Method and apparatus using infrared photothermal radiometry (PTR) and modulated laser luminescence (LUM) for diagnostics of defects in teeth

摘要

The present application relates to an apparatus for imaging dental tissue using modulated photothermal radiometry and luminescence for inspection of dental tissues (120) of a patient, comprising at least one modulated laser light source (90, 92) for irradiating a portion of a surface of a dental tissue with a beam of light of an effective wavelength wherein modulated photothermal radiometric signals and modulated luminescence signals are responsively emitted from said portion of the dental surface. Further, the apparatus comprises an imaging detection means positioned with respect to said dental tissue for detecting images of said emitted modulated photothermal signals and said modulated luminescence signals, said imaging detection means (170) including a combined near infrared camera for detecting images of emitted modulated luminescence signals and a mid infrared camera for detecting images of said emitted modulated photothermal signals. In addition, the apparatus has demodulating means (106) for demodulating said images of emitted modulated photothermal signals into images of photothermal phase and amplitude components and said images of modulated luminescence signals into images of luminescence phase and amplitude signals. Moreover, the apparatus comprises processing means for comparing said images of photothermal phase and amplitude signals to images of photothermal phase and amplitude signals of a reference sample and comparing said images of luminescence phase and amplitude signals to images of luminescence phase and amplitude signals of a reference sample to obtain differences, if any, between said portion of said dental tissue and said reference sample and correlating said differences with defects in said dental tissue. The apparatus has also an image display for displaying said images.