Apparatus for caries detection

US10070791B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• CARESTREAM DENTAL TECHNOLOGY TOPCO LIMITED · GB

Inventors

• Rongguang Liang · Tucson, US
• Victor C. Wong · Rochester, US
• Michael A. Marcus · Honeoye Falls, US
• Mark E. Bridges · Spencerport, US
• Paul O. McLaughlin · Rochester, US
• Peter D. Burns · Fairport, US
• David L. Patton · Webster, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 11, 2015
• Grant date: Sep 11, 2018
• Expiry date: May 11, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2021/1787
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An apparatus for obtaining an image of a tooth having at least one light source providing incident light having a first spectral range for obtaining a reflectance image from the tooth and a second spectral range for exciting a fluorescence image from the tooth. A polarizing beamsplitter in the path of the incident light from both sources directs light having a first polarization state toward the tooth and directs light from the tooth having a second polarization state along a return path toward a sensor, wherein the second polarization state is orthogonal to the first polarization state. A first lens in the return path directs image-bearing light from the tooth toward the sensor, and obtains image data from the portion of the light having the second polarization state. A long-pass filter in the return path attenuates light in the second spectral range.