title: Detection of pulse in oral mucosa and dental pulp by means of optical reflection method.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oikarinen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kopola
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mäkiniemi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Herrala
mesh_terms: 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