Patents by Inventor Nigel Berry Pitts
Nigel Berry Pitts has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 8961179Abstract: An apparatus and method for mineralising demineralised and hypo-mineralised biological material such as tooth or bone. The apparatus has a probe electrode for receiving a mineralisation agent and a counter electrode. It is also provided with a controller to control the electrical signal provided to the probe such that the extent of mineralisation of the biological material is controlled by modulating or changing the electrical signal provided by the probe based upon the measured output of the circuit formed from the probe, counter electrode and biological material. The electrical output provides a measure of the extent of mineralisation of the biological material which is compared with data from a reference technique which gives 3D structural information on an area of interest in the biological material.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2009Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignees: The University of Dundee, The University of Abertay, Dundee, The University Court of the University of St. AndrewsInventors: Christopher Longbottom, Joseph Crayston, Nigel Berry Pitts, Dmitri Grinev, Iain Young
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Patent number: 8359179Abstract: The present invention relates to an equipment, device (10; 110) and apparatus for applying electrical stimuli to a system and acquiring a system response. According to the present invention there is provided a test equipment such as a portable test device (10; 110) for testing a system, the equipment comprising: signal generation means, signal receiving means, and signal processing means, wherein, in use, the signal generation means generates a signal to be applied to a system to be tested and the signal receiving means receives a response signal of the system, and the generated and response signals undergo processing by the signal processing means so as to provide a measure of a characteristic of the system, wherein further the generated signal comprises a plurality of periodic signals each of different frequency and phase and which are applied to the system simultaneously. The equipment finds particular use in the field of dentistry, but also finds other uses, e.g.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2003Date of Patent: January 22, 2013Assignee: 3D Diagnostic Imaging PLCInventors: Peter George Bruce, Alasdair McCall Christie, Christopher Longbottom, Nigel Berry Pitts
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Publication number: 20120085647Abstract: An apparatus and method for mineralising demineralised and hypo-mineralised biological material such as tooth or bone. The apparatus has a probe electrode for receiving a mineralisation agent and a counter electrode. It is also provided with a controller to control the electrical signal provided to the probe such that the extent of mineralisation of the biological material is controlled by modulating or changing the electrical signal provided by the probe based upon the measured output of the circuit formed from the probe, counter electrode and biological material. The electrical output provides a measure of the extent of mineralisation of the biological material which is compared with data from a reference technique which gives 3D structural information on an area of interest in the biological material.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2009Publication date: April 12, 2012Applicants: The University of Dundee, The University Court of the University of St. Andrews, The University of Abertay DundeeInventors: Christopher Longbottom, Joseph Crayston, Nigel Berry Pitts, Dmitri Grinev, Iain Young
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Publication number: 20080280248Abstract: There is described an electrode assembly for passing electrical current through at least part of a tooth, the assembly comprising: an electrode holder; and a plurality of resilient projecting elements coupled to the holder, each element comprising one or more electrodes, the assembly being arranged in use such that when the assembly is positioned adjacent a tooth, the electrodes contact respective parts of at least one surface of the tooth. The assembly is preferably for use in A.C. impedance spectroscopy for caries detection and monitoring.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2005Publication date: November 13, 2008Applicant: IDMOS PLCInventors: Nigel Berry Pitts, Christopher Longbottom, Przemyslaw Los
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Publication number: 20080097712Abstract: The present invention relates to an equipment, device (10; 110) and apparatus for applying electrical stimuli to a system and acquiring a system response. According to the present invention there is provided a test equipment such as a portable test device (10; 110) for testing a system, the equipment comprising: signal generation means, signal receiving means, and signal processing means, wherein, in use, the signal generation means generates a signal to be applied to a system to be tested and the signal receiving means receives a response signal of the system, and the generated and response signals undergo processing by the signal processing means so as to provide a measure of a characteristic of the system, wherein further the generated signal comprises a plurality of periodic signals each of different frequency and phase and which are applied to the system simultaneously. The equipment finds particular use in the field of dentistry, but also finds other uses, e.g.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2003Publication date: April 24, 2008Inventors: Peter George Bruce, Alasdair McCall Christie, Stephen Ferrier, Christopher Longbottom, Nigel Berry Pitts
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Publication number: 20080032255Abstract: There is described a method o monitoring the structure of a tooth comprising:—placing an electrode carrier, having at least three electrodes, adjacent the tooth such that the electrodes contact at least one of the occlusal, approximal or free smooth surfaces of the tooth; selecting pairs of the carrier electrodes, one electrode of each selected pair to act as a contact electrode, and the other as a counter electrode; for each selected pair of electrodes, passing an alternating electrical current between the electrodes so as to form a circuit from the electrodes and a respective part of the tooth at least between the electrodes, and monitoring the electrical response for the circuit; and processing the monitored response for each pair of electrodes so as to determine structural information relating to the respective parts of the tooth. Apparatus for carrying out the method is described. The method is preferably an impedance spectroscopy technique, for caries detection and monitoring.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2005Publication date: February 7, 2008Applicant: IDMOSInventors: Nigel Berry Pitts, Christopher Longbottom, Przemyslaw Los, Marcin Just
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Patent number: 6230050Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for the detection of dental caries. The method comprises the steps of placing at least one probe electrode in electrical contact with a surface of a patient's tooth, placing a second electrode in electrical contact with another part of the body of the patient, passing an alternating electrical current between said probe and second electrodes, and measuring the electrical impedance between the electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 1999Date of Patent: May 8, 2001Assignee: The University Court of the University of DundeeInventors: Nigel Berry Pitts, Christopher Longbottom, Przemyslaw Los
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Patent number: D539479Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2005Date of Patent: March 27, 2007Assignee: IDMOS PLCInventors: Nigel Berry Pitts, Christopher Longbottom
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Patent number: D540946Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2005Date of Patent: April 17, 2007Assignee: IDMOS PLCInventors: Nigel Berry Pitts, Christopher Longbottom
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Patent number: D551765Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2005Date of Patent: September 25, 2007Assignee: IDMOS PLCInventors: Nigel Berry Pitts, Christopher Longbottom, Przemyslaw Los
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Patent number: D574081Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2005Date of Patent: July 29, 2008Assignee: Idmos PLCInventors: Nigel Berry Pitts, Christopher Longbottom, Przemyslaw Los