Sensor system for diagnosing dental conditions

• US 6,607,387 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2001
• Issued: 08/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microlife Medical Home Solutions Inc.
• Original Assignee: HealtheTech, Inc.
• Inventors: Mault, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Connor, Carey E.
• Application Number:
  US10/040,016
• Publication Number:
  US 20020061495A1
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 433/27, 433/29, 433/215, 433/72, 600/532, 600/543, 600/530, 424/9.7, 424/9.71, 422/84, 422/85
• US Class Current: 433/215
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0238 Optical sensor arrangements for performing transmission measurements on body tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0088 for oral or dental tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/082 Evaluation by breath analysis, e.g. determination of the chemical composition of exhaled breath A61B5/083, A61B5/091 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1459 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/04 Measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C5/44 takes precedence; testing vitality of teeth A61B5/0534; radiation diagnosis specially adapted for dentistry A61B6/51

Abstract

A sensor system for diagnosing dental conditions includes a sensor unit which is in contact with an oral fluid such as saliva or gas, and which is operative to provide detectable signals indicative of at least two of hydrogen ion concentration, hydroxyl ion concentration, calcium, phosphate, sulfur, sulfur containing compounds, nitrogen containing compounds, microbial metabolites, and microbes. The system includes a signal processor which is in communication with the sensor unit and which operates to provide a processed signal indicative of one or more dental conditions. The signal processor transmits the processed signal to a storage and display device which displays a user detectable diagnostic message indicative of a dental condition, or suggestive of a remedial action.

Claims

1. A sensor system for diagnosing dental conditions comprising:

a sensor unit configured to be disposed in communication with a user'"'"'s mouth so as to contact an oral fluid, said sensor unit being operative to provide detectable signals indicative of the presence of at least two species selected from the group consisting of;

hydrogen ion, calcium, phosphate, sulfur, sulfur containing compounds, nitrogen containing compounds, microbial metabolites, and microbes; and

a signal processor in communication with the sensor unit, said signal processor being operative to process said detectable signals and to provide a processed signal indicative of a dental condition, said signal processor being further operative to transmit said processed signal to a storage and display device which displays a user detectable diagnostic message.

2. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein said sensor unit is configured to be disposed within a user'"'"'s mouth.

3. The sensor system of claim 2, wherein said oral fluid comprises saliva.

4. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein said oral fluid comprises a gas.

5. The sensor system of claim 4, wherein said sensor unit is configured to be disposed externally of the user'"'"'s mouth.

6. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said detectable signals is indicative of the concentration of at least one of said species.

7. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein said storage and display device comprises a personal digital assistant.

8. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein said storage and display device comprises a computer.

9. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein said signal processor comprises a personal digital assistant.

10. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein said signal processor comprises a computer.

11. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein said signal processor is operative to transmit said processed signal to said storage and display device through a wireless data link.

12. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein said system is further operative to provide a visual display of a user'"'"'s tooth.

13. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein said sensor system is operable to provide a user detectable display indicative of the integrity of a user'"'"'s tooth.

14. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein said user detectable diagnostic message is indicative of a dental condition.

15. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein said user detectable diagnostic message comprises a message directing the user to take a particular remedial action.

16. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein said signal processor is external of the user'"'"'s mouth.

17. A sensor system for diagnosing dental conditions, said sensor comprising:

a sensor unit configured to be disposed in communication with a user'"'"'s mouth so as to contact an oral fluid, said sensor unit operative to provide detectable signals indicative of the presence in said oral fluid of at least two species selected from the group consisting of hydrogen ion, calcium, phosphate, sulfur, sulfur containing compounds, nitrogen containing compounds, microbial metabolites, and microbes.

18. The sensor system of claim 17, wherein at least one of said detectable signals is a visually detectable signal.

19. The sensor of claim 17, wherein at least one of said detectable signals is an electronically detectable signal.

20. The sensor system of claim 17, wherein at least one of said detectable signals is a chemically detectable signal.

21. The sensor system of claim 17, wherein said sensor unit is configured to contact a gaseous oral fluid and to provide detectable signals indicative of the presence of said at least two species in said gaseous oral fluid.

22. The sensor system of claim 17, wherein said sensor unit is configured to contact saliva and to provide detectable signals indicative of the presence of said at least two species in said saliva.

23. The sensor system of claim 17, further including a signal processor in communication with said sensor unit, said signal processor being operative to process said detectable signals and to provide a processed signal indicative of a dental condition.

24. The sensor system of claim 23, wherein said signal processor is further operative to transmit said processed signal to a storage and display device which displays a user detectable diagnostic message.

25. The sensor system of claim 17, wherein at least one of said detectable signals is indicative of the concentration of at least one of said species.

26. A method for diagnosing a dental condition, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a sensor unit operative to contact an oral fluid and to provide detectable signals indicative of the presence of at least two species selected from the group consisting of;

hydrogen ion, calcium, phosphate, sulfur, sulfur containing compounds, nitrogen containing compounds, microbial metabolites, and microbes;

disposing said sensor unit in contact with an oral fluid, whereby said sensor unit provides said detectable signals;

communicating said detectable signals to a signal processor which is operative to process said detectable signals and provide a processed signal indicative of a dental condition.

27. The method of claims 26, including the further step of:

transmitting said processed signal to a storage and display device which displays a user detectable diagnostic message.