JPH10165425A - Periodontal pocket measuring device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sanitary periodontal pocket measuring device with a hand-piece which can be easily operated and can be easily sterilized. SOLUTION: This device has a hand-piece main body 1A with a cover member 1B covering the front part of the hand-piece, an operation member 7 which is installed at the cover member 1B and slidable in the longitudinal direction, a flexible sleeve 6 protruding to the front attached at the operation member 7, and an exploring needle 5 which is attached at the cover member 1B, inserting through the sleeve. The top 5a of the needle can be exposed from the top 6a of the sleeve. In addition, an energizing means 2 to press the operation member and the sleeve toward the front is installed in the hand-piece main body.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a periodontal pocket measuring device used in the field of dental practice.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Measuring the depth of a periodontal pocket caused by a periodontal disease is one of important medical practices in dental practice. As a device for this purpose, a probe and a sleeve for covering the probe are provided at the tip of the handpiece, and the probe and the sleeve are configured to be relatively slidable. It is known to detect the depth of the periodontal pocket from the displacement of the two tips when the tips are applied to the upper edge of the gingiva, respectively (for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 53-14069, Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho 62).
-24098, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. Sho 62-32018, etc.).

However, in these conventional devices, since the direction of the probe is fixed with respect to the main body of the handpiece, it is difficult to operate the device, and it is difficult to perform autoclave sterilization on a portion to be inserted into the oral cavity of a patient. In addition, there is a problem that the mechanism is generally complicated and large, and the cost is high.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of these points, and has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems and to obtain a sanitary apparatus which is easy to operate, easy to sterilize, and the like. It is.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a periodontal pocket measuring apparatus according to the present invention comprises a handpiece body having a cover member for covering a front end portion, and a handpiece body attached to a front end of the cover member. An operating member slidable in the longitudinal direction of the cover member, a flexible sleeve attached to the operating member and protruding from the front end of the cover member, and mounted on the cover member to penetrate through the sleeve, A probe that can be exposed from the distal end of the sleeve, and a biasing means for pressing the movable portion including the operating member and the sleeve toward the front end is provided on the handpiece body. As the above-mentioned flexible sleeve, for example, one obtained by tightly winding a thin metal wire is used.

[0006] The urging means includes a pressing member,
For example, the pressing member is brought into contact with the movable portion by a compressed coil spring to urge the movable portion toward the front end. Further, a regulating means for stopping the movement of the movable portion at a position where the tip of the sleeve and the tip of the probe coincide or substantially coincide with each other is provided. As the regulating means, for example, the movement of the pressing member in the front end direction is predetermined. A configuration in which the position is regulated can be adopted.

Further, a sensor is constituted by a fixed portion provided on the handpiece main body and a moving portion connected to the pressing member of the urging means and moving integrally with the pressing member. The displacement of the portion is detected, and a detection signal corresponding to the moving distance of the sleeve is output.

The cover member is configured to be rotatable about the longitudinal direction of the handpiece body together with the sleeve and the probe around the longitudinal direction thereof, and the probe itself is rotated about the longitudinal direction relative to the cover member. Can be possible. The cover member is configured to be detachable from the handpiece body together with the sleeve and the probe, and at least the cover member, the probe, and the operation member are formed of a heat-resistant material. Further, the sleeve can be attached to and detached from the operating member, and the winding diameter of the tip of the sleeve is reduced according to the shape of the probe whose tip is thin.

The operation member is provided with a ring-shaped operation portion surrounding the periphery of the cover member, and this ring-shaped operation portion can be attached and detached as required.

[0010] The depth of the periodontal pocket is calculated from the detection output of the sensor. The measurement circuit for this function can set any position including the position where the tip of the sleeve coincides with the tip of the probe according to the output of the sensor as the origin, and can calculate the moving distance of the tip of the sleeve from the origin. And at least a control device provided on the handpiece body or separately provided with respect to the handpiece body.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to illustrated examples. 1 is an enlarged sectional view of a front end portion of the handpiece, FIGS. 2 and 3 are overall sectional views, FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a rear end portion of the handpiece, and FIG. 5 is A in FIG.
6 is a plan view of a front end portion of the handpiece, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 2, and FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a measurement circuit. In this specification, terms such as front end and rear end are used with the left side of FIGS. 1 to 4 as front and the right side as back.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a pencil-type handpiece comprising a handpiece body 1A and a cover member 1B for covering a front end portion thereof. Reference numeral 2 denotes an urging means, and 3 denotes a sensor. These are built in the handpiece main body 1A, and a cord 4 for connecting to a control device (not shown) is attached to the rear end of the handpiece main body 1A. . Also 5
Is a probe, 6 is a sleeve, and 7 is an operation member, which are attached to the cover member 1B. The handpiece body 1A has a base portion 11 to which the cord 4 is attached.
A cylindrical body 12 fixed to the front end of the cylindrical body 1
Reference numeral 2 denotes a shape that covers the entire circumference of the front end side of the base portion 11 and protrudes further forward.

In the illustrated example, the cover member 1B has a circular cross section on both the inner surface and the outer surface. However, the cross sectional shape may be a non-circular shape such as a C-shape or a U-shape with a part missing. ,
Further, the outer surface may be non-circular such as polygonal or elliptical.

Reference numeral 11a denotes a screw portion for screwing and integrating the cylindrical body 12 with the base portion 11.
Further forward, the cylindrical body 12 has a small diameter, and a piston-like slider 13 is slidably inserted into the small diameter portion. The moving part 3 a of the sensor 3 is connected to the slider 13 via a connecting rod 14, and a coil spring 15 is arranged in a compressed state between the front end face of the base part 11 and the rear end face of the slider 13. The biasing means 2 for biasing the slider 13 toward the front end is configured by a combination of the members. Further, the front edge 3b of the moving portion 3a of the sensor 3 is a stepped portion 1 formed on the inner surface of the base portion 11.
2b, which constitutes a movement part 3a, that is, a regulating means 2a for stopping further movement of the slider 13 in the front end direction.

The sensor 3 comprises the moving part 3a and a fixed part 3c fixed to the base part 11. The moving portion 3a is a long and narrow frame having a light-transmitting window 3d inside, and has a structure in which light-shielding scales (not shown) are provided at regular intervals along the longitudinal direction. Also, the fixing part 3
A photocoupler composed of an LED 3e and a phototransistor 3f is used for c.
3e and the phototransistor 3f (see FIG. 7). Therefore, the moving part 3a is fixed to the fixed part 3c.
Moves from the LED 3e to the phototransistor 3f
Is interrupted by the scale and is interrupted, so that by counting the number of interruptions, the moving distance of the moving unit 3a can be optically detected in a non-contact manner. The measuring circuit for this will be described later. Although the sensor 3 and a control device (not shown) are electrically connected to each other via a cord 4, a lead wire inside the base portion 11 is not shown.

A C-ring 21 is provided on the outer surface of the rear end of the cylindrical body 12.
a and the C-ring catch 21 are attached (FIG. 4).
), A threaded portion 21 at the front end side of the C-ring catch 21.
The cover member 1B is fixed by b. The inner surfaces of the C-ring catch 21 and the cover member 1B are cylindrical having a shape corresponding to the outer surface of the cylindrical body 12 of the handpiece body 1A described above, and the cylindrical body 12 includes the C-ring catch 21 and the cover member 1B. Completely covered by.
Since the C-ring catch 21 is merely locked to the base portion 11 via the C-ring 21a, the cover member 1B is attached to the base portion 11 together with the C-ring catch 21.
The base part 1 can be rotated with one touch.
1 can be removed.

Reference numeral 25 denotes a cap having a frame 25a surrounding the front surface, 26 denotes a push bar, 27 denotes a sleeve catch, 28 denotes a probe receiver, and 29 denotes a ring-shaped operation portion. The operating member 7 is a substantially L-shaped member integrally formed with the front plate 7a, and the inside of the frame 25a is a space in which the front plate 7a can be inserted and moved. The operating member 7 arranges the front plate 7a inside the frame 25a, inserts the push bar 26 through a hole 25b provided in the cap 25 from the rear,
Further, the operation member 7 is integrated with the cap 25 by screwing it into the screw portion 7b of the front plate 7a arranged in the internal space of the frame 25a, and then screwing the cap 25 into the front end of the cover member 1B by the screw portion 25c.
Is attached to the cover member 1B together with the cap 25.

The probe 5 has a thin tip and a curved shape in the middle as shown in the figure. The sleeve catch 27 is a pipe-shaped one through which the probe 5 can be inserted, and is attached to the front plate 7a of the operation member 7. The probe 5 is attached to the front end of the cover member 1B by inserting the base of the probe 5 into the sleeve catch 27 from the front and further inserting it into the probe receiver 28 provided on the cap 25. The sleeve 6 is a flexible material in which a thin metal wire such as stainless steel is closely wound and has a shape in which the winding diameter at the tip is reduced in accordance with the shape of the probe 5. Then, the base is inserted into the socket of the sleeve catch 27 to be attached to the operation member 7.

Further, the ring-shaped operation section 29 includes the cover member 1.
B is a ring-shaped material surrounding the periphery of the cap 25 and the periphery of the cap 25 and is formed of a material having high elasticity, and the operating member is formed by the concave and convex portions 29a formed between both ends thereof and the side edge of the operating member 7. 7 (see FIG. 5).

As will be described later, the cover member 1B, the operating member 7, the cap 25, and the ring-shaped operating portion 29 are removed from the base portion 11 together with the probe 5 and the sleeve 6 to perform autoclave sterilization. These target members are made of a heat-resistant material.

FIG. 2 shows a standby state after the components are assembled in this manner. That is, the slider 13 is a pressing member of the urging means 2 and abuts against the push bar 26 by the urging force of the coil spring 15 to press it forward, and moves in the frame 25 a of the cap 25 in the front-rear direction. The operating member 7 is moved forward to a position where the front plate 7a hits the frame 25a that restricts further movement by this pressing. The length of the probe 5 and the length of the sleeve 6 are selected so that the positions of the tips 5a and 6a are almost the same in this state.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which the user operates the operating member 7 or the ring-shaped operating portion 29 to move the operating member 7 rearward to a position where the front plate 7a comes into contact with the front surface of the cap 25. The tip 6 moves relatively to the probe 5, and the tip 6a is retracted from the tip 5a by the amount of movement. The urging force of the coil spring 15 is weak enough not to hinder the operation, and since the sleeve 6 is flexible, this movement is performed smoothly. With this movement, the slider 13 is pushed by the push bar 26 and retreats, and the sensor 3 connected via the connecting rod 14 is moved.
The moving unit 3a also moves relatively to the fixed unit 3c, and an intermittent signal corresponding to the amount of movement is output from the phototransistor 3f of the fixed unit 3c.

The measurement of the periodontal pocket is performed, for example, in the following procedure. First, in FIG. 2, the operating member 7 is operated to match the positions of the tip 5a of the probe 5 and the tip 6a of the sleeve 6, and the relative positional relationship between the moving part 3a and the fixed part 3c at that time is stored and stored. Is the origin. Then, the tip 5a of the probe 5 in the state of FIG.
Is inserted to the bottom of the patient's periodontal pocket.
When the sleeve 6 is returned to a position where the sleeve 6 hits the upper edge of the gingiva, the difference between the position of the tip 5a and the tip 6a at that time, that is, the distance from the origin to the tip 6a corresponds to the periodontal pocket depth. By detecting, the depth of the periodontal pocket is measured.

Hereinafter, the moving unit 3a is operated by such an operation.
A measurement circuit for detecting the moving distance of the image will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. In FIG. 8, 35 is a measurement circuit, 36 is a waveform shaping circuit, 37 is a count increase / decrease detection circuit, 38 is a counter circuit, 39 is an operation switch section having a plurality of switches, and 40 is a control circuit having a CPU. is there. The above-described setting of the origin is performed by the tip 5a and the tip 6
The operation is performed by operating a predetermined switch of the operation switch unit 39 in a state where a is matched.

A signal indicating the moving direction of the moving section 3a is also output from the sensor 3. When an intermittent signal is sent from the sensor 3 by retracting the sleeve 6, the signal is formed by the waveform shaping circuit 36. Then, the count increase / decrease detection circuit 37 calculates the increase / decrease of the count according to the moving direction,
The integrated value of the count is obtained by the counter circuit 38 and input to the control circuit 40. Then, the tip 5a of the probe 5 is inserted to the bottom of the periodontal pocket, and the count value is increased or decreased by the intermittent signal when the tip 6a of the sleeve 6 is returned to the position corresponding to the upper edge of the gingiva. 40, and from these values, the tip 6 of the sleeve 6
The depth of the periodontal pocket is obtained by calculating the current position of a, that is, the moving distance from the origin.

It should be noted that it is also possible to perform a process of correcting an error at the time of measurement by setting an arbitrary position as the origin instead of setting the state in which the positions of the end 5a and the end 6a are coincident as described above. For example, if the length of the new sleeve 6 that has been replaced is slightly different from that before, the difference is corrected at the time of calculation without resetting the origin.

Reference numeral 41 denotes a display unit, 42 denotes a storage device, 43 denotes a printer, and 44 denotes a communication circuit to other devices. The above measurement results are displayed according to the operation of the operation switch unit 39.
Alternatively, it is stored or printed out, and sent to another computer or the like to be used as diagnostic data.

In FIG. 8, reference numeral 35a denotes a control device, for example, a circuit or a device surrounded by a chain line is housed in a housing separately provided from the handpiece body 1A. In this case, a power supply for operating the sensor 3 and an output signal from the sensor 3 are transmitted to the handpiece 1 and the control device 3.
It will be supplied and transmitted via the code 4 connecting between 5a. Note that the control device 35a may be a dedicated periodontal pocket measuring device.
Since most of 5 can be used for other than the measurement of the periodontal pocket, a periodontal pocket measuring circuit such as the counter circuit 38 is added to a medical diagnostic apparatus having other functions. It may be configured.

As described above, in the system in which the handpiece body 1A and the control device 35a are connected by the cord 4, the handpiece 1 can be reduced in weight, but the operability is reduced due to the cord 4. Therefore, for example, a control board provided with a circuit necessary for at least a function of setting the origin and a function of calculating the distance that the tip 6a of the sleeve 6 has moved with respect to the origin and measuring the depth of the periodontal pocket, If a small power battery or the like is mounted on the handpiece 1 to be a cordless type, operability can be improved. In this case, for example, the obtained measurement result is temporarily stored, and the data is sent to the stationary control device when the measurement is completed and the handpiece 1 is placed on the charger also serving as the table. Such,
Appropriate means can be adopted.

The structure of the above-described sensor 3 is merely an example, and any other suitable structure such as a digital type other than the illustrated one or an analog type such as a differential transformer type can be used. In this case, a circuit corresponding to the type of the sensor may be used as the measurement circuit 35.

Since the illustrated handpiece 1 has the above-described configuration, various functions are exhibited during actual use. First, since the sleeve 6 is made of a thin metal wire wound tightly, it is very flexible, and even if the probe 5 is bent, it moves smoothly along the probe 5 when the operating member 7 is operated. It does not hinder measurement. In addition,
As the flexible sleeve 6, for example, a fluorine-based thin pipe material or the like can be used.

Further, since the cover member 1B is rotatable with respect to the base portion 11, the cover member 1B together with the sleeve 6 and the probe 5 is attached to the handpiece body 1A to which the cord 4 is connected and the direction of which is difficult to change. Since the probe 5 can be rotated appropriately, and only the probe 5 can be rotated with respect to the cap 25 without rotating the cover member 1B, the probe 5 can be oriented in a desired direction and the periodontal pocket can be measured. Becomes easier. In this case, if the detachable ring-shaped operation portion 29 is attached to the operation member 7, the operation member 7 is provided on the entire periphery of the cover member 1B regardless of the actual orientation of the operation member 7, and the operation is performed. While improving the performance, it can be removed when it is not needed and does not get in the way.

A cap 2 is provided at the tip of the cover member 1B.
5 are attached, and the handpiece body 1
A cylindrical body 12 and slider 13 located at the tip thereof
Is completely covered, so that the cylindrical body 12 and the slider 13 do not come into contact with the oral cavity of the patient at the time of measurement, and the saliva and blood of the patient do not enter. The cover member 1B, the operating member 7, and the cap 25, which may come into contact with each other, can be removed from the base portion 11 together with the probe 5 and the sleeve 6, so that the autoclave sterilization can be easily performed. Since the sleeve 6 is simply inserted into the sleeve catch 27, it can be easily replaced, and disposable for each patient is easy.

Since the slider 13 is not connected merely by pressing the push bar 26, it does not hinder the removal of the cover member 1B or the like from the base portion 11 as described above. The restricting means 2a is constituted by the front edge 3b of the moving portion 3a of the sensor 3 and the step portion 12b of the base portion 11, and the slider 13 projects from the cylindrical body 12 toward the front end even when the cover member 1B or the like is removed. No such troubles occur.

[0035]

As is apparent from the above description, the periodontal pocket measuring apparatus according to the present invention comprises a handpiece main body having a cover member for covering the front end portion, and a handpiece body attached to the front end of the cover member to extend the length of the cover member. Operating member that is slidable in the direction, a flexible sleeve attached to the operating member and protruding from the front end of the cover member, and attached to the cover member and penetrated through the inside of the sleeve. And a biasing means for pressing the movable portion including the operating member and the sleeve toward the front end in the handpiece body.

Accordingly, the tip of the probe is inserted to the bottom of the periodontal pocket of the patient, and the depth of the periodontal pocket is determined from the difference between the positions of the tips when the tip of the sleeve is applied to the upper edge of the gingiva. The operation of detection can be easily performed, the entire handpiece can be compactly assembled, the mechanism is relatively simple, and the cost can be reduced. In addition, by using a sleeve in which a thin metal wire is closely wound, a sleeve with high flexibility can be obtained, so that the sleeve moves smoothly along the bend of the probe at the time of measurement, and the measurement can be performed without any trouble. .

Further, by providing a structure in which the pressing member of the urging means is brought into contact with the movable portion, the cover member, the sleeve, the probe, etc., which are inserted into the patient's mouth, can be moved relative to the handpiece body. It can be rotated and detached. Therefore, the probe can be oriented in a desired direction according to the direction of the tooth, so that the measurement of the periodontal pocket is facilitated, and a cover member covering the tip portion of the handpiece body is removed and sterilization is performed. be able to. In particular, when the cover member, the probe, the operating member, and the like are made of a heat-resistant material, it is possible to perform a high-temperature autoclave sterilization process, which has a great effect in obtaining a highly safe and hygienic device. .

Further, a function of setting an arbitrary position including a position where the tip of the sleeve coincides with the tip of the probe in accordance with the output of the sensor as the origin, and a function of calculating a moving distance of the tip of the sleeve from the origin. With the measurement circuit having at least the handpiece body, the operability can be improved as a cordless handpiece, and the measurement circuit is provided in a control device that is provided separately from the handpiece body. In addition, the handpiece can be easily reduced in weight.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged sectional view of a front end portion of a handpiece in a periodontal pocket measuring device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the entire handpiece in the device.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the entire handpiece in the same device.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a rear end portion of a handpiece in the same device.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a front end portion of a handpiece in the same device.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a measurement circuit in the same device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Handpiece 1A Handpiece main body 1B Cover member 2 Energizing means 2a Restricting means 3 Sensor 3a Moving part 3c Fixed part 5 Probe 5a Tip 6 Sleeve 6a Tip 7 Operating member 13 Slider (pressing member) 29 Ring operating section 35 Measurement Circuit 35a Controller

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. A handpiece body having a cover member for covering a front end portion, an operation member mounted on a front end of the cover member and slidable in a longitudinal direction of the cover member, and an operation member attached to the operation member. A flexible sleeve protruding from a front end of the cover member, and a probe attached to the cover member, penetrating through the sleeve, and having a distal end exposed from the distal end of the sleeve. A periodontal pocket measuring device, wherein a biasing means for pressing a movable part including a sleeve and a front end in a front end direction is provided in the handpiece body. 2. The periodontal pocket measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve is formed by tightly winding a thin metal wire. 3. The periodontal pocket according to claim 1, wherein the urging means includes a pressing member, and the pressing member contacts the movable portion to urge the movable portion toward the front end. measuring device. 4. The periodontal pocket measuring device according to claim 3, further comprising a regulating means for stopping the movement of the movable portion at a position where the tip of the sleeve and the tip of the probe coincide or substantially coincide with each other. 5. The periodontal pocket measuring device according to claim 3, wherein the regulating means is provided on the handpiece body, and is configured to regulate the movement of the pressing member in the front end direction at a predetermined position. . 6. The periodontal pocket measuring device according to claim 2, wherein the urging force of the urging means is generated by a compressed coil spring. 7. A sleeve, comprising: a fixed portion provided on the handpiece body; and a moving portion connected to the pressing member of the urging means and moving integrally with the pressing member. The periodontal pocket measuring device according to any one of claims 3 to 6, further comprising a sensor that outputs a detection signal corresponding to the moving distance of the tooth. 8. The periodontal pocket measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the cover member is configured to be rotatable about the longitudinal direction of the handpiece body together with the sleeve and the probe with respect to the handpiece body. 9. The periodontal pocket measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the cover member is configured to be detachable from the handpiece body together with the sleeve and the probe. 10. The probe according to claim 1, wherein the probe is rotatable about a longitudinal direction of the cover member.
The periodontal pocket measuring device according to any one of the above. 11. The periodontal pocket measuring device according to claim 7, wherein the sleeve is configured to be detachable from the operation member. 12. The periodontal pocket measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve has a shape in which the winding diameter at the tip is reduced according to the shape of the probe. 13. The periodontal pocket measuring device according to claim 1, wherein at least the cover member, the probe, and the operating member are made of a heat-resistant material. 14. The periodontal pocket measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the operation member has a ring-shaped operation portion surrounding the periphery of the cover member. 15. The periodontal pocket measuring device according to claim 14, wherein the ring-shaped operation portion is detachable. 16. A function that can set an arbitrary position including the position where the tip of the sleeve and the tip of the probe coincide with each other in accordance with the output of the sensor, and a function that can calculate the moving distance of the tip of the sleeve from the origin. The periodontal pocket measuring device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein a measuring circuit having at least the following is provided in the handpiece body. 17. A function that can set an arbitrary position including a position where the tip of the sleeve coincides with the tip of the probe in accordance with the output of the sensor, and a function that can calculate a moving distance of the tip of the sleeve from the origin. The periodontal pocket measuring apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein a measuring circuit having at least the following is provided in a control device separately provided with respect to the handpiece body.