The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 06, 1998
Filed:
May. 10, 1996
Balasigamani Devaraj, Yamagata, JP;
Masaki Kobayashi, Yamagata, JP;
Motohiro Takeda, Yamagata, JP;
Masashi Usa, Sendai, JP;
Hiroshi Ishihata, Sendai, JP;
Hiroshi Horiuchi, Sendai, JP;
Humio Inaba, Sendai, JP;
Biophotonics Information Laboratories Ltd., Yamagata, JP;
Abstract
An image measuring apparatus for measuring an image of a tooth or gum applies the radiation of a laser beam to permit extremely quick, reliable, safe detection of dental caries and other dental pathological conditions. The low incident power of the laser radiation would not cause damage or pain to the tissue, such as the tooth or gum. The image measuring apparatus is equipped with a light source which emits light having at least a wavelength in a range of 500 nm or more to less than 600 nm; it uses the light emitted from the light source to obtain 2-dimensional images or computed tomographic images of a tooth or gum from the light, which has been transmitted through the tooth or gum, by using an optical heterodyne detection method.