Electronic periodontal probe with a constant force applier

Abstract

A periodontal probe and recording apparatus for measuring the depth of a pocket formed by the gum (gingival tissue) surrounding a tooth. The periodontal probe and recording apparatus are comprised of a probe tip with a simplified spring tension device electrically connected via a transducer to the recording apparatus. The probe tip reciprocates via a movable arm in a short, easy to clean, sleeve fixed to a probe handle, wherein the probe tip acts against a constant spring tension. With the probe tip resting on the bottom of the pocket, the periodontal probe handle is pressed toward the pocket until the sleeve touches the margin of the gum forming the pocket. The exposed length of the probe tip represents the depth of the pocket. There is a locking mechanism for locking the tip at the measured depth for visual measurement. Also, the probe depth is electronically measured by the mechanical displacement of the transducer and transmitted, at the touch of a foot switch, from the transducer to the recording apparatus comprised of a digital readout and/or a computer with a printer and a voice synthesizer and voice recognition circuits.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.