Connected dental device

• US 10,080,522 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2017
• Issued: 09/25/2018
• 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: Suri, Krishnapraveen, Hizon, Perla
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent
• Application Number:
  US15/682,951
• Publication Number:
  US 20170347953A1
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0006 with a controlling brush technique device, e.g. stroke movement measuring device
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/001 with means indicating the remaining useful life of brush
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0085 Brushes provided with an identification, marking device or design
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 5/0095 Removable or interchangeable brush heads
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/04 Arranged like in or for toothbrushes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/04 combined with photographic or television appliances
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/24 for the mouth, i.e. stomatoscopes, e.g. with tongue depressors tongue depressors per se A61B13/00; Instruments for opening or keeping open the mouth combined with saliva removers A61C17/00; mouth openers for animals A61D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/247 with means for viewing areas outside the direct line of sight, e.g. dentists' mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0013 Medical image data A61B1/00011, A61B6/56, A61B8/56 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4547 Evaluating teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4833 Assessment of subject's compliance to treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7445 Display arrangements, e.g. multiple display units
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/222 Brush body details, e.g. the shape thereof or connection to handle

Abstract

A system for providing a connected dental device is disclosed. In particular, the system may include integrating a network chip or transceiver into a dental device, such as a toothbrush, so as to enable the dental device to communicate with a user device and one or more accessory devices. Once the user device and one or more accessory devices are paired with the user device, the system may track information associated with the dental device and the user using the dental device. Based on the tracked information, the system may determine an action to be performed by the user using the dental device. Using the dental device, the system may transmit a notification to the user device to alert the user of the action that needs to be performed. The system may also transmit notifications providing status information for the dental device and the one or more accessory devices.

Claims

1. A dental device, comprising:

a memory that stores instructions; and

a processor that executes the instructions to perform operations, the operations comprising;

monitoring, based on use of the dental device by a first user, first information associated with the first user and the dental device, wherein the first information associated with the first user and the dental device is obtained from a sensor of the dental device;

detecting a dental condition of the first user by comparing visual content of the first user obtained by the dental device during use of the dental device to previous visual content obtained during a prior use of the dental device;

determining, based on the first information associated with the first user and the dental device, an action to be performed by the first user with the dental device;

transmitting, to a user device of the first user, a first notification indicating the action to be performed with the dental device;

determining, based on second information associated with the first user and the dental device obtained from the sensor, if the action has been performed with the dental device; and

transmitting, if the action has been performed, a second notification to the user device of the first user indicating successful completion of the action.

2. The dental device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise transmitting, if the action has not been performed, a third notification to the user device reminding the first user to perform the action with the dental device.

3. The dental device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise generating an appointment for the first user.

4. The dental device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise determining if a component of the dental device needs to be replaced.

5. The dental device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise detecting a usage pattern associated with use of the dental device by the first user.

6. The dental device of claim 5, wherein the operations further comprise determining, based on the usage pattern, a new action to be performed by the first user with the dental device.

7. The dental device of claim 6, wherein the operations further comprise transmitting a third notification to the user device indicating the new action to be performed by the first user with the dental device.

8. The dental device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise detecting a dental condition of the first user based on the first information associated with the first user and the dental device obtained from the sensor.

9. The dental device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise obtaining, from a camera of the dental device, media content of the first user while the first user is utilizing the dental device.

10. The dental device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise monitoring a power level of the dental device, and wherein the operations further comprise transmitting, if the power level is below a threshold, an alert to the user device indicating that the dental device needs to be recharged.

11. The dental device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise identifying the first user based on an identifier of a component of the dental device.

12. The dental device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise transmitting a signal to a dispenser communicatively linked to the dental device to dispense a solution onto the dental device.

13. The dental device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise determining a bruServalg technique utilized by the first user based on the first information associated with the first user and the dental device obtained from the sensor.

14. A method, comprising:

monitoring, based on use of a dental device by a first user, first information associated with the first user and the dental device, wherein the first information associated with the first user and the dental device is obtained from a sensor of the dental device;

determining, based on the first information associated with the first user and the dental device, an action to be performed by the first user with the dental device, wherein the determining is performed by utilizing instructions from a memory that are executed by a processor, wherein the first information includes information indicating times when the dental device is activated by the first user;

detecting a dental condition of the first user by comparing visual content of the first user obtained by the dental device during use of the dental device to previous visual content obtained during a prior use of the dental device;

transmitting, to a user device of the first user, a first notification indicating the action to be performed with the dental device;

determining, based on second information associated with the first user and the dental device obtained from the sensor, if the action has been performed with the dental device; and

transmitting, if the action has not been performed, a second notification to the user device of the first user reminding the first user to perform the action.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising determining, based on the first information associated with the first user and the dental device, a pressure at which the first user holds a component of the dental device against teeth of the first user.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising determining, based on the first information associated with the first user and the dental device, a duration of time that the first user utilized the dental device.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising determining, based on the first information associated with the first user and the dental device, a brushing speed associated with the dental device.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising determining a blood sugar level of the first user based on the first information associated with the first user and the dental device.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising determining a temperature of the first user based on the first information associated with the first user and the dental device.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable device comprising instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

analyzing, based on use of the dental device by a first user, first information associated with the first user and the dental device, wherein the first information associated with the first user and the dental device is obtained from a sensor of the dental device, wherein the first information includes information indicating times when the dental device is activated by the first user;

detecting a dental condition of the first user by comparing visual content of the first user obtained by the dental device during use of the dental device to previous visual content obtained during a prior use of the dental device;

determining, based on the first information associated with the first user and the dental device, an action to be performed by the first user with the dental device;

providing, to a user device of the first user, a first notification indicating the action to be performed with the dental device;

determining, based on second information associated with the first user and the dental device obtained from the sensor, if the action has been performed with the dental device; and

providing, if the action has been performed, a second notification to the user device of the first user indicating successful completion of the action.