Patent ID: 8306608
Filing Date: 2012-11-06
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A modulated imaging system for imaging dental tissue using modulated photothermal radiometry and luminescence, comprising: a function generator configured to provide a modulation waveform; at least one laser light source for irradiating a portion of a surface of a dental tissue with a beam of light of an effective wavelength, wherein laser light from said at least one laser light source is modulated according to said modulation waveform, and wherein modulated photothermal radiometric signals and modulated luminescence signals are responsively emitted from said portion of the surface; a mid-infrared camera for imaging said modulated photothermal radiometric signals and generating photothermal images, wherein the generation of the photothermal images by said mid-infrared camera is triggered according to said modulation waveform; a near-infrared camera for imaging said modulated luminescence signals and generating luminescence images, wherein the generation of the luminescence images by said near-infrared camera is triggered according to said modulation waveform; and a computing device including a software-based lock-in amplifier, wherein said computing device is configured to: