Transcript Ultrasonic Periodontal Probe

UltraSonographic Perio Probe
A painless way to monitor periodontal disease
•Periodontal disease is the current challenge in dentistry
–Tooth attachment destroyed in unpredictable site-specific pattern
–Early stages of disease painless, so we don’t floss all that much
–Treatment effective, but uncomfortable, expensive, uncovered
•No reliable clinical indicators of disease activity: need Gold Standard
–Mechanical probing inaccurate, subjective, slow, painful
–Subtraction radiography only shows bone loss
•Diagnostic ultrasound is widely used in other areas of medicine
Visual Programs, Inc.
Jack Singer
(804) 399-2552
Ultrasonography in Medicine
Click on video at
right to hear
how the new
US Probe uses
ultrasonography
adapted from
medicine. (Old
version of probe
shown in video.)
Echocardiography Examples
Baby Face in the Womb
Transrectal ultrasound of Prostate
Probe tip is placed at gum line with thin
ultrasound beam projecting into tissues.
Ultrasound Transducer
Probe Handpiece
Ultrasound waves in coupling water are
focused inside of tip to a very thin beam
Crest of periodontal ligament reflects
ultrasound beam. Echoes are recorded
by ultrasound transducer and then
analyzed by computer expert system.
Visual Programs, Inc.
Jack Singer
(804) 399-2552
Probe CAD
Drawing
Water & Electronics Line
Current Version of Periodontal Probe:
Design to Practice to Clinical Tests
Probe Tips &
Transducers
Better balance and feel with
contra-angling for easier use
Industry standard
“quick disconnect”
for both cable and
coupling water line
Probe tip is placed at
gum line with thin
ultrasound beam
projecting into the
periodontal tissues.
Instrumentation
is all contained
within PC. Ours
is currently in a
ruggedized case
for travel to the
various clinical
sites. Currently
doing side-byside comparison
to mechanical
perio probing.
Visual Programs, Inc.
Jack Singer
(804) 399-2552
Easy to Use Computer Interface
Will be integrated into practice-management software
Footpedal starts flow of
coupling water, records &
archives data, increments
Conventional Manual Periodontal Probing
•Not Sterile
•Two people
•Subjective
•Inaccurate
•Slow
•Painful
•Poor Patient
Motivation
Slight flow of water is used to ensure
coupling of ultrasound in and out of
tissues. Probe tip placed at gum line.
Click on the video at left to
see the US Probe in use.
Distal-Buccal #31
Buccal #31
Mesial-Buccal #31
31
2mm
4mm
Lingual face/ Mandible #1 / Tooth #31
Patient
motivation is enhanced by graphic
output of US Probe: contours vs. numbers
Depths indicated by mechanical
probing. Contour uncertain.
11mm
31
2mm
4mm
Depths and contour indicated
by acoustic probing
Click on the video above to hear about
why the US Probe will be better at
motivating patients for needed treatment.
11mm
Visual Programs, Inc.
Jack Singer
(804) 399-2552
Sorting out these complex
waveforms is the hard part.
We have several tens of
man-years already invested.
We know what works well.
Visual Programs
Development Team:
Medical College of Virginia
College of William & Mary
NASA Langley NESB
Naval Dental School
Old Dominion Univ.
Hampton Roads
Technology Incubator
Applied Research Center
National Institute of Dental
and Craniofacial Research
Center for Innovative Technology
Click on the video above to hear more
about patient motivation for treatment
Visual Programs, Inc.
Jack Singer
(804) 399-2552
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Hand Probing at the Same Sties
Expected Product Line
• Base Model is Walking Probe
– Smartly packaged version of current system
• Mid-Range Model is Scanning Probe
– Magnetic tracking allows continuous mapping
• High-End Model is Imaging Probe
– B-mode imager for perio offices & researchers
• Many Follow-on Probes
– Crack Finder, Root Assessor, Implant Checker
– Interchangeable handpieces for perio probes