Ultrasound Technology

[dr.amr]

Ultrasound Technology

Scientists at the University of Alberta have developed an ultrasound technology that helps in teeth reformation. It was the first of its kind in dealing with the regrowth of human dental tissue. People who suffer from dental root resorption caused by mechanical, chemical or hormonal means could be treated successfully with the new low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) technology – say researchers. " " Using low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS), Dr. Tarak El-Bialy from the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry and Dr. Jie Chen and Dr. Ying Tsui from the Faculty of Engineering have created a miniaturized system-on-a-chip that offers a non-invasive and novel way to stimulate jaw growth and dental tissue healing. ‘It's very exciting because we have shown the results and actually have something you can touch and feel that will impact the health of people in Canada and throughout the world,’ said Chen, who works out of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the National Institute for Nanotechnology. The wireless design of the ultrasound transducer means the miniscule device will be able to fit comfortably inside a patient's mouth while packed in biocompatible materials. The unit will be easily mounted on an orthodontic or ‘braces’ bracket or even a plastic removable crown. The team also designed an energy sensor that will ensure the LIPUS power is reaching the target area of the teeth roots within the bone. TEC Edmonton, the U of A's exclusive tech transfer service provider, filed the first patent recently in the U.S. Currently, the research team is finishing the system-on-a-chip and hopes to complete the miniaturized device by next year.