Patent ID: 6413220
Filing Date: 2002-07-02
Classification: A61C

Abstract:
An ultrasonic probe for measuring the depth of detachment between a tooth and the tooth's supporting tissue, comprising:a probe head having ultrasonic transducer means for transmitting acoustic wave and detecting acoustic wave pulses and a coupling medium for communicating acoustic wave pulses between said ultrasonic transducer and the tooth surface; means for angularly aligning the transmission of acoustic wave pulses emanating from said ultrasonic transducer through said coupling medium to obtain an angle of incidence between the tooth surface and said acoustic wave pulse in said coupling medium to effect a modal conversion from an incident acoustic wave pulse in said coupling medium to a surface acoustic wave pulse along the tooth surface upon refraction of the said incident acoustic wave pulse across a boundary between said coupling medium in contact with the tooth surface; and means for measuring the depth of the tooth detachment as a function of said modal conversion from an incident acoustic wave pulse in said coupling medium to said surface acoustic wave pulse along the tooth surface upon refraction of said incident acoustic wave pulse across said boundary between said coupling medium and the tooth surface.