said intra-oral imaging plates by means of engagement along opposing edges of said intraoral imaging plate.  
     
     
         4 . The transport container for intra-oral imaging plates in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said cover member and said base member when in complementary engagement define a light proof container for the transport of said intra-oral imaging plates.  
     
     
         5 . The transport container for intra-oral imaging plates in accordance with  claim 1  wherein when said cover member and said base member are in closed relationship, said intra-oral imaging plates positioned between said base member and said cover member are maintained in position by said resilient, deformable padding of said cover member and said base member.