Patent US2406382A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US2865250A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5423677A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5423677A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Periodontal probe tip and method for using
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1993-11-04
•
Granted: 1995-06-13
•
Expires: 2013-11-04
Abstract
Abstract A translucent periodontal probe tip (10) for measuring the depth of gingival pockets (30) for purposes of diagnosing the progression of periodontal disease. The periodontal probe tip (10) includes color-coded regions (24a, 24b, 24c), corresponding to different stages of periodontal disease, depending on the depth of the gingival pockets (30) of a subject patient. A plurality of numbered graduations (26) are placed among colored regions (24a, 24b, 24c) for purposes of more accurately determining the depth of gingival pockets (30). Periodontal probe tip (10) is capable of being illuminated from a light source (22) which carries light to probe tip (10), thus allowing a dentist to easily read colored regions (24a, 24b, 24c) and graduations (26) placed on the probe tip (10). A method for using probe tip (10) for diagnosing the progression of periodontal disease is also described.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven J. Brattesani
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 20:04
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C19/00; A61C19/04; A61C19/043
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A disposable tip for a periodontal probe, comprising: (a) a curved member, said curved member having an an attachment means for coupling to a source of light; (b) said curved member having a probing means joined to said attachment means for being illuminated by said source of light, said probing means being translucent in appearance, said attachment means being non-translucent in appearance, said probing means further including adjacent, color-coded regions; (c) said probing means further including indentations placed thereon, said indentations dividing said color code regions into measured increments; (d) said probing means further including a probing ball coupled thereto; (e) said illumination of said probing means resulting in said indentations and said color-coded regions being visible to a viewer's unaided eye.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
A disposable tip for a periodontal probe, comprising: (a) a curved member, said curved member having an an attachment means for coupling to a source of light; (b) said curved member having a probing means joined to said attachment means for being illuminated by said source of light, said probing means being translucent in appearance, said attachment means being non-translucent in appearance, said probing means further including adjacent, color-coded regions; (c) said probing means further including indentations placed thereon, said indentations dividing said color code regions into measured increments; (d) said probing means further including a probing ball coupled thereto; (e) said illumination of said probing means resulting in said indentations and said color-coded regions being visible to a viewer's unaided eye.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said color-coded regions are arranged in the following sequence: (a) a red region positioned closest to said attachment means; (b) a green region positioned closest to said probing ball; and (c) a yellow region positioned between said green and said red regions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 2, further comprising a supplemental region having both clear and colored increments, said supplemental region positioned adjacent to said red region and toward said attachment means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said graduations divide said probing means into 1 mm increments.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising coupling means for detachably coupling said attachment means to said source of light.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a light bar, said light bar positioned adjacent to said attachment means and said probing means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
170 words
A dental probe tip for diagnosing periodontal disease, comprising: (a) attachment means for coupling to a source of light; (b) probing means, joined to said attachment means, for being illuminated by said source of light and for determining the depth of a periodontal pocket, said probing means including a probing ball; (c) said probing means including color indicator means for being illuminated by said source of light and for providing a relative indication of degree of periodontal disease; (d) said color indicator means including a plurality of colored bands separated by translucent graduations into measured increments of predetermined length, said colored bands being arranged with a red band positioned closest to said attachment means, a green band positioned closest to said probing ball, and a yellow band positioned between said green region and said red region; and (e) a supplemental region having alternating clear and colored bands separated by translucent graduations into measured increments of length, said supplemental band positioned adjacent to said red region and toward said attachment means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
170 words
A dental probe tip for diagnosing periodontal disease, comprising: (a) attachment means for coupling to a source of light; (b) probing means, joined to said attachment means, for being illuminated by said source of light and for determining the depth of a periodontal pocket, said probing means including a probing ball; (c) said probing means including color indicator means for being illuminated by said source of light and for providing a relative indication of degree of periodontal disease; (d) said color indicator means including a plurality of colored bands separated by translucent graduations into measured increments of predetermined length, said colored bands being arranged with a red band positioned closest to said attachment means, a green band positioned closest to said probing ball, and a yellow band positioned between said green region and said red region; and (e) a supplemental region having alternating clear and colored bands separated by translucent graduations into measured increments of length, said supplemental band positioned adjacent to said red region and toward said attachment means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said graduations are spaced at 1 mm increments.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 7, further comprising coupling means for detachably coupling said attachment means to said light source.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 7, further comprising a light bar, said light bar positioned adjacent to said attachment means and said probing means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
168 words
A disposable tip for a periodontal probe, comprising: (a) a curved member, said curved member having an attachment means for coupling to a source of light; (b) said curved member having a probing means joined to said attachment means for being illuminated by said source of light, said probing means being translucent in appearance, said attachment means being non-translucent in appearance; (c) said probing means including adjacent red, yellow and green color-coded regions, said probing means further including graduations placed thereon, said graduations dividing said probing means into 1 mm increments; (d) said probing means including a probing ball coupled thereto; (e) said illumination of said probing means resulting in said graduations and said color-coded regions being visible to a viewer's unaided eye; (f) coupling means for detachably coupling said attachment means to said source of light, said source of light for passing light to said translucent probing means; and (g) a light bar, said light bar positioned substantially adjacent to said attachment means and said probing means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
168 words
A disposable tip for a periodontal probe, comprising: (a) a curved member, said curved member having an attachment means for coupling to a source of light; (b) said curved member having a probing means joined to said attachment means for being illuminated by said source of light, said probing means being translucent in appearance, said attachment means being non-translucent in appearance; (c) said probing means including adjacent red, yellow and green color-coded regions, said probing means further including graduations placed thereon, said graduations dividing said probing means into 1 mm increments; (d) said probing means including a probing ball coupled thereto; (e) said illumination of said probing means resulting in said graduations and said color-coded regions being visible to a viewer's unaided eye; (f) coupling means for detachably coupling said attachment means to said source of light, said source of light for passing light to said translucent probing means; and (g) a light bar, said light bar positioned substantially adjacent to said attachment means and said probing means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said color-coded regions are arranged in the following sequence: (a) said red region positioned closest to said attachment means; (b) said green region positioned closest to said probing ball; and (c) said yellow region positioned between said green and said red regions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 12, further including a supplemental region having both clear and colored increments, said supplemental region positioned adjacent to said red region and toward said attachment means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3935640A
Cited
US4203223A
Cited
WO1984003143A1
Cited
US4501555A
Cited
US4790751A
Cited
US4768952A
Cited
US4886454A
Cited
US5022856A
Cited
US5178537A
Cited
US4995403A
Cited
US5044951A
Cited
US5112226A
Cited
US5096420A
Cited
US5271734A
Cited
US5244386A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-06-12 | 1998-12-12 | 1999-06-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-06-12 | 2002-12-12 | 2003-06-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-06-12 | 2006-12-12 | 2007-06-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |