Back to results
US 4,479,499 AGranted
Method and apparatus for detecting the presence of caries in teeth using visible light
OwnerRobert R. Alfanoinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for detecting the presence of caries in human teeth using visible light. The tooth is exposed to light of relatively narrow bandwidths. The light from the tooth is preferably examined by two photomultipliers or visually each examining a different wavelength. Caries are detected when the difference in the intensity of the light from the tooth at those two wavelengths changes in a predetermined manner.
Claims2
A method for detecting the presence of caries of the teeth of a person comprising:
- radiating a region of the teeth to be examined with light;
- producing first and second signals corresponding to the intensity of the light scattered at first and second wavelengths, respectively, the intensity of difference of the scattered light between caries and non-carious regions at said first wavelength being measurably different than the intensity difference of the scattered light between caries and non-carious regions at said second wavelength;
- producing a third signal corresponding to the difference between said first and second signals;
- determining the value of said third signal when a known non-carious region is radiated;
- detecting the presence of caries in other regions by said third signal changing from said value in a predetermined manner.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.