METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APICAL DETECTION WITH COMPLEX IMPEDANCE MEASUREMENT

Abstract: An apical position detector (40) for use in dental endodontics includes an electronic controller (42) coupled to a conductive probe (46) and a lip electrode (48). The probe (46) is positioned in a root canal (60) and the lip electrode contacts another location on the patient's body. The controller (46) produces a test signal as a combination of signals at selected frequencies. The controller (46) then monitors a voltage of the probe (46) and extracts the amplitude and phase of each of the frequency components of the voltage at the probe (46). Test scores are generated from summations of the amplitudes and/or phases of the various frequency components to determine when the impedance between the probe (46) and the lip electrode (48) changes from a primarily reactive impedance to a primarily resistive impedance. A first test score is displayed to indicate when the impedance changes from a reactive to a resistive impedance. The second test score indicates when the measurement conditions are unsatisfactory. The test scores are displayed in bar graph or similar form.

Description: Description METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APICAL DETECTION WITH COMPLEX IMPEDANCE MEASUREMENT Technical Field The present invention relates to dental equipment, and more particularly, to measuring equipment for dental endodontics. Background of the Invention In root canal therapy, the root canal, which is a passageway through a tooth, is cleaned of undesired material, such as tissue and fluid. To clean the canal, a dental tool, such as a drill or file, is inserted into the canal and manipulated to remove the undesired material. Then, a flexible filler substance is placed in the root canal and the canal is sealed with a rigid material. It is sometimes difficult to determine whether the root canal has been cleaned to the proper depth because the narrow root canal does not provide a clear viewing path and medical fluids can partially fill the canal, obscuring vision. A particularly troublesome area is at the apex of the root canal, or apical foramen, where the root canal ends and the patient's tissue begins. If the canal is not completely cleaned, debris left inside the canal can prevent proper healing. Therefore, the dental tool should be inserted to the apex of the root canal during cleaning to remove all debris. However, if the dental tool is inserted too deeply, the tool penetrates the tissue, causing swelling and unnecessary trauma for the patient. It is therefore beneficial to identify the apical position of the root canal so that the root canal can be cleaned fully, without excessive trauma to the patient. In one method of determining the apical position, a metal file is inserted into the canal and the tooth is x-rayed. In die x-ray image, the metal file contrasts with the surrounding tooth and body tissue so that the file position can be compared to the apical position. This method can be very unreliable, costly, and time-consuming. Moreover, where the tooth is behind a cheekbone, an x-ray will not provide a proper image. U.S. Patent No. 5,211,556 to Kobayashi et al. describes an electronic approach to deteπnining the apical position where a conductive probe is inserted into the root canal and an electrode is positioned in contact with the patient's body, in or near the mouth. Then, the probe is moved through the root canal toward the base of the tooth. As the probe is moved, the magnitude of d e impedance, or a component thereof, is monitored. When the probe approaches the apex of the root canal, the magnitude of the impedance begins to change at a different rate. The detector determines that the probe is at the apex of the root canal when the impedance is within a designated range. However, the impedance may be affected significantly by the presence of medical liquids or other material in and around the root canal. For example, the medical liquids can be conductive, thereby reducing the impedance between the electrodes, as compared to a dry root canal. Consequently, the above-described system is subject to errors in measurement of the apical position. Further, this approach typically requires calibration of the detector during each measurement procedure due to the variations in the amount of medical fluids and other materials in the mouth. In an attempt to reduce the above-described problems, U.S. Patent No. 5,096,419 to Kobayashi et al., describes an approach to apical detection where measurements of impedance are taken at a plurality of frequencies. Then, the apical position is determined by calculating a ratio of impedances at two different frequencies. Environmental conditions, such as medical liquids, can still detrimentally affect such measurements. Additionally, the use of a ratio inherently limits the approach to making measurements at two, and only two, frequencies. Summary of the Invention An apex finder or apical position detector determines apical position by detecting a phase angle, reactive component or spectral response of an impedance between a pair of electrodes. A conductive probe inserted into a root canal forms the first electrode. The second electrode contacts the patient's body, typically in the mouth area. In one embodiment, the apical detector uses a sum of a plurality of phase angles where the phase angles are determined at separate frequencies. The phase angles change significantly when the probe contacts the patient's body tissue. By using a combination of measurements at a plurality of frequencies, the apical position detector provides a more accurate indication of the apical position. In one embodiment, the apical detector also uses a combination of the amplitudes of the impedances in addition to the summation of the phase angles, to improve the accuracy of the apical detector. The phase angles and magnitudes are combined mathematically to form a first test score. When the first test score is within a designated range, the position detector indicates that the probe is at the apex of the root canal. The apical detector averages the magnitudes of the impedances at the testing frequencies to indicate whether the conductivity of d e root canal is too high. The apical position detector also produces a second test score based upon the magnitudes to indicate to a user unfavorable measurement conditions in the root canal. A display panel presents both test scores with bar graphs to provide an easily recognizable visual indication of the apical position. Additionally, the display panel includes a warning light to provide a prominent indication of unfavorable measurement conditions. To provide even further information, a chime or other acoustic indicator sounds to indicate that the probe has reached the apex of the root canal. In a method according to the invention, the apical position detector includes a microprocessor-based controller. The controller uses a Fast-Fourier Transform ("FFT") approach to determine the components of the impedance. The controller develops the test score based upon a sum of phase angles to indicate the position of the probe relative to the apex of the root canal. In another method according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the electrodes are driven with a pulsed signal. The controller then compares a spectral response or pulse time delay to a reference standard to identify the apical position. Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of an apical position detector according to the invention with a probe positioned in a root canal. Figure 2 is a partial circuit model and partial block diagram of the apical position detector and root canal of Figure 1. Figure 3 A is a firmware flow chart showing the steps for detecting apical position and the signal display and control paths of the position detector of Figure 1. Figure 3B is a flowchart of an interrupt handler routine showing steps for user input to the detector of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the display of Figure 1, showing a broad bar graph, a narrow bar graph and a warning light. Detailed Description of the Invention As shown in Figure 1, an apical position detector 40 includes a control circuit 42, a display 44, a conductive canal probe 46, a lip electrode 48 and an input interface 49. A microprocessor-based controller 50 within the control circuit 42 controls operation of the position detector 40 in response to a software program stored in a nonvolatile program memory 55 as will be described below. The input interface 49 includes a switch panel, keyboard, or similar device that allows a user to activate the position detector 40, select options, adjust sensitivity and otherwise control the position detector 40. In addition to a microprocessor 51, the controller 50 also includes a programmable gate array 53 that acts as an interface between the microprocessor 51 and the remainder of the control circuit 42. The programmable gate array 53 also includes a latching circuit that latches commands from the switch panel, keyboard or other device for use in an interrupt handler routine described below with respect to Figure 3B. Additionally, a nonvolatile programmable read-only memory 57 in the controller 50 contains a table of predetermined voltage levels that are accessed by the microprocessor 51 at selected time intervals to produce a digital multi-frequency testing signal V(f,) that provides the principal testing signal for the control circuit 42. Preferably, the testing signal V(f,) has components at five frequencies fi-fj. The frequencies are preferably in the range of 200 Hz to 10 kHz, although frequencies exceeding 50 kHz may be within the scope of the invention. In one embodiment, the frequencies fj-fj are 500 Hz, 1 kHz, 2 kHz, 4 kHz, and 8 kHz, respectively. Each of the frequencies f 2 -f5 is double that of the next lower frequency fι-f_ι to simplify a Fast-Fourier Transform computation described below. The testing signal V(f,) from the controller 50 drives a digital-to- analog (D/A) converter 52. In response, the D/A converter 52 produces an analog testing signal V A (f,). The analog testing signal V A (f t ), in turn, provides input to a series combination of a buffer amplifier 54 and a test resistor 56 to produce a current Ip(f,) for driving the probe 46 The test resistor 56 has a resistance on the order of 200 l Ω that makes the series combination of the buffer amplifier 54 and test resistor 56 act substantially as a current source 59, such that the probe current Ip(f,) is substantially constant. The probe current Ip(fj) is coupled from the test resistor 56 to the probe 46 through a cable 58 that is sufficiently long and flexible to allow easy manipulation of the probe 46. The probe current Ip(fj) travels from the cable 58 through the conductive shaft of the probe 46 into a root canal 60 of a tooth 62. Then, the current Ip(fi) travels from the distal end of the probe 46 through an end region 64 of the root canal 60 and into a patient's body tissue 66 to the grounded Up electrode 48 to ground. The length of the end region 64 will depend upon the depth to which the probe 46 is inserted into the root canal 60. The end region 64 and the body tissue 66 form a conductive path having an impedance Z between the probe 46 and the lip electrode 48. As is known, the impedance Z can be modeled adequately as a parallel combination of a resistor and a capacitor as shown in the equivalent circuit of Figure 2. The probe current I p (f,) flows through the impedance Z and produces a node voltage V p (f,) that equals the current I p (f,) times the impedance Z. The node voltage V p ^) will then vary according to the impedance Z, because the current I p fi) is substantially constant. When the distal end of the probe 46 first enters the root canal 60 (Figure 1), the impedance Z is high and has a large resistive component. Therefore, the node voltage V p (f,) is large and has little or no phase shift relative to the current \ p (f,). As the distal end of the probe 46 approaches the body tissue 66, the impedance Z falls and becomes more capacitive. Consequently, the node voltage V p (f,) falls and has an increasing phase shift with respect to the current Ip(fι). The controller 50 resolves the phase angles 0ι-0 5 and amplitudes A 1 -A 5 of the various components of the node voltage V p (f,) through a Fast-Fourier Transform technique, as represented by an FFT block 80 in Figure 2. The controller 50 then scales the components A 1-A5, 0.-0 5 as represented by a scale block 82 to produce a set of normalized components. From the normalized phase angles 0ι-0 5 and amplitudes A 1 -A5 the controller 50 produces test scores TEST 1 and TEST2 as represented by the score blocks 84, 86. Based upon die test scores TEST 1, TEST2, the controller 50 provides information to a user through the display 44. The steps for detecting apical position are shown in greater detail in the firmware flow chart of Figures 3 A and 3B. It is assumed for purposes of this description that the nonvolatile read-only memory 57 has already been programmed to establish die desired voltage levels described above. As shown in Figure 3 A, position detection begins in step 300 with generation of the probe current I p (f,) with five frequency components. The probe current I p (f,) is then applied by insertion of the probe 46 in step 301. Next, in step 302, the control circuit 42 monitors the node voltage V P (f,) through a buffer amplifier 68 and an analog-to-digital (A D) converter 70 (Figure 1). The A/D converter 70 provides to the controller 50 a digital signal representing the node voltage V P (f,). In step 303, the controller 50 evaluates the node voltage V p (f,) to detect a node voltage V p (f,) above at maximum level. If the node voltage V p (f,) is excessive, the controller 50 deteπriines that the probe 46 is not in or near contact with the patient and the warning light 76 is then activated to provide a substantially instantaneous indication of a non-measuring situation. The controller 50 also freezes the display 44 to hold the last detected measurement. Next, in step 304, software within the controller 50 performs a Fast-Fourier Transform (FFT) on the digital signal from the A/D converter 70, as represented by the block FFT in Figures 1 and 2, to produce a frequency spectrum. The spectral components are then filtered to remove noise and A/D converter quantizing errors in step 306 and the spectrum is manipulated mathematically to produce the amplitudes A, and phases 0, of the five frequency components in step 308. The amplitudes Aj and phases 0, are stored in a memory 69 in the controller 50 for use in calculations. Then, in step 310, the software normalizes the amplitudes A, and phases 0; to produce a test score TEST 1 according to the formula: TEST1 = [{3 * (Aι/A 2 ) * (A1/A3) * (A1/A4) * (A1/A5)} - {(-0ι - 0 2 - 03 -04)/4}] 36, = AMP1 - PHI where AMP 1 will be referred to herein as the amplitude component of the first test score TEST 1 and PHI will be referred to as the phase component of the first test score TEST 1. Also in step 310, the software determines a second test score TEST2 according to the formula: TEST2 = 5,000/(Aι + A 2 + A3 + A 4 + A 5 ) When the distal end of the probe 46 contacts the body tissue 66, d e magnitude of the impedance Z, and thus the node voltage V P (f,), drops quickly for all of the frequency components. However, the amplitude component AMP ! of the first test score TEST1 varies much less rapidly than the magnitudes A 1 -A 5 , because each of the components is normalized to the first component Ai. Consequently, changes in the magnitudes A 2 -A 5 of the node voltage V p (f,) will be offset by changes in the magnitude Ai for the first frequency. The amplitude component AMP 1 will thus vary only to the extent that the rates of change of the amplitudes Ai, A 2 -A 5 differ. The phase component PHI of me first test score TEST 1 is largely a function of the relative magnitudes of the reactive and resistive components of the impedance Z. Thus, when the impedance Z is substantially resistive, the phase component of the first test score TEST 1 will be substantially zero. When the impedance Z is substantially reactive, the phase component of the first test score TEST1 will be at its maximum. As noted above, the impedance Z changes from being substantially resistive to substantially reactive as the probe 46 nears contact with the body tissue 66. Therefore, the phase component PHI of the first test score TESTl will change from substantially zero to its maximum magnitude as the probe 46 approaches contact with the body tissue 66. The second test score TEST2 will rise quickly as the probe 46 reaches the body tissue 66, because the second test score TEST2 is inversely proportional to the amplitudes A 1 -A 5 and die amplitudes A 1 -A 5 drop as the probe 46 reaches the apical position. The second test score TEST2 can therefore be used to confirm the results of the first test score TESTl . Also, the second test score TEST2 can indicate whether the magnitude of the impedance Z is within an acceptable range. An excessively low impedance magnitude can indicate unfavorable measurement conditions, such as mav result from excessive medical fluids around the probe 46. An excessively high impedance magnitude can indicate that the probe 46 is not yet inserted, and can be used to interrupt the software routine as a supplement to step 303 described above. Once the test scores are calculated, the software in step 3 1 1 polls to see if the programmable gate array 53 has latched any commands from the input interface 49. If no commands have been latched, the software compares the first or second test scores, TESTl, TEST2 to an acceptable range to identify either contact with the body tissue or unfavorable measurement conditions. A warning light 76 alarm or other indicator is activated in step 314 if the test scores TESTl, TEST2 are outside of the acceptable range. Next, the first test score TEST 1 is displayed (step 317) on the display 44 as a broad bar graph 71, as shown in Figure 4. The broad bar graph 71 provides a prominent graphical indication of when die distal end of the probe 46 contacts the tissue 66. The second test score TEST2 is also provided on the display as a narrow bar graph 72 to indicate whether the impedance Z is within a range that provides adequate results. Alternatively, the first and second test scores TEST l, TEST2 can be presented numerically by a seven-segment display or any other suitable indicating device. If, in step 311, a user has input a command through the input interface 49, the software jumps to an interrupt handler routine as shown in Figure 3B. As shown in step 320, during the intemipt period, the software accepts latched inputs from the input interface 49 (Figures 1 and 2) to adjust the display contrast (step 322), select alarm mode (step 324), adjust sensitivity of apex bias level (step 326), or place the controller 50 in a le__rning mode (step 328). Once die interrupt handler routine is complete, the software returns to step 312 to evaluate alarm conditions and display the results. While the present invention has been described herein by way of exemplary embodiment, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the embodiment of Figure 1 utilizes a test signal V(f,) having five principal frequency components, although fewer or more frequency components can be used. Alternatively, a variety of other spectral or phase analysis techniques can be used to identify the apical position. For example, the test signal V p (f,) can be a short pulse, thereby providing an input having a broad spectral content. Then, the overall spectral content of the node voltage V p (f,) can be monitored and compared to a reference spectral response to determine the apical position. Using the same type of input pulse, the shape of the pulse response at the node can be monitored and compared to a reference pulse response to determine the apical position. As another alternative, one or more pulses can be input and the time delay of output pulses can be detected. The time delay can indicate the apical position because die time delay corresponds to die capacitive component of the impedance Z. Similarly, the digital version of die test signal V(f,) can be resolved using a variety of techniques other than the Fast-Fourier Transform technique. For example, a heterodyning circuit or otiier frequency resolving approach can be applied to extract the phases and amplitudes of the various frequency components. Additionally, while the test scores described herein use specific 11 algorithms for normalizing amplitudes and suinming the various components, a variety of other algorithms may be within the scope of the invention. For example, the phase component PHI or another mathematical function of the phases 0j-0 5 can be used to provide a separate indicator of contact between the probe 46 and the tissue 66. Likewise, each of phases 0j-0 5 may be presented separately or a variety of other combinations of the phases and amplitude can be used to provide the indication of contact between the probe 46 and tissue 66. Moreover, the display 44 principally uses a pair of bar graphs to indicate the test scores TESTl, TEST2. Alternatively, the test scores TESTl, TEST2 may be presented by way of a variety of other display techniques, including numerical indicators, colored lights, or any of a variety of other display techniques. Further, the first test score TESTl can be used to activate a chime, beeper, or other audible indication of contact with the tissue 66. Also, a chime or other indicator can be used to indicate unacceptable measurement conditions in place of or as a complement to the warning light 76 described above. Accordingly, die invention is not limited except as by die appended claims.

Claims: Claims 1. An apical detection apparatus, comprising: a first electrode, the first electrode including a conductive probe shaped for penetrating a root canal of a tooth; a second electrode configured to electrically contact a patient's body; a phase detector coupled to the first and second electrodes, die phase detector being operative to detect a phase of a complex impedance having a real component and a reactive component; and a user interface coupled to the phase detector to provide an indication to a user of a parameter that is a function of the detected phase. 2. The apical detector of claim 1, further including an electronic controller coupled to the phase detector, the controller being operative to produce a signal indicating location of d e probe at an apex of the root canal as a function of the detected phase. 3. The apical detector of claim 2, further including an amplitude detector operative to detect d e magnitude of die complex impedance, wherein the controller is operative to produce the signal indicating locanon of the probe at an apex of the root canal as a function of both the detected phase and the magnitude. 4. The apical detector of claim 1, further including a signal source coupled to die first and second electrodes, d e signal source providing a testing signal to the first and second electrodes, die testing signal including a plurality of test frequencies, wherein the phase detector is operative to detect the phase of the complex impedance at each of d e test frequencies. 5. The apical detector of claim 4, further including an electronic controller coupled to d e phase detector, d e controller being operative to produce a signal indicating location of the probe at an apex of the root canal as a cumulative function of the phases at the test frequencies. 6. An apparatus for detecting contact with a body tissue of a first type in a patient, comprising: a first electrode coupleable to the patient's body; a second electrode movable to contact die tissue of the first type, die second electrode including a probing member for contacting the patient's body; and a complex impedance sensor, coupled to d e first and second electrodes, the complex impedance sensor being configured to detect a relationship between real and reactive components of an impedance between d e first and second electrodes. 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the complex impedance sensor includes: a signal source producing a first testing signal at a first frequency and a second testing signal at a second frequency, the signal source being coupled to d e first or second electrodes to provide d e first and second testing signals to the patient; and a signal monitor coupled to first or second electrode and detecting relative phases of current and voltage in response to the first and second testing signals. 8. The apparatus of claim 6, further including a memory device coupled to the complex impedance sensor and configured to store information representing the relationship between the real and reactive components at the first and second frequencies. 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the complex impedance sensor includes a signal monitor coupled to first or second electrode and detecting relative phases of current and voltage in response to the first and second testing signals, 14 wherein the information representing the real and reactive components includes d e relative phases of the current and voltage at the first and second frequencies. 10. A method of detecting an apical location in a root canal of a patient, comprising the steps of: electrically coupling to the patient at a first location; probing the root canal at a second location; detecting a complex impedance between the first location and the second location, die complex impedance having a first phase component and a first magnitude component; and producing an indicator of the second location as a function of the first phase component. 1 1. The method of claim 10, further including d e step of comparing the indicator to a reference indicator to determine if the second location is the apical location. 12. The metiiod of claim 10 wherein the step of producing an indicator as a function of the first phase component further includes producing die indicator as a function of the first magnitude component. 13. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of detecting a complex impedance between die first and second locations comprises the steps of: detecting a first impedance at a first frequency; and detecting a second impedance at a second frequency different from die first frequency, wherein the first phase component corresponds to die first impedance and a second phase component corresponds to die second impedance. 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of producing an indicator as a function of the first phase component comprises producing a first test score as a function of the first and second phase components. 15. The method of claim 14 wherein the first test score is also a function of the magnitudes of d e first and second impedances. 16. The method of claim 14, further including d e step of producing a second test score as a function of the magnitudes of the first and second impedances. 17. The meti-od of claim 13, further including die step of displaying the first test score on a display configured for viewing by a user. 18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of displaying the first test score on a display configured for viewing by a user including displaying d e first test score as a bar graph. 19. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of detecting a complex impedance between the first and second locations comprises the steps of: producing a multifrequency testing signal having spectral components at each of the first and second frequencies; applying the multifrequency signal to the patient; detecting a response signal produced by die multifrequency signal; and extracting the spectral components of the response signal at the first and second frequencies. 20. A method of indicating apical position, comprising the steps of: probing a root canal with a probe; detecting a complex component of a complex impedance between the probe and a location on a patient's body; producing a first test score as a function of the complex component; and displaying the first test score to a user. 21. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of displaying the first test score comprises activating a bar graph indicator. 22. The method of claim 20, further including the steps of: producing a second test score indicating testing conditions based upon a selected component of the complex impedance; and producing a visible indication of die testing conditions in response to the second test score. 23. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of providing a visible indication of d e testing conditions includes activating a second bar graph. 24. The method of claim 21, further including the steps of: identifying undesirable measuring conditions in response to a selected component of the complex impedance; and providing an audible indication of die undesirable measuring conditions. 25. A mediod of determining a probe location, comprising die steps of: applying the probe to a patient's body; applying a multifrequency signal to the probe, d e multifrequency signal having spectral components at a plurality of frequencies; detecting a response signal produced in response to the applied multifrequency signal; extracting selected spectral components of the response signal; and in response to die extracted spectral components, producing an output indicating the probe location. 26. The method of claim 25 wherein the output is a test score. 27. The method of claim 25, further comprising the steps of: comparing the extracted spectral components to a reference set of spectral components corresponding to die probe being positioned at a desired location; and when die extracted spectral components match the reference spectral components, indicating that die probe is positioned at the desired location. 28. The method of claim 25 wherein the step of extracting selected spectral components of the response signal comprises operating on the response signal with a transform technique. 29. The method of claim 28 wherein the transform technique is a Fast-Fourier Transform. 30. The method of claim 27 wherein d e step of extracting selected spectral components from the response signal includes heterodyning die response signal witii signals at frequencies of the selected spectral components.

Inventors: MASRELIEZ C JOHAN, MASRELIEZ, C., JOHAN
Applicants: ORMCO CORP, ORMCO CORPORATION
Application year: 1997
Main classification: A61C19
IPC codes: A61B5, A61C19