Intra-extra oral shock-sensing and indicating systems and other shock-sensing and indicating systems

• US 8,104,324 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2010
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bio-Applications LLC
• Original Assignee: Bio-Applications LLC
• Inventors: Hennig, Don B., VanElverdinghe, Jeffry L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo, Lisa
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAVIS, OCTAVIA L
• Application Number:
  US12/831,860
• Publication Number:
  US 20110214478A1
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 73/120.1
• US Class Current: 73/12.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/682 Mouth, e.g., oral cavity; tongue; Lips; Teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/088 Mouth inserted protectors with tether or strap
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/53 Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/085 Mouth or teeth protectors A63B71/081 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 7/08 Shock-testing

Abstract

A mouth guard comprises a base member configured to fit inside the mouth of a user, and at least one shock-sensing and indicating device coupled to the base member. In one exemplary embodiment, the shock-sensing and indicating device is a passive shock-sensing and indicating device that detects a shock substantially along a selected axis with respect to the base member. In another exemplary embodiment, the at least one shock-sensing and indicating device detects a shock substantially along a plurality of selected axes with respect to the base member, each selected axis being substantially orthogonal from another selected axis. The shock-sensing and indicating devices can be configured to detect different levels of shock. In one exemplary embodiment, the shock-sensing and indicating device comprises a multi-component chemical-reaction system, such as a chemi-luminescent reaction system.

Claims

1. A mouth guard, comprising:

a base member configured to fit inside the mouth of a user; and

at least one shock-sensing and indicating device coupled to the base member, the shock-sensing and indicating device comprising a multi-component chemical-reaction system that generates a color change of the multi-component chemical reaction system as an output if the at least one shock-sensing and indicating device detects a predetermined level of shock.

2. The mouth guard according to claim 1, wherein the at least one shock-sensing and indicating device detects a shock substantially along a selected axis with respect to the base member.

3. The mouth guard according to claim 1, wherein the at least one shock-sensing and indicating device detects a shock substantially along a plurality of selected axes with respect to the base member, each selected axis being substantially orthogonal from another selected axis.

4. The mouth guard according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of selected axes comprises three axes that are substantially orthogonal from each other.

5. The mouth guard according to claim 1, wherein each of the at least one shock-sensing and indicating device detects a shock at substantially the same level of shock applied to the shock-sensing and indicating device.

6. The mouth guard according to claim 1, wherein each of the at least one shock-sensing and indicating device detects a shock at a level of shock that is different from a level of shock detected by another shock-sensing and indicating device.

7. The mouth guard according to claim 1, wherein the multi-component chemical-reaction system comprises a chemi-luminescent reaction system.

8. The mouth guard according to claim 7, wherein the multi-component chemical-reaction system is based on a luminol reaction or an oxalate reaction, or a combination thereof.

9. The mouth guard according to claim 7, wherein the two-component chemi-luminescent reaction is based on bis(2,4,5-trichlorophenyl-6-carbopentoxyphenyl)oxalate (CPPO) reacting with hydrogen peroxide.

10. The mouth guard according to claim 7, wherein the two-component chemi-luminescent reaction is based on bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)oxlate (TCPO) reacting with hydrogen peroxide.

11. A mouth guard, comprising:

a base member configured to fit inside the mouth of a user; and

at least one shock-sensing and indicating device coupled to the base member, the shock-sensing and indicating device comprising a multi-component chemical-reaction system generates an electro-chemical output of the multi-component chemical reaction system as an output if the at least one shock-sensing and indicating device detects a predetermined level of shock.

12. The mouth guard according to claim 11, wherein the at least one shock-sensing and indicating device detects a shock substantially along a selected axis with respect to the base member.

13. The mouth guard according to claim 11, wherein the at least one shock-sensing and indicating device detects a shock substantially along a plurality of selected axes with respect to the base member, each selected axis being substantially orthogonal from another selected axis.

14. The mouth guard according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of selected axes comprises three axes that are substantially orthogonal from each other.

15. The mouth guard according to claim 11, wherein each of the at least one shock-sensing and indicating device detects a shock at substantially the same level of shock applied to the shock-sensing and indicating device.

16. The mouth guard according to claim 11, wherein each of the at least one shock-sensing and indicating device detects a shock at a level of shock that is different from a level of shock detected by another shock-sensing and indicating device.