Oral data collecting device for diagnosis or prognosis
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10314537-B2
Publication Date
2019-06-11
Expiration Date
Abstract
An apparatus that monitors information associated with an oral cavity is provided, the apparatus comprising: a three-dimensional oral appliance; a data collection device having at least one sensor and/or hydrogel like material configured to sense the information associated with the oral cavity; an interface device cooperatively coupled to the data collection device, the interface device configured to transfer the information from the sensor device to a receiving device external to the oral cavity or the entire device is analyzed.
Core Innovation
The invention provides an oral appliance for collecting biological information about at least a portion of teeth and/or soft tissue areas inside an oral cavity. The oral appliance includes an interior surface formed to fit contours of the teeth and/or soft tissue areas and configured for holding a sensor in contact with the oral cavity portions, and the sensor is disposed in or on at least a portion of and/or all of the interior surface while extending longitudinally so it contacts the teeth and/or soft tissue areas.
The sensor transmits the biological information to a data collection device external to the oral appliance, and the apparatus monitors information associated with the oral cavity. The disclosed sensor contacts the teeth and/or soft tissue areas and measures biological information including O2 content, CO2 content, bacterial content, or saliva quantity/quality, and/or gingival/periodontal fluids and exudates or other bodily fluids or exudates.
The disclosed approach supports multiple configurations of the oral appliance and sensor placement, including custom-fit and monolithic or universal/monolithic devices and sensor arrangements such as sensor arrays, sensor webs, or discrete sensor positions that maintain contact with targeted regions. The platform includes longitudinal sensor arrangements coupled to materials such as polymer gels or hydrogels, absorbent media, and electroconductive polymer materials that include micro/nanoparticles, and can include wireless transfer to external devices with optional alerting and data storage.
Claims Coverage
The document includes two independent claims. Both independent claims focus on a longitudinally extending sensor carried by a three-dimensional oral appliance that conforms to teeth and/or soft tissue, collects oral-cavity biological information, and transfers it to an external device through an interface device.
Fitted three-dimensional interior surface holding a longitudinal sensor in contact
An oral appliance for collecting biological information about at least a portion of teeth and/or soft tissue areas inside an oral cavity, comprising an interior surface formed to fit contours of at least the portion of the teeth and/or soft tissue areas and configured for holding the sensor in contact with at least the portion of the teeth and/or soft tissue areas, wherein the sensor extends longitudinally in the oral appliance such that the sensor contacts the teeth and/or soft tissue areas.
External transmission of longitudinally sensed biological information
The sensor disposed in or on at least a portion of and/or all of the interior surface collects biological information about the oral cavity and transmits the biological information to a data collection device external to the oral appliance.
Monitoring apparatus with three-dimensional oral appliance, data collection device, and external receiving device transfer
An apparatus that monitors information associated with an oral cavity, comprising a three-dimensional oral appliance; a data collection device having at least one sensor configured to sense the information associated with the oral cavity; and an interface device cooperatively coupled to the data collection device, the interface device configured to transfer the information from the sensor device to a receiving device external to the oral cavity, wherein the sensor extends longitudinally in the oral appliance such that the sensor contacts the teeth and/or soft tissue areas.
Measuring specified oral-cavity contents and fluids
The sensor measures at least one of O2 content, CO2 content, bacterial content, or saliva quantity/quality or gingival/periodontal fluids and exudates or other bodily fluids or exudates.
Across the two independent claims, the core coverage is the combination of a 3D oral appliance with an interior surface that conforms to teeth/soft tissue and holds a longitudinally extending sensor in contact, with sensing of specified oral-cavity biological contents/fluids and transmission to an external data collection/receiving device via an interface device.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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