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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2022.03.31.486608

Full-mouth photoacoustic/ultrasound imaging of the periodontal pocket with a compact intraoral transducer

Fu, L.·Khazaeinezhad, R.·Hariri, A.·Qi, B.·Chen, C.·Jokerst, J. V.
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Abstract

Periodontitis is a public issue and imaging periodontal pocket is important to evaluate periodontitis. Regular linear transducers have limitations in imaging the posterior teeth due to their geometry restrictions. Here we characterized a transducer that can image the entire human mouth including assessment of periodontal pockets via a combination of photoacoustic and ultrasound imaging. Unlike conventional transducer design, this device has a toothbrush-shaped form factor with a side-view transducer to image molars (total size: 1 x 1.9 cm). A laser diode was integrated as the light source to reduce the cost and size and facilitates clinical transition. The in vivo imaging of a molar of a periodontal patient demonstrated that the transducer could image in the posterior area of gum in vivo; the value determined by imaging was within 7% of the value measured clinically.

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Fu, L., Khazaeinezhad, R., Hariri, A., Qi, B., Chen, C., Jokerst, J. V.. 2022-04-01. Full-mouth photoacoustic/ultrasound imaging of the periodontal pocket with a compact intraoral transducer. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.03.31.486608

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