Dental applicance for treating bruxism
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A dental appliance for treating bruxism, comprising:
- a mouthpiece configured to fit within the mouth of a wearer, the mouthpiece having a wall configured to receive a current source;
an electrode configured and disposed to contact an interior surface of the wearer'"'"'s mouth when the mouthpiece is placed therein;
an electric circuit mounted to the mouthpiece, the electric circuit being configured to connect the current source and the electrode, wherein the electric circuit is configured to selectively provide current flow between the current source and the electrode when the wearer'"'"'s upper and lower jaws are brought together with bruxing force; and
wherein said electric circuit comprises a sensor, disposed on the mouthpiece, for sensing the application of bruxing force.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A dental appliance for treating bruxism is provided which, according to one aspect of the invention, has a mouthpiece containing an electric source, electrodes, and circuitry connecting the source to the electrodes, and circuitry connecting the source to the electrodes. The electrodes are disposed to contact an interior surface of the wearer'"'"'s mouth to conduct electric stimuli to the mouth. Included in the electronic circuitry, are sensors which trigger the flow of electric current from the source to the electrodes when squeezed together by the wearer'"'"'s teeth.
-
Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A dental appliance for treating bruxism, comprising:
-
a mouthpiece configured to fit within the mouth of a wearer, the mouthpiece having a wall configured to receive a current source; an electrode configured and disposed to contact an interior surface of the wearer'"'"'s mouth when the mouthpiece is placed therein; an electric circuit mounted to the mouthpiece, the electric circuit being configured to connect the current source and the electrode, wherein the electric circuit is configured to selectively provide current flow between the current source and the electrode when the wearer'"'"'s upper and lower jaws are brought together with bruxing force; and wherein said electric circuit comprises a sensor, disposed on the mouthpiece, for sensing the application of bruxing force. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A dental appliance for treating bruxism, comprising:
-
a mouthpiece configured to fit within the mouth of a wearer; a current source operatively associated with said mouthpiece; an electrode configured and disposed to contact an interior surface of the wearer'"'"'s mount when the mouthpiece is placed therein; and an electric circuit connecting the source and the electrode, wherein the electric circuit selectively provides current flow between the source and the electrode when the wearer'"'"'s upper and lower jaws are brought together with bruxing force, wherein said electric circuit comprises a sensor, disposed on the mouthpiece, for sensing the application of bruxing force wherein said sensor comprises a deformable tube through which electric current can flow when the tube is not deformed and through which electric current cannot flow when the tube is deformed upon application of a threshold bruxing force.
-
-
9. A dental appliance for treating bruxism, comprising:
-
a mouthpiece configured to fit within the mouth of a wearer; a first contact and a second contact affixed to the mouthpiece and connected to a battery through an electronic circuit, the first and second contacts being disposed operative engagement with an interior surface of the wearer'"'"'s mouth when the mouthpiece is placed therein, wherein said electronic circuit is mounted to the mouthpiece and configured to provide an electric pulse to the wearer'"'"'s mouth when the mouthpiece is placed therein and the wearer'"'"'s upper and lower jaws are brought together with bruxing force; and wherein the electronic circuit comprises a sensor attached to the mouthpiece having a conductance responsive to a threshold bruxing force. - View Dependent Claims (10)
-
-
11. A dental appliance for treating bruxism, comprising:
-
a mouthpiece configured to fit within the mouth of a wearer; a first contact and a second contact affixed to the mouthpiece and connected to a battery through an electronic circuit, the first and second contacts being disposed in operative engagement with an interior surface of the wearer'"'"'s mouth when the mouthpiece is placed therein, wherein said electronic circuit provides an electric pulse to the wearer'"'"'s mouth when the mouthpiece is placed therein and the wearer'"'"'s upper and lower jaws are brought together with bruxing force, wherein the electronic circuit comprises a sensor having a conductance responsive to a threshold bruxing force, wherein the sensor comprises a deformable tube through which electric current can flow when the tube is not deformed and through which electric current cannot flow when the tube is deformed by bruxing force.
-
-
12. A dental appliance for treating bruxism, comprising:
-
a mouthpiece configured to fit within the mouth of a wearer; a current source receiving area disposed on said mouthpiece and configured to receive a current source; a dynamic switch, responsive to the application of a conductive fluid, in series with said current source for controlling whether current flows from said source; an electrode configured and disposed to contact a gum line of the wearer'"'"'s mouth when the mouthpiece is placed therein; a sensor operatively associated with said mouthpiece, wherein said sensor is responsive to the application of a bruxing pressure; and means for providing electrical pulses to the electrodes when said sensor experiences pressure and said switch is closed. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
-
-
15. A dental appliance for treating bruxism, comprising:
-
a mouthpiece configured to fit within the mouth of a wearer; an associated electrical stimulus subassembly for providing electrical stimulus to the mouth of a wearer where the wearer'"'"'s upper and lower jaws are brought together with bruxing force, wherein said associated electrical stimulus subassembly includes a dynamic sensor mounted to the mouthpiece and responsive to the application of a bruxing force. - View Dependent Claims (16)
-
Specification