Brace compliance monitor

• US 6,890,285 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2002
• Issued: 05/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nemours Foundation
• Original Assignee: Nemours Foundation
• Inventors: Rahman, Tariq, Bowen, J. Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Richman, Glenn E.
• Application Number:
  US10/260,526
• Publication Number:
  US 20030078528A1
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1- 9, 482900-902, 702/127, 702/150, 702/151, 340/500, 340/573.1
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4833 Assessment of subject's compliance to treatment
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/00 Orthodontics, i.e. obtaining or maintaining the desired position of teeth, e.g. by straightening, evening, regulating, separating, or by correcting malocclusions

Abstract

A brace compliance monitor is disclosed that includes a compliance sensor, a signal processor, and a display. Compliance data is displayed on the display to provide the patient or subject with immediate compliance information on whether they have been wearing the brace for the specified period and in the specified manner. The brace compliance monitor may also include a secondary sensor such as a tilt sensor, a pressure sensor, a force sensor, an acceleration sensor, or a velocity sensor. The secondary sensors may provide additional compliance data to the patient and health car provider.

Claims

1. A brace compliance monitor comprising:

a compliance sensor;

a display screen; and

a signal processing unit in communication with the compliance sensor and compliance display, wherein the signal processing unit receives and stores data from the compliance sensor as a function of time, compares the data received from the compliance sensor with a compliance protocol to produce compliance data, and displays compliance data on the display, and wherein the compliance sensor, the signal processing unit, and the display screen are attached to the brace.

2. The brace compliance monitor of claim 1 wherein the compliance sensor is selected from the group consisting of a temperature sensor, a capacitive sensor, and an optical sensor.

3. The brace compliance monitor of claim 1 wherein the display screen is either an LCD display screen or an LED display screen.

4. The brace compliance monitor of claim 1 further comprising a secondary sensor in communication with the signal processing unit, wherein the signal processor receives and stores data from the secondary sensor as a function of time.

5. The brace compliance monitor of claim 4 wherein the secondary sensor is one or more selected from the group consisting of a tilt sensor, a pressure sensor, a force sensor, an acceleration sensor, and a velocity sensor.

6. The brace compliance monitor of claim 4 wherein data from the secondary sensor is compared to the compliance protocol and displayed on the display screen.

7. The brace compliance monitor of claim 6 wherein the brace is a scoliosis brace.