Oral illumination systems and methods

• US 9,017,069 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2013
• Issued: 04/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Boyden, Edward S., Chan, Alistair K., Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEWIS, RALPH A
• Application Number:
  US13/893,136
• Publication Number:
  US 20140335464A1
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 433/2, 433/6, 433/8
• US Class Current: 433/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4803 Speech analysis specially adapted for diagnostic purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/682 Mouth, e.g., oral cavity; tongue; Lips; Teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/04 Electric stethoscopes microphones, acoustic transducers therefor H04R
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/088 Illuminating devices or attachments for examination of the mouth A61B1/24 and A61B1/06
• 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 7/08 Mouthpiece-type retainers or positioners, e.g. for both the lower and upper arch arch-shaped medicament applicators for teeth or gums A61C19/063; mouthguards for protecting the teeth of sportsmen A63B71/085
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/16 specially adapted to be cemented to teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/18 specially adapted to be fixed to teeth with a band; Bands therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/20 Arch wires A61C7/28 takes precedence

Abstract

An oral illumination apparatus configured for placement in a mouth. The oral illumination apparatus includes a housing configured to be coupled to a structure in the mouth. The housing including a processing circuit. The oral illumination apparatus further includes a sensor coupled to the housing and configured to detect a characteristic from within the mouth, wherein the sensor provides a feedback signal indicative of the characteristic to the processing circuit. The oral illumination apparatus includes a light source coupled to the housing and operatively coupled to the processing circuit. The oral illumination apparatus further includes a power source coupled to the housing. The processing circuit is configured to control the light source in response to the feedback signal.

Claims

1. An orthodontic apparatus having an oral illumination feature and configured for placement in a mouth, comprising:

a housing configured to be coupled to a structure in the mouth, the housing including a processing circuit;

a sensor coupled to the housing and configured to detect a characteristic from within the mouth, wherein the sensor provides a feedback signal indicative of the characteristic to the processing circuit, wherein the sensor is a microphone and the characteristic is a noise;

a light source coupled to the housing and operatively coupled to the processing circuit; and

a power source coupled to the housing;

wherein the processing circuit is configured to;

identify a sound pattern based on the feedback signal,

identify a word from the sound pattern,

compare the indentified word to a list of stored words, and

control the light source based upon the result of the comparison.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit changes a color of the light source in response to the feedback signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit changes a brightness level of the light source in response to the feedback signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit activates the light source in response to the feedback signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit activates the light source when the noise exceeds a threshold noise level.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a display capable of displaying a text character or a symbol.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a speech to text conversion module stored in a memory of the processing circuit, wherein at least a portion of a detected word is displayed on the display.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing is part of a dental brace configured to reposition a tooth within the mouth.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a wire connector coupled to the housing.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a wire coupled to the housing, wherein the wire is configured to attach to a second dental brace configured to reposition a second tooth within the mouth.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the wire is illuminated by the light source.

12. An orthodontic apparatus having an oral illumination feature and configured for placement in a mouth, comprising:

a housing configured to be coupled to a structure in the mouth, the housing including a processing circuit;

a wireless receiver coupled to the housing and operatively coupled to the processing circuit;

a light source coupled to the housing and operatively coupled to the processing circuit;

a power source coupled to the housing; and

a sensor coupled to the housing and configured to detect a characteristic from within the mouth, wherein the sensor provides a feedback signal indicative of the characteristic to the processing circuit, wherein the sensor is a microphone and the characteristic is a noise;

wherein the processing circuit is configured to control the light source in response to an instruction received through the wireless receiver.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the instruction comprises a light source activation instruction.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the instruction comprises a light source deactivation instruction.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the instruction comprises an instruction to implement a stored lighting pattern.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the instruction includes a lighting pattern to be executed by the processing circuit when the instruction is received.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the instruction includes a detected condition and a lighting pattern to be executed by the processing circuit when the detected condition corresponds to the characteristic.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processing circuit identifies a sound pattern of the noise as vocal speech or music.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the light source includes a display capable of displaying a text character or a symbol.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a speech to text conversion module stored in the memory, wherein at least a portion of a detected word is displayed on the display.

21. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the housing is part of a dental brace configured to reposition a tooth.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a wire connector coupled to the housing.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a wire coupled to the wire connector, wherein the wire comprises an optical waveguide, configured to emit light from a side or end of the waveguide.

24. An orthodontic apparatus having an oral illumination feature and configured for placement in a mouth, comprising:

a housing configured to be coupled to a structure in the mouth, the housing including a processing circuit;

a sensor coupled to the housing and configured to detect a characteristic from within the mouth, wherein the sensor provides a feedback signal indicative of the characteristic to the processing circuit, wherein the sensor is a microphone and the characteristic is a noise;

a light source coupled to the housing and operatively coupled to the processing circuit, wherein the light source comprises a display capable of displaying a text character or a symbol;

a speech to text conversion module stored in a memory of the processing circuit; and

a power source coupled to the housing;

wherein the processing circuit is configured to;

identify a sound pattern based on the feedback signal,

control the light source in response to the feedback signal, wherein at least a portion of a detected word in the sound pattern is displayed on the display.