JPH06237932A - Living body recessed part sounding device and sounding probe used for its device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance the detecting precision of depth of a tooth peripheral pocket, etc., by inserting a sounding probe having larger impedance than impedance of a viable tissue of a living body recessed part, and detecting an impedance value of the probe of the part which is not short-circuited by the viable tissue. CONSTITUTION:In the case of measuring depth of a tooth peripheral pocket 4, a slender probe 1 consisting of a high impedance material having sufficiently larger impedance than impedance of a tooth peripheral tissue, for instance, conductive plastic, conductive rubber, etc., is inserted into the tooth peripheral pocket 4. A tissue of the periphery of a tooth 9 usually adheres closely to the tooth 9, and when there is a gap, it is filled with pus or ooze, therefore, when the probe 1 is inserted, the probe 1 becomes a state short-circuited by a filled liquid extending from the tip thereof to the part coming into contact with a pocket side edge 4a of the tooth peripheral pocket 4. From an electric conduction current value in such a state, an impedance value of the remaining part of the probe 1 is detected, and by counting back its value, depth L1 of the tooth peripheral pocket 4 is derived.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for measuring the depth of a concave portion of living tissue in the oral cavity and the concave portion of living tissue such as ear canal, nasal cavity, anus and urethra, and a sounding probe used for this measurement. Regarding the improvement of. In particular, it is a very narrow biological recess such as a periodontal pocket that occurs between the tooth and the surrounding gingiva, and it is difficult to read the depth measurement results only with the scale provided on the probe, and at many small sites. This is effective when measuring the depth of the living body concave portion in a field where the measurement of is required.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an apparatus for measuring the depth of a periodontal pocket, which is one of the concave portions of a living body, for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication 57-881.
5, JP-B-53-14069, JP-A-61
280856 and Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2-46332 are known.

Of these, the former two are for visually or electrically measuring the sliding width of a slider-like sheath, but the one in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 57-8815 is an individual for visually reading the measured value. It is easy to make a difference, and it is bothersome because it is necessary to manually record the results, and it takes time for measurement, and an assistant as a recording clerk is required to concentrate on the measurement. Moreover, the structure of Jpn. Kokai Sho 53-14069 is complicated and expensive, and the depth measuring probe is thick and long because of its low degree of freedom in shape design, and cannot be clinically ideal. In addition, it is necessary to play, and it is difficult to tell whether or not it has reached the bottom of the pocket.There is a large measurement error because the play part is blurred, and blood and saliva are clogged in the moving part, which allows smooth movement after sterilization. There is a problem that causes interference.

In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-280856, a resistance layer, a capacitor layer, and an insulating layer are formed in a sounding probe, and a change in resistance value that changes depending on the depth of a periodontal pocket is accumulated in the capacitor layer. It is detected as a change in the amount of electric charge generated, and the depth of the periodontal pocket is equivalently detected. However, this proposal is expensive because the structure of the probe is very complicated, and the degree of freedom in shape design is low, and the probe must be very thick. Further, there is a problem that a special material is required and the manufacture is not easy.

In Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2-46332, conductive layers and insulating layers are alternately formed in the longitudinal direction of the sounding probe, and when the probe is inserted into the periodontal pocket, which conductive layer contacts the gingiva. The depth of the periodontal pocket is equivalently detected by detecting whether or not the periodontal pocket is present. However, even in this proposal, the structure of the probe is complicated and expensive, and the degree of freedom in shape design is low, and the shape cannot be clinically ideal. Further, there is a problem that a special material is required, manufacturing is difficult, and wiring between the probe and the control circuit side becomes very complicated.

[0006]

In recent years, as dental treatment technology and environment have been improved, and periodontal disease type I items have been provided for insurance treatment, precise examination and re-evaluation are required. Periodontal pocket measurement has been required, but as described above, in the conventional technique, the operator cannot perform measurement and recording while keeping his / her hands sterile, or the device is not available. It is quite difficult to meet these demands due to various problems such as high price.

In view of these problems, the present invention provides an easy-to-use and highly accurate periodontal pocket measuring device, and further, other living body depressions in the oral cavity, ear canal, nasal cavity,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a device that can be applied to the measurement of the depth of a concave portion of a living tissue such as anus and urethra.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, in the living body recess depth measuring apparatus of the present invention, a sounding probe having an impedance sufficiently larger than the impedance of the living tissue is inserted into the living body recess. The depth of the living body recess is measured by detecting the impedance value of the sounding probe at a portion that is not short-circuited by the living tissue.

In actual measurement, a sounding probe is used as one electrode, and a measuring voltage is applied between this electrode and the electrode in contact with the soft tissue of the living body. It is configured to detect the impedance value of the sounding probe in the portion that is not short-circuited. It is desirable that the above-mentioned sounding probe is detachably held at the tip of the holder. When the device is a periodontal pocket depth measuring device, the depth of the periodontal pocket depth is measured using the impedance change caused by the sounding probe being inserted into the periodontal pocket and contacting the pocket edge. Can be measured.

Further, the sounding probe of the present invention has a shape that can be inserted into a concave portion of a living body, and at least the surface thereof is made of a high impedance material having a sufficiently large impedance as compared with a living tissue. As the high impedance material, for example, conductive plastic, conductive rubber, conductive ceramics, or the like can be used. The sounding probe can have a configuration in which an annular insulating layer formed on the surface and an exposed portion where the high impedance material itself is exposed in a ring are alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction, and The scales may be formed on the surface at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction. Further, it is desirable that the probe for depth sounding is made of an elastic material that can be deformed along the shape of the living body concave portion.

[0011]

[Function] Since the sounding probe has a sufficiently large impedance as compared with the impedance of the living tissue, when the sounding probe is inserted into the concave portion of the living tissue, the inserted portion is short-circuited by the living tissue. , The impedance of the remaining non-inserted portion is detected as the impedance value of the measurement circuit. Therefore, the amount of insertion can be calculated by performing back calculation from this, and the depth of the recess can be detected from the impedance value when the tip of the probe reaches the bottom of the recess. If the object of measurement is a periodontal pocket, for example, when the tip of the probe reaches the pocket bottom, the part from the tip to the part in contact with the pocket edge is short-circuited by the periodontal tissue. The pocket depth will be detected from the impedance of the portion where the is not inserted.

The impedance of the portion not inserted into the above-mentioned living body concave portion changes every moment according to the insertion amount, but the surface of the sounding probe is arranged alternately with the annular insulating layer and the exposed portion of the high impedance material. With such a configuration, the detected impedance value changes stepwise, and digital detection and display can be performed. Further, by arranging the scales at a predetermined interval, it is possible to perform a measurement using both visual observation and electrical detection display.

[0013]

Although the present invention can be applied to the depth measurement of various living body recesses as described above, one embodiment implemented in a periodontal pocket depth measuring device will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a view showing a sounding probe and its holder,
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a measuring procedure, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the measuring device. In the figure, 1 is a sounding probe, 2 is a holder, 3
Is a graduated scale provided on the surface of the probe 1 by an appropriate means, for example, at intervals of 1 mm, 4 is a periodontal pocket, 5 is a power source for measuring voltage, 6 is an ammeter, 7 is soft tissue in the oral cavity of the patient. The oral electrode, 9 is a tooth.

The probe 1 has an elongated shape suitable for insertion into the periodontal pocket 4, and the holder 2 is made of a good conductor such as metal whose surface is covered with an insulator. Probe 1
Is composed of a high-impedance material having a sufficiently large impedance as compared with the impedance of periodontal tissue.
This material has a length L ₀ of 10 mm and is 10 in total.
A material having a high resistance value of 0 to 1000 kΩ, for example, a material having a high resistance material such as conductive plastic or an insulating material coated with a conductive film, or a conductive rubber,
Conductive ceramics are used.

If it is for measuring the periodontal pocket, the probe 1
The material described in (1) does not require so much flexibility, but when other living body recesses are targeted, it is desirable to use an elastic material that is flexible so as to be able to cope with a curved living body recess.
Further, the probe 1 may not be entirely made of a high impedance material, but may be one in which a high impedance material is coated on the outer circumference of an insulator.

When the depth of the periodontal pocket 4 is measured using such a depth-measuring probe 1, the probe 1 is inserted into the periodontal pocket 4 as shown in FIG. The tissue around the tooth 9 is usually in close contact with the tooth 9, and when there is a gap, it is filled with pus or exudate, so when the probe 1 is inserted into the periodontal pocket 4 as shown in the figure, The probe 1 is in a state in which the portion from the tip thereof to the portion in contact with the pocket edge 4a of the periodontal pocket 4 is short-circuited by the periodontal tissue or the filling liquid.

The probe 1 is made of a high-impedance material, and the impedance of the soft tissue 8 and the filling liquid, which are sufficiently smaller than this, is substantially negligible,
The current flowing through the measuring circuit is determined by the impedance of the remaining portion of the probe 1 that is not inserted in the periodontal pocket 4, and the impedance value of the remaining portion of the probe 1 is detected from the current value. That is, the length of the portion of the probe 1 inserted into the periodontal pocket 4 and the length of the portion not inserted into the periodontal pocket 4 can be clearly discriminated using the portion contacting the pocket edge 4a as a reference point, and the detected impedance value. It is also possible to calculate the length of the portion inserted into the pocket 4 by back-calculating from, and to know the depth L ₁ of the pocket 4 from the impedance value when the tip of the probe 1 reaches the bottom of the pocket 4. Of.

Next, the basic structure and operation of the measuring apparatus will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. Reference numeral 11 is an oscillator for measuring signals, 12 is a current detection resistor, 13 is a buffer, 14 is a filter, 15 is an AC-DC converter, 16 is an AD converter, 17 is a CPU, 18 is a display unit, 19 is an operation unit. Two
0 is a memory. The oscillator 11 is, for example, 400 Hz to 1
It oscillates a high frequency of about 00 kHz, and a resistor 1
The voltage generated at 2 is taken in through the buffer 13, the hum of the power source and various noises are removed by the filter 14, the DC is converted by the converter 15, and this is digitized by the AD converter 16 and input to the CPU 17. Since the thickness of the probe 1 varies depending on the part, the CPU 17 converts the resistance value calculated from the detected current value into the length of the probe 1 inserted in the periodontal pocket 4 and displays it. Part 1
8 is displayed.

In addition to such a basic operation, by operating the operating portion 19 such as a foot switch,
The following operations can be performed. That is, the operator confirms the values sequentially displayed on the display unit 18 and the scale 3 of the probe 1, and determines that they match and that the tip of the probe 1 has reached the bottom of the periodontal pocket 4. When the operation unit 19 is operated at that time, the data at that time is stored in the memory 20, and if necessary, for example, a printer (not shown) is operated to print out the data. These are the CPU 17 so that various desired functions can be exhibited in advance.
It is possible to implement it properly by forming the control program of.

Although FIG. 1 does not show the mounting structure of the sounding probe 1 to the holder 2, it is desirable that the probe 1 be detachably held at the tip of the holder 2. FIG. 4 shows an example thereof, in which an annular groove 1a is formed in the base of the probe 1 and the holder 2
It can be inserted into the insertion hole 2a and fixed with the set screw 2b. The main body 2c of the holder 2 is made of a conductive material such as stainless steel, has a surface covered with an insulating layer 2d such as a heat-shrinkable tube, and is provided with a lead wire 2e. It is designed to be connected to.

FIG. 5 shows the tip portion of another embodiment of the sounding probe 1, and the insulating layer 1 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the probe 1 made of a high impedance material as in the above embodiment.
b is provided, and the insulating layer is not provided at regular intervals to form exposed portions 1c in which the high impedance material itself is annularly exposed. That is, the plurality of annular insulating layers 1b and the exposed portions 1c are alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction, and the exposed portions 1c are formed, for example, at the most distal end portion and a fixed reference length from this, and exposed. The portion 1c can be used also as the scale 3 in FIG.

When the exposed portion 1c has a scale function as described above, the material and color thereof are selected so that the difference between the insulating layer 1b and the exposed portion 1c can be visually identified. Further, the exposed portions 1c and the scales 3 do not necessarily have to be at equal intervals, and in the case of a periodontal pocket, for example, 1, 2, 3,
It may be provided at a clinically meaningful position such as 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 mm.

When the sounding probe 1 having such a structure is inserted into the periodontal pocket 4, the pocket edge 4 of the periodontal pocket 4 is inserted.
When a is in contact with the insulating layer 1b, the detected resistance value hardly changes, and when the pocket edge 4a contacts the exposed portion 1c, the resistance value greatly changes. Therefore, the resistance value changes stepwise according to the insertion amount as shown in FIG. 6, and by detecting such a large change with a CPU such as a differentiating circuit, digital detection and display can be performed. Is possible.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the sounding probe 1.
It has a structure in which a high resistance portion 1d made of a material having a large resistance value and a low resistance portion 1e made of a material having a small resistance value are joined via an insulating layer 1f extending in the longitudinal direction. According to such a probe 1, the amount of impedance change of the high resistance portion 1d becomes larger than the amount of impedance change of the low resistance portion 1e when water or blood is accumulated in the recessed portion, so that it is more suitable for the measurement environment. There is a merit that highly accurate measurement can be performed. The impedance values of the high resistance portion 1d and the low resistance portion 1e may be individually measured or may be measured by switching with a switch or the like.

[0026]

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention uses a sounding probe having a sufficiently large impedance as compared with the impedance of a living tissue, and inserts this into a living body concave portion so that The depth of the living body concave portion is measured by detecting the impedance value of the sounding probe for the portion that is not short-circuited.

Therefore, the structure of the sounding probe can be extremely simplified even though the measurement and recording can be automated, and the sounding probe having a clinically desirable shape can be easily and inexpensively obtained. At the same time, it is possible to obtain a disposable probe at a reasonable price. In addition, since the sounding probe has no moving parts and is not easily damaged, it is possible to obtain a probe that can be sterilized and can be used repeatedly if the material is appropriately selected.
Therefore, it is possible to provide a device for measuring the depth of a living body recess such as a periodontal pocket at a low cost, and it is easy to obtain a highly accurate living body recess depth measuring device that is easy to use.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a sounding probe according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a measurement procedure of the example.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the measuring apparatus of the same embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a structure for attaching a sounding probe to a holder.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a tip portion of another embodiment of the sounding probe.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing a relationship between an insertion amount and a resistance value according to the example.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the sounding probe.

[Explanation of Codes] 1 probe for sounding 1b insulating layer 1c exposed part 2 holder 3 scale 4 periodontal pocket (living recess) 4a pocket edge 5 power supply for measurement 7 oral cavity electrode 8 soft tissue 11 signal oscillator for measurement 12 current Detection resistor 17 CPU 18 Display unit 19 Operation unit

(72) Inventor Masanobu Yoshida, 680 Higashihamanancho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto City Morita Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (72) Yoshio Uejima 680, Higashihamanancho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto City Morita Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. By inserting a sounding probe having a sufficiently large impedance as compared with the impedance of the living tissue into a recess of the living body, and detecting the impedance value of the sounding probe in a portion not short-circuited by the living tissue. A depth measuring device for a living body, characterized by measuring the depth of a living body depression. 2. A measuring voltage is applied between a sounding probe and an electrode in contact with a soft tissue of a living body, and a current flowing at this time causes a current to flow in the part of the sounding probe which is not short-circuited by the living tissue. The living body recess depth measuring apparatus according to claim 1, which is configured to detect an impedance value. 3. The living body recess sounding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sounding probe is detachably held on the tip of the holder. 4. The depth-measuring probe is a periodontal pocket depth-measuring probe, and the change in impedance due to the fact that the depth-measuring probe is inserted into the periodontal pocket and contacts the edge of the pocket makes use of the periodontal pocket. The living body recess depth measuring apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is configured to measure a depth. 5. A probe for bathymetric sounding of a living body, comprising a shape capable of being inserted into the living body's recessed portion, and at least the surface of which is made of a high impedance material having a sufficiently large impedance as compared with a living tissue. needle. 6. The probe for measuring the depth of a living body according to claim 5, wherein the high impedance material is any one of conductive plastic, conductive rubber, and conductive ceramics. 7. The probe for measuring the depth of a living body according to claim 6, wherein the outer periphery of the insulator is coated with a high impedance material. 8. The annular insulating layer formed on the surface and the exposed portion where the high impedance material itself is exposed in an annular shape are alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction. A probe for measuring the depth of a living body. 9. The probe for measuring the depth of a living body according to claim 5, wherein scales are formed on the surface at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction. 10. The living body recess sounding probe according to claim 5, which is made of an elastic material that is deformable along the shape of the living body recess.