JP5915830B2 - Dental probe - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a dental probe used for measuring the depth of a periodontal pocket and diagnosing tartar and other foreign substances on the root surface.

  In the periodontal disease, when gingivitis progresses and inflammation spreads to the deep part of the gingiva, the gingival tissue is destroyed, and a groove called a periodontal pocket is formed between the gingiva and the tooth. In order to treat this periodontal disease, it is necessary to know the depth of the periodontal pocket and the progress of gingivitis. For this purpose, a probe for measuring the depth of a periodontal pocket having a structure in which a probe portion made of hard metal such as stainless steel bent in a U shape is attached to the tip of a grip portion made of a rod-shaped metal fitting has been used conventionally. It has been.

  In this probe, the probe part is graduated at regular intervals from its tip, and when the probe part is inserted into the periodontal pocket, the scale is read to measure the periodontal pocket depth. Can be done. Diagnosis of periodontal pockets is a medical practice that is frequently performed in about 60% of patients as a health insurance examination in daily clinical practice of practitioners, and is extremely useful in daily medical care.

  However, the invention of a depth measuring instrument disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known as a conventional technique for measuring the depth of a periodontal pocket. According to the present invention, a wedge prism disposed in a cylindrical scale cover and connected to a light source is projected onto the bottom surface of a periodontal pocket via a plurality of light projecting fibers, and the reflected light is reflected on the wedge prism and the plurality of light beams. The depth of the space is measured in a non-contact manner compared to the maximum received light amount that has been measured in advance and the received light amount of the adjacent light receiving fiber. is there.

  However, the conventional invention disclosed in Patent Document 1 can measure the periodontal pocket depth in a non-contact manner by detecting the amount of reflected light when projected onto the bottom surface of the periodontal pocket. However, the reflection of light is greatly affected by the environment in the periodontal pocket, and it is difficult to always measure accurately. Furthermore, holding the scale cover so as not to be shaken when inserted into the periodontal pocket requires a skill for the operator and is not easy to operate. Moreover, although water or air may be injected into the periodontal pocket, the injection amount and the detailed operation method are not described. Furthermore, when air is injected into the periodontal pocket, it is assumed that bubbles are generated in the soft tissue of the gingiva, but no measures for preventing this are described.

Japanese Patent No. 3019857

  The problem to be solved is to measure the depth of the periodontal pocket between the tooth and the surrounding gingiva without causing any pain to the patient. Existence and its attachment position can be confirmed visually.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the dental probe of the present invention is a dental probe including a probe portion and a grip portion that can be palpated on an affected area, and a rear end portion of the dental probe is an air supply line. The nozzle part connected and having an air injection port at the tip is positioned along the axial direction of the probe part so that the position of the air injection port of the nozzle part is located slightly above the tip of the probe part. By being provided outside the probe portion, the Coanda effect of injecting air along the probe portion can be obtained.
A dental probe according to a second aspect of the present invention is the dental probe according to the first aspect, wherein the nozzle portion is provided with an opening for allowing air to escape as an air flow rate control mechanism, whereby the pressure ejected from the ejection port of the nozzle portion becomes an abnormal pressure. In order to prevent this, the abnormal pressure can be relieved at the opening.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the dental probe according to the first or second aspect, the nozzle portion is attached to the probe portion, and the rear end portion of the nozzle portion is integrally fixed to the grip.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the dental probe according to the first, second, or third aspect, the nozzle portion is attached to the probe portion and the rear end portion of the nozzle portion is detachably fixed to the grip. Is.
A dental probe according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the dental probe according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein an air supply pipe connected to a rear end portion of the nozzle portion is built in the grip portion. It is .
Dental probe 請 Motomeko 6, the nozzle having at dental probe with a palpable probe portion to the affected area and the grip portion, the rear end portion is connected to the air supply conduit and an air injection port at the distal end A nozzle part extending from the fixed part is provided opposite to the tooth surface, and the air sprayed from the nozzle part is reflected on the tooth surface to provide a periodontal pocket. It is characterized by being configured to be able to inject in the inward direction.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the dental probe according to the sixth aspect is characterized in that a rear end portion of the nozzle portion is integrally fixed to the grip.
The dental probe of claim 8 is characterized in that, in claim 6 , the rear end portion of the nozzle portion is detachably fixed to the grip.
A dental probe according to a ninth aspect is characterized in that, in the claim according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, an air injection ON / OFF control mechanism is provided in the air supply conduit. .
The dental probe according to claim 10 is characterized in that, in the claim according to any one of claims 1 to 8 , a flow rate control mechanism for controlling an air supply amount is provided in the air supply conduit. It is.
Dental probe according to claim 11, in claim according to any of claims 1 to 8, in the air supply conduit, in that a heating control mechanism for heating to a temperature approximating the jet air to body temperature It is a feature.
The dental probe according to claim 12 is the dental probe according to any one of claims 1 to 8 , wherein the air supply pipe is provided with a pressure control mechanism that detects an abnormal pressure of the supply air and controls it to a normal pressure. It is characterized by that.
The dental probe according to claim 13 is the dental probe according to any one of claims 1 to 8 , wherein a connecting portion for connecting an air supply conduit from a compressed air source is provided at a rear end portion of the grip portion. It is characterized by.

  In the dental probe of the present invention, by providing an air injection nozzle along the probe portion, the Coanda effect can be obtained in the airflow injected into the periodontal pocket, or air is injected from the tip of the hollow probe portion. The periodontal pocket can be opened with sprayed air, etc., and by controlling the pressure of the sprayed air and controlling the temperature of the air to a temperature approximating the body temperature, the teeth can be used without causing pain to the patient. The depth of the circumferential pocket can be measured, and the presence of calculus and foreign matter on the root surface in the periodontal pocket and the attachment position thereof can be visually confirmed. In addition, since the presence or absence of tartar or foreign matter can be visually confirmed in advance, it is possible to accurately measure the depth of the periodontal pocket with a probe while avoiding obstacles in the periodontal pocket.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a probe showing that a nozzle portion is integrally fixed to a grip portion having a built-in air supply conduit. (Example 1) FIG. 6 is a view showing that various control mechanisms are provided in the probe. (Example 1) FIG. 6 is a view showing that various control mechanisms are provided in the probe. (Example 1) FIG. 6 is a view showing that various control mechanisms are provided in the probe. (Example 1) FIG. 6 is a view showing that various control mechanisms are provided in the probe. (Example 1) FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a probe in which a nozzle part is detachably fixed to a grip part having a built-in air supply pipe. (Example 2) FIG. 5 is a side view of the probe showing that the air supply pipe connected to the rear end of the nozzle part is detachably fixed along the side face of the grip part. (Example 3) FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a probe showing that a hollow probe portion is integrally fixed to a grip portion having a built-in air supply conduit. (Example 4) FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a probe showing that a hollow probe portion is detachably fixed to a grip portion having a built-in air supply conduit. (Example 5) FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a probe showing that a linear nozzle portion is integrally fixed to a grip portion having a built-in air supply conduit. (Example 6)

  Measures the depth of the periodontal pocket between the tooth and the surrounding gingiva without causing pain to the patient, and confirms the presence of tartar and foreign matter on the root surface and the attachment position in the periodontal pocket The purpose of this is to attach an air injection nozzle to the probe tip, or to form air in the periodontal pocket that is heated to a temperature approximating body temperature from the injection port at the tip of each probe. By making the spraying configuration, the periodontal pocket was expanded without causing pain to the patient, and the inside of the periodontal pocket was visually diagnosed.

  The probe of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 has a grip portion 2 with a built-in air supply pipe 1, a probe portion 3 provided at the tip of the grip portion 2, and an air injection port 4 at the tip. The nozzle part 6 is bent along the tip direction of the part 3 and the rear end part is integrally fixed to the fixing part 5 of the grip part 2, and the compressed air source air is provided at the rear end part of the grip part 2. An air tube 8 for supplying compressed air from the supply pipeline 7 is connected via a connection portion 9.

  There is basically one type of bent shape of the probe unit 3, but even if there are many types of shapes, the nozzle unit 6 follows the tip of the probe unit and the position of the air injection port 4 is probed. The Coanda effect (a phenomenon in which fluid flows along the object surface) in which air is jetted along the probe portion 3 is obtained by setting it to be located slightly above the tip of the portion, for example, 5 to 10 mm above.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the compressed air source air supply line 7 connected to the probe 10 is sent to the pressure control valve 13 by the compressed air supplied from the air pressure source 11 by opening the manual valve 12. The pressure is controlled, and the pressure is displayed on the pressure gauge 14. Further, the flow of air is controlled by the flow control cock 16 ahead by opening / closing the foot switch 15 for ON / OFF control of air injection, and the flow rate is displayed on the flow meter 17. The air supply line 7 from the compressed air source having this configuration is connected to the probe 10 via the connecting portion 18. A probe part 3 is provided at the tip of the probe 10, and a nozzle part 6 is provided along the tip direction of the probe part 3. Further, the nozzle part 6 is provided with an opening part 19 for escaping air as an air flow rate control mechanism, and the opening part 19 is provided so that the pressure for injecting the compressed air from the injection port 4 of the nozzle part 6 does not become an abnormal pressure. It is configured to release abnormal pressure.

  For example, even if the air injection port 4 comes into contact with or is buried in soft tissue such as gingiva and the air injection port 4 is closed and the pressure inside the air supply pipe 1 becomes abnormal pressure, the abnormal pressure is released at the opening 19 The abnormal pressure air is not injected into the periodontal pocket. Thereby, generation | occurrence | production of the bubble in a soft tissue can be prevented. The shape of the opening 19 is not limited to a circle but may be an ellipse or other shapes, and the area is preferably a value that approximates the area of the air injection port 4. If the area of the opening 19 is smaller than the area of the air injection port 4, the amount of released air is excessively decreased, and if it is larger, the amount of released is excessively increased. Also, if the area of the opening 19 approximates the area of the air injection port 4, even if air leaks from the opening 19 during normal air injection, the amount of leakage is so small that there is no hindrance to normal pressure injection .

FIG. 3 is an example in which a hand switch 20 is provided in the grip portion 2 of the probe 10 instead of providing the foot switch 15 in the compressed air source air supply pipe line 7 in FIG. Other configurations are the same as those in FIG. 2, and the same effects can be obtained.
FIG. 4 shows an example in which a safety valve 21 is provided as a pressure control mechanism in the compressed air source air supply pipe 7 instead of providing the opening 19 in the nozzle 6 in FIG. Other configurations are the same as those in FIG. 3, and the same effects can be achieved.

FIG. 5 is an example in which a hand switch 20 is provided in the grip portion 2 of the probe 10 instead of providing a foot switch in the compressed air source air supply pipe line 7 in FIG. The configuration is the same, and the same effect can be achieved.
Further, in addition to the above, an overheating control mechanism (not shown) for heating the supplied air to a temperature approximating the body temperature is provided to inject the heated air into the periodontal pocket.

  The probe 10 of the present invention described above is provided with the nozzle portion 6 for injecting air along the probe portion 3, so that air is injected along the probe portion 3, and the injected air is injected into the tooth side surface. Therefore, the periodontal pocket can be opened with the jet air. Furthermore, by controlling the pressure of the jet air with the flow rate control mechanism and controlling the jet air temperature to a temperature approximating the body temperature, the jet of the periodontal pocket can be obtained without giving a sense of incongruity or pain due to the temperature difference during medical examination. The depth can be measured, and further, the presence of tartar and foreign matter on the root surface in the periodontal pocket and the attachment position thereof can be visually confirmed.

  The probe 22 of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is provided with the nozzle portion 6 on the distal end side of the grip portion 2 instead of integrally fixing the nozzle portion 6 to the grip portion 2 in the first embodiment. It is configured to be detachable through the detachable portion 23. Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  In this case, the attaching / detaching portion 23 is provided with an O-ring that seals air leakage, and when the rear end portion of the nozzle portion 6 is inserted into the attaching / detaching portion 23, it is prevented from coming off by the contact pressure of the O-ring 24. It is the composition which becomes.

  The detachable probe 22 configured as described above can achieve the same functions and effects as those of the first embodiment.

  The probe 25 of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 7 is a modification of the detachable probe in the second embodiment, and with respect to the grip portion 2 of the conventional dental probe provided with the probe portion 3 and the grip portion 2, The rear end portion of the nozzle portion 6 bent along the tip direction of the probe portion 3 and having the air injection port 4 at the tip is integrally connected to the air supply conduit 1, and this air supply conduit 1 is a conventional type. The probe is configured to be detachably fixed along the outer periphery in the axial direction of the grip portion 2 of the probe. In this case, the air supply pipe 1 is fixed to the grip part 2 in the present embodiment, for example, by fixing the two axial positions of the grip part 2 with the clamp 26. Other fixing means may be used as long as it can be fixed so as not to fluctuate.

  According to the present embodiment, the Coanda effect can be obtained in the jet air by fixing the nozzle 6 for jetting air to the probe portion 3 of the conventional probe, and the conventional probe can be used economically. It is.

  The probe 27 of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 8 has a grip portion 2 with a built-in air supply pipe 1, a hollow and bent, air tip 4 at the tip, and a rear end at the tip side of the grip portion 2. An air tube 8 that supplies compressed air from a compressed air source air supply conduit 7 is connected to the rear end side of the grip portion 2. They are connected via part 9.

  In the present embodiment, the probe portion 3 also serves as the nozzle portion 6 for injecting air in the first and second embodiments. The probe portion 3 is formed in a hollow shape and air is supplied from an air injection port 4 opened at the tip. Is configured to inject fuel. In order to prevent the air injection port of the probe portion from being damaged by the periodontal tissue when it hits the inner surface of the periodontal pocket, or so as not to hurt even if it hits, it is desirable to round the end of the injection port. In addition, since the installation of the air ON / OFF control mechanism, the flow rate control mechanism, the air heating control mechanism, and the like are the same as those in the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  The probe 27 of the present embodiment is configured to inject air from the air injection port 4 opened at the tip of the hollow probe unit 3, and in comparison with the first and second embodiments, the air injection nozzle unit 6 does not exist. Since it is a configuration, it can be provided at a low price and can provide the same operational effects as the first embodiment.

  The probe 29 of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 9 is different from that of the fourth embodiment in that the rear end portion of the probe portion 3 is integrally fixed to the front end side of the grip portion 2 via the fixing portion 28. These are fixed detachably through an attaching / detaching portion 30 provided on the front end side of the grip portion 2. In this case, the attaching / detaching portion 30 is provided with an O-ring 24 that seals air leakage, and the probe portion 3 inserted into the attaching / detaching portion 30 is prevented from coming off by the contact pressure of the O-ring 24. Since other configurations are the same as those of the fourth embodiment, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. As described above, the probe of the present embodiment can achieve the same functions and effects as those of the fourth embodiment.

The probe 31 of this embodiment shown in FIG. 10 is bent along the axial direction of the probe portion 3 in the tip direction of the nozzle portion 6 with the rear end portion fixed to the air supply pipe in the first to third embodiments. Instead
The air injection port 4 of the nozzle portion 6 linearly extending from the fixed portion 5 is opposed to the surface of the tooth 32, and the air injected from the injection port 4 is reflected on the tooth surface as indicated by the arrow, and the periodontal pocket. The mounting angle of the nozzle portion 6 is set in a direction toward the inside 33. In addition, the injected air flows not only on the tooth surface but also along the probe portion to open the periodontal pocket. Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. In FIG. 10, the rear end portion of the nozzle is integrally fixed to the front end side of the grip portion 2 via the fixing portion 5. Instead of this, as shown in the second embodiment, an O-ring 24 is used. It may be configured to be detachable via. As described above, the probe of the present embodiment can achieve the same effects as the first embodiment.

 As described above, in addition to the effects described in the first to sixth embodiments, in FIG. 1 of the first embodiment, FIG. 6 of the second embodiment, FIG. 7 of the third embodiment, and FIG. Similar to the nozzle unit 6, by adopting a detachable configuration as shown in FIG. 6, the tip of the probe unit can be removed and sterilized. This provides the advantage that the entire probe need not be sterilized.

1 Air supply line
2 Grip part
3 Probe section
4 Air outlet
5,28 Fixed part
6 Nozzle
7 Compressed air source air supply line
8 Air tube
9 Connection
10,22,27,29,31 Probe
11 Air pressure source
12 Manual valve
13 Pressure control valve
14 Pressure gauge
15 Foot switch
16 Flow control cock
17 Flow meter
18 Connection
19 opening
20 Hand switch
21 Safety valve
23, 30 Detachable part
24 O-ring
26 Clamp
32 teeth
33 Periodontal pocket

Claims (13)

  In a dental probe provided with a probe portion and a grip portion capable of palpating an affected area, a nozzle portion having a rear end portion connected to an air supply conduit and having an air injection port at a tip portion is arranged in the axial direction of the probe portion. A coanda that injects air along the probe portion by providing the air injection port of the nozzle portion outside the probe portion so that the position of the air injection port of the nozzle portion is positioned slightly above the tip of the probe portion. A dental probe characterized in that an effect can be obtained.   The nozzle part is provided with an opening for releasing air as an air flow rate control mechanism, so that the abnormal pressure can be released at the opening so that the pressure injected from the injection port of the nozzle part does not become abnormal pressure. The dental probe according to claim 1, wherein the dental probe is configured to be able to do so.   The dental probe according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the nozzle portion is attached to the probe portion, and a rear end portion of the nozzle portion is integrally fixed to the grip.   4. The dental probe according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle portion is attached to the probe portion, and a rear end portion of the nozzle portion is detachably fixed to the grip. .   The dental probe according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an air supply conduit connected to a rear end portion of the nozzle portion is built in the grip portion.   In a dental probe having a probe portion and a grip portion that can be palpated to an affected area, a nozzle portion having a rear end portion connected to an air supply pipe and having an air injection port at the tip is provided in the fixing portion of the grip portion. In addition, an air injection port of the nozzle portion extended from the fixed portion is provided to face the tooth surface, and the injection air of the nozzle portion is reflected on the tooth surface and can be injected in a direction toward the periodontal pocket. A dental probe characterized by being configured as described above.   The dental probe according to claim 6, wherein a rear end portion of the nozzle portion is integrally fixed to the grip.   The dental probe according to claim 6, wherein a rear end portion of the nozzle portion is detachably fixed to the grip.   The dental probe according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein an air injection ON / OFF control mechanism is provided in the air supply pipe line.   The dental probe according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a flow rate control mechanism for controlling a supply amount of air is provided in the air supply pipe line.   The dental probe according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a heating control mechanism that superheats the jet air to a temperature approximate to a body temperature is provided in the air supply pipe line.   The dental probe according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a pressure control mechanism that detects an abnormal pressure of supply air and controls the pressure to a normal pressure.   The dental probe according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a connection portion for connecting an air supply source side pipe line is provided at a rear end portion of the grip portion.

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