Systems and methods for intra-oral diagnosis

• US 20060116561A1
• Filed: 11/30/2004
• Published: 06/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Align Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Align Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Kuo, Eric, Wu, Benjamin M., Li, Chunhua, Tricca, Robert E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,766,658 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/309
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0051 for taking saliva or sputum samples devices for receiving spittle A61J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0088 for oral or dental tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4547 Evaluating teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/682 Mouth, e.g., oral cavity; tongue; Lips; Teeth

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for detecting or diagnosing diseases by sampling and testing intra-oral fluids.

Claims

1. A method for intra-orally diagnosing a body condition, comprising:

attaching a sensor to an oral structure; and

sampling an intra-oral substance; and

detecting the body condition based on the intra-oral substance.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising

scanning a patient'"'"'s dentition;

and

designing a dental appliance coupleable to the sensor based on the scanned dentition.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the body condition comprises a disease.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor senses a pathogen or a salivary component.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising detecting a presence or absence of one or more medical conditions and providing a diagnosis.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the diagnosis is transmitted to a remote computer.

7. The method of claim 5, comprising transmitting by radio frequency or light frequency.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor senses an antimicrobial agent or a secretory antibody.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the agent is formed in response to a pathogen.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the pathogen includes one of:

HIV, the fungus Candida albicans, and a bacteria associated with oral and systemic diseases.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor senses a salivary glycoprotein

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor senses mucins, cystatins, or histatins.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor detects one of:

Alzheimer'"'"'s disease, Sjö

gren'"'"'s syndrome, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, and diseases of the adrenal cortex.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor detects a systemic disease.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the systemic disease comprises one of:

diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, HIV, cardiovascular disease (heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure), osteoporosis, obesity, blindness, kidney disease, and nervous system diseases.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor monitors levels of hormones or therapeutic medications.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor detects an illicit drug.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor detects acidity.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a PH sensor.

20. The method of claim 1, comprising:

fluidly providing a substance mounted on an oral structure into the body at a pre-selected dose.