Trans-illuminative intraoral diagnostic lighting system and method of using
OwnerSean M. Langtoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A trans-illuminative intraoral diagnostic lighting system includes a housing containing at least one LED and has a removable light diffusing positioning apparatus attached to it that facilitates proper positioning of the housing within the oral cavity of a person behind their teeth. When the LED(s) is/are activated, the oral cavity is illuminated and light passes through the teeth making their internal structures visible outside the oral cavity. A retractor may be used to retract the cheeks and lips to allow full exposure of the teeth and a camera may be employed to photograph the teeth from outside the oral cavity.
Claims19
A trans-illuminative intraoral diagnostic lighting system, comprising:
- a) a sealed housing sized to fit within a person's oral cavity behind the person's teeth;
- b) a source of light carried by the housing and, when activated, shining light within said oral cavity;
- c) a separate positioning apparatus removably connected to said housing and configured to orient said housing in a desired position within said oral cavity, said positioning apparatus comprising a plurality of tabs extending outwardly from said housing and configured to be clenched between upper and lower teeth of said person to hold said upper and lower teeth in close proximity and position said housing in a desired position and assist said person in stabilizing their bite for photo taking;
- d) a first source of power connected to said source of light;
- and
- e) a first on-off switch which when closed activates said source of light and causes light to illuminate said oral cavity and illuminate said teeth so that images of said teeth as backlit by said source of light may be taken from outside said oral cavity.
A method of obtaining photographic images of teeth of a person, including the steps of:
- a) providing a trans-illuminative intraoral diagnostic lighting system including:
- i) a sealed housing sized to fit within said person's oral cavity behind the person's teeth;
- ii) a source of light carried by the housing and, when activated, shining light within said oral cavity;
- iii) a separate positioning apparatus removably connected to said housing and configured to orient said housing in a desired position within said oral cavity, said positioning apparatus comprising a plurality of tabs extending outwardly from said housing and configured to be clenched between upper and lower teeth of said person to hold said upper and lower teeth in close proximity and position said housing in a desired position and assist said person in stabilizing their bite for photo taking;
- iv) a source of power connected to said source of light;
- and
- v) an on-off switch which when closed activates said source of light and causes light to illuminate said oral cavity and illuminate said teeth so that images of said teeth as backlit by said source of light may be taken from outside said oral cavity;
- b) providing a dental retractor;
- c) providing a camera;
- d) placing said sealed housing within said oral cavity of said person, behind said teeth;
- e) retracting cheeks and lips of said person using said dental retractor;
- f) activating said source of light;
- and
- g) using said camera to photograph outer surfaces of said teeth.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.