US 4,904,184 AGranted

Periodontal probe instrument

OwnerGordon J. Murphy, Robert J. Ceiselinventors

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Abstract

A periodontal probe instrument for measuring the depth of a periodontal pocket in the gingiva adjacent a tooth includes a probe handle member in which a displacement sensor and a probe element are mounted. The probe element includes an external end and is disposed adjacent and parallel to the displacement sensor. A tip of the displacement sensor is aligned with the external end of the probe element in a first reference position. A pressure transducer is mounted in the handle member for generating a first output signal indicative of the magnitude of the force applied. A displacement transducer is mounted in the handle member for constantly encoding the displacement of the tip of the displacement sensor as it is moved from the first position to a second position to generate a second output signal indicative of the depth of the periodontal pocket. A comparator circuit is provided for generating a logic signal only when the first output signal is in the range between a low threshold signal and a high threshold signal. An indicator is responsive to the logic signal to produce an indication to generate an actuation signal. In response to the indication to generate an actuation signal, a switch is operated to cause a computer to read the second output signal indicative of the depth of the periodontal pocket.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A periodontal probe instrument for measuring the depth of a periodontal pocket in the gingiva adjacent a tooth, said instrument comprising:

a probe handle member;
a displacement sensor being movably mounted within a sleeve which is connected to said probe handle member, said displacement sensor terminating externally of said handle member in a tip;
a probe element including an external end and being also mounted in said handle member, said probe element being disposed adjacent and parallel to said displacement sensor;
said tip of said displacement sensor being aligned with said external end of said probe element in a first reference position;
pressure transducer means mounted in said handle member and being responsive to a force applied to said external end of said probe element for generating a first output signal indicative of the magnitude of the force;
said probe element being inserted into the periodontal pocket until the external end thereof contacts the bottom of the pocket as the tip of said displacement sensor is resting on the gingival margin of the tooth, said tip being retracted in said sleeve from the first position to a second position when the external end of said probe element is contacting the bottom of the pocket;
displacement transducer means mounted in said handle member for constantly encoding the displacement of said tip as it is moved from the first position to the second position to generate a second output signal indicative of the depth of the periodontal pocket;
comparator means responsive to said first output signal indicative of the magnitude of the force, a low threshold signal, and a high threshold signal for generating a logic signal only when said first output signal is in the range between said low and high threshold signals;
indicating means responsive to said logic signal to produce an indication to generate an actuation signal;
and
activating means including a switch which is operated when the indication is produced for generating an actuation signal to cause a computer to read the second output signal indicative of the depth of the periodontal pocket.

8 more elements

A periodontal probe instrument for measuring the depth of a pepriodontal pocket in the gingiva adjacent a tooth, said instrument comprising:

a probe handle member;
a displacement sensor being movably mounted within a sleeve which is connected to said probe handle member, said displacement sensor terminating externally of said handle member in a tip;
a probe element including an external end and being also mounted in said handle member, said probe element being disposed adjacent and parallel to said displacement sensor;
said tip of said displacement sensor being aligned with said external end of said probe element in a first reference position;
pressure transducer means mounted in said handle member and being responsive to a force applied to said external end of said probe element for generating an analog output signal indicative of the magnitude of the force;
said probe element being inserted into the periodontal pocket until the external end thereof contacts the bottom of the pocket as the tip of said displacement sensor is resting on the gingival margin of the tooth, said tip being retracted in said sleeve from the first position to a second position when the external end of said probe element is contacting the bottom of the pocket;
displacement transducer means mounted in said handle member for constantly encoding the displacement of said tip as it is moved from the first position to the second position to generate a digital output signal indicative of the depth of the periodontal pocket;
comparator means responsive to said analog output signal indicative of the magnitude of the force, a low threshold signal, and a high threshold signal for generating a logic signal only when said first output signal is in the range between said low and high threshold signals;
indicating means responsive to said logic signal to produce an indication to generate an actuation signal;
and
digital processing means also responsive to said logic signal for automatically reading the digital output signal indicative of the depth of the periodontal pocket.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.