US 5,328,365 AGranted

System and method for endoscopic subgingival dental procedures

OwnerBennett Jacobyinventor

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Abstract

A device and method for removing deposited material from subgingival tooth surfaces, under endoscopic guidance, without surgical cutting of the gingiva. In one embodiment, the invention comprises a simple endoscopic probe insertable into the gingival sulcus to endoscopically visualize the process of and/or effects of subgingival root planing, scaling or other plaque removal procedures carried out by other operative instruments. In another embodiment, the endoscopic viewing apparatus is incorporated into an operative instrument which is, in itself, usable to effect removal deposited material from subgingival tooth surfaces such that the operator may endoscopically view and/or guide the instrument while using the instrument itself to effect the removal of material deposited on the subgingival tooth surfaces. The invention includes methods for removing deposited material from subgingival tooth surfaces under endoscopic guidance and/or monitoring.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A system for endoscopic viewing of the subgingival anatomy without surgical incision of the gingiva, said system comprising:

a) a subgingival endoscopic dental probe device insertable between non-incised free gingiva and an adjacent tooth, said probe device comprising:
i) an elongate handpiece sized and configured to be grasped by the human hand, said handpiece having a proximal end and a distal end;
ii) a probe member attached to and extending from the distal end of said handpiece, of said probe member having a distal end sized as to be insertable between the intact non-incised free gingiva and an adjacent subgingival tooth surface;
iii) a light transmitting pathway extending longitudinally through said probe member and terminating distally in at least one light outlet port at the distal end of said probe member;
iv) an optical image transmitting pathway extending longitudinally through said probe member and terminating distally in an optical image receiving port at the distal end of said probe member;
b) a light source connectable to said light transmitting pathway to pass light, in a proximal direction, through said light transmitting pathway and out of the light outlet port located at the distal end of said probe member;
c) an optical image receiving and displaying apparatus connected to the optical image transmitting pathway of said probe member to receive and display an optical image from the optical image receiving port located at the distal end of said probe member.

4 more elements

A method for endoscopic examination of the subgingival anatomy, said method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a subgingival endoscopic probe comprising:
i) an elongate probe body sized and configured to be insertable between the intact non-incised gingiva and the adjacent subgingival tooth surface;
ii) an illuminating apparatus connectable to a light source and having at least one illumination port located on said probe;
iii) an optical image pathway extending through at least a portion of said probe and connectable to an optical image displaying device, said optical image pathway having at least one optical image receiving port for receiving an optical image therethrough;
b) providing an optical image displaying device connectable to said probe to provide a visual display of an optical image received through said optical image pathway;
c) connecting said optical image pathway to said optical image displaying device;
d) inserting said probe into the space between said intact non-incised gingiva and the adjacent subgingival tooth surface;
e) utilizing said illuminating apparatus to cast illuminating light out of said illumination port onto said subgingival anatomy;
f) receiving, through said optical image pathway, an optical image of the subgingival anatomy illuminated by said illuminating light, and utilizing said optical image displaying device to provide a visual display of said optical image.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/045,397Filed 9 Apr 1993 · continuation
Priority: 26 Dec 1991
Granted: 12 Jul 1994
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

A61B 1/24
Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g.…:…
A61B 1/00165
Optical arrangements: with light-conductive means, e.g. fibre optics
A61B 1/015
Characterised by internal passages or accessories therefor: control of fluid supply or evacuation
A61B 1/0607
With illuminating arrangements: for annular illumination