GB2355539A

GB2355539A - Monitoring camera for dental examination

Info

Publication number: GB2355539A
Application number: GB9924668A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alastair Ian Cook; James Trainer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-10-20
Filing date: 1999-10-20
Publication date: 2001-04-25
Also published as: GB9924668D0

Abstract

Monitoring apparatus comprising a camera (1) preferably for use in dental examination and means (3,4) for attaching a reflective element (6), such as a mirror, thereto, the camera (1) and attachment means (3,4) being so-arranged that, in use, an image is reflected from a so-attached reflective element (6) to the aperture (5) of the camera. Preferably the camera is a CCD with the output displayed on a monitor.

Description

2355539 MONITORING APPARATUS

DESCRIPTION

This invention relates to monitoring apparatus and more specifically to an oral monitoring device.

Dentists are often required to take an image of the mouth of a patient.

To this end there are a plurality of bespoke systems which can be utilised. In lo the normal course of dental examination a dentist will identify a problem, such as a cavity or a leaking crown, and will communicate this to the patient. To back up the diagnosis a dentist will often use a camera system to take a picture of the area of interest so that the patient can see exactly what is the problem.

Furthermore, dental images are also used to build up a "diary" of tooth development in an individual, such as in the progression of a disease, or to monitor the efficacy of orthodontic treatment, or they are used for instruction purposes during training.

However, at present, known dental imaging systems are generally cumbersome and expensive. Moreover, the systems currently available are stand-alone systems, which is to say that once the dental examination has been completed the patient must wait whilst the imaging equipment is set up and then whilst the equipment records a picture or, in some cases, a video clip.

There is moreover a further issue for the dentist, which is that the knowhow required to set-up and operate the known equipment is often great and this inhibits many dentists from using it.

The object of the present invention is to provide apparatus which obviates the above-identified problems whilst affording easy to use imaging equipment which can display and record in real time.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus comprising a camera and means for attaching a reflective element thereto, the camera and attachment means being so-arranged that, in use, an image is reflected from a so-attached reflective element to the aperture of the camera.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for dental examination comprising a reflective element and handle means, wherein the handle means comprises a camera and the reflective io element is arranged to reflect an image to the aperture of the camera during examination.

Preferably, the reflective element is in the form of a standard dentists mirror piece, that is to say a circular, steel and glass mirror which is provided, on its non-reflective side, with means which are conventionally used to detachably secure the mirror piece to a universal dentists handle. The mirror piece being preferably formed fforn. surgical steel such that it is sterilisable and, therefore, re-useable.

Preferably the output image from the camera is displayed on display means, preferably in real-time, on for example a monitor, such as an LCD or CRT screen.

A third aspect of the invention provides an examination system comprising a dentist's examination mirror, a camera and display means, wherein images of a patients mouth are capable of being reflected from the mirror to the camera and displayed by the display means.

Preferably the mirror piece is attached to the camera by attachment means connected, at a proximal end thereof to an exterior surface of the camera. The mirror piece and the attachment means may be detachably attached. The attachment means and mirror preferably have mutually connecting portions such that, upon mutual connection thereof, the mirror and camera have a predetermined spatial configuration. A distal end of the attachment means is preferably formed with a screw thread, so-formed that it exactly mates with a screw-thread formed on a portion of the mirror piece, The camera preferably takes continual images and may comprise a charged coupled device (CCD) to monitor the images reflected from the mirror. The camera may also comprise an inverter to invert the image such io that any displayed image is displayed in its correct aspect.

The optics of the camera may be so-configured that once the mirror, which has a set focal length, is attached to the attachment means at the predetermined spatial configuration the image reflected from the mirror fills the camera lens and the image transmitted therethrough is focused onto the CCD.

The display means may comprise a monitor, such as an LCD or CRT screen, which may be hand-held. The image, or information pertaining thereto, may be transmitted from the camera to the display means by a hard-wire connection or wireless link and the display means may also comprise recording equipment such that the images may be recorded. The display means may be arranged to display, in real-time, to a patient the image reflected from the mirror.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of dental examination comprising examining the teeth and gums of a patient whilst simultaneously displaying the examination to a patient. The examination method may comprise taking images of the reflected image of the teeth and gums of the patient, and then displaying those images upon display means which can be viewed by the patient.'s The various preferred aspects of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure I shows an elevation of one embodiment of the inventive apparatus, and Figure 2 shows a section through an elevation of a second embodiment of inventive apparatus.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a monitoring apparatus comprising, generally indicated at 1, a camera which can be used in a dental examination. The camera comprises a cylindrical body 2, attachment means 3, and an aperture 5 formed on a circular face of the body 2.

The attachment means 3 comprises a bent, or otherwise angled, leg, a proximal end of which is attached-to the body 2 and a distal end thereof is provided with a cavity 4. The cavity 4 is provided with a screw-thread to facilitate the attachment of a standard dentists mirror piece (as previously defined and as shown at 6, in Figure 2) thereto. A dentists mirror piece is provided with a short armature which comprises, at an end thereof, a screw thread. The screw-threads on the mirror piece and the attachment means 4 are formed such that they cooperatively engage. When these two screw-threads are fully mated the mirror surface and the camera I have a set, and pre determined, spatial configuration.

Referring now to Figure 2, there is shown a monitoring apparatus comprising a camera, generally indicated at 1', comprising a body 2', attachment means 3' and a standard dentists mirror piece 6. The camera body 2' is provided with an aperture 5' behind which is situated a lens or lenses 9 and a CCD 8 and its associated electronics. The attachment means 3' comprises a cavity 4' which is provided with a screw-thread. This screwthread is so formed that it cooperatively engages a screw-thread provided on the mirror 6. Once the screw-threads on the mirror 6 and attachment means 3' are fully engaged the mirror and the camera l' have a set, and pre-determined spatial configuration.

The spatial configuration of the mirror 6 and camera 1, V is such that an image reflected from the mirrored surface 6 fills the lens or lenses 9, which in turn focuses the image onto the CCD 8. The optical components of the io camera 1, V and mirror 6 are matched such that a focused image is produced.

Charge Coupled Devices (CCDs) are well known in the imaging art and have found many uses in both analytical science and photography. They are basically solid-state devices consisting of an array of closely spaced pixels, which are laid onto a substrate using photolithography. Incoming light generates a current via the photoelectric effect, and the charge from each pixel is collected by an electrode associated therewith. Following the application of a differential voltage across the electrode, the charge is transierred and the individual charge packets are detected. The detected charges are converted to output voltages which are subsequently digitally encoded. The digital information may be stored or displayed in real-time upon a suitable display means, such as a monitor.

The body 2' is provided with an output port 7 which allows a hard- wire connection to transfer the digitally encoded image information to a suitable display means (not shown). The image information may be inverted such that the displayed image is in the same state as the image reflected from the mirror. A small colour LCD screen can be used as the display means and this may be connected to recording apparatus or to other monitors.

In use a dentist, or a dental nurse, takes a new, or recently sterilised, standard dental mirror 6 and screws it into the cavity 4, 4' of the attachment means 3, 3', which is attached to the camera body 2, 2'. The output lead is connected to the output port 7 of the body 2, 2' and the display means, such as an LCD colour screen, is switched on. The patient holds the LCD screen such that he or she can view it whilst lying in the dentists chair. The dentist then conducts the examination as they would normally, the main difference being that the dentist holds the camera body 2, 2' instead of a universal dental handpiece. The r eflected images of the patients' teeth that the dentist has is displayed in real-time upon the LCD screen so that the patient may look at them. Thus, whilst the dentist is carrying out the examination he or she can indicate to the patient any problems that are identified, such as a cavity or leaking crown. The light for the camera 1, V is provided by the dental examination light used in the normal course of examination.

The state of the patients' teeth can be shown as the dentist is carrying out the examination and this may also be used for training purposes. Student dentists can be instructed by their tutor whilst he or she is examining a real patient. Furthermore, examinations of patients by dental students can be monitored in real-time by the tutor. The output ftorn the camera may be simultaneously recorded such that mistakes in the examination can be high lighted.

The output from the camera, being digital, can be easily transmitted by wireless link to a receiver instead of using a hard-wire connection and, to that end, a transmitter may be incorporated into the body 2, 2' of the camera 1, 1 Thus, the display means does not need to be physically connected to the camera body 2, 2', which may increase the efficacy of the camera in operation.

Furthermore, the output may be readily transmitted to a remote location and may be used, for example for consultation purposes. ' The connection between the mirror 6 and the attachment means 3, 3' may be afforded by any suitable cooperatively mating connection which ensures that the mirror 6 and camera 1, V have a set, and pre-determined, spatial configuration. In so-providing such a connection, a standard dentists mirror is easily inter-faced to the camera, which can immediately start outputing images to a display means.

Any suitable camera may be used in place of the CCD camera exemplified above and as previously stated a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) may io be used in place of the LCD screen..

The uses of this apparatus are not limited solely to dentistry and it may be employed in many diverse areas where it is desirable to provide a view of an operation to either the person being operated upon, or a third party. Or, for example, it may be utilised in a situation where examination of an object is required which is not directly in the line of sight and a third party wishes to monitor the course of the examination.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising a camera and means for attaching a reflective element thereto, the camera and attachment means being so-arranged that, in use, an image is reflected from a so-attached reflective element to the aperture of the camera

2. Apparatus for dental examination comprising a reflective element and handle means, wherein said handle means comprises a camera and the reflective element is arranged to reflect an image to the aperture of the camera during examination.

3. Apparatus according to claim I or 2, wherein the reflective element is a standard dentists mirror piece, that is to say a circular, steel and glass mirror which is provided, on its non-reflective side, with means which are conventionally used to detachably secure the mirror piece to a universal dentists handle.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the mirror piece comprises surgical steel such that it is sterilisable and, therefore, re-useable.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein an image output ftom the camera is displayable on display means.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the output is displayable in realtime.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein said display means is a monitor.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the monitor comprises an LCD screen or CRT.

9. Apparatus according to claim 2 or any claim dependent thereon, wherein 5 the reflective element is attached to the camera by attachment means.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the reflective element and said attachment means are detachably secured. io

11. Apparatus according to claim 1, 9 or 10, wherein said attachment means is connected, at a proximal end thereof, to an exterior surface of the camera.

12. Apparatus according to claim 9 or 10 or claim I I when dependent upon claim 9 or 10, wherein said attachment means and the reflective element 15 have mutually connecting portions such that, upon mutual connection thereof, the mirror piece and camera have a predetermined spatial configuration.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said attachment means and the 20 reflective element are detachably attached.

14. Apparatus according to claim I or any claim dependent thereon, wherein a distal end of said attachment means is formed with a screw thread, which, in use, exactly mates with a screw- thread formed on a portion of the 25 reflective element.

15. Apparatus according to any of claims 9, 10, 11 when dependent upon claim 9 or 10, 12 and 13, wherein a distal end of said attachment means is formed with a screw thread which exactly mates with a screw-thread 30 formed on a portion of the reflective element.

16. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the camera comprises a charge coupled device (CCD).

17. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the camera comprises an inverter to invert the image such that any displayed image is displayed in its correct aspect.

18. Apparatus according to claim I or any claim dependent thereon, wherein the optical components of the camera are so-arranged that, in use, once the reflective element is attached to said attachment means, the image reflected therefrom fills a lens of the camera.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18 when dependent upon claim 16, wherein the lens is arranged to focus the image onto the CCD.

20- Apparatus according to claim 2 or any claim dependent thereon, wherein the optical components of the camera are so-arranged that images reflected from the reflective element, which has a set focal length, fill a lens of the camera,

21. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the lens is arranged to focus images onto the CCD.

22. Apparatus according to claim 5 or any claim dependent thereon, wherein the display means is hand-holdable.

23. Apparatus according to claim 5 or any claim dependent thereon, wherein the image, or information pertaining thereto, is transmittable ftom the camera to the display means by a hard-wire connection.

- I I -

24. Apparatus according to claim 5 or any of claims 6 to 22 when dependent thereon, wherein the image, or information pertaining thereto, is transmittable from the camera to the display means by a wireless link.

25. Apparatus according to any preceding claim further comprising image recording equipment.

26. An examination system comprising a dentist's examination mirror, a camera and display means, wherein images of a patient's mouth are capable of being reflected from the mirror to the camera and displayed by the display means.

27. A system according to claim 26, wherein the mirror and camera are connected via attachment means.

28. A system according to claim 27, wherein said attachment means and mirror piece have mutually connecting portions such that, upon mutual connection thereof, the mirror piece and camera have a predetermined spatial configuration.

29. A system according to claim 28, wherein the mirror piece and said attachment means are mutually detachable.

30. A system according to any of claims 26 to 29, wherein the camera is arranged to take continual images.

3 1. A system according to any of claims 26 to 30, wherein the camera comprises a charge coupled device (CCD) to monitor the images reflectable ftom the mirror.

32. A system according to any of claims 26 to 3 1, wherein the camera comprises an inverter to invert the image such that any displayed image is displayed in its correct aspect.

33. A system according to any of claims 26 to 32, wherein said display means comprises a monitor, such as an LCD screen or CRT.

34. A system according to any of claims 26 to 33, wherein said display means is hand-holdable.

35. A system according to any of claims 26 to 34, wherein the image, or information pertaining thereto, is transmittable fforn the camera to said display means by a hard-wire connection.

36. A system according to any of claims 26 to 34, wherein the image, or information pertaining thereto, is transmittable from the camera to said display means by a wireless link.

37. A system according to any of claims 26 to 36 further comprising recording 0 equipment such that the images may be recorded.

38. A system according to any of claims 26 to 37, wherein said display means is arranged to display, in real-time, to a patient, the image reflected from the mirror.

39. A method of dental examination comprising examining the teeth and gums of a patient whilst simultaneously displaying the view of an examiner to the patient.

40. A method according to claim 39, wherein the examination comprises taking images of the reflected image of the teeth and gums of the patient, and the displaying those images upon display means which can be viewed by the patient.

41. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

42. A system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

lo

43. A method substantially as hereinbefore described.