Short-wave infrared super-continuum lasers for early detection of dental caries

• US 9,500,635 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2013
• Issued: 11/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omni Medsci, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Omni Medsci, Inc.
• Inventors: Islam, Mohammed N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chowdhury, Tarifur
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rahman, Md M
• Application Number:
  US14/651,367
• Publication Number:
  US 20150305627A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 356/300
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0233 Special features of optical sensors or probes classified in A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0238 Optical sensor arrangements for performing transmission measurements on body tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/146 for optical coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2576/02 specially adapted for a particular organ or body part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0013 Medical image data A61B1/00011, A61B6/56, A61B8/56 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0086 using infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0088 for oral or dental tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4547 Evaluating teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6801 specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7257 using Fourier transforms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2003/104 Monochromatic plural sources
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2003/1208 Prism and grating
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2003/2826 Multispectral imaging, e.g. filter imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0218 : using optical fibers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/108 : for measurement in the infrared range
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/14 : using refracting elements, e.g. prisms G01J3/18, G01J3/26 take precedence prisms per se G02B5/04
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/1838 : Holographic gratings
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/28 : Investigating the spectrum using colour filters G01J3/51
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/2823 : Imaging spectrometer
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/42 : Absorption spectrometry; Double beam spectrometry; Flicker spectrometry; Reflection spectrometry beam switching arrangements G01J3/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/453 : by correlation of the amplitudes
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/38 : by using light G01M3/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/3595 : using FTIR
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/399 : Diode laser
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/35 : using infrared light G01N21/39 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3563 : for analysing solids; Preparation of samples therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/359 : using near infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/39 : using tunable lasers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/85 : Investigating moving fluids or granular solids
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/88 : Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/9508 : Capsules; Tablets
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0221 : Portable; cableless; compact; hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/061 : Sources
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/06113 : Coherent sources; lasers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/062 : LED's
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/08 : Optical fibres; light guides
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/12 : Circuits of general importance; Signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/129 : Using chemometrical methods
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/02 : Food
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/025 : Fruits or vegetables
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/15 : Medicinal preparations ; Physical properties thereof, e.g. dissolubility drug screening with animal cells G01N33/5008
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/442 : Resins, plastics
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/49 : Blood chemical methods for determining blood cell populations G01N33/5094; chemical analysis of blood groups or blood types G01N33/80
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/0092 : Nonlinear frequency conversion, e.g. second harmonic generation [SHG] or sum- or difference-frequency generation outside the laser cavity nonlinear frequency conversion per se G02F1/35
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/06758 : Tandem amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/302 : in an optical fibre
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 : Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

A system and method for using near-infrared or short-wave infrared (SWIR) sources such as lamps, thermal sources, LED'"'"'s, laser diodes, super-luminescent laser diodes, and super-continuum light sources for early detection of dental caries measure transmission and/or reflectance. In the SWIR wavelength range, solid, intact teeth may have a low reflectance or high transmission with very few spectral features while a carious region exhibits more scattering, so the reflectance increases in amplitude. The spectral dependence of the transmitted or reflected light from the tooth may be used to detect and quantify the degree of caries. Instruments for applying SWIR light to one or more teeth may include a C-clamp design, a mouth guard design, or hand-held devices that may augment other dental tools. The measurement device may communicate with a smart phone or tablet, which may transmit a related signal to the cloud, where additional value-added services are performed.

Claims

1. A diagnostic system comprising:

a light source configured to generate an output optical beam, comprising;

one or more semiconductor sources configured to generate an input beam;

one or more optical amplifiers configured to receive at least a portion of the input beam and to deliver an intermediate beam to an output end of the one or more optical amplifiers;

one or more optical fibers configured to receive at least a portion of the intermediate beam and to deliver at least the portion of the intermediate beam to a distal end of the one or more optical fibers to form a first optical beam;

a nonlinear element configured to receive at least a portion of the first optical beam and to broaden a spectrum associated with the at least a portion of the first optical beam to at least 10 nanometers through a nonlinear effect in the nonlinear element to form the output optical beam with an output beam broadened spectrum; and

wherein at least a portion of the output beam broadened spectrum comprises a short-wave infrared wavelength between approximately 1400 nanometers and approximately 2500 nanometers, and wherein at least a portion of the one of more fibers is a fused silica fiber with a core diameter less than approximately 400 microns;

an interface device configured to receive a received portion of the output optical beam and to deliver a delivered portion of the output optical beam to a sample comprising enamel and dentine, wherein the delivered portion of the output optical beam is configured to generate a spectroscopy output beam from the sample; and

a receiver configured to receive at least a portion of the spectroscopy output beam having a bandwidth of at least 10 nanometers and to process the portion of the spectroscopy output beam to generate an output signal based on a wavelength dependence of the spectroscopy output beam over the bandwidth of at least 10 nanometers.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wavelength dependence of the spectroscopy output beam is based at least in part on wavelength dependent scattering and water absorption characteristics of the sample.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the bandwidth of the spectroscopy output beam is at least 100 nanometers, and the output signal is based on the wavelength dependence of the spectroscopy output beam over the bandwidth of at least 100 nanometers.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface device further comprises a replaceable insert, and wherein the spectroscopy output beam is based on transmission, reflection or absorption of the sample.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiver further comprises a wireless transmitter configured to communicate a wireless signal associated with the output signal to a network.

6. A measurement system comprising:

a light source configured to generate an output optical beam, comprising;

a plurality of semiconductor sources configured to generate an input optical beam;

a multiplexer configured to receive at least a portion of the input optical beam and to form an intermediate optical beam;

one or more fibers configured to receive at least a portion of the intermediate optical beam and to form the output optical beam;

wherein the output optical beam comprises one or more optical wavelengths of between approximately 1400 nanometers and approximately 2500 nanometers;

wherein the output optical beam has a bandwidth of at least 10 nanometers; and

wherein at least a portion of the one or more fibers comprises a fused silica fiber with a core diameter less than approximately 400 microns;

an interface device configured to receive a received portion of the output optical beam and to deliver a delivered portion of the output optical beam to a sample comprising enamel and dentine, wherein the delivered portion of the output optical beam is configured to generate a spectroscopy output beam from the sample; and

a receiver configured to receive at least a portion of the spectroscopy output beam having a bandwidth of at least 10 nanometers and to process the portion of the spectroscopy output beam to generate an output signal based on a wavelength dependence of the spectroscopy output beam over the bandwidth of at least 10 nanometers.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the light source comprises a super-continuum laser.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the light source comprises a super-luminescent diode.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the output signal is based at least in part on wavelength dependent scattering from the sample.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the output signal is based at least in part on water absorption characteristics of the sample.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein the bandwidth of the spectroscopy output beam is at least 100 nanometers, and the output signal is based on the wavelength dependence of the spectroscopy output beam over the bandwidth of at least 100 nanometers.

13. The system of claim 6, wherein the spectroscopy output beam is based on transmission, reflection, or absorption of the sample.

14. The system of claim 6, wherein the interface device further comprises a replaceable insert.

15. The system of claim 6, wherein the output signal is configured to identify dental caries.

16. A method of measuring, comprising:

generating an output optical beam, comprising;

generating an input optical beam from a plurality of semiconductor sources;

multiplexing at least a portion of the input optical beam and forming an intermediate optical beam; and

guiding at least a portion of the intermediate optical beam using one or more fibers comprising fused silica with a core diameter less than 400 microns and forming the output optical beam, wherein the output optical beam comprises one or more optical wavelengths between 1400 nanometers and 2500 nanometers; and

broadening the spectrum of at least a portion of the intermediate optical beam to at least 10 nanometers to form the output optical beam with an output beam broadened spectrum;

receiving a received portion of the output optical beam and delivering a delivered portion of the output optical beam to a sample, wherein the sample comprises enamel and dentine;

generating a spectroscopy output beam having a bandwidth of at least 10 nanometers from the sample;

receiving at least a portion of the spectroscopy output beam having a bandwidth of at least 10 nanometers; and

processing the portion of the spectroscopy output beam and generating an output signal based on a wavelength dependence of the spectroscopy output beam over the bandwidth of at least 10 nanometers.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the wavelength dependence of the spectroscopy output beam is based at least in part on wavelength dependent transmission, reflection, or absorption of the sample.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising communicating a wireless signal associated with the output signal to a network.