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:
Jan. 13, 2009
Filed:
Oct. 08, 2003
Peter B. Lockhart, Charlotte, NC (US);
Robert Splinter, Huntersville, NC (US);
Michael T. Brennan, Charlotte, NC (US);
Philip C. Fox, Cabin John, MD (US);
Peter B. Lockhart, Charlotte, NC (US);
Robert Splinter, Huntersville, NC (US);
Michael T. Brennan, Charlotte, NC (US);
Philip C. Fox, Cabin John, MD (US);
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital Authority, Charlotte, NC (US);
Abstract
An erythema meter includes a probe, a light source of one or more specific probing and reference wavelengths, and an acoustic detector which determines the level of erythema present in the dental pulp chamber of a tooth. The probing and reference wavelengths are delivered in pulsed or amplitude modulated fashion through the probe, thereby permitting electronic identification and filtering of the received data. The absorption of the light wave raises the temperature of the material in the tooth and causes it to expand, thus creating tiny shockwaves which are picked up with the acoustic detector, revealing information on the location of blood and the quantity of blood inside the tooth. The erythema meter accurately measures the erythema, or inflammation, within the tooth in a qualitative and quantitative manner.