JPH0779822B2 - Blind sac measuring instrument - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a periodontal probe used by a dentist as a dental material,
The present invention relates to a so-called blind sac measuring instrument, and more particularly, to an improvement of a blind sac measuring instrument capable of accurately and easily measuring the depth of a periodontal pocket and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, this type of cecal sac measuring instrument is used for examining periodontal pockets and gingival conditions, such as depth and morphology of periodontal pockets, inflammation and spread of gingiva, degree of gingival retraction, and attachment level. It is widely used for the inspection of the width of the attached gingiva, the shape of the alveolar bone, and the plaque, especially the attached state of the subgingival plaque.

This conventional blind sac measuring instrument is composed of a rod-shaped handle and a tip as a working section which is bent into a hook shape at about 90 ° around the neck and has a scale on the tip. For example, in order to measure the depth of the periodontal pocket, the scale itself of the tip portion inserted in the pocket is read (visual measurement). This tip is generally blunt, but recently there are needle-like tips called pocket probes and periodontal probes,
As the form, there are a circular rod type, a semi-circular rod type, a flat plate type and the like.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned conventional blind sac measuring instrument has a graduation on the tip, and the depth of the pocket can be measured by inserting the tip into the pocket. It is necessary to read the scale, and it is very difficult to read the scale of the tip with the mouth open,
In addition to the drawback of not being able to read accurately, this measurement method requires the operator to read the scale by himself, and it is usually necessary to measure about three points for one tooth. There was a problem that the measurement took too long.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and particularly to provide a blind sac measuring device capable of accurately and easily measuring the depth of a periodontal pocket and the like, and speedily. It is intended.

[0006]

In order to solve the above problems, the present inventor has conducted diligent research and, as a result, has found that the present invention has a cylindrical handle portion and a tapered shape attached to the front portion of the handle portion and bent into a hook shape. Of the tip tube and a flexible probe inserted into the handle and the handle, and the front end of the probe always projects from the tip of the tip by biasing means provided in the handle. As described above, the probe is biased, and the amplification means is provided in the middle of the probe so that the movement of the front end of the probe is amplified on the rear end side.

If a fixing means for fixing the movement of the probe is provided on the handle, it is preferable that a person other than the operator can read the scale and the measurement can be speeded up.

It is preferable that a window is provided on the rear side of the handle and the window is graduated because the movement of the probe can be measured from the window.

If, for example, a magnifying glass made up of a convex lens is attached to the window portion, the movement of the rear end side of the probe can be easily seen and the scale can be easily read.

As the fixing means, one-touch means, for example, a means for gripping and fixing the probe by pushing, is preferable because it simplifies the operation and improves the measurement work efficiency, but it is preferably a screw type. It may be a means for fixing the probe.

[0011]

For example, when measuring the depth of the periodontal pocket, insert the front end (16a) of the probe (16) so as to reach the bottom of the pocket, and further press the handle (12). Thus, the probe (16) is moved by the biasing means (1
Retreat against 8). Then, the rear end (1
On the 6b) side, the depth of the pocket is measured by looking at the scale of the moved distance of the probe (16). At this time, the movement of the probe (16) is fixed by the fixing means (24).

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail based on an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a first embodiment of the blind sac measuring device (10) according to the present invention, (12)
Is a tubular handle. The material of the handle portion (12) is not particularly limited, but may be one having stability (hardness) so that it can be easily operated, and one made of metal or synthetic resin can be used. preferable.

Reference numeral (14) is a cylindrical tip tube which is attached to the tip side of the handle (12) and is tapered. The tip tube (14) is bent into a hook shape so that it can be easily operated in the oral cavity, and the material of the tip tube (14) is not particularly limited, but it is touchable in the oral cavity. A good material is preferable. The handle (12) and the tip tube (14) may be manufactured as separate bodies, or may be manufactured integrally.

Reference numeral (16) is a probe, which penetrates the handle (12) and the tip tube (14),
The front end (16a) and the rear end (16b) can be retracted. The probe (16) is normally moved from the tip of the tip tube (14) to the front end (16a) by an urging means (18) provided in the handle (12), such as a coil spring having a weak spring force. It is biased so as to project by a predetermined amount. In this case, the rear end (16b) is in a state in which the rear end (16b) slightly extends outside the handle (12) and is inside the handle (12). The probe (16) may be made of metal or synthetic resin as long as it is thin and flexible.

At the rear end (16b) of the probe (16),
A scale (20) is attached, and in the normal state,
The scale (20) is 0 mm at the position of the rear wall (22) of the handle (12). From this state, the front end (16a) of the probe (16) is inserted into the pocket, which is the gap between the tooth and the gingiva, and the handle (12) is further attached even after the front end (16a) reaches the bottom of the pocket. By pushing, the front end (16a) of the probe (16) is buried in the tip tube (14) against the biasing means (18), and the tip of the tip tube (14) contacts the gingival crest. Contact. At this time, the rear end (16b) of the probe (16) projects rearward from the rear wall portion (22) of the handle portion (12) by that amount. In this state, by operating the probe fixing means (24) provided on the handle portion (12), the probe (16) is fixed by the biasing means (18) so as not to return.

After fixing the probe (16) by the fixing means (24), the blind capsule measuring device (10) is taken out from the oral cavity,
Scale (20) attached to the rear end (16a) of the probe (16)
Read to measure the depth of the periodontal pocket. Therefore, not only the operator outside the oral cavity but also the assistants other than the operator can read the scale (20), so that the depth measurement of the periodontal pocket can be speeded up.

As the probe fixing means (24), if the probe (16) is sandwiched and fixed by pushing with a finger or the like, the probe (16) can be fixed with one touch, which is preferable. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a screw type such as a bolt, and a fixing such as pinching or pressing the probe (16) by tightening the bolt. It may be a means.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the blind sac measuring device (10) according to the present invention, in which the movement of the rear end (16a) of the probe (16) can be seen in the handle (12). As described above, the window portion (26) is formed, and the window portion (26) is provided with a scale (20). Therefore, the rear end (16) of the probe (16) is detected by the blind capsule measuring device (10) shown in the first embodiment.
Since b) does not project to the outside, it is preferable because it is smart and easy to handle as a measuring instrument.

FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of still another embodiment in which the movement of the rear end (16b) of the probe (16) is changed to the front end (in order to make it easier to see the scale (20) of the depth of the pocket. 1
The amplification means (28) is provided so as to be larger than 6a). As the amplification means (28), a probe (1
A clutch mechanism may be provided in the middle of 6) to increase the movement of the rear end (16b), or the movement of the rear end (16b) may be amplified by combining gears having different numbers of teeth. You may Further, the window portion (2
A magnifying glass such as a convex lens may be attached to 6) to make the scale (20) easy to see, and any known amplifying means may be used to make the scale (20) easy to see. Good.

For example, the amplification means (28) shown in FIG.
An eccentric lever (30) is provided in the middle of the probe (16), and the front end (16a) side of the probe (16) is attached to both ends of the eccentric lever (30) closer to the pin (32). )
If you attach the rear end (16b) to the side far from
The amount of movement of the front end (16a) is amplified at the rear end (16b).

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a hydraulic pressure or air cylinder (34) having a different diameter is provided in the middle of the probe (16), and the probe (1) is attached to the piston (34a) of the large diameter cylinder.
The front end (16a) side of 6) may be attached, and the rear end (16b) side may be attached to the piston (34b) of the small diameter cylinder. As a result, the movement of the front end (16a) is amplified at the rear end (16b) due to the difference in oil pressure or air amount.

In the above embodiment, as a method for reading the depth of the pocket, a dial gauge (36) may be attached to the rear end (16b) side of the probe (16) as shown in FIG. This makes it very easy to read the scale (20).

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Even when measuring the depth of the periodontal pocket, the scale can be read outside the oral cavity so that it is easy to see and the scale can be read accurately, and not only the operator but also assistants other than the operator can read it. Since the scale can be read, it has an effect of speeding up the work of depth measurement.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view showing a first embodiment of a blind sac measuring device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view showing a second embodiment of the blind sac measuring device.

FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of a blind sac measuring device provided with an amplifying means for making the scale easy to see.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an example of an amplifying means using an eccentric lever.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing another example of the amplifying means and using cylinders having different diameters.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing an example in which a scale is read using a dial gauge.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Blind sac measuring instrument 12 Handle part 14 Tip tube 16 Probe 16a Front end 16b Rear end 18 Energizing means 20 Scale 24 Fixing means 26 Window part 28 Amplifying means

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A tubular handle, a tapered tip tube attached to the front of the handle and bent into a hook, and a flexible probe inserted into the tip and the handle. The probe is always biased by the biasing means provided in the handle so that the front end of the probe projects from the front end of the tip tube, and the movement of the front end of the probe is moved toward the rear end side. A blind sac measuring instrument characterized in that an amplifying means is provided in the middle of the probe so as to be amplified. 2. The blind sac measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the urging means comprises a coil spring having a weak spring force. 3. The blind cap measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the handle is provided with fixing means for fixing the movement of the probe. 4. A window section having a scale is provided on the rear side of the handle to read the amplified movement on the rear end side of the probe. The blind sac measuring device according to paragraph. 5. The blind sac measuring device according to claim 4, wherein a magnifying glass is attached to the window portion.