JPS6158181B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a periodontal pocket examination device for measuring the depth of a periodontal pocket and diagnosing the degree of inflammation at the bottom of a periodontal pocket.

Periodontal diseases include gingivitis and periodontitis (so-called alveolar pyorrhea), which affect the majority of modern adults and have become a national disease. The main lesion of these diseases is the formation of periodontal pockets, which are deep grooves at the junction of teeth and gums. Accurately measuring and examining the depth of periodontal pockets and the state of inflammation at the bottom of periodontal pockets is extremely important from the viewpoint of prevention and treatment of periodontal diseases, as well as from the perspective of research such as elucidation of the causes of diseases.

Conventional periodontal pocket examination devices have a pin-shaped probe with graduations in 1 mm to 3 mm increments, and pressure is applied to this probe by the sense of the measurer's hand or finger, and measurements are performed visually. This was done by For this reason, variations occur due to individual differences among the measurers, and it is necessary to become proficient in measurement. Furthermore, it was impossible to perform measurements by changing the applied pressure.

The object of the present invention is to provide a periodontal pocket examination device in which the pressure applied to the probe does not vary due to individual differences among the measurers.

The present invention also provides a periodontal pocket examination device that can arbitrarily set a predetermined pressure on the probe and that can evaluate the degree of inflammation at the bottom of the periodontal pocket based on the state of bleeding. It is.

This invention uses a semiconductor pressure sensor and an air micropump that convert the load applied to the probe tip into an electrical signal, compares this electrical signal with a predetermined level, and calculates the displacement of the probe tip when the load reaches a predetermined value. This is what I wanted to know.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the displacement of the tip of the probe is visually read.

In FIG. 1, 1 indicates the probe as a whole. The probe 1 includes a probe body 2 in which a circuit element such as a transducer made of a semiconductor pressure sensor is housed, a mounting part 3 attached to one end of the probe body 2, and a probe body 2 that is inserted into the mounting part 3. L-shaped tip 4 and probe body 2
It has a transmission cable 5 connected to the circuit elements inside. The mounting portion 3 is a sleeve having a slit, into which a base portion of a chip 4 made of metal such as stainless steel or synthetic resin is inserted and fixed. Making the tip 4 removable is necessary for sterilization and for making it possible to use different shapes. Furthermore, a plug is connected to the other end of the transmission cable 5, and is adapted to be inserted into a jack of the main body of the diagnostic apparatus.

As shown in an enlarged view in Fig. 2, the tip 4 of the probe 1 is a bent pin-shaped tip that is inserted into the periodontal pocket to facilitate examination of the periodontal pocket. , a scale 6 in units of 1 mm to 3 mm is provided.

In FIG. 3, 30 indicates a transducer for pressure-to-electricity conversion provided in the probe 1, and the output terminal of this transducer 30 is connected to a device via a transmission cable and a connector (not shown). It is connected to the input terminal of the amplifier 31 of the main body. The transducer 30 has a configuration in which pressure-sensitive semiconductors whose impedance changes in proportion to pressurization are inserted into a plurality of branches of a resistive bridge circuit. When the load applied to the tip 4 of the probe 1 is transmitted to this pressure-sensitive semiconductor, an output signal is generated. The output signal of this transducer 30 is 0V when no load is applied, and is a DC voltage whose level increases in proportion to the load.

The output signal of this transducer 30 is passed through an amplifier 31 to a differential amplifier 32 and a differential amplifier 33.
are supplied to one input terminal of each. A switch 34 is connected to the other input terminal of the differential amplifier 32.
The selected ground voltage or set voltage is supplied. This set voltage is generated from a variable voltage source 35, and is changed by the measurer rotating a set pressure dial. The set pressure can be arbitrarily set within a range of 0 to 100 g, for example, and a set voltage corresponding to this set pressure is applied to the other input terminal of the differential amplifier 32.

The output signal of the differential amplifier 32 is supplied to a load display section 36 and a tone generator 37. The load display section 36 digitally displays the pressure and load applied to the tip 4 by the probe 1. Also,
The tone generator 37 is configured to generate a predetermined buzzer sound when the output signal of the differential amplifier 32 is 0V. In other words, when the level of the output signal of the amplifier 31 becomes equal to the set voltage, the tone generator 3
7 generates a buzzer sound. However, the switch 34 connects the other input terminal of the differential amplifier 32.
A switch is provided in conjunction with the tone generator 37 so that the tone generator 37 does not operate during zero point adjustment when 0V is applied and the output signal of the amplifier 31 also becomes 0V.

Moreover, the other input terminal of the differential amplifier 33 has
A reference voltage is supplied from a voltage source 38. The output of the differential amplifier 33 is supplied to a tone generator 39. The tone generator 39 generates a buzzer sound when the output of the differential amplifier 33 is 0V.
The buzzer sounds generated by the tone generators 37 and 39 are different in pitch, etc., and are designed to be distinguishable by the measurer. This tone generator 39 is an alarm means for indicating that the load on the tip 4 of the probe 1 becomes excessive and that the pressure sensitive semiconductor element may be damaged. For example 200
If the pressure-sensitive semiconductor element is damaged by a load of more than 120 g, the output signal of the differential amplifier 33 is set to 0 V and a tone is generated when a load of about 120 g is applied.

A method of using a periodontal pocket using one embodiment of the present invention described above will be explained with reference to FIG. 4.

In FIG. 4, 40 indicates, for example, the patient's lower teeth, and 41 indicates the surrounding gums. A periodontal pocket 42 exists between the teeth 40 and the gums 41. When measuring the depth of the periodontal pocket 42, first, the switch 34 is used to connect the differential amplifier 32.
Supply 0V to the other input terminal of the load display section 36.
Calibrate so that the display is 0. Next, the variable voltage source 35 is selected by the switch 34, the set voltage by this variable voltage source 35 is determined, and the set pressure is set to a predetermined value, for example, 50 g. At this time, the load on the tip 4 of the probe 1 is 0, so the display on the load display section 36 is -50 g.

The state shown in FIG. 4A shows a case where the height of the tip of the tip 4 is equal to the height of the gingiva 42. The measurer gradually moves downward so as to insert the tip of the tip 4 into the periodontal pocket 42, as shown in FIG. 4B. Along with this, a load is generated on the chip 4, and this load increases. Therefore, the level of the output signal from the transducer 30 increases, the output signal from the differential amplifier 32 decreases, and the display on the load display section 36 changes continuously from -50 g toward 0.

Then, when the tip of the tip 4 reaches the bottom of the periodontal pocket 42 and a load equal to the set pressure (50 g) is applied to the tip 4, the output signal of the differential amplifier 32 becomes 0, and the display on the load display section 36 changes. 0, the tone generator 37 generates a buzzer sound.
When this buzzer sound occurs, the measurer uses the scale 6 of the chip 4 to determine the depth D of the periodontal pocket 42.
can be read. Also, periodontal disease can be diagnosed by observing the state of bleeding during this measurement or by supplying 0V with the switch 34 and gradually increasing the pressure. .

FIGS. 5 and 6 regarding other embodiments of this invention.
This will be explained with reference to the figures. In this embodiment, the depth of periodontal pockets is measured using a displacement meter.

In FIG. 5, 7 indicates a case, and the outer circumferential surface of this case 7 is shaped to be easy to hold by hand. A coil 8 of a differential transformer is disposed within the case 7, and a rod-shaped core 9 is inserted into the hollow portion of the coil 8. A support rod 10 having the same diameter as the core 9 is connected to the upper end of the core 9, and a movement button 12 is provided on the end surface of the support rod 10 protruding from the case top cover 11.

A support rod 13 is connected to the lower end of the core 9 . This support rod 13 has a collar portion 14 at its upper portion, and a movement button 15 is fixed to this collar portion 14. Further, a box-shaped slider storage part 16 is fixed to the lower end of the case 7, and the tip of the support rod 13 protruding into the slider storage part 16 is inserted into the mounting hole of the slider 17, and both are fixed with screws. . The collar portion 14 of the support rod 13 and the slider storage portion 1
A coil spring 18 is compressed between the upper part of the coil spring 6 and the upper part of the coil spring 6. The slider 17 is guided by a groove formed on the inner surface of the side wall of the slider storage portion 16, and can freely slide up and down.

The support rod 10, core 9, support rod 13, and slider 17, which are connected to each other, are biased upward by the coil spring 18. Move button 15
is a long hole 1 extending in the vertical direction formed in the case 7.
It is stationary in a state where it is locked to the upper end of 9. When the core 9 is at rest in a state where it is biased by the coil spring 18, the differential transformer is in a balanced state, and the output signal of the differential transformer is zero.

Further, the slider 17 is provided with a light-transmitting hole that passes obliquely through its thickness direction, and the sleeper 20 is fixed within this through-hole. Furthermore, openings 21 and 22 are formed in the front and rear plate surfaces of the slider storage section 16, respectively, so that the sleeve 20 can pass therethrough and be displaced up and down.

The probe 1 is inserted into this sleeve 20 and screwed. Similar to the above embodiment, the probe 1 includes a probe body 2 that houses a transducer for pressure-to-electricity conversion, a mounting part 3,
It has a chip 4 and a transmission cable 5. In this example, there is no need for the tip 4 to have a scale.

In another embodiment of the present invention, when the movement button 12 or the movement button 15 is pressed down, the movable part consisting of the core 9, the support rods 10, 13, and the slider 17 moves downward against the spring force of the coil spring 18. The probe 1 held in the sleeve 20 is also displaced downward. One of the movement buttons 12 is used when the apparatus is used in the vertical relationship shown in FIG. 5 to examine the periodontal pocket of the lower teeth. The other movement button 15 is used when examining the periodontal pocket of the upper teeth with the vertical relationship reversed from the state shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 shows the electrical configuration of another embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 6, 50 indicates a differential transformer as a transducer for displacement-to-electrical conversion. The output signal on the secondary side of this differential transformer 50 is supplied to a phase detection circuit 51. A 2 to 3 KHz AC signal from an oscillator 52 is supplied to the primary side of the differential transformer 50 and the phase detection circuit 51.
These phase detection circuit 51 and oscillator 52 are provided on the device main body side.

A DC voltage proportional to the amount of displacement of the core 9 is generated at the output of the phase detection circuit 51, and this DC voltage is supplied to the displacement display section 54 via the amplifier 53.
This displacement display section 54 digitally displays the amount of displacement. As mentioned above, the movement button 12
Or by pressing down 15, the displacement display section 5
The display 4 changes from 0 and displays the amount of displacement.

The output signal of the transducer 30 of the probe 1 is supplied to one input terminal of the differential amplifiers 32 and 33 via the amplifier 31, and is processed in the same manner as in the previous embodiment. That is, when the load applied to the chip 4 becomes equal to the set pressure, the output of the differential amplifier 32 becomes 0, and the tone generator 37 generates a predetermined buzzer sound, and when an excessive load is applied, the differential amplifier 33 The output becomes 0, and the tone generator 39 generates an alarm sound.

In another embodiment of the invention, a hold circuit 55 is connected to the output of the differential amplifier 32. This hold circuit 55 generates a control signal to hold the current display of the load display section 36 and the displacement display section 54 when the output of the differential amplifier 32 becomes 0.

Measurement of periodontal pocket depth in another embodiment of the invention is performed in the same manner as in the previous embodiment. That is, as shown in FIG. 4A, the tip of the tip 4 of the probe 1 is set at a position equal to the height of the gingiva 42, and then
Push down and continue this pushing down operation until the load on the tip 4 becomes equal to the set pressure and the buzzer sounds. The amount of displacement required until the load on this tip 4 becomes equal to the set pressure, that is, the periodontal pocket 42
The depth D is held as a display value on the displacement display section 54.

Note that as a means to notify the measurer that the load on the tip 4 of the probe 1 is equal to the set pressure or that this load is excessive, there is no sound.
A light emitting element such as a light emitting diode provided on the probe 1 that blinks can also be used. Furthermore, something other than a differential transformer such as Magnescale may be used to detect the amount of displacement.

As can be understood from the description of the above embodiments, according to the present invention, since the load on the probe is electrically detected, there is no variation due to individual differences in the measurer, and periodontal pockets can be easily measured. depth can be measured. Further, according to the present invention, by varying the set pressure, the degree of inflammation at the bottom of the periodontal pocket can be diagnosed from the relationship between the set pressure and the state of bleeding.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 and 2 are a side view and an enlarged view of the tip of a probe according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. A schematic diagram used to explain how to use one embodiment of this invention, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a measuring section of another embodiment of this invention, and FIG. 6 is an electrical configuration of another embodiment of this invention. FIG. 1...probe, 4...chip, 6...scale,
8... Coil of differential transformer, 9... Core of differential transformer, 17... Slider, 20... Sleeve, 30... Transducer, 32, 33...
Differential amplifier, 36... Load display section, 50... Differential transformer, 54... Displacement display section.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A periodontal pocket examination device for measuring the depth of periodontal pockets and diagnosing the degree of inflammation at the bottom of periodontal pockets, a probe whose tip is inserted into the periodontal pocket, and this probe. a transducer that converts the load applied to the tip of the probe into an electrical signal; a level comparator that compares the output signal of this transducer with a predetermined level; and a level comparator that compares the load applied to the tip of the probe with a predetermined level. A periodontal pocket examination device comprising a signal generation circuit for notifying that a value has been reached, and means for indicating displacement of the tip of the probe.