Determining food identities with intra-oral spectrometer devices

• US 10,070,818 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2017
• Issued: 09/11/2018
• 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:
  US15/824,863
• Publication Number:
  US 20180078205A1
• Time in Patent Office: 287 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. A method comprising:

receiving, by a processor, at least one property of at least one component in a sample of a food from an intra-oral device comprising a spectrometer, wherein the at least one property is obtained via the spectrometer;

comparing, by the processor, the at least one property to a plurality of food signatures; and

determining, by the processor, an identity of the sample of the food based upon the comparing.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting a feedback based upon the identity of the sample of the food that is determined.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the feedback comprises a visual display.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the feedback comprises an audio output.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the feedback comprises an instruction to the intra-oral device to deliver a stimulation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the intra-oral device is deployed in a dental fixture.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the dental fixture comprises at least one of:

a crown;

a bridge;

a retainer;

a filling; and

an implant.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the intra-oral device is coupled to a device of the processor, wherein the intra-oral device is for insertion into an oral cavity to obtain the at least one property.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the spectrometer comprises a mass spectrometer.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the spectrometer comprises a spectrophotometer.

11. An intra-oral device, comprising:

a processor; and

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.

12. The intra-oral device of claim 11, 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.

13. The intra-oral device of claim 12, 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.

14. The intra-oral device of claim 11, 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.

15. The intra-oral device of claim 11, 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.

16. The intra-oral device of claim 11, 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.

17. The intra-oral device of claim 11, wherein the intra-oral device comprises a dental fixture.

18. The intra-oral device of claim 11, wherein the spectrometer comprises:

a mass spectrometer;

or

a spectrophotometer.

19. A system for determining an identity of a food, the system comprising:

an intra-oral device comprising;

a spectrometer for measuring-at least one property of at least one component in a sample of the food; and

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

a wireless device comprising a processor for;

receiving the at least one property of the at least one component in the sample of the food;

comparing the at least one property of the at least one component in the sample of the food to a plurality of food signatures; and

determining the identity of the food based upon the comparing.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the processor is further for:

presenting a feedback based upon the identity of the food that is determined.