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Title: Method for detection of dental caries and periodontal disease using optical imaging

Abstract

A method for detecting the presence of active and inactive caries in teeth and diagnosing periodontal disease uses non-ionizing radiation with techniques for reducing interference from scattered light. A beam of non-ionizing radiation is divided into sample and reference beams. The region to be examined is illuminated by the sample beam, and reflected or transmitted radiation from the sample is recombined with the reference beam to form an interference pattern on a detector. The length of the reference beam path is adjustable, allowing the operator to select the reflected or transmitted sample photons that recombine with the reference photons. Thus radiation scattered by the dental or periodontal tissue can be prevented from obscuring the interference pattern. A series of interference patterns may be generated and interpreted to locate dental caries and periodontal tissue interfaces.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Albany, CA
  2. Danville, CA
  3. San Francisco, CA
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
870670
Patent Number(s):
5570182
Assignee:
Regents of University of California (Oakland, CA)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
A - HUMAN NECESSITIES A61 - MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE A61B - DIAGNOSIS
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-48
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
method; detection; dental; caries; periodontal; disease; optical; imaging; detecting; presence; active; inactive; teeth; diagnosing; non-ionizing; radiation; techniques; reducing; interference; scattered; light; beam; divided; sample; reference; beams; region; examined; illuminated; reflected; transmitted; recombined; form; pattern; detector; length; path; adjustable; allowing; operator; select; photons; recombine; tissue; prevented; obscuring; series; patterns; generated; interpreted; locate; interfaces; interference pattern; optical imaging; reference beam; scattered light; ionizing radiation; beam path; sample beam; periodontal disease; reference beams; interference patterns; /356/

Citation Formats

Nathel, Howard, Kinney, John H, and Otis, Linda L. Method for detection of dental caries and periodontal disease using optical imaging. United States: N. p., 1996. Web.
Nathel, Howard, Kinney, John H, & Otis, Linda L. Method for detection of dental caries and periodontal disease using optical imaging. United States.
Nathel, Howard, Kinney, John H, and Otis, Linda L. Mon . "Method for detection of dental caries and periodontal disease using optical imaging". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/870670.
@article{osti_870670,
title = {Method for detection of dental caries and periodontal disease using optical imaging},
author = {Nathel, Howard and Kinney, John H and Otis, Linda L},
abstractNote = {A method for detecting the presence of active and inactive caries in teeth and diagnosing periodontal disease uses non-ionizing radiation with techniques for reducing interference from scattered light. A beam of non-ionizing radiation is divided into sample and reference beams. The region to be examined is illuminated by the sample beam, and reflected or transmitted radiation from the sample is recombined with the reference beam to form an interference pattern on a detector. The length of the reference beam path is adjustable, allowing the operator to select the reflected or transmitted sample photons that recombine with the reference photons. Thus radiation scattered by the dental or periodontal tissue can be prevented from obscuring the interference pattern. A series of interference patterns may be generated and interpreted to locate dental caries and periodontal tissue interfaces.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1996},
month = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1996}
}