JP3905004B2 - Dental caries risk assessment device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a dental caries morbidity risk evaluation apparatus for evaluating a dental caries morbidity risk based on the pH value of saliva.
[0002]
[Prior art]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2002-181812 A
Conventionally, as described in the published patent publication, the risk of dental caries from using saliva collected from the mouth of a subject in order to determine whether or not the mouth is susceptible to caries. (Generally called Caries Activity Test) is being evaluated. Further, the present applicant has already filed an application regarding a dental caries morbidity risk method and an evaluation apparatus for evaluating a dental caries morbidity risk based on chemical properties such as pH in saliva (Japanese Patent Application 2002). -107712).
[0003]
FIG. 5 is a procedure for performing dental caries morbidity risk evaluation using the conventional dental caries morbidity risk evaluation apparatus 100 according to the above-mentioned application of the present applicant, and is shown first in FIG. 5 (A). As described above, the user directly collects the amount of saliva necessary for measurement from the mouth of the subject 102 using the sterilized syringe 101 or the like.
[0004]
Then, as shown in FIG. 5B, a certain amount (for example, 500 μL) of the collected saliva 103 is confirmed with a scale (not shown) provided on the syringe 101, and the container having the pH sensor surface 104 105, and the pH of the saliva 103 is measured. When the pH measurement is completed, the dental caries morbidity risk evaluation apparatus 100 stores the pH value, and then outputs a message prompting the apparatus user to drop the acid 106 by an alarm sound or a display. To do.
[0005]
Next, as shown in FIG. 5C, a predetermined amount (for example, 10 μL) of an acid 106 such as an aqueous hydrochloric acid solution (for example, 0.1 mol / L) having a predetermined concentration is added to the saliva 103 using a chemical injector 107. Weigh and inject. After that, as shown in FIG. 5D, the lid 108 is completely closed and the container 105 is sealed, and the caries morbidity risk evaluation apparatus 100 is shaken well to the left and right, and the saliva 103 and the acid 106 are sufficiently stirred. After mixing, the pH of saliva 103 mixed with acid 106 is measured.
[0006]
Furthermore, in the dental caries morbidity risk evaluation apparatus 100, when the injection of the acid 106 and the pH measurement of each time are set to be performed, when the measurement of the pH value is completed, The caries morbidity risk evaluation apparatus 100 outputs a predetermined amount of acid 106 once again to the display unit (not shown), and repeats the processes of FIGS. 5 (C) and 2 (D). In this way, depending on the case, the dropping of the acid 106 was repeated a plurality of times to measure the change in pH value.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, as shown in the above procedure, a predetermined amount of saliva 103 out of the collected saliva 103 is weighed while checking with a scale (not shown) provided on the syringe 101, and the like in the container 105 having the pH sensor surface 104. In addition, since the user weighed a certain amount of the acid 106 using the chemical solution injector 107 and mixed it with the saliva 103, it took time and effort to quantitatively collect the saliva 103 and inject the acid 106. . In addition, since the amount of saliva 103 and the amount of acid 106 injected affect the pH of saliva mixed with it, and thus greatly affects the risk of dental caries morbidity, Carefulness is required. In particular, the greater the number of injections of the acid 106, the more complicated the operation becomes, making quick and simple measurement and dental caries risk assessment difficult.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and can automatically measure the saliva and inject a certain amount of acid, and can easily and accurately evaluate dental caries risk. An object of the present invention is to provide a caries risk assessment apparatus.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the dental caries morbidity risk evaluation apparatus of the present invention includes a saliva quantitative sampling means for quantitatively collecting saliva, a saliva storage unit for storing the collected saliva, and a predetermined saliva An acid container for containing a concentration of acid, an acid injection means for injecting a certain amount of the acid contained in the acid container into the saliva in the saliva container, and the pH of saliva mixed with a certain amount of acid And a calculation processing unit that evaluates the dental caries morbidity risk based on the measurement result of the sensor (claim 1). Therefore, the labor for quantitative collection of saliva can be saved by the saliva quantitative collection means. In addition, since a certain amount of the acid stored in the acid storage unit by the acid injection means can be automatically injected into saliva, the dental caries morbidity risk can be evaluated quickly and easily.
[0010]
In the dental caries morbidity risk evaluation apparatus, the arithmetic processing means performs a dental caries morbidity risk evaluation based on the pH of saliva when a certain amount of acid is injected into saliva a plurality of times. (Claim 2). In order to evaluate dental caries morbidity risk from a plurality of pH values in this way, even if it is necessary to inject a certain amount of acid multiple times, the acid stored in the acid storage unit by the acid injection means Since a certain amount can be automatically injected into the saliva, the dental caries risk assessment can be performed quickly and easily. In addition, since the dental caries morbidity risk assessment is performed based on a plurality of pH values, even if an error occurs in one pH, the effect of the value on the dental caries morbidity risk assessment is It is mitigated, and the dental caries morbidity risk assessment can be performed more accurately and with high accuracy.
[0011]
The dental caries morbidity risk evaluation device of the second invention is for saliva quantitative sampling means for quantitatively collecting saliva, a saliva storage part for storing the collected saliva, and for storing a predetermined concentration of acid. An acid container, an acid injection means for injecting a certain amount of acid contained in the acid container into the saliva in the saliva container, a sensor for measuring the pH of saliva mixed with the acid, and a certain amount of acid And an arithmetic processing unit for creating a saliva pH value change curve based on each pH of the saliva when the saliva is injected into the saliva a plurality of times. Therefore, not only can the labor of quantifying saliva and acid be saved, but also the pH value change curve represents the pH change when a certain amount of acid is injected multiple times, so even if there is an error in one pH value Therefore, the influence is mitigated, and the dental caries morbidity risk assessment can be performed more accurately and with high accuracy. Further, in the dental caries morbidity risk evaluation apparatus, when a calibration solution storage unit for storing a calibration solution having a known pH value for calibrating the sensor is provided (Claim 3), the calibration is performed. A standard solution having a known concentration is provided in the liquid container, and the calibration can be automatically performed including the calibration work before the measurement of the sensor. Further, the dental caries morbidity risk can be evaluated quickly and easily.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the overall configuration of a dental caries morbidity risk evaluation apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is a dental caries morbidity risk evaluation device of the present invention, which is inserted into the mouth of a device body 2 (details will be described later) and a subject (not shown), and a certain amount of saliva required for measurement is passed from the mouth. It consists of a probe 3 for sampling and a personal computer (PC) 5. The probe 3 is connected to the apparatus main body 2 via the flow path 4, and saliva in the subject's mouth collected from the probe 3 is collected into the apparatus main body 2 via the flow path 4.
[0013]
The PC 5 is connected to the apparatus main body 2 via a predetermined interface 6 (for example, RS232C). Further, the PC 5 includes a display unit 7 for outputting a dental caries morbidity risk assessment, an input unit 8 including a keyboard for inputting various settings in the apparatus main body such as an acid injection amount and the number of injections, and a CPU. And a control unit 9 including a storage unit for storing the obtained dental caries morbidity risk assessment data and the like. Although not shown, the PC 5 may be circumscribed by a printer for printing the dental caries morbidity risk assessment.
[0014]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the apparatus main body 2. A probe 10 for quantitatively collecting saliva is the probe 3 for directly collecting saliva from the mouth of a subject (not shown) through the flow path 11, the three-way solenoid valve 12 and the flow path 4. It is connected to the. In this example, the probe 3, the flow path 4, the potter 10, the flow path 11, and the three-way solenoid valve 12 constitute saliva quantitative sampling means. Therefore, the saliva can be quantitatively collected directly from the mouth of the subject by controlling the dispenser 10.
[0015]
Reference numeral 13 denotes a nozzle connected to the dispenser 10 through the flow path 17, the three-way solenoid valve 12 and the flow path 11. The nozzle 13 is attached to the nozzle holder 14 and is configured to be movable in the vertical direction by a timing belt 15 and a motor 16 for driving the timing belt 15. The nozzle unit A including the nozzle 13, the nozzle holder 14, the timing belt 15, and the motor 16 is fixed to the timing belt 18 by an appropriate connecting member (not shown), and drives the timing belt 18 and the timing belt 18. The motor 19 is configured to reciprocate in the horizontal direction. In this example, the movement mechanism such as the nozzle 13, the dispenser 10, the timing belts 15 and 18, and the motors 16 and 19 mainly constitute the acid injection means of the present invention. In addition, although detailed operation | movement description is mentioned later, a fixed amount of acid can be inject | poured by controlling the dispenser 10 and sucking and discharging a fixed amount of acid from the nozzle 13. FIG.
[0016]
Reference numeral 20 denotes an acid container (calibration liquid container) according to the present invention. In this example, a cleaning liquid composed of a predetermined concentration of acid, water, etc. and a known and different pH are placed in the containers 21 to 24 whose upper surfaces are opened. Two types of calibration liquids are stored, and the respective containers are provided in the acid storage unit. That is, a 0.1 mol / L hydrochloric acid aqueous solution is accommodated in the container 21, a cleaning liquid is accommodated in the container 22, a calibration standard solution of pH 4 is accommodated in the container 23, and Contains a pH 7 calibration standard solution, and the containers 21 to 24 are provided in the acid storage unit and the calibration solution storage unit. Reference numeral 25 denotes a saliva storage unit for storing saliva quantitatively collected from the mouth of the subject by the saliva quantitative collection means. In this example, an acid is stored on the side closest to the saliva storage unit 25. A container 21 is provided. In this way, by arranging the acid most frequently used in the risk assessment of dental caries morbidity at the position closest to the injection position, the reciprocating distance in the left-right direction of the nozzle unit A can be further shortened. it can. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this arrangement order.
[0017]
A flow cell type sensor unit 27 communicates with the saliva storage unit 25 through the flow path 26. And the measuring electrode 28 which consists of ISFET is provided in the inner wall of the sensor part 27 as a flow cell, and the comparison electrode 29 is provided facing it. In this example, an ISFET sensor is employed as the sensor of the present invention. However, a part of the inner wall of the sensor unit may be made of pH-responsive glass and may be made of a glass electrode provided with an internal electrode. Reference numeral 37 denotes a signal processing unit to which respective signals from the measurement electrode 28 and the comparison electrode 29 are input. 26 is accommodated.
[0018]
One end of the sensor unit 27 is connected to the three-way solenoid valve 31 via the flow path 30, and is further connected to the dispenser 36 and the waste liquid container 34 via the flow path 33 to which the flow path 35 and the pump 32 are connected. It is connected. Therefore, the sensor unit 27 communicated with the saliva storage unit 25 communicates with the potter 36 by switching the three-way solenoid valve 31, and the saliva in the saliva container 25 is introduced into the sensor unit 27 by the sliding of the potter 36. And its pH is measured. In addition, after all pH measurements are completed, the saliva in the sensor unit is sucked by the pump 32 by the switching of the three-way electromagnetic valve 31 and discharged into the waste liquid container 34.
[0019]
38 performs arithmetic processing based on the signal input from the signal processing unit 37 and outputs a dental caries morbidity risk evaluation result to the PC 5 and also outputs a control signal as described below to output the motor 16. , 19, sliding of the dispensers 10, 36, and switching of the three-way solenoid valves 12, 36, etc., is a microprocessor unit (MPU) as an arithmetic control unit for controlling the entire apparatus body 2.
[0020]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation procedure for performing dental caries morbidity risk evaluation by the dental caries morbidity risk evaluation apparatus of the present invention. The operation will be described. Prior to the measurement of saliva, the apparatus body is cleaned (S1). First, the three-way solenoid valve 12 is switched, and the nozzle 13 and the dispenser 10 are communicated. Next, the motor 19 is driven to move the nozzle unit A above the cleaning liquid container 22, and the motor 16 is driven to move the nozzle 13 downward and inserted into the cleaning liquid container 22. With the tip of the nozzle 13 immersed in the cleaning liquid, the dispenser 10 is slid to suck the cleaning liquid, and in the nozzle 13, the flow path 17, the three-way solenoid valve 12, the flow path 11, and the dispenser 10. Clean the inner walls of each. In the sucked state, the motor 16 is driven to move the nozzle 13 upward, and the motor 19 is driven to move the nozzle unit A upward to the saliva container 25. Further, the motor 16 is driven to insert the nozzle 13 into the saliva storage unit 25, and in this state, the cleaning liquid previously sucked by sliding the dispenser 10 is discharged into the saliva storage unit 25. Then, the three-way solenoid valve 31 is made to communicate with the switching sensor unit 27 and the potter 36, and by sliding the potter 36, the washing liquid is passed between the saliva container 25, the sensor unit 27 and the potter 36. Then, the three-way solenoid valve 31 is switched to be in a state where it is in communication with the sensor unit 27 and the flow path 33, and in this state, the pump 32 sucks and discharges the cleaning liquid into the waste liquid container 34.
[0021]
Next, the measurement electrode 28 of the sensor unit 27 is calibrated (S2). In this example, so-called two-point calibration is performed using two kinds of calibration standard solutions of pH 4 and pH 7 provided in the acid storage unit 20. The operation in the apparatus main body 2 at the time of this calibration will be described below. First, the motor 19 is driven to move the nozzle unit A above the pH 4 standard solution container 23, and the nozzle 13 is inserted into the pH 4 standard solution container 23 by driving the motor 16. The pH 4 standard solution is aspirated by sliding. In the sucked state, the motor 16 is driven to move the nozzle 13 upward, and the motor 19 is driven to move the nozzle unit A upward to the saliva container 25. Further, the motor 16 is driven to insert the nozzle 13 into the saliva storage unit 25, and in this state, the pH 4 standard solution previously sucked by sliding the dispenser 10 is discharged into the saliva storage unit 25. Then, the three-way solenoid valve 31 is made to communicate with the switching sensor unit 27 and the potting device 36, and the standard solution of pH 4 is circulated in the sensor unit 27 by sliding the potting device 36. Take a pH measurement. Thereafter, the three-way electromagnetic valve 31 is switched to a state where the sensor unit 27 and the flow path 33 are communicated with each other. In this state, suction is performed by the pump 32, and the pH 4 standard solution is discharged into the waste liquid container 34. Subsequently, the standard solution is sucked from the pH 7 standard solution container 24 to calibrate the sensor unit 27, but the operation is almost the same as in the case of pH 4, and the description thereof is omitted. In this example, an example of so-called two-point calibration is shown, but the present invention does not limit the pH value and the number of calibration points of the calibration standard solution. Further, the calibration is not necessarily performed every measurement, and various setting changes such as the first measurement of the day or only after a predetermined number of measurements have been performed are possible. The calibration setting can be performed by the input unit 8 in the PC 5.
[0022]
When the calibration (S2) of the sensor unit 27 is finished, the apparatus main body 2 is cleaned again in order to wash out and discharge the calibration standard solution remaining on the inner wall surfaces of the nozzle 13, the saliva storage unit 25, the sensor unit 27, and the like. (S3) The operation of the apparatus main body 2 in this cleaning procedure is the same as the operation in the cleaning (S1).
[0023]
Next, a certain amount of saliva is directly collected from the mouth of the subject using the probe 3 (S4). That is, the three-way solenoid valve 12 is switched so that the probe 3 communicates with the dispenser 10, and 500 μL of saliva is suctioned and collected in this example by sliding the dispenser 10, and the nozzles 13 are driven by the motors 19 and 16 being driven. It is inserted into the saliva container 25 (the basic operation for this insertion is the same as the above-described cleaning and calibration operation), and the three-way solenoid valve 12 is switched to allow the nozzle 13 and the dispenser 10 to communicate with each other. Then, 500 μL of saliva collected by sliding the pot 10 is discharged from the nozzle 13 into the saliva storage unit 25.
[0024]
Then, the pH of the saliva discharged into the saliva storage unit 25 is measured (S5). That is, the three-way solenoid valve 31 is switched to allow the sensor unit 27 and the potter 36 to communicate with each other. By sliding the potter 36, the saliva is circulated in the sensor unit 27, and the pH is adjusted by the measuring electrode 28. taking measurement. When the pH measurement is completed, a step of returning 500 μL of saliva into the saliva container 25 by further sliding the pot 36 is performed (S6).
[0025]
A certain amount of acid is injected into the saliva quantitatively collected in the saliva container 25, and the saliva and the acid are mixed uniformly (S7). The motors 19 and 16 are driven to insert the nozzle nozzle 13 into the acid container 21, and in that state, a fixed amount of 0.1 mol / L hydrochloric acid aqueous solution in the acid container 21 is sucked by sliding the dispenser 10. . In this example, 10 μL is sucked by controlling the stroke distance of the potter 10. In the sucked state, the motors 16 and 19 are driven to insert the nozzle 13 into the saliva storage unit 25, and 10 μL of the hydrochloric acid aqueous solution previously sucked by sliding the dispenser 10 is discharged into the saliva storage unit 25. To do. The potter 36 slides several times to reciprocate the saliva into which the acid in the saliva container 25 is injected back and forth between the saliva container 25 and the sensor unit 27, and stirs it. It is configured to mix. According to this mechanism, when saliva reciprocates back and forth across the saliva storage unit 25 and the sensor unit 27, the cross-sections of the flow paths at the connection part of the saliva storage unit 25 and the flow channel 26, and the inlet and outlet of the sensor unit 27 are respectively. Since it is changing, turbulent flow is generated at these portions where the cross section of the flow path changes, and stirring is efficiently performed.
[0026]
And pH measurement is performed about the saliva in which the hydrochloric acid aqueous solution of the density | concentration of 0.1 mol / L was mixed with the ratio of 10 microliters with respect to 500 microliters saliva (S8). That is, the potter 36 is slid, the saliva is circulated through the sensor unit 27, and the pH is measured by the measurement electrode 28.
[0027]
A measurement signal from the sensor unit 27 is input to the MPU 38 via the signal processing unit 37. Therefore, the MPU determines whether or not the pH measurement has been performed a set number of times using the input unit 8 of the PC 5 (S9). That is, the MPU determines whether or not the pH measurement has been performed for the set number of times based on the number of times of acid injection and the number of times of acquisition of the measurement signal obtained corresponding thereto. In this example, a 0.1 mol / L hydrochloric acid aqueous solution is set to be injected 16 times in total for 500 μL of saliva for a total of 16 times, and pH measurement is performed each time the acid is injected. Therefore, in this example, it is determined whether 16 acid injections and the corresponding number of measurement signals have been obtained.
[0028]
If the set number of times of acid injection and pH measurement have not been completed yet (S9: NO), the process returns to the step of S6, and the saliva after the measurement in which the acid is injected by sliding of the pipette 36 is stored in the saliva container. The process of returning to 25 is performed. Then, injection and mixing (S7) and pH measurement step (S8) of the fixed amount of acid (0.1 mol / L hydrochloric acid aqueous solution 10 μL) are performed, and steps S6 to S8 are repeated up to the set number of times.
[0029]
As described above, when the predetermined amount of acid injection and the corresponding pH measurement are completed (S9: YES), the saliva in the sensor unit 27 is discharged into the waste liquid container 34 (S10). ). That is, when 10 μL of 0.1 mol / L hydrochloric acid aqueous solution is injected 16 times and 16 corresponding measurement signals are obtained, the three-way solenoid valve 31 switches the flow path to shut off the dispenser 36. At the same time, the sensor unit 27 and the flow path 33 provided with the pump 32 are communicated, and the pump 32 sucks the saliva after the predetermined number of measurements and discharges it to the waste liquid container 34.
[0030]
In addition to the drainage operation, the MPU 38 calculates the pH based on the measurement signal input from the signal processing unit 37, and performs a dental caries morbidity risk evaluation calculation described later based on the pH (S11). . Then, the MPU 38 outputs the evaluation result obtained by the calculation process to the PC 5 via the interface 6. The evaluation result is stored in the storage unit in the control unit 9 and displayed on the display unit 7 in the PC 5.
[0031]
FIG. 4 is a diagram for outlining the dental caries morbidity risk evaluation calculation of the present invention. In FIG. 4, the horizontal axis represents the number of times of acid injection, and the vertical axis represents the pH of saliva into which the acid has been injected. The lines represented by the broken lines 44A and 44B are saliva pH change measurement value curves (hereinafter referred to as measurement value change curves) when the saliva of the subject is actually measured by the procedure of FIG. 3 described above. Injecting 10 mol of 0.1 mol / L hydrochloric acid aqueous solution 16 times into 500 μL of saliva collected directly from the mouth according to the procedure of FIG. 3 and calculating by the MPU 38 based on the output signal obtained by the sensor unit 27 at each injection. Each pH of the saliva was plotted, and the plurality of plotted points were connected by a line while performing smoothing.
[0032]
On the other hand, a line represented by solid lines 39 to 43 is a saliva pH change theoretical curve (hereinafter referred to as a theoretical curve) representing a pH change as a risk evaluation standard. This theoretical curve is obtained by injecting a 0.1 mol / L hydrochloric acid aqueous solution into 500 μL of saliva 16 times each 10 μL, and performing saliva pH measurement on a large number of subjects to measure the pH of saliva at the time of each injection. A large number of measurement results are classified into a plurality of risk levels (in this example, levels corresponding to five stages of theoretical curves 39 to 43) according to a predetermined standard, and the measurement results for each number of acid injections are statistically processed for each classification. Then, a theoretical pH for each number of times of acid injection is created and plotted, and a plurality of plotted points are connected by lines while performing smoothing. A plurality of theoretical curves 39 to 43 serving as risk evaluation standards are stored in the storage unit in the MPU 38 of the apparatus main body 2 in association with the measurement conditions. In the measurement condition that 0.1 mol / L hydrochloric acid aqueous solution is injected 16 times into 10 μL each of 500 μL saliva, 39 is a theoretical curve that is the lowest risk level evaluation standard, 40 is the next lowest risk level, 41 Is a standard risk level, 42 is a slightly higher risk level than the standard, and 43 is a theoretical curve that is the highest risk level evaluation standard.
[0033]
Therefore, the MPU 38 calculates the pH based on the measurement signal fetched from the signal processing unit 37 and creates the actual value change curves 44A and 44B, and the theoretical curve under the same measurement conditions as the measurement (actual value). 39 to 43 are read from the storage unit, and the measured value change curves 44A and 44B and the theoretical curves 39 to 43 are superimposed. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of theoretical curves 39 to 43 appear at intervals in order of risk levels, and measured value change curves 44A and 44B are superimposed at any one of the four intervals. As shown in FIG. 4, since the risk levels of LEVEL1 to LEVEL4 are defined in advance in the intervals formed by the theoretical curves 39 to 43, the MPU 38 has the theoretical curves 39 to 43 and the measured value change curve 44A, 44B is compared with LEVEL1 to LEVEL4 to determine which range of actual value change curves 44A and 44B is superimposed, and the dental caries morbidity risk evaluation calculation is performed. That is, the MPU 38 determines whether the pH of saliva obtained by actual measurement corresponds to the pH range of LEVEL1 to LEVEL4, every 0 to 16 times, and the actual value change curve. A range in which 44A and 44B are superimposed is determined, and one corresponding risk level is output from LEVEL1 to LEVEL4. In this example, LEVEL1 is defined between the theoretical curves 39 and 40, LEVEL2 is defined between the theoretical curves 40 and 41, LEVEL3 is defined between the theoretical curves 41 and 42, and LEVEL4 is defined between the theoretical curves 42 and 43. Since the measured value change curves 44A and 44B are superimposed on the range of LEVEL2 between 1 and 42, LEVEL2 is output as a dental caries morbidity risk evaluation.
[0034]
Further, when determining which range of the LEVEL 1 to LEVEL 4 the measured value change curves 44A and 44B are superimposed on, it is possible to perform a calculation process weighted to the pH of a predetermined number of acid injections. It is known that not only the pH of saliva into which acid is injected (the pH buffering ability of saliva) but also the pH of saliva itself before injection of acid affects the risk of dental caries. In this example, as shown in the procedure in FIG. 3, the pH of saliva immediately after collection in a state where no acid is mixed (the pH at which the number of acid injections is zero in FIG. 4) is first measured. It is also possible to weight the pH of the acid injection 0 times and perform the dental caries morbidity risk evaluation calculation from the relationship between the actual value change curves 44A and 44B and the theoretical curves 39 and 40. That is, as shown in the pH of the acid injection number 0 in FIG. 4, in the actual value change curves 44A and 44B, the actual value change curve 44A tends to have a higher saliva pH and lower dental caries risk. On the other hand, since the measured value change curve 44A has a low pH of saliva itself and tends to have a high risk of dental caries, the MPU 38 assumes that both the measured value change curves 44A and 44B are superimposed on the LEVEL3 range. Alternatively, it is also possible to perform a calculation process that weights the pH of the acid injection number of 0 and outputs LEVEL2 for the actual value change curve 44A and LEVEL4 for the actual value change curve 44B.
[0035]
In the present invention, the MPU 38 calculates the pH based on the measurement signal fetched from the signal processing unit 37 to create the actual value change curves 44A and 44B, and the same measurement as the measurement (actual value). The theoretical curves 39 to 43 of the conditions are read from the storage unit, the measured value change curves 44A and 44B and the theoretical curves 39 to 43 are superimposed, and the superimposed data is displayed on the display unit 7 of the PC 5 as a graph as shown in FIG. It can also be configured to display. Alternatively, the graph may be output using a printer circumscribed by the PC 5. And when outputting as a graph in this way, the dental caries morbidity risk evaluation can be easily performed by a dentist or the like without performing a specific risk evaluation in the MPU 38.
[0036]
Further, in this example, the dental caries morbidity risk evaluation calculation is performed by the MPU 38 in the apparatus main body 2. However, in the PC 5, all calculation processes such as pH calculation and dental caries morbidity risk evaluation calculation are performed. You may do it. Conversely, in this example, the PC 5 is provided. However, the apparatus body 2 may be provided with a display unit, a storage unit for storing dental caries morbidity risk evaluation data, and the like, and the PC 5 may be omitted.
[0037]
In this example, saliva was quantified when suctioned and collected from the mouth of the subject using the potter 10, but a certain amount (500 μL) or more of saliva was sucked and collected, and the slide of the potter 10 was By controlling the moving stroke, only a fixed amount of the aspirated saliva can be discharged from the nozzle 13 into the saliva storage unit 25, and the saliva can be sampled quantitatively. Further, the amount of saliva collected is not necessarily limited to 500 μL shown in this example.
[0038]
And although the hydrochloric acid aqueous solution was shown as an example of the acid inject | poured into the extract | collected saliva, the acid of this invention is not restricted to this. Further, the amount of acid mixed with saliva and the ratio of saliva to acid are not limited to those shown in this example, and various modifications are possible. The acid injection amount in one injection may be increased or decreased for each acid injection. Further, the number of times of acid injection is not necessarily limited to a plurality of times, and may be once. Moreover, even if it is a case where it makes multiple times, it can set freely to about 20 times.
[0039]
In this example, the input section 8 of the PC 5 can be used to set measurement conditions such as the type of acid, the amount of saliva mixed with the acid, the amount of acid injected, and the number of injections. Therefore, it is preferable to store the theoretical pH or the theoretical curve corresponding to each measurement condition in association with the measurement condition in the storage unit in the control unit 9 of the MPU 38 or PC. If it does so, the theoretical pH or theoretical curve concerning the measurement conditions same as the set measurement conditions can be read from a memory | storage part, and the above-mentioned dental caries morbidity risk evaluation calculation can be performed.
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The dental caries morbidity risk evaluation apparatus of the present invention is a saliva quantitative sampling means for quantitatively sampling saliva, a saliva storage part for storing the collected saliva, and an acid for storing a predetermined concentration of acid. An acid container, an acid injection means for injecting a certain amount of acid contained in the acid container into the saliva in the saliva container, a sensor for measuring the pH of saliva mixed with a certain amount of acid, and the sensor Since a calculation processing unit that evaluates the dental caries morbidity risk based on the measurement result in the above, it is possible to automatically and accurately carry out the quantitative collection of saliva and the injection of a certain amount of acid. Therefore, in order to evaluate the risk of dental caries from multiple pH values, not only when the acid is injected only once, it is simple and accurate even if it is necessary to inject the acid multiple times. Can evaluate dental caries risk well.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an overall configuration of a dental caries morbidity risk evaluation apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the apparatus main body 2;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation procedure for performing a dental caries morbidity risk evaluation by the dental caries morbidity risk evaluation apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for outlining the dental caries morbidity risk evaluation calculation of the present invention.
FIG. 5 shows a procedure for performing a dental caries risk assessment using a conventional dental caries risk assessment apparatus 100.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Dental caries morbidity risk evaluation apparatus, 2 ... Apparatus main body, 3 ... Probe, 10 ... Ordering device, 12 ... Three-way solenoid valve, 13 ... Nozzle, 20 ..Acid and calibration liquid container, 21... Acid container, 22... Washing liquid container, 23... PH 4 standard liquid container, 24. ... Measurement electrode, 29 ... Comparative electrode, 31 ... Three-way solenoid valve, 31 ... Spot, 38 ... MPU, 39-43 ... Saliva pH change theory curve, 44A / 44B ... Saliva pH change measured value curve, A ... Nozzle unit

Claims (4)

A saliva quantitative sampling means for quantitatively collecting saliva, a saliva storage section for storing the collected saliva, an acid storage section for storing a predetermined concentration of acid, and stored in the acid storage section An acid injection means for injecting a certain amount of acid into the saliva in the saliva container, a sensor for measuring the pH of saliva mixed with a certain amount of acid, and a dental caries morbidity risk evaluation based on the measurement result of the sensor The dental caries morbidity risk evaluation apparatus provided with the arithmetic processing part which performs. The dental caries morbidity risk evaluation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the arithmetic processing unit performs a dental caries morbidity risk evaluation based on saliva pH when a certain amount of acid is injected into the saliva a plurality of times. A saliva container for containing saliva collected from the mouth of the subject, an acid container for containing a predetermined concentration of acid, and the acid contained in the acid container in the saliva container A saliva pH change curve based on acid injection means for injecting a certain amount into saliva, a sensor for measuring the pH of saliva mixed with acid, and each pH of saliva when a certain amount of acid is injected into saliva multiple times A dental caries morbidity risk evaluation apparatus comprising an arithmetic processing unit to be created. The dental caries morbidity risk evaluation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a calibration liquid storage unit for storing a calibration liquid having a known pH value for calibrating the sensor.

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