Systems and methods for intra-oral diagnosis

• US 7,766,658 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2004
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Align Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Align Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Kuo, Eric, Wu, Benjamin M., Li, Chunhua, Tricca, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg; Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pani; John
• Application Number:
  US11/000,433
• Publication Number:
  US 20060116561A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,072 Days
• Field of Search: 600/573, 600/582, 600/584, 600/590, 600/300, 433/27, 433/32, 433/80, 433/81, 604/19, 604/27, 604/28, 604/30, 604/43, 604/44, 604/66
• US Class Current: 433/229
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0051 for taking saliva or sputum samples devices for receiving spittle A61J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0088 for oral or dental tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4547 Evaluating teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/682 Mouth, e.g., oral cavity; tongue; Lips; Teeth

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for detecting or diagnosing diseases by sampling and testing intra-oral fluids.

Claims

1. A method for intra-oral diagnosis and treatment, comprising:

removeably placing a dental appliance on a patient'"'"'s teeth, the appliance including;

a number of cavities that conform to the patient'"'"'s teeth, but are slightly out of alignment with a current configuration of the patient'"'"'s teeth;

one or more sensors attached to the dental appliance;

a processor located on the dental appliance;

one or more delivery nozzles that project from the dental appliance and are shaped to conform with with a respective periodontal pocket of the patient; and

one or more reservoirs in fluid communication with the one or more delivery nozzles;

sampling an intra-oral substance with the sensor;

detecting one or more medical conditions with the processor based on output received from the sensor regarding the intra-oral substance;

providing treatment in a closed-feedback loop, including;

activating the one or more delivery nozzles that project from the appliance and insert into the respective periodontal pocket of the patient; and

delivering drugs or therapeutic agents from one or more reservoirs through the delivery nozzles to the patient.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising scanning a patient'"'"'s dentition;

and designing a dental appliance coupleable to the sensor based on the scanned dentition.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical condition comprises a symptom of the disease.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor senses a pathogen or a salivary component.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising transmitting the diagnosis to a remote computing device by radio frequency or light frequency.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor senses an antimicrobial agent or a secretory antibody.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the antimicrobial agent is formed in response to a pathogen.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the pathogen includes one of:

HIV, the fungus Candida albicans, and a bacteria associated with oral and systemic diseases.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor senses a salivary glycoprotein.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor senses mucins, cystatins, or histatins.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor detects one of:

Alzheimer'"'"'s disease, Sjogren'"'"'s syndrome, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, and diseases of the adrenal cortex.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor detects a systemic disease.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the systemic disease comprises one of:

diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, HIV, cardiovascular disease (heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure), osteoporosis, obesity, blindness, kidney disease, and nervous system diseases.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor monitors levels of hormones or therapeutic medications.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor detects an illicit drug.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor detects acidity.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a pH sensor.

18. The method of claim 1, comprising:

fluidly providing a substance mounted on an oral structure into the body at a pre-selected dose.