Detection of pulse in oral mucosa and dental pulp by means of optical reflection method.
This paper describes a new system in which optical reflectance is used to test the pulse and vitality of oral mucosa or dental pulp. Radiation at red (660 nm) and near infra-red (850 nm) wavelengths are directed through a thin probe. The beam is directed into tissue and reflected back. Plethysmography is used to measure the pulse rate from the right forefinger. Reflected radiation is related to plethysmogram using a computer. Preliminary findings relating to the lips and gingiva in 9 healthy volunteers were promising. Preliminary tests showed that vital and nonvital pulps reflected the radiation differently. Pulpal pulse did not always correspond to plethysmogram from the right forefinger.
Oikarinen
K
K
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Oulu, Finland.
Kopola
H
H
Mäkiniemi
M
M
Herrala
E
E
D000328:Adult; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000098:blood supply*; D003791:Dental Pulp Test / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000098:blood supply*; D010092:Oximetry / Q000379:methods; D011674:Pulse; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared