IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,324,568
Granted Patent B2
US 12,324,568 · App. 17/240,560 · Granted Jun 10, 2025

Mouthwash to deliver dyes for dental imaging

Inventors: Jian Xu (Baton Rouge, LA); Shaomian Yao (Baton Rouge, LA); Zhongqiang Li (Baton Rouge, LA)
Assignee: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY AND AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE
A61B1/24A61B1/0005A61B1/043A61B1/0638A61K49/0034
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,324,568
App. No.
17/240,560
Granted
Jun 10, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A mouthwash for fluorescence endoscopic dental imaging includes at least one fluorescent dye and a liquid base. A method for fluorescent endoscopic dental imaging includes orally administering a mouthwash to a subject; waiting a predetermined period of time; removing excess mouthwash from the subject; illuminating the subject with visible or near-infrared light; and capturing fluorescent light from the subject to create an image.

Claims (23)

1. A method for identifying a crack or a caries lesion in a tooth by fluorescent endoscopic dental imaging, the method comprising:

orally administering to a subject a mouthwash comprising indocyanine green (ICG) at concentration of 50 μM-1.3 mM and a liquid base;

waiting a predetermined period of time;

removing excess mouthwash from the subject;

illuminating the subject with visible or near-infrared light;

capturing fluorescent light from the subject to create an image;

analyzing the fluorescent light to create a spectroscopic signal displaying the image and

detecting the presence or absence of the crack or the caries lesion in the tooth.

2. The method for fluorescent endoscopic dental imaging according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid base comprises water, or medical normal saline solution made from sodium chloride.

3. The method for fluorescent endoscopic dental imaging according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid base comprises at least one of ethanol, menthol, sorbitol, glycerin, and xylitol.

4. The method for fluorescent endoscopic dental imaging according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined period of time is 1-2 minutes.

5. The method for fluorescent endoscopic dental imaging according to claim 1 , wherein administering the mouthwash further comprises instructing the subject not to ingest the mouthwash.

6. The method for fluorescent endoscopic dental imaging according to claim 1 , wherein the method does not include administering a contrast agent subcutaneously or intravenously.

7. The method for fluorescent endoscopic dental imaging according to claim 1 , wherein the amount of mouthwash is 8-400 ml for a human subject to reach an effective dosage of dye of 0.1-5 mg/kg ICG, and wherein the method comprises illuminating the subject with near-infrared light.

8. The method for fluorescent endoscopic dental imaging according to claim 1 , wherein the image comprises a two-dimensional near-infrared dental image of the subject.

9. The method for fluorescent endoscopic dental imaging according to claim 1 , further comprising displaying spectroscopic data corresponding to the spectroscopic signal.

10. The method for fluorescent endoscopic dental imaging according to claim 1 , wherein the method does not use ionizing-radiation materials.

11. The method for fluorescent endoscopic dental imaging according to claim 1 , further comprising analyzing the fluorescent light to identify one of the crack or the caries lesion in the tooth of the subject.

12. The method for fluorescent endoscopic dental imaging according to claim 1 , comprising illuminating the subject with near-infrared light.

13. The method for fluorescent endoscopic dental imaging according to claim 1 , wherein the imaging is done in a first near-infrared (NIR) window (700-950 nm), a second NIR window (1000-1700 nm), or a combination thereof.

14. The method for fluorescent endoscopic dental imaging according to claim 13 , wherein the imaging is done in the first near-infrared (NIR) window (700-950 nm).

15. The method for fluorescent endoscopic dental imaging according to claim 13 , wherein the imaging is done in the second NIR window (1000-1700 nm).

16. The method for fluorescent endoscopic dental imaging according to claim 1 , further comprising analyzing the fluorescent light to identify an enamel crack in the tooth of the subject.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 19, 2022
From: XU, JIAN; YAO, SHAOMIAN; LI, ZHONGQIANG
To: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY AND AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE
Reel/Frame 059959/0463 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63016202 · Apr 27, 2020
Related Publication 20210345870A1 · Nov 11, 2021
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