Patent ID: 8079966

Claim:
A device comprising: a miniaturized intra-oral ultrasound transducer operable to generate ultrasound energy; a miniaturized intra-oral biocompatible transducer housing for carrying the ultrasound transducer; a miniaturized intra-oral tooth-root transducer positioning element operable to position the ultrasound transducer adjacent and along a length of a tooth root and gum tissue to which the generated ultrasound energy is to be applied for ultrasound dental treatment; a miniaturized intra-oral ultrasound sensor operable to sense the ultrasound energy generated by the ultrasound transducer, and to provide a feedback signal to a miniaturized intra-oral controller disposed in the transducer housing and operatively coupled to the ultrasound transducer, the controller being operable to control an intensity of the ultrasound energy generated by the ultrasound transducer; a miniaturized intra-oral biocompatible sensor housing for carrying the ultrasound sensor; and a miniaturized intra-oral tooth-root sensor positioning element operable to position the ultrasound sensor adjacent and along a length of a tooth root and gum tissue, the tooth-root sensor positioning element operable to position the ultrasound sensor in a manner which separates the ultrasound sensor from the transducer with the tooth root and gum tissue to which the generated ultrasound energy is to be applied for ultrasound dental treatment; wherein the transducer positioning element comprises a releasable mounting portion for temporarily mounting the transducer housing to a support during the ultrasound dental treatment, and wherein the support comprises a tooth or other intra-oral structure and wherein the sensor positioning element comprises a releasable mounting portion for temporarily mounting the sensor housing to a support during the ultrasound dental treatment, and wherein the support comprises a tooth or other intra-oral structure.