System and method for detecting cracks in a tooth by ultrasonically exciting and thermally imaging the tooth
US6437334B1 · kind B1 · utility
19Cited by
23References
11Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 15, 2000 |
| Grant date | Aug 20, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 30, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2291/2694
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A thermal imaging system for detecting cracks in a tooth. An ultrasonic dental cleaning tool is used to transmit ultrasonic energy through a jet of water to the tooth that causes cracks in the tooth to heat up. A thermal camera is used to detect the thermal radiation emitted by the heated cracks. The ultrasonic energy is in the form of a pulse where the frequency of the ultrasonic signal is substantially constant within the pulse. The control unit is employed to provide timing and control of the operation of the dental cleaning tool and the camera.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.