Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Respiratory
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-19
2001-07-24
Nasser, Robert L. (Department: 3736)
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Respiratory
C600S345000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06264615
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The subject invention generally relates to the field of detecting halitosis or bad breath and, more particularly, to an improved method for measuring the concentration of sulfides within the mouth of a subject to determine the presence and extent of halitosis activity.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Halitosis, commonly known as bad breath, is a common concern for many people. The most common source of halitosis is thought to be the tongue. Gram negative, anaerobic bacteria are prone to proliferate in the papilla structure at the posterior or rear of the tongue. The papilla form a multitude of niches or irregularities which are favored breeding grounds for the anaerobic bacteria as they simulate non-oxygenated micro environments. The anaerobic bacteria break down specific components such as amino acids found in the saliva generating or producing sulfur containing metabolic by-products. These sulfur containing by-products are volatile and have been implicated as the major cause of odor and/or halitosis. It is interesting to note that these same bacteria which are associated with the causation of halitosis are often the same bacteria considered as the etiological agent for periodontal disease.
The detection and diagnosis of halitosis has traditionally involved self-monitoring which is typically accomplished by breathing into one's own hand and then sniffing the trapped contents or a person suspecting that they have halitosis can utilize another person to sample their breath and render a subjective diagnosis.
Devices or monitors for the detection of halitosis are known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 4,823,803, to Nakamura, issued Apr. 25, 1989, discloses a device for testing human exhalation for halitosis. Other prior art devices are known for analyzing a subject's breath for volatile sulfur emissions.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,161, hereby incorporated by reference, assigned to the same assignee as the subject invention, discloses a method and apparatus for electro-chemically detecting and quantifying sulfide levels in gingival sulci to determine the presence and extent of gingivitis and periodontal disease in a subject. The method disclosed therein employs a probe which is inserted into the sulcus and which includes a miniature sulfide measuring electrode and a reference electrode. U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,312 also assigned to the same assignee as the subject invention, discloses a probe for diagnosing periodontal disease by the concentration of sulfides present which includes a sulfide responsive measuring electrode and a reference electrode joined by a salt bridge to assure electrical continuity between the sulfide responsive electrode and the reference electrode.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous and desirable to have a method for diagnosing the presence and extent of halitosis activity on the surface of a subject's tongue by measuring the concentration of sulfides thereon.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There is disclosed a method for diagnosing the presence and extent of halitosis activity in a subject by measuring the concentration of sulfides present on the surface of the subject's tongue. The method includes the step of assaying fluid disposed on the surface of the tongue for the concentration of sulfides therein.
There is also disclosed a method for diagnosing the presence and extent of halitosis activity in the mouth of a subject by measuring the concentration of sulfides present on the surface of the subject's tongue including the steps of providing a sulfide responsive probe. A preferred probe includes a housing having a tip configured to probe the surface of the tongue, a measuring electrode and a reference electrode operative to establish an electrical potential therebetween when the tip is contacted with a sulfide containing fluid wherein the electrical potential generated is proportional to the concentration of sulfides in the fluid.
There is also disclosed a method for diagnosing the presence and extent of halitosis activity on the surface of a subject's tongue by measuring the concentration of sulfides thereon including the steps of providing a dual electrode probe having a sulfide-responsive measuring electrode and a reference electrode, providing a voltage indicator for generating a data readout reflective of the strength of the electrical potential between the sulfide-responsive measuring electrode and the reference electrode, and electrically connecting the sulfide-responsive measurement electrode and the reference electrode to the voltage indicator. The probe is then positioned in contact with the surface of the subject's tongue such that both electrodes are in contact with the surface of the tongue and the fluid disposed thereon wherein the fluid bridges the electrodes to cause a potential between the sulfide-responsive measurement electrode and the reference electrode, whereby the magnitude of the potential corresponds to the concentration of the sulfides in the fluid. The method further includes the steps of reading the data readout provided by the voltage indicator which is indicative of the concentration of sulfides on the surface of the tongue and comparing the data readout with a predetermined standard to determine the extent of halitosis.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3507269 (1970-04-01), Berry
patent: 4823803 (1989-04-01), Nakamura
patent: 4922921 (1990-05-01), Donoghue
patent: 5275161 (1994-01-01), Graves et al.
patent: 5628312 (1997-05-01), Musinski
patent: 5833955 (1998-11-01), Kleinberg et al.
Diamond Howard
Musinski Donald L.
Diamond General Development Corporation
Gifford, Krass, Groh Sprinkle, Anderson & Citkowski, P.C.
Nasser Robert L.
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