Closed system mouthpiece with light and heat generation to activate a formulation to increase its volume

• US 9,572,645 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2013
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GLO Science, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Jbl Radical Innovations, LLC
• Inventors: Levine, Jonathan B., Murray, Owen J., Dave, Elmar A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mallari, Patricia
• Assistant Examiner(s): TOTH, KAREN E
• Application Number:
  US13/956,787
• Publication Number:
  US 20150037749A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,300 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14507 specially adapted for measuring characteristics of body fluids other than blood devices for taking samples of body liquids A61B10/0045
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1468 using chemical or electrochemical methods, e.g. by polarographic means A61B5/1486 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4277 saliva secretion
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/003 Apparatus for curing resins by radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/063 Medicament applicators for teeth or gums, e.g. treatment with fluorides
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/066 Bleaching devices; Whitening agent applicators for teeth, e.g. trays or strips
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 5/90 Oral protectors for use during treatment, e.g. lip or mouth protectors A61C5/82 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0017 Mouth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/00 Heating or cooling appliances for medical or therapeutic treatment of the human body heating or cooling means in connection with bedsteads or mattresses A47C21/00 ; massage, therapeutic baths A61H; hyperthermia using electric or magnetic fields or ultrasound A61N; electric heating elements H05B
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0606 Mouth
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0651 Diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0624 for eliminating microbes, germs, bacteria on or in the body

Abstract

A closed system mouthpiece uses light and heat generation to activate a gel formulation to increase its volume. The gel formulation is coated into the mouthpiece, which is inserted into the user'"'"'s mouth. Application of heat above a threshold temperature causes the gel to transform into foam and expand out of the mouthpiece and into the oral cavity. The mouthpiece creates a hermetic seal such that the foam expands out throughout the oral cavity into nooks and crannies that are normally difficult to access. Activation of a light source embedded within the mouthpiece enhances the bacteria killing properties of the foam material. The pH balance of the mouth is restored by the inventive method and apparatus to a neutral level in the range of 6.75 to 7.25.

Claims

1. A mouthpiece, comprising:

a) a main body having a bite tab extending rearwardly central of said main body and having upper and lower surfaces engageable by a user'"'"'s teeth;

b) said main body having a periphery extending above and below said bite tab and including a peripheral seal extending completely and continuously therearound and configured to engage gums of said user wearing said mouthpiece to seal said user'"'"'s oral cavity from outside said oral cavity, said peripheral seal comprising two concentric sealing members, a first peripheral seal comprising a seal bead and a second peripheral seal adjacent said first peripheral seal and said second peripheral seal comprising a wiper blade;

c) said mouthpiece carrying a pH sensor immersable in saliva within the oral cavity and generating signals indicative of pH of saliva; and

d) an indicator operating responsive to generation of said signals to display pH of saliva within said oral cavity.

2. The mouthpiece of claim 1, wherein said wiper blade is concentrically outside said seal bead.

3. The mouthpiece of claim 1, further including a flexible circuit board embedded within said main body and connected to a power source, said flexible circuit board carrying a first array of light sources and a second array of heat sources.

4. The mouthpiece of claim 3, wherein said light sources comprise LEDs located in a common plane with said bite tab.

5. The mouthpiece of claim 4, wherein said heat sources comprise rows of heat generating resistors above and below said LEDs.

6. The mouthpiece of claim 4, wherein said main body and bite tab are transparent whereby light from said LEDs is transmitted within said oral cavity through said main body and bite tab.

7. The mouthpiece of claim 6, wherein said first peripheral seal comprises a seal bead and said second peripheral seal comprises a wiper blade.

8. The mouthpiece of claim 7, wherein said wiper blade is concentrically outside said seal bead.

9. The mouthpiece of claim 1, wherein said indicator is carried by said mouthpiece.

10. The mouthpiece of claim 1, wherein said indicator is separate from said mouthpiece.

11. The mouthpiece of claim 1, wherein said pH sensor includes two spaced electrodes exposed outside said main body.