EP0194083A1 — Periodontal analysis apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 78 words

Periodontal analysis apparatus comprising a probe member having a tip for insertion into a periodontal pocket of a patient, a probe housing having a guide channel in which said probe member is disposed for reciprocating movement with the tip of said probe member extending outwardly from said channel, force applying means in said housing for producing reciprocating motion of said probe member along said channel, transducer means for monitoring probe motion perturbations and providing output signals indicative thereof.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 78 words

Periodontal analysis apparatus comprising a probe member having a tip for insertion into a periodontal pocket of a patient, a probe housing having a guide channel in which said probe member is disposed for reciprocating movement with the tip of said probe member extending outwardly from said channel, force applying means in said housing for producing reciprocating motion of said probe member along said channel, transducer means for monitoring probe motion perturbations and providing output signals indicative thereof.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 16 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said transducer means responds to acceleration of said probe member.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 66 words

The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2 and further including second transducer means for monitoring displacement of said probe member from a reference position and providing output signals indicative thereof, and electronic signal processing means responsive to output signals from said first and second transducers for indicating attachment level that is the distance of the cemento enamel junction from the base of the periodontal pocket.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said second transducer is a linear variable differential transformer.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 44 words

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said force applying means includes a piston and an elongated member that extends through said linear variable differential transformer and is coupled to said probe member, said elongated member carrying the core of said linear variable differential transformer.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 20 words

The apparatus of any preceding claim and further including a supplemental channel for supplying low pressure air to said tip.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 33 words

The apparatus of any preceding claim and further including biasing means for biasing said probe member towards a retracted position, said biasing means producing a probe tip retraction force of about fifteen grams.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 45 words

The apparatus of any preceding claim wherein said probe member includes an elongated flexible assembly that includes a probe tip member, a coupling member, an elongated spring coil, and a tensioned filament extending through said spring coil from said probe-tip member to said coupling member.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 29 words

The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 7 wherein said probe member is an elongated solid metal wire member that has a diameter of less than 0.5 millimeter.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 47 words

The apparatus of any preceding claim wherein said force applying means includes a source of air pressure, and further including a processor responsive to output signals of said transducer means, and output means responsive to said processor for providing data on the motion of said probe tip.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 46 words

ll. The apparatus of any preceding claim wherein said force applying means generates a probe tip insertion force of less than one hundred grams and produces a reciprocating movement of said probe about one centimeter in a probe insertion-retraction cycle of less than one second duration.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 17 words

The apparatus of any preceding claim wherein said probe member has an enlarged portion at its tip.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 15 words

The apparatus of any preceding claim wherein said force applying means includes a piston member.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 32 words

The apparatus of any preceding claim wherein said probe housing includes a tip unit that defines said channel and is detachable from a handle component in which said transducer means is housed.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 28 words

The apparatus of any preceding claim wherein said channel defining tip unit is a metal tube that has a flared end adjacent the tip of said probe member.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 33 words

The apparatus of any preceding claim wherein said probe member has a coupling portion remote from said tip, and said force applying means includes a rigid shaft that mechanically engages said coupling portion.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 12 words

The apparatus of any preceding claim wherein said tip unit is sterilizable.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 15 words

The apparatus of any preceding claim wherein said tip unit is of contra angle configuration.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 96 words

A detachable probe assembly for use with periodontal analysis apparatus that includes force applying means for producing reciprocating motion of a probe member and transducer means for monitoring probe motion and providing output signals indicative thereof, said probe assembly including a probe member having a tip for insertion into a periodontal pocket of a patient, a housing having a guide channel in which said probe member is disposed for reciprocating movement with the tip of said probe member extending outwardly from said channel, and coupling structure for attaching said probe assembly to said periodontal analysis apparatus.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 96 words

A detachable probe assembly for use with periodontal analysis apparatus that includes force applying means for producing reciprocating motion of a probe member and transducer means for monitoring probe motion and providing output signals indicative thereof, said probe assembly including a probe member having a tip for insertion into a periodontal pocket of a patient, a housing having a guide channel in which said probe member is disposed for reciprocating movement with the tip of said probe member extending outwardly from said channel, and coupling structure for attaching said probe assembly to said periodontal analysis apparatus.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 22 words

The assembly of claim 19 wherein said probe member is an elongated flexible member and has an enlarged portion at its tip.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 18 words

The assembly of either claim 19 or 20 wherein said detachable probe assembly is of contra angle configuration.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 31 words

The assembly of any of claims 19 to 2i wherein said guide channel defining structure is a metal tube that has a flared end adjacent the tip of said probe member.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 46 words

The assembly of any of claims 19 to 21 wherein said probe member has a coupling portion remote from said tip, and said force applying means includes a rigid shaft that is driven by said force applying means and mechanically engages said probe member coupling portion.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 42 words

The assembly of any of claims 19 to 23 wherein said probe member is a continuous metal wire member that has a diameter of less than 0.5 millimeter, an enlarged portion at its tip, and a reduced diameter portion intermediate its ends.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 131 words

Periodontal analysis apparatus comprising a probe member having a tip for insertion into a periodontal pocket of a patient, said probe member being a continuous metal wire member that has a diameter of less than 0.5 millimeter, an enlarged portion at its tip, and a reduced diameter portion intermediate its ends, a probe housing having a guide channel of contra angle-configuration in which said probe member is disposed for reciprocating movement with the tip of said probe member extending outwardly from said channel, force applying means for generating a probe tip insertion force of less than one hundred grams and for producing reciprocating movement of said probe along said channel over a length of less than two centimeters, and transducer means for monitoring probe motion and providing output signals indicative thereof.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 131 words

Periodontal analysis apparatus comprising a probe member having a tip for insertion into a periodontal pocket of a patient, said probe member being a continuous metal wire member that has a diameter of less than 0.5 millimeter, an enlarged portion at its tip, and a reduced diameter portion intermediate its ends, a probe housing having a guide channel of contra angle-configuration in which said probe member is disposed for reciprocating movement with the tip of said probe member extending outwardly from said channel, force applying means for generating a probe tip insertion force of less than one hundred grams and for producing reciprocating movement of said probe along said channel over a length of less than two centimeters, and transducer means for monitoring probe motion and providing output signals indicative thereof.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 54 words

The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said probe housing includes a tip unit that defines said channel and is detachable from a handle component in which said transducer means is housed, and said channel defining tip unit is a metal tube that has a flared end adjacent the enlarged tip of said probe member.

Periodontal analysis apparatus

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag