Ultrasonic periodontal, system and method of using

• US 20060281045A1
• Filed: 03/31/2006
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: MPR Associates, Inc. (Research Triangle Institute)
• Original Assignee: Perio-Imaging, Inc. (Raptor Resources Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Steinberg, Andrew, Hardin, Patrick, Lane, Fred, Case, Jennifer L., Berman, Barry J., Swanner, Craig, Gwaltney, Robert Jason, Ariff, Gregory D., Loper, Jeffrey Cameron, Haller, Christian, Erler, Lynessa Smith, Luddy, Charles, Smithanik, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US11/393,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20060281045A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 433/72
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0858 involving measuring tissue layers, e.g. skin, interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/04 Measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C5/44 takes precedence; testing vitality of teeth A61B5/0534; radiation diagnosis specially adapted for dentistry A61B6/51
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/043 Depth measuring of periodontal pockets; Probes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06398 Performance of employee with respect to a job function
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

System and methods of detecting and measuring periodontal disease comprising filling a periodontal pocket with a fluid capable of propagating sound waves, transmitting a sound wave into the periodontal pocket, sensing the return sound wave from the periodontal pocket, and determining the depth of the pocket by measuring the time it takes the at least one transmitted sound wave to traverse the periodontal pocket and return. A peak discrimination analysis algorithm is also provided.

Claims

1. A hand piece for detecting and measuring periodontal tissue destruction related to periodontal disease comprising:

a permanent handle having a cavity and an alignment slot in a first end;

an ultrasonic transducer located in the cavity in the first end of the permanent handle;

a fluid supply; and

a disposable cover, the disposable cover having a protrusion in the interior of the disposable cover, the protrusion adapted to fit into the alignment slot.

2. The hand piece of claim 1, wherein the permanent handle further comprises a first circumferential slot in a central portion.

3. The hand piece of claim 2, further comprising a helical spring located in the first circumferential slot.

4. The hand piece of claim 3, wherein the disposable cover comprises a circumferential slot adapted to engage the helical spring in a snap fit.

5. The hand piece of claim 4, wherein the permanent handle further comprises a second circumferential slot in a central portion.

6. The hand piece of claim 5, further comprising an O-ring located in the second circumferential slot, the O-ring adapted to form a seal.

7. The hand piece of claim 1, wherein the disposable cover comprises a probe from which ultrasonic waves produced by the ultrasonic transducer are emitted.

8. The hand piece of claim 1, wherein the disposable cover comprises a probe tip sized to fit snugly in the interdental space between teeth.

9. The hand piece of claim 1, wherein the disposable cover comprises a probe tip having a length of approximately 10 mm.

10. The hand piece of claim 9, further comprising a transducer with a focal length of approximately 13.25 mm.

11. The hand piece of claim 1, further comprising an acoustical lens.

12. The hand piece of claim 1, wherein the disposable cover comprises a unique identification feature.

13. The hand piece of claim 1, wherein the disposable cover comprises a safety feature preventing reuse of the disposable cover.

14. A hand piece for detecting and measuring periodontal disease comprising:

a continuously curved handle;

an ultrasonic transducer; and

a fluid supply.

15. The hand piece of claim 14, wherein the hand piece is adapted to measure the differential depth between the cemento-enamel junction of a tooth and the bottom of a periodontal pocket.

16. The hand piece of claim 14, wherein the hand piece is adapted to measure the differential depth between the gum line of a tooth and the bottom of a periodontal pocket.

17. The hand piece of claim 14, wherein the hand piece is adapted to measure the differential depth a periodontal pocket with an accuracy between about 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm.

18. The hand piece of claim 17, wherein the hand piece is adapted to measure the depth with an accuracy of about 0.2 mm.

19. The hand piece of claim 14, wherein the disposable cover comprises a unique identification feature.

20. The hand piece of claim 14, the disposable cover comprises a safety feature preventing reuse of the disposable cover.

21. The hand piece of claim 17, wherein the hand piece adapted to measure the depth with an accuracy of about 0.1 mm.

22. The hand piece of claim 14, further comprising a disposable cover.

23. The hand piece of claim 14, wherein the fluid supply includes an anti-bacterial agent, a germicidal agent or both.

24. The hand piece of claim 14, wherein the transducer operates at a frequency between 5 and 15 MHz.

25. The hand piece of claim 24, wherein the transducer operates at a frequency of 10 MHz.

26. The hand piece of claim 14, further comprising an acoustical lens.

27. The hand piece of claim 14, further comprising a removable cover.

28. The hand piece of claim 14, wherein the hand piece is adapted to deliver a stream or a drip of fluid.

29. A method of detecting and measuring periodontal tissue destruction related to periodontal disease comprising:

providing a hand piece comprising,

(i) a permanent handle having a cavity and an alignment slot in a first end, an ultrasonic transducer located in the cavity in the first end of the permanent handle, a fluid supply, and a disposable cover, the disposable cover having a protrusion in the interior of the disposable cover, the protrusion adapted to fit into the alignment slot, or

(ii) a hand piece for detecting and measuring periodontal disease comprising a continuously curved handle, an ultrasonic transducer, and a fluid supply;

filling a periodontal pocket with a fluid capable of propagating sound waves;

transmitting at least one sound wave into the periodontal pocket;

sensing at least one return sound wave from the periodontal pocket; and

determining the depth of the pocket by measuring the time it takes the at least one transmitted sound wave to traverse the periodontal pocket and return.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising storing the pocket depth as periodontal data.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein further comprising comparing pocket depths against stored periodontal data.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the periodontal data is stored in an electronic medical record.

33. The method of claim 29, further comprising generating 3-D images of a patient'"'"'s teeth.

34. The method of claim 29, further comprising sending data to a remote display.

35. The method of claim 29, further comprising storing periodontal data at a remote site.

36. The method of claim 29, wherein the stored periodontal data is accessed via the Internet.

37. The method of claim 29, including the step of determining the location of the cemento-enamel junction.

38. The method of claim 29, further comprising including an antibacterial agent, a germicidal agent, or both in the fluid.

39. The method of claim 29, further comprising transmitting at least one sound wave in the interdental space between teeth.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising determining a deterioration of the specula of bone between teeth.

41. The method of claim 29, comprising digitally overlaying periodontal measurements onto a digitally generated image of a tooth.

42. The method of claim 29, further comprising using a discrimination analysis software to identify periodontal features.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein the discrimination analysis software comprises a wavelet algorithm

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising identifying calculus on a tooth.

45. The method of claim 44, further comprising retesting a patient after a calculus treatment to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment.

46. The method claim 29, further comprising adding medication to the fluid.

47. The method of claim 35, further comprising monitoring progress of a course of treatment.

48. The method of claim 29, further comprising calibrating the hand piece.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the step of calibrating comprises testing software, calibrating the hand piece, testing a transducer, testing an acoustic lens, or any combination thereof.

50. The method of claim 48, wherein calibration comprises measuring the depth of a known cavity.

51. The method of claim 32, further comprising forwarding the electronic medical record to at least one periodontal expert for consultation.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the periodontal expert recommendations are sent to a third party or to the treating medical profession.

53. The method of claim 35, further comprising monitoring a dentist or hygienist.

54. The method of claim 35, further comprising identifying a patient being treated by dentist that should be treated by periodontist.

55. The method of claim 42, wherein the discrimination analysis software is upgraded via download from the Internet.

56. The method of claim 35, further comprising showing the electronic medical record to a patient.

57. The method of claim 35, wherein the fluid flow is laminar.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the Reynolds number is less than approximately 1000.

59. The method of claim 57, wherein a volumetric flow rate is between approximately 10 to 15 mL/min.

60. The method of claim 29, wherein minor changes in pocket depth are identified.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the minor change comprises a change of pocket depth of approximately 0.2 to 0.5 mm.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the minor change comprises a change of pocket depth of approximately 0.1 to 0.2 mm

63. The method of claim 29, wherein the method is performed with a hand piece having a fluid flow path designed to facilitate flushing of air bubbles.

64. The method of claim 29, further comprising transmitting at least one sound wave on the facial side of a tooth and at least one sound wave on the lingual side of the tooth.

65. The method of claim 64 further comprising transmitting at least three sound waves on both the facial and lingual sides of the tooth.

66. The method of claim 65, further comprising transmitting at least 12 sound waves on both the facial and lingual sides of the tooth.