Patent ID: 6573984
Filing Date: 2003-06-03
Classification: A61B,G01J,G01N

Abstract:
A method comprising the steps of:moving a probe in proximity to a dental object having a surface and including an enamel layer, wherein the probe provides light to the surface of the object from one or more light sources, and receives light from the object through a plurality of light receivers, wherein each of the plurality of light receivers comprises a light receiver that has a numerical aperture and a spacing from the one or more light sources that defines a critical height, wherein, when the probe is a distance from the dental object that is less than the critical height for a particular light receiver, light that is reflected from the surface of the dental object is not received by the particular light receiver, wherein the plurality of light receivers include one or more first light receivers baying a first critical height and one or more second light receivers having a second critical height different from the first critical height; determining the intensity of light received by more than one of the light receivers; and measuring the optical characteristics of the object, wherein the measurement produces data indicative of the optical characteristics of the object and a thickness of the enamel layer of the dental object.