Bruxism biofeedback apparatus and method
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for sensing the occurrence of bruxism by a human user, said apparatus comprising:
- a. a plurality of electrically conductive electrodes;
b. means for holding said plurality of electrodes in contact with the skin in proximity to the temporalis muscles by positive pressure applied by a band extending around the majority of the circumference of said user'"'"'s head;
c. sense/amplification means for sensing the differential voltage between at least two of said electrodes and selectively amplifying the electrical signals generated by said temporalis muscles, such signals termed "bruxing activity signals";
d. a detector that generates a bruxing event signal when said bruxing activity signals satisfy predetermined time and amplitude conditions; and
e. output means for providing a signal external of said detector that corresponds to said bruxing event signal.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for the treatment of bruxism through biofeedback is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus consists of electronics (M1) mounted in a light-weight headband (HB1) which may be worn comfortably by a user during sleep or while awake. Electrodes (E) within the headband pick up surface EMG voltage signals indicative of bruxism, and biofeedback is provided to the user through an earphone (SK).
29 Citations
28 Claims
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1. An apparatus for sensing the occurrence of bruxism by a human user, said apparatus comprising:
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a. a plurality of electrically conductive electrodes; b. means for holding said plurality of electrodes in contact with the skin in proximity to the temporalis muscles by positive pressure applied by a band extending around the majority of the circumference of said user'"'"'s head; c. sense/amplification means for sensing the differential voltage between at least two of said electrodes and selectively amplifying the electrical signals generated by said temporalis muscles, such signals termed "bruxing activity signals"; d. a detector that generates a bruxing event signal when said bruxing activity signals satisfy predetermined time and amplitude conditions; and e. output means for providing a signal external of said detector that corresponds to said bruxing event signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for treatment of bruxism through bio-feedback, said method comprising:
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a. picking up surface EMG signals from bruxing muscles through electrodes held in contact with the skin near said bruxing muscles; b. selectively amplifying said EMG signals in a frequency band where said signals are strongest, while substantially attenuating 60 Hz signals in comparison to said selective amplification; c. subjecting said amplified signals to decision-making criteria based on time and amplitude, to distinguish events defined by said criteria as "bruxing events"; d. providing a humanly perceivable bio-feedback signal in response to said bruxing events, said bio-feedback signal initially being applied at a low level of intensity; e. increasing the level of intensity of said bio-feedback signal over time until either a maximum level is reached, or cessation of bruxing is detected; and f. rapidly terminating said bio-feedback signal in response to cessation of said bruxing signal. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An apparatus for sensing the occurrence of bruxism by a human user, said apparatus comprising:
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a. a plurality of electrically conductive electrodes; b. means for maintaining said plurality of electrodes in contact with external body skin of said user at a location on said user'"'"'s body where said electrodes receive low-voltage muscle signals generated by bruxing muscles of said user that are active during the occurrence of bruxism; c. sense/amplification means for sensing the differential voltage between at least two of said electrodes and selectively amplifying the electrical signals generated by bruxing muscles, such signals termed "bruxing activity signals"; d. a detector that generates a bruxing event signal when said bruxing activity signal satisfies pre-determined time and amplitude conditions; e. audio bio-feedback means for providing an initially quiet audio signal to said user, increasing the intensity of said bio-feedback signal in time while said bruxing event signal is present, and terminating said bio-feedback signal immediately upon the cessation of said bruxing event signal.
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28. A method for gathering clinical data on bruxism, said method comprising:
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a. picking up surface EMG signals from bruxing muscles through electrodes held in contact with the skin near said bruxing muscles; b. selectively amplifying said EMG signals in a frequency band where said signals are strongest, while substantially attenuating 60 Hz signals in comparison to said selective amplification; c. subjecting said amplified signals to decision-making criteria based on time and amplitude, to distinguish events defined by said criteria as "bruxing events"; d. digitally storing time and duration information concerning said bruxing events in electronic memory; and e. displaying the contents of said electronic memory on a visual display.
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Specification