Dental exam tool

• US 10,285,578 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2017
• Issued: 05/14/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vigilias LLC
• Original Assignee: Vigilias LLC
• Inventors: Desgranges, Patrick Zana, Yaghmai, Philip, Gartner, Bryce
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas D
• Application Number:
  US15/694,489
• Publication Number:
  US 20180064326A1
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00128 mechanical, e.g. for tubes or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/04 combined with photographic or television appliances
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/247 with means for viewing areas outside the direct line of sight, e.g. dentists' mirrors

Abstract

Disclosed is a dental exam tool for attaching to a mobile electronic device. The dental exam tool can include a coupling element that securely and removably couples to a body portion of the mobile electronic device and a dental mirror retention element coupled to the coupling element. Also disclosed is a dental exam system for teledentistry. The dental exam system can include a dental exam tool for attaching to a mobile electronic device and a mobile electronic device, having a camera, wherein the mobile electronic device is capable of capturing still images and/or video from the camera and storing and/or transmitting the images and/or video captured.

Claims

1. A dental exam tool for attaching to a mobile electronic device, comprising:

a coupling element that securely and removably couples to a body portion of the mobile electronic device, wherein the coupling element includes an aperture for a camera lens on the body portion of the mobile electronic device; and

a dental mirror retention element coupled to the coupling element, wherein the dental mirror retention element positions a reflective portion of the dental mirror in front of the camera lens of the mobile electronic device.

2. The dental exam tool of claim 1, wherein the coupling element and the dental mirror retention element are a unitary body.

3. The dental exam tool of claim 1, wherein the dental exam tool is formed from plastic.

4. The dental exam tool of claim 3, wherein the plastic is autoclavable.

5. The dental exam tool of claim 1, wherein the dental mirror retention element is configured to retain a dental mirror with a substantial cylindrical shaft.

6. The dental exam tool of claim 1, wherein the mobile electronic device comprises a cell phone, a smart phone, or a tablet.

7. The dental exam tool of claim 1, wherein the dental coupling element comprises an aperture for a light source of the mobile electronic device.

8. The dental exam tool of claim 1, further comprising a lensing system that removably couples to the dental exam tool.

9. A dental exam system, comprising:

a dental exam tool for attaching to a mobile electronic device, comprising;

a coupling element that securely and removably couples to the mobile electronic device; and

a dental mirror retention element coupled to the coupling element;

a dental mirror; and

a mobile electronic device, comprising a camera, wherein the mobile electronic device is capable of capturing still images and/or video from the camera and storing and/or transmitting the images and/or video captured.

10. The dental exam system of claim 9, wherein the coupling element includes an aperture for a camera lens on the body portion of the mobile electronic device.

11. The dental exam system of claim 9, wherein the dental mirror retention element positions a reflective portion of the dental mirror in front of the camera lens of the mobile electronic device.

12. The dental exam system of claim 9, wherein the mobile electronic device comprises a smart phone.

13. The dental exam system of claim 9, wherein the coupling element and the dental mirror retention element are a unitary body.

14. The dental exam system of claim 9, wherein the dental exam tool is formed from plastic.

15. The dental exam system of claim 14, wherein the plastic is autoclavable.

16. The dental exam system of claim 9, wherein the dental mirror retention element is configured to retain a dental mirror with a substantial cylindrical shaft.

17. The dental exam system of claim 9, wherein the mobile electronic device comprises a cell phone, a smart phone, or a tablet.

18. The dental exam system of claim 9, wherein the mobile electronic device is in electronic communication with a third party computing device.

19. The dental exam system of claim 9, wherein the coupling element comprises an aperture for a light source of the mobile electronic device.

20. The dental exam system of claim 9, further comprising a lensing system that removably couples to the dental exam tool.