Jet Injector Use In Oral Evaluation

Abstract

A tooth treatment device includes a detector that detects a marker of oral health and a fluid ejector that ejects fluid against teeth in response to the detected marker. The device can include a housing configured to be held on hand, the fluid ejector being positioned at an end of the housing. The fluid may include a liquid, a medicant, a cleansing solution, cleaning particles, or any combination thereof. The medicant can include any combination of a chelating agent, fluoride, a fluorescent dye, a bacterial specific probe, and a biochemical specific biomarker. Further, the device can include a servo controller controlling pressure of ejected fluid in response to the detected marker and a sensed surface condition, latter including for example, a mechanical property of tissue. The device may include a pressure sensor that senses pressure of the fluid in the ejector. Also included may be a distance sensor that senses distance of the ejector from a tissue surface. The surface condition may be sensed using the sensed pressure, sensed distance, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the fluid ejector comprises a stationary magnet assembly providing a magnetic field and a coil assembly, slidably disposed with respect to the magnet assembly, the coil assembly driving ejection of the fluid jet. A method of tooth treatment includes detecting a marker of oral health and controlling ejection of a fluid jet against the tooth responsive to the detected marker. In some embodiments, detecting the marker includes detecting plaque and the ejection is controlled to clean the plaque. Detecting the marker can include collecting a sample from an oral cavity.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 286,632, filed on Dec. 15, 2009, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 286,651, filed on Dec. 15, 2009. The entire teachings of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]In the oral cavity, indigenous bacteria are often associated with two major oral diseases; caries and periodontitis [H. Marcotte and M. C. Lavoie, Oral microbial ecology and the role of salivary immunoglobulin A, Micro Mol Bio 62 (1998) 71-109]. The diverse structures within the mouth (i.e. the tooth surface, subgingival space, and tongue) support several different microbial communities. The supragingival environment of the oral cavity is regulated by saliva, a complex mixture of water, electrolytes (e.g. sodium, potassium, calcium, chloride, magnesium, bicarbonate, phosphate), enzymes (e.g. lysozyme, lactoferrin, peroxidase), proteins (e.g. sIgA, glycoproteins etc...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

If not removed, plaque can lead to caries or periodontal disease.

Calculus, a form of hardened plaque, forms along the gum line and within the sulcus leading to inflammation that can eventually lead to deep pockets between the teeth and gum and loss of bone that holds the tooth in place.

While there are commercially available water jet devices, they are limited for the most part to the removal of debris.

The pumps used in these units are often noisy, which can contribute to patient discomfort.

Seating or mating the tip with the water jet is sometimes problematic leading to leakage and ineffective or less than optimal irrigation.

While some devices have adjustable controls, many do not provide good control.

Many devices are not user friendly and not suitable for day to day use by consumers.

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