Intraoral appliance, monitoring device and method of treating patient
First Claim
1. An intraoral appliance comprising:
- proximity detector means for sensing the relative position of body parts in the oral cavity, signal means connected with the detector for signaling when body parts in the oral cavity are in an undesirable position, and memory means and display means for storing and displaying information about the relative position of body parts in the oral cavity when the body parts in the oral cavity meet predetermined criteria;
the signal means including time delay means for delaying a signal until the body parts have been in an undesirable position for a predetermined length of time, the display means being located within the oral cavity.
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Abstract
An intraoral device makes a new treatment of dental problems possible. The device includes electronic circuitry, including a proximity detector, a variable time delay, a signal generator and a power supply, to sense and record the frequency and duration of unwanted or undesirable relative positions of body parts within the oral cavity. The recorded data stored by the circuitry enables a dentist to chart the progress of a patient during treatment and diagnose whether functional problems exist which require a specific treatment plan. The undesirable position may be teeth clenched, jaw open with teeth unclenched, tongue pressed against the teeth or a retruded portion of the lower jaw. When these positions have been assumed for too long, a signal reminds the patient. This automatic signal makes it possible for the patient to unlearn bad habits or learn new habits.
205 Citations
31 Claims
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1. An intraoral appliance comprising:
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proximity detector means for sensing the relative position of body parts in the oral cavity, signal means connected with the detector for signaling when body parts in the oral cavity are in an undesirable position, and memory means and display means for storing and displaying information about the relative position of body parts in the oral cavity when the body parts in the oral cavity meet predetermined criteria;
the signal means including time delay means for delaying a signal until the body parts have been in an undesirable position for a predetermined length of time, the display means being located within the oral cavity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An intraoral appliance for comprising a memory means and display means for storing and displaying temperature information that meets predetermined criteria,
the display means being located within the oral cavity.
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25. A method of treating a patient comprising the steps of
sensing when body parts in the oral cavity have been in an undesirable position for longer than a predetermined time, distinguishing between momentary and prolonged undesirable positioning of the body parts, signaling the patient in response to prolonged undesirable positioning of the body parts, recording the frequency and amount of time the patient'"'"'s body parts in the oral cavity are in an undesirable position for longer than a predetermined time and displaying information concerning the frequency and amount of time the patient'"'"'s body parts in the oral cavity are in an undesirable position on a display within the patient'"'"'s oral cavity; whereby the patient may voluntarily move the body parts to a more favorable position.
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26. An intraoral appliance comprising
proximity detector means for sensing the relative position of body parts in the oral cavity, signal means connected with the detector for signaling when body parts in the oral cavity are in an undesirable position, cage means connected with the proximity detector means for sensing the position of the tongue, the cage means being forwardly movable in response to forward movement of the tongue, biasing means including a spring for urging the cage rearwardly, splint means for engaging teeth, and memory means and display means within the oral cavity for storing and displaying information about the relative position of body parts in the oral cavity; -
the splint means containing the signal means, the cage means being forwardly and rearwardly movable with respect to the splint means, and the splint means including two portions, each adapted to engage teeth on a different side of the oral cavity. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of treating a patient comprising the steps of
placing a proximity sensing and signaling device entirely within the patient'"'"'s oral cavity, sensing when body parts in the patient'"'"'s oral cavity are in an undesirable position, signaling the patient whereby the patient, being aware of the undesirable proximity, may voluntarily move the body parts to a more favorable position, including signaling when the patient'"'"'s tongue is pressed against the patient'"'"'s incisors, signaling when a mandibular and a maxillar tooth have been spaced apart by more than a predetermined distance for more than a predetermined length of time, recording the frequency and amount of time the patient'"'"'s body parts in the oral cavity are in an undesirable position for longer than a predetermined length of time, and displaying information concerning the frequency and amount of time the patient'"'"'s body parts in the oral cavity are in an undesirable position on a display within the patient'"'"'s oral cavity.
Specification