Determining food identities with intra-oral spectrometer devices

• US 10,058,283 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2016
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zerick, Juliette, Rascle, Eugene, Cottrill, William
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US15/092,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20170290545A1
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 3405731, 3405391, 34053911, 34053913
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4866 Evaluating metabolism A61B5/083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/682 Mouth, e.g., oral cavity; tongue; Lips; Teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7455 characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 5/00 Filling or capping teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 5/20 Repairing attrition damage, e.g. facets
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/08 Mouthpiece-type retainers or positioners, e.g. for both the lower and upper arch arch-shaped medicament applicators for teeth or gums A61C19/063; mouthguards for protecting the teeth of sportsmen A63B71/085
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/00 Means to be fixed to the jaw-bone for consolidating natural teeth or for fixing dental prostheses thereon; Dental implants; Implanting tools fastening of peg-teeth in the mouth A61C13/30
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/27 using photo-electric detection G01N21/31 takes precedence; circuits for computing concentration logarithmic circuits G06G7/24; photometric circuits in general G01J
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/31 Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry G01N21/72 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/12 Circuits of general importance; Signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/02 Food
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0092 Nutrition
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 49/0013 Miniaturised spectrometers, e.g. having smaller than usual scale, integrated conventional components
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 49/0036 Step by step routines describing the handling of the data generated during a measurement

Abstract

Devices, methods, computer-readable media, and systems for determining an identity of a food are disclosed. For example, a method may receive at least one property of at least one component in a sample of a food from an intra-oral device including a spectrometer, the at least one property obtained via the spectrometer, compares the at least one property to a plurality of food signatures, and determines the identity of the food based upon the comparing. In another example, a system may include an intra-oral device and a wireless device. The intra-oral device may include a spectrometer for measuring at least one property of at least one component in a sample of a food. The wireless device may include a processor for receiving the at least one property, comparing the at least one property to a plurality of food signatures, and determining the identity of the food based upon the comparing.

Claims

1. An intra-oral device, comprising:

a processor;

a computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

detecting an act of eating via a sensor of the intra-oral device;

activating a spectrometer of the intra-oral device to measure at least one property of at least one component in a sample of a food, when the act of eating is detected; and

transmitting the at least one property of the at least one component in the sample of the food to a wireless device via a wireless transmitter of the intra-oral device; and

a chargeable battery for delivering electrical power to the intra-oral device, wherein the chargeable battery is charged via a motion of a mouth.

2. The intra-oral device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a command from the wireless device to deliver a stimulation; and

delivering the stimulation in response to the command.

3. The intra-oral device of claim 2, wherein the wireless device is for:

comparing the at least one property to a plurality of food signatures;

determining an identity of the food based upon the comparing; and

providing the command based upon the identity of the food that is determined.

4. The intra-oral device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a pH sensor, wherein the act of eating is detected when a pH level measured by the pH sensor exceeds a threshold.

5. The intra-oral device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a current sensor, wherein the act of eating is detected when a current measured by the current sensor exceeds a threshold.

6. The intra-oral device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a moisture sensor, wherein the act of eating is detected when a moisture level measured by the moisture sensor exceeds a threshold.

7. The intra-oral device of claim 1, wherein the chargeable battery is for delivering the electrical power to the processor, the sensor and the spectrometer of the intra-oral device.

8. The intra-oral device of claim 1, wherein the intra-oral device comprises a dental fixture.

9. The intra-oral device of claim 1, wherein the spectrometer comprises:

a mass spectrometer;

or

a spectrophotometer.

10. An intra-oral device comprising:

a sensor for detecting an act of eating;

a spectrometer for measuring at least one property of at least one component in a sample of a food when the act of eating is detected;

a wireless transmitter for transmitting the at least one property of the at least one component in the sample of the food; and

a chargeable battery for delivering electrical power to the intra-oral device, wherein the chargeable battery is charged via a motion of a mouth.

11. The intra-oral device of claim 10, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of:

a pH sensor, a current sensor, or a moisture sensor.

12. A method comprising:

delivering, via a chargeable battery, electrical power to an intra-oral device, the chargeable battery is charged via a motion of a mouth;

detecting, via a sensor, an act of eating;

activating, via a processor, a spectrometer of the intra-oral device to measure at least one property of at least one component in a sample of a food, when the act of eating is detected; and

transmitting, via the processor, the at least one property of the at least one component in the sample of the food to a wireless device via a wireless transmitter of the intra-oral device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving a command from the wireless device to deliver a stimulation; and

delivering the stimulation in response to the command.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the wireless device is for:

comparing the at least one property to a plurality of food signatures;

determining an identity of the food based upon the comparing; and

providing the command based upon the identity of the food that is determined.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the sensor comprises a pH sensor, and wherein the detecting the act of eating comprises detecting when a pH level measured by the pH sensor exceeds a threshold.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the sensor comprises a current sensor, and wherein the detecting the act of eating comprises detecting when a current measured by the current sensor exceeds a threshold.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the sensor comprises a moisture sensor, and wherein the detecting the act of eating comprises detecting when a moisture level measured by the moisture sensor exceeds a threshold.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the delivering the electrical power comprises delivering the electrical power to the sensor, the spectrometer, the processor, and the wireless transmitter.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the intra-oral device comprises a dental fixture.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the spectrometer comprises:

a mass spectrometer;

or

a spectrophotometer.