Determining food identities with intra-oral spectrometer devices

• US 10,321,875 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2018
• Issued: 06/18/2019
• 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:
  US16/126,611
• Publication Number:
  US 20190000383A1
• Time in Patent Office: 281 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 at least one sensor of the intra-oral device, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a pH sensor;

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.

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 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 at least one sensor further comprises a current sensor, wherein the act of eating is further detected when a current measured by the current sensor exceeds a threshold.

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

7. The intra-oral device of claim 1, further comprising a chargeable battery, wherein the chargeable battery is for delivering electrical power to at least one of:

the processor, the at least one 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:

at least one sensor for detecting an act of eating, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a pH sensor;

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; and

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

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

a current sensor and a moisture sensor.

12. A method comprising:

detecting, via at least one sensor, an act of eating, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a pH sensor;

activating, via a processor, a spectrometer of an 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 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 at least one sensor further comprises a current sensor, and wherein the detecting the act of eating further comprises detecting when a current measured by the current sensor exceeds a threshold.

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

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

delivering electrical power via a chargeable battery to at least one of;

the at least one 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.