Inventors:
Stephen M. Demyun - Shavertown PA
Keith M. Hagenbuch - Waterford PA
Assignee:
Periosonics, Inc. - Shavertown PA
International Classification:
A61C 1904
Abstract:
A noninvasive probe effects a method of measuring the depth of the periodontal pocket along an outer surface of a tooth wherein the depth is measured from an outer gum ledge tooth surface adjacent a tooth outer surface to the bottom of the pocket where the bone surface joins the tooth outer surface. The probe comprises an elongated handle portion, a neck portion and a head portion with each said portion having a respective longitudinal axis. The head portion includes an outer tip section and a transducer section connecting the tip section to the neck portion. The outer tip section includes a gum contacting end surface having a structural configuration effective to completely engage the outer gum ledge surface adjacent the tooth outer surface. The probe is used in combination with an assembly comprising a mechanism for establishing a first ultrasound pulse travel path having a fixed, reflective delay time and a second ultrasound pulse travel path having a variable, reflective delay time. The difference between the fixed, reflective delay time and the variable, reflective delay time is measured and then displayed to determine the depth measurement for the periodontal pocket.