SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SENSOR DRIVEN INTELLIGENT ORAL APPLIANCE

• US 20170196727A1
• Filed: 06/04/2015
• Published: 07/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Archis Health Investments LLC
• Original Assignee: Archis Health Investments LLC
• Inventors: Giridharagopalan, Subhalakshmi
• Granted Patent: US 11,246,743 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0024 for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4836 Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods A61B5/0036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/682 Mouth, e.g., oral cavity; tongue; Lips; Teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/566 Intra-oral devices

Abstract

A system and method for improving a sleep disorder is provided. The system includes an oral appliance having a mandibular occlusal plate operably coupled to a maxillary occlusal plate, the plates molded to fit an individual'"'"'s jaw; an actuator and one or more sensors in communication therewith for sensing physiologic parameters of a user, the actuator operably coupled to the maxillary occlusal plate for linearly advancing or retracting the mandibular occlusal plate based on commands received from a processing device.

Claims

1. A system for improving a sleep disorder comprising:

an oral appliance including a mandibular occlusal plate operably coupled to a maxillary occlusal plate, said plates molded to fit an individual'"'"'s jaw;

an actuator including a motor, a gear assembly and one or more sensors in communication therewith for sensing physiologic parameters of a user, said actuator operably coupled to said maxillary occlusal plate for linearly advancing or retracting said mandibular occlusal plate;

a knowledge base that provides data on a plurality of sleep disorder conditions and normative data necessary to correct said sleep disorder conditions;

a processing device in operable communication with said one or more sensors and said knowledge base, said processing device configured to (a) receive said physiologic parameter measurements from said one or more sensors;

(b) cross reference said physiologic parameter measurements with said knowledge base to generate a cross referenced data result indicative of a presence and/or severity of a sleep disorder event;

(c) calculate a determined amount of linear movement necessary to improve the sleep disorder event to return to a normative condition;

(d) transmit said determined amount to said motor; and

(e) cause said maxillary occlusal plate to linearly advance or retract said mandibular occlusal plate by said determined amount to improve said sleep disorder.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said one or more sensors are selected from pulse oximeter, body position, sleep position, heart rate, airflow, EEG, actigraphy and temperature sensors.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said processing device communicates with said motor wirelessly.

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising a connector coupled to said mandibular occlusal plate, said connector structured to engage said maxillary occlusal plate.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said connector comprises an axial extension of said mandibular occlusal plate.

6. The device of claim 1 further comprising a receptacle coupled to said mandibular occlusal plate and a mating piece coupled to said maxillary occlusal plate, said mating piece for operably engaging said receptacle.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said receptacle is a lingual bar or lingual slot positioned in said mandibular occlusal plate and said mating piece is a hook or clasp coupled to said maxillary occlusal plate, said hook or clasp for operably engaging said lingual bar or lingual slot.

8. The device of claim 1 further comprising a mobile, web or desktop application for displaying information regarding physiologic parameters sensed by said one or more sensors.

9. The device of claim 1 further comprising a status indicator for indicating an operation and performance of the device.

10. The device of claim 1 further comprising a source of power for powering said processing device and said motor.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein said oral appliance is a front screw driven oral appliance.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein said oral appliance is a bilateral screw driven oral appliance including a first screw positioned on a right side of a jaw and a second screw positioned on a left side of the jaw.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein said actuator further includes a gear assembly, said gear assembly for linearly advancing and/or retracting said mandibular occlusal plate based on commands from said processing device.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein said processing device is configured to (f) continuously monitor the physiologic parameters and advance a mandible in response to a subsequently detected apnea event.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein said one or more sensors are positioned on said oral appliance.

16. The device of claim 1 wherein said one or more sensors are positioned on a headband worn by a user, on said oral applicance or both.

17. A method for improving a sleep disorder comprising:

providing an oral appliance including a mandibular occlusal plate operably coupled to a maxillary occlusal plate, said plates molded to fit an individual'"'"'s jaw;

providing an actuator including a motor, a gear assembly and one or more sensors in communication therewith for sensing physiologic parameters of a user, said actuator operably coupled to said maxillary occlusal plate for linearly advancing or retracting said mandibular occlusal plate;

providing a knowledge base that provides data on a plurality of sleep disorder conditions and normative data necessary to correct or improve said sleep disorder conditions;

providing a processing device in operable communication with said one or more sensors and said knowledge base, said processing device configured to (a) receive said physiologic parameter measurements from said one or more sensors;

(b) cross reference said physiologic parameter measurements with said knowledge base to generate a cross referenced data result indicative of a presence and/or severity of a sleep disorder event;

(c) calculate a determined amount of linear movement necessary to correct the sleep disorder event to return to a normative condition;

(d) transmit said determined amount to said motor; and

(e) cause said maxillary occlusal plate to linearly advance or retract said mandibular occlusal plate by said determined amount to correct said sleep disorder.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said processing device continuously monitor said physiologic parameters and linearly advances said mandibular occlusal plate in response to a subsequently detected sleep disorder event.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said mandibular occlusal plate remains linearly advanced for a predetermined period of time until receiving additional physiologic parameter measurements from said one or more sensors and then linearly adjusting said mandibular occlusal plate.