Analyzing data from a sensor-enabled device

• US 9,223,903 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2012
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Lamb, John P., Will, Henry C. IV
• Primary Examiner(s): KINSAUL, DANIEL W
• Application Number:
  US13/450,540
• Publication Number:
  US 20130282695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,349 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0002 Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0004 with a controlling means
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0006 with a controlling brush technique device, e.g. stroke movement measuring device
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0008 with means for controlling duration, e.g. time of brushing
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0012 with a pressure controlling device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0462 Apparatus with built-in sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4547 Evaluating teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4833 Assessment of subject's compliance to treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7246 using correlation, e.g. template matching or determination of similarity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7282 Event detection, e.g. detecting unique waveforms indicative of a medical condition A61B5/4094, A61B5/4818, A61B5/349, A61B5/0823 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9038 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/60 for the operation of medical equipment or devices
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems

Abstract

An approach for analyzing data collected by a sensor-enabled device over a network is provided. Specifically, in a typical embodiment, a set of usage data will be received from a device over a network. The set of usage data may be collected via at least one sensor integrated with the device, and the set of usage data may pertain to use of the device by a user. Regardless, the set of usage data will be compared to a set of diagnostic information stored in at least one computer storage device. The set of diagnostic information typically pertains to a condition (e.g., medical) treated by use of the device (e.g., dental, cardiac, renal, etc.). Based on the comparison, at least one determination (e.g., diagnosis, treatment plan, level of compliance with applicable standards, etc.) will be made and a set of reports will be generated based thereon.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for analyzing data from a sensor-enabled toothbrush, comprising:

receiving a set of usage data, pertaining to a user'"'"'s use of the toothbrush, from the toothbrush over a cloud network, the set of usage data being collected via at least one sensor integrated with the toothbrush, and the set of usage data comprising;

an angle of the toothbrush against at least one tooth of the user, a pressure of the toothbrush against the at least one tooth of the user, a length of time the user brushed the at least one tooth, and an order of brushing of the at least one tooth by the user;

providing a first graph showing average, high, and low pressure applied to each tooth surface;

providing a second graph of an amount of time spent on the each tooth surface;

receiving, over the cloud network, usage data pertaining to other users'"'"' use of other toothbrushes;

comparing the set of usage data, pertaining to the user'"'"'s use of the toothbrush, to a set of diagnostic information stored in at least one computer storage device, the set of diagnostic information pertaining to a condition treated by use of the toothbrush;

aggregating, into aggregated usage data, a result of the comparison with the usage data pertaining to other users'"'"' use of other toothbrushes;

analyzing the aggregated usage data;

determining, based on the analysis, a correlation of a characteristic of teeth to a parameter of the toothbrush or use of the toothbrush based on the analyzing;

generating a set of reports based on the comparison, the set of reports indicating at least one recommendation based on the correlation, and the most effective toothpaste and bristle type according to patient phenotype.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a set of toothbrush information from a manufacturer of the toothbrush, wherein the set of toothbrush information comprises at least one of:

a bristle material, a size of bristles, a length of bristles, a number of bristles, or an angle of bristle cut.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising analyzing the set of toothbrush information in addition to the aggregated usage data.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, the toothbrush being a medical device, and the condition pertaining to a medical state of the user.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising determining a medical condition of the user.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, making at least one determination pertaining to at least one of:

a level of effectiveness of the toothbrush to treat the condition, and a level of compliance of the user with a set of standards for prevention of a medical condition.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, the network comprising a cloud computing network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of teeth comprises at least one of:

cavities in the teeth, gum recession around the teeth, and hardness of the teeth.

9. A system for analyzing data from a sensor-enabled device, comprising:

a memory medium comprising instructions;

a bus coupled to the memory medium; and

a processor coupled to the bus that when executing the instructions causes the system to;

receive a set of usage data, pertaining to a user'"'"'s use of the toothbrush, from the toothbrush over a cloud network, the set of usage data being collected via at least one sensor integrated with the toothbrush, and the set of usage data comprising;

an angle of the toothbrush against at least one tooth of the user, a pressure of the toothbrush against the at least one tooth of the user, a length of time the user brushed the at least one tooth, and an order of brushing of the at least one tooth by the user;

provide a first graph showing average, high, and low pressure applied to each tooth surface;

provide a second graph of an amount of time spent on the each tooth surface;

receive, over the cloud network, usage data pertaining to other users'"'"' use of other toothbrushes;

compare the set of usage data, pertaining to the user'"'"'s use of the toothbrush, to a set of diagnostic information stored in at least one computer storage device, the set of diagnostic information pertaining to a condition treated by use of the toothbrush;

aggregate, into aggregated usage data, a result of the comparison with the usage data pertaining to other users'"'"' use of other toothbrushes;

analyze the aggregated usage data;

determine, based on the analysis, a correlation of a characteristic of teeth to a parameter of the toothbrush or use of the toothbrush based on the analyzing;

generate a set of reports based on the comparison, the set of reports indicating at least one recommendation based on the correlation, and the most effective toothpaste and bristle type according to patient phenotype.

10. The system of claim 9, the memory medium further comprising instructions for causing the system to receive a set of toothbrush information from a manufacturer of the toothbrush, wherein the set of toothbrush information comprises at least one of:

a bristle material, a size of bristles, a length of bristles, a number of bristles, or an angle of bristle cut.

11. The system of claim 10, the memory medium further comprising instructions to analyze the set of toothbrush information in addition to the aggregated usage data.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the characteristic of teeth comprises at least one of:

cavities in the teeth, gum recession around the teeth, and hardness of the teeth.

13. The system of claim 9, the toothbrush being a medical device, and the condition pertaining to a medical state of the user.

14. The system of claim 9, further comprising determining a medical condition of the user.

15. The system of claim 9, making at least one determination pertaining to at least one of:

a level of effectiveness of the toothbrush to treat the condition, and a level of compliance of the user with a set of standards for prevention of a medical condition.

16. The system of claim 9, the network comprising a cloud computing network.

17. A computer program product for analyzing data from a sensor-enabled device, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage device, and program instructions stored on the computer readable storage device, to:

receive a set of usage data, pertaining to a user'"'"'s use of the toothbrush, from the toothbrush over a cloud network, the set of usage data being collected via at least one sensor integrated with the toothbrush, and the set of usage data comprising;

an angle of the toothbrush against at least one tooth of the user, a pressure of the toothbrush against the at least one tooth of the user, a length of time the user brushed the at least one tooth, and an order of brushing of the at least one tooth by the user;

provide a first graph showing average, high, and low pressure applied to each tooth surface;

provide a second graph of an amount of time spent on the each tooth surface;

receive, over the cloud network, usage data pertaining to other users'"'"' use of other toothbrushes;

compare the set of usage data, pertaining to the user'"'"'s use of the toothbrush, to a set of diagnostic information stored in at least one computer storage device, the set of diagnostic information pertaining to a condition treated by use of the toothbrush;

aggregate, into aggregated usage data, a result of the comparison with the usage data pertaining to other users'"'"' use of other toothbrushes;

analyze the aggregated usage data;

determine, based on the analysis, a correlation of a characteristic of teeth to a parameter of the toothbrush or use of the toothbrush based on the analyzing;

generate a set of reports based on the comparison, the set of reports indicating at least one recommendation based on the correlation, and the most effective toothpaste and bristle type according to patient phenotype.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, the computer readable storage device further comprising instructions to receive a set of toothbrush information from a manufacturer of the sensor-enabled toothbrush, wherein the set of sensor-enabled device information comprises at least one of:

a bristle material, a size of bristles, a length of bristles, a number of bristles, or an angle of bristle cut.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, the computer readable storage device further comprising instructions to analyze the set of toothbrush information in addition to the aggregated usage data.

20. The computer program product of claim 17, the sensor-enabled toothbrush being a medical device, and the condition pertaining to a medical state of the user.

21. The computer program product of claim 17, the computer readable storage device further comprising instructions to determine a medical condition of the user.

22. The computer program product of claim 17, making at least one determination pertaining to at least one of:

a level of effectiveness of the toothbrush to treat the condition, and a level of compliance of the user with a set of standards for prevention of a medical condition.

23. The computer program product of claim 17, the network comprising a cloud computing network.

24. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the characteristic of teeth comprises at least one of:

cavities in the teeth, gum recession around the teeth, and hardness of the teeth.

25. A method for deploying a system for analyzing data from a sensor-enabled device, comprising:

providing a computer infrastructure being operable to;

receive a set of usage data, pertaining to a user'"'"'s use of the toothbrush, from the toothbrush over a cloud network, the set of usage data being collected via at least one sensor integrated with the toothbrush, and the set of usage data comprising;

an angle of the toothbrush against at least one tooth of the user, a pressure of the toothbrush against the at least one tooth of the user, a length of time the user brushed the at least one tooth, and an order of brushing of the at least one tooth by the user;

provide a first graph showing average, high, and low pressure applied to each tooth surface;

provide a second graph of an amount of time spent on the each tooth surface;

receive, over the cloud network, usage data pertaining to other users'"'"' use of other toothbrushes;

compare the set of usage data, pertaining to the user'"'"'s use of the toothbrush, to a set of diagnostic information stored in at least one computer storage device, the set of diagnostic information pertaining to a condition treated by use of the toothbrush;

aggregate, into aggregated usage data, a result of the comparison with the usage data pertaining to other users'"'"' use of other toothbrushes;

analyze the aggregated usage data;

determine, based on the analysis, a correlation of a characteristic of teeth to a parameter of the toothbrush or use of the toothbrush based on the analyzing;

generate a set of reports based on the comparison, the set of reports indicating at least one recommendation based on the correlation, and the most effective toothpaste and bristle type according to patient phenotype.