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. 24, 2000
Filed:
Mar. 31, 1998
Alexander Hack, Biberach-Rissegg, DE;
Bernd Liebermann, Weingarten, DE;
Kaltenbach & Voigt GmbH & Co., Biberach, DE;
Abstract
The invention relates to a device for the diagnosis of the state of health of tooth tissue, having a first light source (1) for the generation of an excitation radiation (2), which is to be directed via a light conductor arrangement (4) onto a tooth tissue region (6) to be investigated and which excites a fluorescence radiation (7) at the tooth tissue region (6), and having detection means (4b, 10) for the detection of the fluorescence radiation (7). In order on the one hand to improve ease of use for the treating dentist and on the other hand to be able to reliably recognize a diseased tooth region, whereby at the same time the patient should not be subjected to unnecessary ablation processes or the removal of healthy tooth substance, the diagnosis device has a second light source (11) for the generation of a treatment laser radiation, which is likewise to be directed onto the tooth tissue region (6) to be investigated, via a light conductor arrangement. The present invention combines the advantages of the diagnosis of tooth regions (6) through evaluation of the fluorescence radiation (7) excited at the investigated tooth (5) with a treatment laser.