Analysis system

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,
• first transducer means for monitoring probe motion perturbations and providing output signals indicative thereof,
• 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--the distance of the cemento enamel junction from the base of the the periodontal pocket.

Periodontal analysis apparatus comprising a handle component, a sterilizable tip unit that defines a channel region of contra angle configuration, and that is detachable from said handle component,

• a probe member having a tip for insertion into a periodontal pocket of a patient, said probe member being disposed in said tip unit for reciprocating movement in said channel region with the tip of said probe member extending outwardly from said channel region,
• said probe member being an elongated solid metal wire member that has a diameter of less than 0.5 millimeter, and having a series of reduced diameter portions intermediate its ends that are disposed in said channel region,
• force applying means in said handle component for producing reciprocating motion of said probe member along said channel region, and
• transducer means in said handle component for monitoring probe motion perturbations and providing output signals indicative of probe member acceleration.

Periodontal analysis apparatus comprising a handle component, a sterilizable tip unit detachable from said handle component and defining a guide channel with a region of contra angle configuration, a probe member having a tip for insertion into a periodontal pocket of a patient, said probe member being disposed in said guide channel for reciprocating movement with the tip of said probe member extending outwardly from said channel, said probe member being an elongated solid metal wire member that has a diameter of less than 0.5 millimeter, and having a reduced diameter portion intermediate its ends that is disposed in said contra angle region,

• force applying means in said handle component that includes a source of air pressure for generating a probe insertion force of less than one hundred grams and producing reciprocating movement of said probe member along said channel in a probe insertion--retraction cycle of less than one second duration,
• transducer means in said handle component for monitoring probe motion perturbations and providing output signals indicative of probe member acceleration,
• 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.

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, said reduced diameter portion of said metal wire member being disposed in the contra angle region of said guide 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, said transducer means including a first transducer for providing output signals indicative of the acceleration of said probe member and a second transducer for monitoring displacement of said probe member from a reference position and providing output signals indicative thereof.