Oral health measurement clamping probe, system, and method
First Claim
1. A detachable probe body for use with an oral health measurement system for oral health measurements of an oral object within a mouth of the patient, the mouth having oral surfaces, the health measurement system having reusable components including an electromagnetic signal receiver coupled to a processor for evaluating a health-related characteristic of the mouth from an electromagnetic signal, the probe body comprising:
- a window capable of transmitting the electromagnetic signal from the oral object to the signal receiver;
a casing extending from the window, the casing and window together defining an opening for receiving the signal receiver so as to provide isolation of the reusable components from the mouth; and
at least one probe surface oriented to engage one or more oral surfaces so as to maintain alignment between the signal receiver and the oral object.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Devices, systems, and methods determine the health of oral objects by providing objective measurements using a detachable probe body. The detachable probe body may isolate reusable system components (including an electromagnetic signal detection, signal transmission, energy generation, and or energy transmitting components) from the oral cavity, optionally by encasing at least a portion of one or more of these components in a sheath or the like. A window of the probe body maintains sterile isolation and transmits electromagnetic energy to and/or signals from the oral object. Accuracy can be enhanced by a clamp or other structure for engaging a surface of the oral object so as to maintain a fixed alignment between the signal receiver and the oral object.
41 Citations
52 Claims
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1. A detachable probe body for use with an oral health measurement system for oral health measurements of an oral object within a mouth of the patient, the mouth having oral surfaces, the health measurement system having reusable components including an electromagnetic signal receiver coupled to a processor for evaluating a health-related characteristic of the mouth from an electromagnetic signal, the probe body comprising:
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a window capable of transmitting the electromagnetic signal from the oral object to the signal receiver;
a casing extending from the window, the casing and window together defining an opening for receiving the signal receiver so as to provide isolation of the reusable components from the mouth; and
at least one probe surface oriented to engage one or more oral surfaces so as to maintain alignment between the signal receiver and the oral object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 47, 48)
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11. The probe body of claim 11, wherein the probe body is configured so as to induce the movement of the body portions and engage opposed surfaces of at least one tooth when the patient bites the probe body.
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29. A detachable probe body for use with a blood measurement system for tooth vitality measurements of a tooth within a mouth of the patient, the mouth having oral surfaces, the blood measurement system having reusable components including a light signal receiver coupled to a processor for evaluating a characteristic of blood from an electromagnetic signal, the probe body comprising:
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a window capable of transmitting the light signal from the tooth to the signal receiver;
a casing extending from the window, the casing and window together defining an opening for receiving the signal receiver and at least a portion of the signal transmitter so as to provide isolation of the reusable components from the mouth; and
at least one surface oriented to engage one or more oral surfaces so as to maintain alignment between the signal receiver and the tooth. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 44, 45, 46)
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39. An oral health measurement system for measurements of oral object within a mouth of a patient, the mouth having oral surfaces, the measurement system comprising:
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a measurement apparatus having a visible or non-visible light source, and having an electromagnetic signal receiver coupled to a processor;
a detachable probe body having;
a casing removably receiving the signal receiver, a surface oriented to engage one or more oral surface so as to maintain alignment between the signal receiver and the oral object, and at least one window disposed along an path extending from the source to the oral object and from the oral object to the receiver, the at least one window transmitting visible or non-visible light energy from the source to the oral object, and an optical signal from the oral object to the signal receiver. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43)
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49. A method of measuring oral objecthealth, the method comprising:
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covering a signal receiver with a detachable probe body;
affixing the signal receiver relative to an oral object with the probe body;
generating an oral object health characteristic signal by directing visible or non-visible light energy toward the oral object;
detecting the oral object health signal with the affixed signal receiver through a window of the probe body;
determining an oral object health characteristic by processing the detected oral object health signal with a processor coupled to the signal receiver. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51)
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52.
Specification