KR101787721B1

KR101787721B1 - Device for diagnosis of incipient caries using fluorescence spectrum

Info

Publication number: KR101787721B1
Application number: KR1020150121976A
Authority: KR
Inventors: 권용훈; 정재성
Original assignee: 부산대학교 산학협력단
Priority date: 2015-08-28
Filing date: 2015-08-28
Publication date: 2017-10-18
Also published as: KR20170025482A

Abstract

The present invention relates to an initial dental diagnosis apparatus using a fluorescence spectrum in which fluorescent light generated by irradiating a laser light through an optical fiber to a region where a dental caries is suspected is received again through another optical fiber and the spectroscopic fluorescence spectrum is displayed for use in diagnosis A fluorescence acquiring and spectroscopic means for acquiring and spectroscopically acquiring fluorescence generated in a suspected site by the light irradiated by the light irradiating means; And a discriminating means for discriminating the initial dental caries by displaying the degree of the dental caries by the fluorescence spectrum.

Description

Technical Field [0001] The present invention relates to a device for diagnosis of incipient caries using fluorescence spectrum,

More particularly, the present invention relates to a device for diagnosing a dental condition, and more particularly, to a method for diagnosing a dental condition, which comprises irradiating laser light through an optical fiber to a suspected portion of a dental caries and passing the same through another optical fiber to display a spectroscopic fluorescence spectrum To an initial dental diagnosis apparatus using fluorescence spectrum.

It is the most widespread dental disease and the most common cause of dental treatment is caries (tooth decay).

In most cases, caries is judged by eye, by scratching with Explorer or by x-ray.

It is difficult to maintain consistent objectivity with eyes, and it is difficult to observe such cases where the inside of the mouth or two teeth are adjacent to each other, and in the case of x-ray, delamination must progress considerably in enamel.

There are DIFOTI (Digital Imaging Fiber Optic Trans Illumination) methods for determining the dental caries by examining infrared rays with high transmittance at the back of the teeth in the front direction and obtaining transmitted images.

There is a disadvantage of lack of scientific accuracy and diagnostic accuracy because of the characteristic that the brightness of the image changes due to the difference in the amount of light transmitted depending on the presence or absence of caries.

Another method, Electrical Conductance Measurements (ECM), which utilizes the electrical resistance characteristics of teeth, is to use a phenomenon in which a tooth has lower electrical resistance than a healthy tooth, and there is a lack of clinical evidence for detecting dentin dental caries.

The Quantitative Light-induced Fluorescence (QLF) system is a method of quantitatively measuring the degree of caries using light of 370 nm. The fluorescence spectra can be used to acquire two-dimensional images of fluorescence. Bright fluorescence The image of the background is observed, but the lesion in which the dental caries has occurred has a merit that the dark image is observed and the diagnosis result of good dental caries is shown.

However, there is a lack of scientific increase in diagnosis and a high price.

Another method is the Infra-Red Laser Fluorescence System, which detects fluorescence generated by a 650 nm diode laser light. In KaVo, Germany, DIAGNOdent is a device that allows a tooth with caries to emit a higher fluorescence at 650 nm than a healthy tooth Is due to the bacteria involved in caries development.

Therefore, this device can only detect bacteria-induced caries, and it shows the degree of caries by the number of digits. Although the price is low, the reproducibility of the measurement is rather low and the measurement result is greatly affected by contamination or coloring.

Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2011-0105836 Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2010-0126903

In order to solve the problem of the prior art tooth condition diagnosis apparatus, the present invention relates to a method for diagnosing a tooth condition of a dental caries diagnosis apparatus, in which fluorescent light generated by irradiating laser light through an optical fiber to a suspected part of a dental caries is transmitted through another optical fiber, And to provide an initial dental diagnosis apparatus using the fluorescence spectrum that can be used for diagnosis.

An object of the present invention is to provide an initial dental diagnosis apparatus using a fluorescence spectrum for detecting the presence or absence of dental caries by generating fluorescence in dental teeth by laser or LED light having a wavelength of 405 nm or 405 nm or 10 nm .

In the present invention, fluorescence generated by irradiating a laser beam through an optical fiber is received again through another optical fiber, and spectroscopic fluorescence spectra are displayed. The characteristics of a caries-related fluorescence spectrum are analyzed to display differently on a monitor according to the degree of caries. An object of the present invention is to provide an initial dental diagnosis apparatus using a fluorescence spectrum.

The present invention provides an initial dental diagnosis apparatus using a fluorescence spectrum capable of diagnosing dental caries in an initial state by analyzing a fluorescence spectrum, providing whether the occurrence of dental caries is provided as a spectrum, and the degree of dental caries using numbers or colors It has its purpose.

The objects of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned objects, and other objects not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides an initial dental caries diagnosis apparatus using fluorescence spectrum, comprising: a light irradiation means for irradiating light to a portion of a tooth suspected of dental caries; And discriminating means for displaying the result obtained by the fluorescence acquiring and spectroscopy means by a fluorescence spectrum and displaying the degree of the caries to discriminate the initial caries by the fluorescence acquisition and spectroscopy means do.

Here, the light irradiation means and the fluorescence acquisition and spectroscopic means include a light source for generating light and a spectroscope for spectroscopically analyzing fluorescence, and a control unit for controlling them.

The light irradiation means and the fluorescence acquisition and spectroscopic means transmit the light generated from the light source through the first optical fiber and transmit the fluorescence acquired from the tooth to the spectroscope through the second optical fiber.

The two optical fibers are configured to be a single optical fiber by using the Y-type kenct.

The optical fiber is connected to a handpiece, and the handpiece is located at the end of the handpiece in the form of a fiber tip. The handpiece includes a switch for holding the handpiece and turning on / off the light. do.

The fiber tip is characterized by being able to bend the end of the tip at an angle of 0 to 90 ° so that it can be observed and measured in the oral cavity to the tooth's smooth surface, inter-tooth interface, occlusal surface, and deep into the mouth.

The discriminating means is characterized in that the degree of the dental caries is displayed in a different color depending on the tooth condition, a different size of the sound, or a different number or symbol.

The discriminating means discriminates whether or not the fluorescence signal spectroscopically transmitted through the spectroscope is processed by a signal processing program in the computer and is displayed on the monitor in the fluorescent spectrum, and the gradient of the curve in a specific wavelength region of the fluorescence spectrum, The rate of occurrence of caries and the degree of caries.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for initial dental diagnosis using a fluorescence spectrum, comprising: a control unit including a light source and a spectroscope; a first optical fiber for transmitting light emitted from the light source; a second optical fiber for transmitting fluorescence to be transmitted to the spectroscope; A handpiece that has a switch for turning on / off the light to be transmitted from the tooth to the tooth through the connection, a light from the handpiece, and a fluorescence to be transmitted from the tooth to the handpiece And a fiber tip for transmitting the laser beam.

Here, the light source is characterized by being a laser or LED light having a wavelength of 405 +/- 10 nm.

The initial dental diagnosis apparatus using the fluorescence spectrum according to the present invention has the following effects.

First, the fluorescence generated by irradiating laser light through the optical fiber to the suspected portion of the caries can be received through another optical fiber, and the spectral fluorescence spectrum can be displayed to increase the diagnostic accuracy.

Second, the dental caries diagnosis apparatus can be effectively manufactured by displaying fluorescence spectra by receiving fluorescence generated by irradiating a laser beam through an optical fiber to a suspected caries region through another optical fiber.

Third, by analyzing the fluorescence spectra, it is possible to diagnose the caries in the initial state by providing the presence or absence of the caries as spectrum and providing the degree of caries using numbers or colors.

Fourth, as the wavelength of light is shorter, the fluorescence spectra showing its distinctive features are displayed. This helps the user to judge whether or not the caries occurred, and the degree of caries is displayed by using a diagnostic program to determine the next action It has a quick effect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an initial dental diagnosis apparatus using a fluorescence spectrum according to the present invention;
2 is a detailed configuration diagram of an initial dental diagnosis apparatus using the fluorescence spectrum according to the present invention
FIGS. 3A to 3C are diagrams showing spectroscopic fluorescence spectra displayed on a monitor in the initial dental diagnosis apparatus using the fluorescence spectrum according to the present invention

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the initial dental diagnosis apparatus using the fluorescence spectrum according to the present invention will be described in detail as follows.

The features and advantages of the initial dental diagnostic apparatus using the fluorescence spectrum according to the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of each embodiment.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an initial dental diagnosis apparatus using a fluorescence spectrum according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a detailed configuration diagram of an initial dental diagnosis apparatus using a fluorescence spectrum according to the present invention.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for early diagnosis of a caries using a spectrum, and a laser beam having a wavelength of 405 nm transmitted through a fiber laser from a laser light source is irradiated to a suspected caries region, fluorescence Is then passed through another optical fiber and then sent to a spectroscope for spectroscopy to show spectra of the spectra on the monitor and also to characterize the caries-related fluorescence spectrum to be different on the monitor depending on the degree of caries.

The initial dental diagnosis apparatus using the fluorescence spectrum according to the present invention is preferably, but not limited to, a laser or a LED light having a wavelength of 405 nm or 405 10 nm as a light source capable of generating fluorescence in a tooth.

For example, a laser or LED light having a wavelength of 457 nm or 457 10 nm can be used.

In addition, laser or LED light having a wavelength of 473 nm or 473 10 nm can be used.

Further, a laser or LED light having a wavelength of 532 nm or 532 10 nm can be used.

The initial dental diagnosis apparatus using the fluorescence spectrum according to the present invention may include a laser or a LED light source and a spectroscope that spectroscopically measures fluorescence, and may include a control unit for controlling the spectroscope.

In addition, the light source of the control unit can transmit light through the optical fiber and can transmit the fluorescence obtained from the teeth to the spectroscope through the optical fiber.

In addition, the two optical fibers can be configured so that two optical fibers can be a single optical fiber by using a Y-type kenct.

Further, the optical fiber may be connected to a handpiece, the handpiece may be positioned at the end of the handpiece in the form of a fiber tip, and the handpiece may include a switch for holding the handpiece and turning on / off the light .

The fiber tip can be bent at various angles from 0 ° to 90 ° so that the tip of the tip can be observed and measured from the oral cavity to the smooth surface of the tooth, the inter-tooth interface, the occlusal surface, have.

In addition, the control unit may be configured to display spectra of fluorescent light spectrally separated from the spectroscope connected to a computer and display the presence or absence of dental caries on a monitor.

Here, in the fluorescence spectrum, the position of the main peak changes according to the light source, and as the caries progresses, the slope of the curve gradually decreases after the position.

Depending on the light source, there is a tendency for two peaks to appear as the curve increases after any wavelength, even if it decreases gradually. This trend can be used to calculate the slope change of the curve after the main peak to assess the degree of caries and to configure the results to appear on the monitor.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for evaluating a dental caries caused by a tooth and diagnosing the state of the dental caries. Since the tooth is undergoing remineralization in the oral cavity even though the tooth is carious, the tooth surface may be remineralized by remineralization after the time of dental caries. However, due to insufficient remineralization in the lower part, the structure and composition There is a defect.

As a result, white spots are created. Since the state and characteristics of teeth vary from person to person, it is necessary for the user to provide more objective evaluation and presentation of symptoms.

1 and 2, the initial dental diagnosis apparatus using a fluorescence spectrum according to the present invention includes a control unit 12 including a light source 10 and a spectroscope 11, a light source 10 And a second optical fiber 20 for transmitting fluorescence to be transmitted to the spectroscope 11 of the control unit 12, and a second optical fiber 20 for connecting the first optical fiber 20 and the second optical fiber 20, A handpiece 30 including a switch 31 and a switch 31 for turning on / off light to be transmitted to and transmitted from the tooth to the contact 21, And a fiber tip 32 for transmitting fluorescence to be transmitted from the tooth to the handpiece 30.

The optical fiber 20 connected to the connector 21 is connected to the handpiece 30 having the switch 31 and transmits the light of the light source to the teeth through the fiber tip 32, And the result of spectroscopy in the spectroscope is visualized through the monitor of the computer 40. [

The light source 10 is one of the important tools for generating fluorescence in the teeth of a caries. It is effective at wavelengths of 405 nm or 405 賊 10 nm, but can also be 457 nm or 457 賊 10 nm, or 473 nm or 473 賊 10 nm, or 532 nm or 532 賊 10 nm Do.

As the light source 10, a laser is effective, but an LED is also possible.

Since the laser or LED generates a lot of heat, an appropriate cooling system must be in the control.

The light source 10 of the wavelength may be alone or in combination. An optical system capable of combining two or more lights in the control unit can be constituted.

In the case of a laser, light may be emitted continuously, but it may be pulsed.

The light emitted from the light source 10 enters the handpiece through the optical fiber 20. Since the optical fiber 20 connected to the light source 10 is a single strand but must be combined with the optical fiber 20 connected to the spectroscope 11, the two optical fibers are joined to each other using the connector 21 and connected to the handpiece 30.

Therefore, although the optical fiber 20 connected to the handpiece 30 appears as one strand, it can actually enter two strands or more if necessary.

Since the light emitted from the light source 10 continues to be output without any adjustment, the switch 31 is incorporated in the handpiece 30 to adjust the on / off state while holding the handpiece 30 by hand. It can be convenient.

It is preferable that the hand piece 30 is designed to have a structure which is easy to grip with a hand and good grip feeling.

The distal tip (32) is elongated to allow entry into the mouth, and the tip may be bent at various angles to allow entry into narrow, curved, and adjacent teeth within the mouth.

Fluorescence that enters the spectroscope 11 through the optical fiber 20 is split and delivered to the computer 40, processed by a signal processing program, and graphed to be spectrally represented on a monitor.

The spectra thus obtained are the same as in FIGS. 3A to 3C.

FIG. 3 (a) is a fluorescence spectrum appearing in a normal tooth, FIG. 3 (b) is a fluorescence spectrum in a tooth in which an initial caries is generated, and FIG. 3 (c) is a caries fluorescence spectrum in a severe state.

As shown in the figure, the spectrum of a tooth having a caries shows that the peak wavelength shifts to near 550 nm between 480-490 nm and another peak appears near 625 nm as the intensity decreases, as compared with a normal tooth.

When the caries becomes worse, the peak near 550 nm becomes gentle and the peak near 650-700 nm becomes higher.

Also, as the degree of caries increases, the color of the desktop changes from light to dark. Alternatively, the color may be different for each state.

It can also be expressed as high or low depending on the degree of caries using sound instead of color. It can be bright when sound, or dark when caries is present. It can also be expressed using numbers or symbols.

According to FIGS. 3b and 3c, as the caries progresses in a normal tooth state, the slope of the curve gradually decreases after the peak wavelength at 480-490 nm, or in the range of 500-600 nm or 550-600 nm or in a wider or narrower wavelength region Calculate the slope of the curve.

Then, we read two peak values appearing after 600 nm and calculate the ratio of 625/667 nm to those values. The degree of caries can be assessed by matching the slope and peak ratio of the curve thus obtained to the classification according to the degree of caries determined by the expert.

The initial dental diagnosis apparatus using the fluorescence spectrum according to the present invention irradiates light of a specific wavelength transmitted through a fiber from a light source to a suspected portion of a dental caries, It is then sent to a spectrometer to spectroscopy and the spectroscopic fluorescence spectrum is displayed on a monitor and the characteristics of the caries-related fluorescence spectrum are analyzed to make it appear different on the monitor depending on the degree of caries.

As described above, it will be understood that the present invention is implemented in a modified form without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention.

It is therefore to be understood that the specified embodiments are to be considered in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense and that the scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description and that all such differences falling within the scope of equivalents thereof are intended to be embraced therein It should be interpreted.

10. Light source 11. Spectroscope
12. Control section 20. Optical fiber
21. Connect 30. Handpiece
31. Switch 32. Fiber tip
40. Monitor

Claims

A light irradiating means for irradiating light to a portion of the tooth suspected of being a carious article;
Fluorescence acquisition and spectroscopy means for acquiring fluorescence generated at a suspected site by the light irradiated by the light irradiation means and performing spectroscopy;
And a discriminating means for displaying the result obtained by the fluorescence acquiring and spectroscopy means in a fluorescence spectrum and indicating the degree of caries to discriminate the initial caries,
The discrimination means displays the spectroscopic fluorescence signal in the fluorescence spectrum and shows the occurrence and degree of the caries using the slope of the curve or the peak rate of the specific wavelengths in the specific wavelength region of the fluorescence spectrum, And displaying the color differently according to the fluorescence spectrum.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light irradiation means and the fluorescent-
An initial dental diagnosis apparatus using the fluorescence spectrum, comprising a light source for generating light and a spectroscope for spectroscopically detecting fluorescence, and a control unit for controlling these.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light irradiation means and the fluorescent-
Wherein the light emitted from the light source is transmitted through the first optical fiber and the fluorescence obtained from the tooth is transmitted to the spectroscope through the second optical fiber.

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the two optical fibers are configured to be a single optical fiber by using the Y-type kenct.

5. The optical fiber according to claim 4,
Wherein the handpiece is connected to the handpiece and the handpiece is located at the end of the handpiece in the form of a fiber tip and the handpiece includes a switch capable of turning on and off the light while holding the handpiece. Diagnostic device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the fiber tip is capable of bending the tip of the tip at an angle of 0 to 90 degrees so that the fiber tip can be observed and measured at the smooth surface of the tooth, inter-tooth interface, occlusal surface, An initial caries diagnostic system using fluorescent spectra.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1,
Wherein the degree of the caries is differentiated according to the tooth condition, or the number or the symbol is displayed differently, and the initial caries diagnosis apparatus using the fluorescence spectrum.

delete

A control unit including a light source and a spectroscope;
A first optical fiber for transmitting light emitted from a light source;
A first optical fiber and a second optical fiber for transmitting fluorescence to be transmitted to the spectroscope;
A handpiece having a switch for turning on and off light to be transmitted from the tooth to the tooth through the connector and to the tooth;
A fiber tip for transmitting light from the handpiece and fluorescence to be transmitted from the tooth to the handpiece,
A light is irradiated to a portion of a tooth suspected of carious lesion, fluorescence generated at the suspected site is acquired by the irradiated light, and the spectroscopic fluorescence signal is represented by a fluorescence spectrum, and a curve in a specific wavelength region of the fluorescence spectrum Wherein an indication of the occurrence and degree of caries is obtained by using a slope or a peak rate of specific wavelengths, and the degree of caries is displayed in a different color depending on a tooth condition.

10. The light source according to claim 1 or 9,
Characterized in that the wavelength is 405 +/- 10 nm laser or LED light.