Kim, Byung Ock (Samik Ceranic, Hak-dong Dong-gu, Gwangju 501-190, 2-1506, KR)
Kim, Byung Ock (Samik Ceranic, Hak-dong Dong-gu, Gwangju 501-190, 2-1506, KR)
| 1. | A device for measuring a depth of a gingival sulcus, comprising: a body unit; a fixed plate having one end fixed in the body unit and the other end exposed to the outside of the body unit; a movable plate having an end pivotably coupled to the fixed plate and the other end which is movable; a pin unit having a depth indication unit capable of indicating a depth inserted into a gingival sulcus while a part there of is inserted into the gingival sulcus, the pin unit being coupled to an edge of the other end of the movable plate; an elastic member for making the movable plate be elastically biased with respect to the fixed plate, so that the movable plate is pivoted with respect to the fixed plate by an amount corresponding to a pressure transferred from a distal end of the pin unit; and a penetration hole formed at an end of the fixed plate so that the pin unit passes therethrough. |
| 2. | The device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member comprises: a support member installed in the body unit and provided with a guide hole; a connection bar extending in the direction of length of the body unit and having one end disposed in the guide hole of the support member and the other end coupled to the movable plate at a different position from a pivot point of the movable plate; and a spring provided to the one end for supplying an elastic force to the connection bar. |
| 3. | The device according to claim 1, further comprising a fixing member for fixing movement of the movable plate, wherein the fixing member includes a first part projected outward from the body unit and a second part extending downward from the first part in the body unit and having a penetration hole so that the connection bar passes therethrough, and wherein a fixing pin is installed in the body unit under the connection bar so that the connection bar and the fixing pin are pressed to each other when an external force is supplied to the first part. |
| 4. | The device according to claim 1, wherein the pin unit further includes a pressure indication unit for indicating a pressure transferred from its distal end. |
DEVICE FOR MEASURING DEPTH OF GINGIVAL SULCUS
Technical Field
[1] The present invention relates to a device for measuring a depth of a gingival sulcus, and more particularly to a device for measuring a depth of a gingival sulcus, which allows a user to measure a depth of a gingival sulcus while maintaining a pushing force thereof at a constant level. Background Art
[2] Korean Utility Model Publication No. 93-0004428 and 89-7001068 disclosed a probe for measuring a depth in relation with measurement of a depth of a gingival sulcus that is a space between a tooth and a gingiva.
[3] However, the prior art probes for measuring a depth of a gingival sulcus have a dis¬ advantage in that it is difficult to measure precisely a depth of a gingival sulcus because an insertion depth of the probe varies depending on a pushing force which is applied by a user. That is, if different pressures are applied to the probe by users, insertion depths of the probe vary. Accordingly, it is difficult to identify precisely the diseases of a tooth and a gingiva.
[4] Further, in using the prior art probe, a user is needed to identify an inserted depth of the probe with eyes in a state in which the probe is inserted into the mouth of a patient. Accordingly, there are another disadvantages including inconvenience in measurement and occurrence of measurement errors. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem
[5] To solve the above problems, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a device for measuring a depth of a gingival sulcus while maintaining a force applied to a probe by a user at a constant level by allowing the user to identify a pressure applied to the probe.
[6] It is another object of the present invention to provide a device for measuring a depth of a gingival sulcus, which allows a user to identify a depth of a gingival sulcus from the outside of a mouth. Technical Solution
[7] To accomplish the above object of the present invention, there is provided a device for measuring a depth of a gingival sulcus, including a body unit, a fixed plate having one end fixed in the body unit and the other end exposed to the outside of the body unit, a movable plate having an end pivotably coupled to the fixed plate and the other end which is movable, a pin unit having a depth indication unit capable of indicating a
depth inserted into a gingival sulcus while a part thereof is inserted into the gingival sulcus and coupled to an edge of the other end of the movable plate, and an elastic member for making the movable plate be elastically biased with respect to the fixed plate, so that the movable plate is pivoted with respect to the fixed plate by an amount corresponding to a pressure transferred from a distal end of the pin unit.
[8] The elastic member may comprise a support member installed in the body unit and provided with a guide hole, a connection bar extending in the direction of length of the body unit and having one end disposed in the guide hole of the support member and the other end coupled to the movable plate at a different position from a pivot point of the movable plate, and a spring provided to the one end for supplying an elastic force to the connection bar.
[9] In addition, the measuring device may further comprise a fixing member for fixing movement of the movable plate, wherein the fixing member includes a first part projected outward from the body unit and a second part extending downward from the first part in the body unit and having a penetration hole so that the connection bar passes therethrough, and wherein a fixing pin is installed in the body unit under the connection bar so that the connection bar and the fixing pin are pressed to each other when an external force is supplied to the first part.
[10] The pin unit further includes a pressure indication unit for indicating a pressure transferred from its distal end. Brief Description of the Drawings
[11] FlG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a device measuring a depth of a gingival sulcus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
[12] FlG. 2 is a view illustrating the operation state of an elastic member of the device for measuring a depth of a gingival sulcus, shown in FlG. 1 ;
[13] FlG. 3 is a view illustrating the operation state of a fixing member of the device for measuring a depth of a gingival sulcus, shown in FlG. 1 ;
[14] FlG. 4 is a view illustrating the state in which the device shown in FlG 1 is used; and
[15] FlG. 5 is a view illustrating a pin coupling means of a device for measuring a depth of a gingival sulcus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
[16] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a device for measuring a depth of a gingival sulcus of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.
[17] FlGs. 1 to 4 illustrate a device for measuring a depth of a gingival sulcus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
[18] Referring to FlG. 1 to FlG. 4, the device 10 for measuring a depth of a gingival sulcus includes a body unit 12, a fixed plate 20, a movable plate 40, a pin unit 60 and an elastic member.
[19] The body unit 12 extends lengthwise so that a user can hold it with a hand. The body unit 121 has one end closed and the other end opened where the ends are disposed in the direction of length thereof.
[20] The body unit 12 has a slot formed lengthwise at its lower part and a hole 14 on its upper part. The hole 14 is coupled with a fixing member 55, which will be explained later.
[21] The fixed plate 20 is fixed to a side of the body unit 12 at the opened end portion of the body unit 12 by a plurality of screws 15 and 17 at its one end but is exposed to the outside of the body unit 12 at it s the other end.
[22] The fixed plate 20 has a recess 24 to receive a pivot connection 42 with the movable plate 40. The other end of the fixed plate 20 has a penetration hole 22 so that the pin unit 60 which will be described below passes through the penetration hole 22.
[23] One end of the movable plate 40 has the pivot connection 42 by which the movable plate 40 is coupled to the fixed plate 20. The pivot connection 42 is pivotably coupled to the fixed plate 20 by a coupling pin 26 while the pivot connection 42 is received in the recesses 24 of the fixed plate 20.
[24] The other end of the movable plate 40 is pivoted on the pivot connection 42.
[25] The other end of the movable plate 40 is fittingly coupled to the pin unit 60 such that the pin unit 60 is press-fit into an insertion groove 43 formed at a movable end of the movable plate 40.
[26] The pin unit 60 is installed to the movable plate 40 such that the pin unit 60 is capable of moving through the penetration hole 22 of the fixed plate 20.
[27] The pin unit 60 has a depth indication unit 64 for indicating a depth of a probe inserted into a gingival sulcus at a lower part thereof. Further, the pin unit 60 has a pressure indication unit 62 for indicating a pressure transferred from its lower end at an upper part thereof.
[28] Here, the depth indication unit 64 and the pressure indication unit 62 are configured such that graduations are engraved on the outer surface of the pin unit 60 along the direction of length so as to identify a depth and a pressure with eyes. The graduations of the depth indication unit 64 and the pressure indication unit 62 are configured such that they are sectioned in predetermined units by painting some of the graduations with a different color of paint or engraving some of the graduations with a different type of symbol by a laser processing method. Further, the graduations are marked with numbers corresponding to measured values.
[29] The lower end of the pin unit 60, having the depth indication unit 64, preferably has
a sharp tip so as to be easily inserted into a gingival sulcus.
[30] The pin unit 60 is preferably configured to be replaceable. To achieve the re¬ placeable structure, as illustrated in FlG. 5, a screw portion 71 is provided to the upper end of the pin unit 60 and a screw hole 48 is provided to the end of the movable plate 40 so that the pin unit 60 and the movable plate 40 can be screw-mated. In this case, since the pin unit 60 is easily replaceable, sanitation is ensured.
[31] The elastic member is an element controlling an angle of rotation of the movable plate 40 in response to a pressure transferred from the pin unit 60 coupled to the end of the movable plate 40, and makes the movable plate 40 to be elastically biased with respect to the fixed plate 20.
[32] The elastic member includes a support member 16, a connection bar 46 and a spring
50.
[33] The support member 16 is installed to the closed end side of the body unit 20 and has a guide hole 18 extending in the direction of length of the body unit 12.
[34] The connection bar 46 extends in the direction of the body unit 12 and has an end disposed in the guide hole 18 of the support member 16. The other end of the connection bar 46 is coupled to a different position from a pivot point of the movable plate 40, that is, to an upper position away from the pivot point.
[35] The coupling position of the connection bar 46 and the movable plate 40 is determined such that the movable plate 40 can be pivot on the pivot point of the movable plate 40 and the fixed plate 20 according to the advancement and retreat of the connection bar 46.
[36] In the example illustrated in figures, the other end 49 of the connection bar 46 is coupled to the movable plate 40 such that the other end 49 of the connection bar 46 is inserted into the insertion groove 44 formed at the connection bar coupling portion of the movable plate 40 and pivotably coupled by a pin 41.
[37] The spring 50 is combined with the connection bar 45 such that the one end of the connection bar 46 passes through the center of the spring 50 and the spring is restricted by a stopper 48 formed on the connection bar 46 while the spring 50 is inserted in the guide hole 18 of the support member 16.
[38] The spring 50 applies an elastic force to the connection bar 46 so that the movable plate 40 and the fixed plate 20 are in contact with each other in straight when a pressure is not applied to the spring 50 from the pin unit 60.
[39] Detailed operation of the elastic member will be described below with reference to
FIG. 2.
[40] In a state in which the depth measurement device 10 for a gingival sulcus is not used, a force is not applied to the pin unit 60. Accordingly, the movable plate 40 is supported by the connection bar 46, whose retreat is restricted by the spring 50, so that
the movable plate 40 can be in contact with the fixed plate 20 (see the dashed line in FIG. 2).
[41] In this state, if the pin unit 60 is inserted into a gingival sulcus of a patient and pressurized, the movable plate 40 overcomes the elastic force of the spring 50 and is pivoted counter-clockwise (see the solid line in FIG. 2). In such instance, a rotation amount L, i.e. an angle D of rotation of the movable plate 40 corresponds to a pressure applied to the pin unit 60 and the pressure can be detected with eyes using the pressure indication unit 62. In the example illustrated, in order to avoid that figures become complicated, the pressure of the pin unit 60 is exaggeratedly illustrated, that is, the pressure is surpassed the normal range and thus, the movement of the movable plate 40 is exaggerated. In practice, the pressure applied to the pin unit 60 is controlled by checking whether the pressure indication unit 62 of the pin unit 60 reaches an ap¬ propriate graduation location with respect to the fixed plate 20.
[42] Further, in this procedure, as the depth indication unit 64 of the pin unit 60 is inserted into the gingival sulcus, the depth of the gingival sulcus is indicated by the graduations of the depth indication unit 64. Accordingly, a user can precisely detect the depth of the gingival sulcus while adjustably controlling the insertion pressure of the depth indication unit 64 of the pin unit 60.
[43] Hereinafter, the operation of the fixing member 55 capable of fixing the movement of the movable plate 40 will be described.
[44] The fixing member 55 is used to allow a user to more precisely check the pressure indication unit 62 and the depth indication unit 64 of the pin unit 60 outside of a mouth of a patient by maintaining a state in which the movable plate 41 is pivoted at a pre¬ determined angle from the fixed plate 20 by inserting the pin unit 60 into the gingival sulcus of the patient.
[45] The fixing member 55 is arranged in the vertical direction through the hole 14 of the body unit 12. The fixing member 55 includes a first part 55a projected upward from the upper surface of the body unit 12 for allowing a user to push itself and a second part 55b received in the body unit 12. The second part 55b has a penetration hole 56 and the connection bar 46 passes through the penetration hole 56. On the other hand, a fixing pin 57 is provided in the body part 12 to be close to a lower part of the connection bar 46. Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 3, in the state in which the pin unit 60 is inserted into the gingival sulcus of a patient and the movable plate 40 is pivoted to a predetermined degree, if the first part 55a of the fixing member 55 is pushed by a user with a hand, the connection bar 46 associated with the second part 55b such that the connection bar 46 passes through the penetration hole 56 moves downward, so that the fixing pin 57 is pressed. In this state, since a recovery force applied by the spring 50 is intercepted, the connection bar 46 and the movable plate 40
maintains their moved and rotated states. Accordingly, a user to measure pulls the pin unit 60 out of the mouth of the patient while the user is pushing the fixing member 55 and checks the insertion pressure and the insertion depth of the pin unit 60, and then releases the fixing member 55, so that the movable plate 40 rotates counter clockwise to a position where the movable plate 40 comes into contact with the fixed plate 20 due to the recovery force of the spring.
[46] FlG. 4 illustrates the state in which the depth measurement device for a gingival sulcus shown in FlG. 1 is used. Referring to FlG. 4, while a patient is opening his/her mouth, the depth measurement device 10 for a gingival sulcus is inserted into a gingival sulcus of an object tooth 70 and the depth of the gingival sulcus of the object tooth is measured according to the method described above.
[47] In using the depth measurement device 10 for a gingival sulcus, since a force that a user pushes the body unit 12 acts as a pressure applied to the tip of the pin unit 60 and the distance between the movable plate 40 and the fixed plate 20 varies depending on the pressure, the user can detect the depth of the gingival sulcus between a tooth and a gingiva while checking the pressure of the tip of the pin unit 60 with eyes.
[48] Statements and descriptions in this specification and drawings are provided ex- emplarily to explain the preferred embodiment of the present invention, so that it can not be construed that the scope of the present invention is limited thereto. For example, in the statements and descriptions, the measurement device 10 is applied to a depth of a gingival sulcus, but also can be applied to a different position such as a depth of a cavity of a tooth after drilling a tooth for implanting. Further, if the tip of the pin unit 60 in the measurement device 10 of this invention is modified to be harder and have a more acute angle, the device 10 can be used as a device to measure a depth of a soft tissue of a tooth. Industrial Applicability
[49] According to the present invention, since the depth of the gingival sulcus is measured while the pressure corresponding to the pushing force of the measurement device is controlled, accuracy and reliability of measurement is improved. In addition, since the applied pressure and the measured depth can be checked even on the outside of a mouth of a patient, the measured depth is easily identified by a user and a measurement error is reduced.
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