Detection of hard and soft tissue mass/density

Abstract

An apparatus for measuring hard and/or soft tissue abnormalities incidental to dental and/or systemic disease is provided. The apparatus includes a diagnostic device configured for transmitting and receiving non-ionizing electromagnetic waves to measure the patient's hard and/or soft tissue abnormalities associated with the underlying hard and/or soft tissue. The diagnostic device may include at least one of a stent and a diagnostic probe, connected to a computer. The diagnostic device is configured to transmit and receive the electromagnetic waves, and the computer is configured for measure the bone density and/or bone vascular perfusion adjacent and across the patient's hard and/or soft tissue. A method for measuring hard and/or soft tissue abnormalities incidental to dental and/or systemic disease is also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for measuring hard and/or soft tissue abnormalities incidental to dental and/or systemic disease, comprising:
 a diagnostic device configured for transmitting and receiving non-ionizing electromagnetic waves to measure the patient's hard and/or soft tissue abnormalities associated with the underlying hard and/or soft tissue, the diagnostic device comprising:
 a diagnostic probe configured to transmit and receive the electromagnetic waves; and 
 a spectrometer connected to the diagnostic probe, the spectrometer being configured for measuring the bone density and/or bone vascular perfusion adjacent and across the patient's hard and/or soft tissue. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic probe is an endoscopic probe. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic waves have a frequency of between about 100 GHz to about 430 THz. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the spectrometer produces three-dimensional images of the patient's hard and/or soft tissue for mapping surgical procedures. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the probe comprises a single, flat surface. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the probe comprises a plurality of surfaces configured to straddle the patient's hard and/or soft tissue. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the probe is configured for use in diagnosing the patient's soft tissue, the soft tissue being an internal body cavity soft tissue. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the spectrometer is configured to evaluate progression of tissue healing, secondary to osteonecrosis of the jaw. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic probe comprises:
 a first arm; and   a second arm opposite the first arm,   wherein the first arm extends along a lingual surface of the patient's hard and/or soft tissue, and the second arm extends along a buccal surface of the patient's hard and/or soft tissue.   
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for measuring hard and/or soft tissue abnormalities incidental to dental and/or systemic disease, comprising:
 a stent selected to overlay a patient's hard and/or soft tissue, wherein the stent comprises
 a plurality of detection ports positioned along the stent, the plurality of ports being selected for positioning adjacent differing density found in the hard and/or soft tissue of the patient, 
 wherein a pair of the plurality of detection ports comprise a buccal-side detection port and a lingual-side detection port opposite the buccal-side detection port; 
   a diagnostic probe configured to transmit and receive non-ionizing electromagnetic waves when positioned adjacent the pair of the plurality of detection ports to measure the patient's hard and/or soft tissue abnormalities associated with the underlying hard and/or soft tissue adjacent the plurality of detection ports; and   a spectrometer connected to the diagnostic probe, the spectrometer being configured for calculating the bone density and/or bone vascular perfusion adjacent and across each of the pair of the plurality of detection ports.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the spectrometer is configured to produce three-dimensional images of the patient's hard and/or soft tissue for mapping surgical procedures. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein at least a pair of the plurality of detection ports comprise:
 a buccal-side detection port; and   a lingual-side detection port opposite the buccal-side detection port,   wherein the pairs of detection ports are positioned along an edge of the stent.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the stent is customizable and sized to overlay each patient's hard and/or soft tissue. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the computer is configured to evaluate progression of tissue healing, secondary to at least one of osteoblastic activity, osteoporosis, osteonecrosis of the jaw, and anti-resorptive therapy drugs or bisphosphonate medicines used by patients having metastatic bone disease. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for measuring hard and/or soft tissue abnormalities incidental to dental and/or systemic disease, comprising:
 a stent selected to overlay a patient's hard and/or soft tissue, wherein the stent comprises a plurality of detection ports positioned along the stent, the plurality of ports being selected for positioning adjacent differing density found in the hard and/or soft tissue of the patient; and   a diagnostic device configured for transmitting and receiving non-ionizing electromagnetic waves to measure the patient's hard and/or soft tissue abnormalities associated with the underlying hard and/or soft tissue adjacent the plurality of detection ports, wherein
 the diagnostic device comprises a plurality of wires having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is connected to at least a portion of the plurality of ports and the second end is connected to a spectrometer at a second end, wherein
 the wires are configured for transmitting the electromagnetic waves and receiving data associated therewith, and 
 the spectrometer is configured for calculating, from the received data, the bone density and/or bone vascular perfusion adjacent and across each of the plurality of ports, 
 the spectrometer is configured to produce three-dimensional images of the patient's hard and/or soft tissue for mapping surgical procedures, and 
 at least a pair of the plurality of detection ports comprise a buccal-side detection port and a lingual-side detection port opposite the buccal-side detection port, the pairs of detection ports being positioned along an edge of the stent. 
 
   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the electromagnetic waves have a frequency of between about 100 GHz to about 430 THz. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the stent is customizable and sized to overlay each patient's hard and/or soft tissue. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the spectrometer is configured to evaluate progression of tissue healing, secondary to at least one of osteoblastic activity, osteoporosis, osteonecrosis of the jaw, and anti-resorptive therapy drugs or bisphosphonate medicines used by patients having metastatic bone disease. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the buccal-side detection ports is a mirror image of the lingual-side detection ports. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the electromagnetic waves are infrared or terahertz electromagnetic waves, and further wherein
 the buccal-side detection ports are configured to transmit the infrared or terahertz electromagnetic waves through the patient's bone, and   the lingual-side detection ports are configured to receive the infrared or terahertz electromagnetic waves.