Methods and Apparatus for Aligning Antennas of Low-Powered Intra - and Extra - Oral Electronic Wireless Devices

• US 20110207990A1
• Filed: 02/19/2010
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audiodontics, LLC
• Original Assignee: Audiodontics, LLC
• Inventors: Mersky, Barry L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,622,885 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/13 Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to the design and optimal placement of transmitting and receiving directional antennas, a priori, as used in intra-oral to extra-oral (or visa versa) wireless electronic systems regardless of the type and purpose of the data transmitted between the antennas (intra-oral and extra-oral). Systems related to the invention transmit data via electromagnetic radio waves or through an inductive loop coupling such as in stimulating the human hearing nerve (inner ear) via dental bone conduction pathway when operating in “receive mode”. “Send mode” systems related to the invention transmit non-acoustic information or voice data from inside the mouth to a receiver located outside the mouth.

Claims

1. A wireless electronic system comprising an intra-oral directional antenna and a companion extra-oral directional antenna respectively affixed to a first intra-oral unit and a second companion extra-oral unit wherein the intra-oral unit comprise transducers for transducing electrical energy to mechanical energy and vice versa, said intra-oral unit imparting low amplitude vibrations to teeth for conduction via the dental bone conduction pathway to the inner ear, or conversely transducing vibrations within said dental bone conduction pathway to electrical energy;

said electrical energy is magnetically induced or electromagnetically transmitted by to and from the intra-oral antenna to the extra-oral antenna and wherein said intra-oral and extra-oral antennas are stably, fixedly and spatially oriented relative to each other, a priori, for optimal gain and polarization.

2. A dental bone conduction hearing aid comprising the system of claim 1, wherein the application of low-amplitude vibration to the teeth and conduction to the inner ear results in perception of speech.

3. A method of treating or reducing the effects of motion sickness using the system of claim 1, said method comprising the application of low-amplitude vibration to the teeth and conduction to the inner ear to treat or reduce the effects of motion sickness through cancellation of low frequency waves at the otolith.

4. A method of treating or reducing stuttering using the system of claim 1, said method comprising the application of low-amplitude vibration to the teeth and conduction to the inner ear through a feed-back system whereby the system is two-way send/receive which recognizes stuttering and sends blocking signal.

5. A method of treating tinnitus using the system of claim 1, said method comprising the application of low-amplitude vibration to the teeth and conduction to the inner ear by supplying a low-level “

white noise”

type of signal via the dental bone conduction pathway.

6. The wireless electronic system of claim 1, wherein detection by a sensor such as tooth microphone of the low-amplitude vibration from the teeth or within the dental bone conduction pathway results in a signal that can be transmitted to a receiver unit worn outside the mouth, said receiver unit being capable of storing that data or further uplinking it to another system.

7. The wireless electronic system of claim 1, wherein detection of the low-amplitude vibration from the teeth or within the dental bone conduction pathway results in a means for transmitting non-speech breath sounds to another listener or recording device for the measurement of pathological breath sounds.

8. The pathological breath sounds of claim 7, comprising any one of breath obstructions pertinent to the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea, respiratory conditions such as wheezes, or wales related to respiratory disease, speech impediments such as “

low-voice”

, dysphonia, diseases and conditions related to the malfunctioning of vocal cords, or dysphagia and other problems related to swallowing.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a means for detecting skull vibration from the teeth or within the dental bone conduction pathway and transmitting the amplitude of the skull vibration to a human listener or recording device for determining whether there has been a skull trauma or potential damage to the brain.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the extra-oral antenna is located within six inches from the intra-oral antenna.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the extra-oral antenna is located on or adjacent to the pinna of the human ear.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the terminal tip of the extra-oral antenna can be moved relative to its companion antenna inside the mouth.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the movement of the antenna can be accomplished through use of a permanently deformable spring, wire, or tube.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the positioning and orientation of the extra-oral antenna can be maintained through use of medical-grade adhesive tape, or from straps or spring-like pressure created by a helmet, hat, or other convenience worn on the skull.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the strength of the electromagnetic field transmitted to and from the companion antennas is less than or equal to 0 dBM.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the intra-oral antenna is directly potted by medical grade silicone with a high “

Q-value.”

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the chemically set silicone potting material is further encased by mouth safe polymers or other materials including resins and metals that contact the oral tissues of a person.

18. A method of custom fit placement of an intra-oral unit in a wireless electronic system, said system comprising an intra-oral directional antenna and an extra-oral directional antenna respectively affixed to a first intra-oral unit and a second companion extra-oral unit wherein the intra-oral unit comprise transducers for transducing electrical energy to mechanical energy and vice versa, said intra-oral unit imparting low amplitude vibrations to teeth for conduction via the dental bone conduction pathway to the inner ear, or conversely transducing vibrations within said dental bone conduction pathway to electrical energy;

said electrical energy is magnetically induced or electromagnetically transmitted by an intra-oral directional antenna and an extra-oral directional antenna and wherein said intra-oral and extra-oral antennas are stably, fixedly and spatially oriented relative to each other, a priori, for optimal gain and polarization, said method comprising the steps of;

stably and fixedly seating the intra-oral unit in a custom fit position on the maxillary arch;

wherein a dental precision attachment means is used to maintain the stability of the intra-oral unit.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the dental precision attachment means comprise customized claws and hooks that engage at least one tooth in said maxillary arch.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the dental precision attachment means comprise male-female components one of which is attached to at least one tooth or dental implant and are removably engageable to each other through friction-fit, press-fit or spring-force, said attachment means used to position said intra-oral unit in the maxillary arch.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the dental precision attachment means comprise oral denture adhesive applied to the polymer or mouth-safe material that contacts the soft tissue areas of the maxillary arch.

22. A method of a priori spatial orientation of an intra-oral directional antenna relative to an extra-oral directional antenna in a wireless electronic system, said system comprising an intra-oral directional antenna and an extra-oral directional antenna respectively affixed to a first intra-oral unit and a second companion extra-oral unit wherein the intra-oral unit comprise transducers for transducing electrical energy to mechanical energy and vice versa, said intra-oral unit imparting low amplitude vibrations to teeth for conduction via the dental bone conduction pathway to the inner ear, or conversely transducing vibrations within said dental bone conduction pathway to electrical energy;

said electrical energy is magnetically induced or electromagnetically transmitted by the intra-oral and the extra-oral antennas and wherein said method comprises the steps of;

making a maxillary arch impression on an impression tray to capture the anatomical details of a user'"'"'s maxillary arch;

optionally making a custom pinna and/or ear canal (ear) impression;

determining the spatial relationship between the maxillary arch and the ear anatomy using an alignment tool;

determining from said impressions the optimal linear polarization between the intra-oral antenna and the extra-oral antenna based on said spatial relationship;

stably, fixedly, and precisely attaching the intra-oral and extra-oral antennas on the intra-oral and extra-oral units respectively;

stably and fixedly seating said intra oral and extra oral units with said spatially oriented antennas in their respective custom fit positions on the skull.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the maxillary arch and ear impressions are made with any non-toxic material which can capture soft and hard tissue details with less than one percent distortion.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the non-toxic material is polyvinylsiloxane.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the antennas are potted in a mouth-safe, non-toxic silicone that is thermally and electrically non-conductive and has a high “

Q”

value.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein a magnet of less than 2 mm in diameter is disposed on or about the intra-oral unit wherein its planar alignment and center reflects the optimum transmission point of the intra-oral directional antenna.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the extra-oral directional antenna can be oriented in a direction determined by an apparatus adaptable for use with said alignment tool, said apparatus comprising an alignment marker and magnetic needles embedded therein, said needles capable of aligning to a magnetic field emanating from intra-oral cavity, wherein said apparatus can point to optimal orientation of an antenna located in the mouth;

said optimal orientation indicated by parallel alignment of the alignment marker to the magnetic needles.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said orientation of said oriented extra-oral directional antenna is held in place using skin tapes, waxes, ear hooks, or straps.

29. An alignment tool constructed to transfer to a location away from the face the spatial relationship between the maxillary arch and the ear anatomy, said tool comprising means for anatomically simulated collocation of the maxillary arch impressions and the ear impressions.

30. The alignment tool of claim 29 further comprising a mouth tray holding portion and an ear tray holding portion extendably joined at a disconnection sleeve wherein the mouth tray holding portion comprises an oral impression material holding tray, that is ball-jointedly connected to the mouth tray holding portion;

and an ear tray holding tray that is ball-jointedly connected to the ear tray holding portion;

said tool designed and configured to precisely align a user'"'"'s maxillary arch impression with an ear, ear-hook, and/or ear canal impression, said mouth tray holding portion further comprising a laboratory stand mounting means for aid in remotely reproducing the anatomically simulated collocation of the oral impression and the ear impression.

31. The alignment tool of claim 30, wherein the ear impression holding tray and the mouth impression holding tray are slidably connected to the ear tray holding portion and the mouth tray holding portion respectively via tray mounting means and wherein calibration scales are optionally provided along portions in slidable engagement with the tray mounting means.

32. The alignment tool of claim 31, wherein the disconnection sleeve comprises matable half-round rounds which extend from the ear tray holding portion and the mouth tray holding portions of the tool in an opposable manner and further comprises retaining pins and opposed pin holes for calibrated extension and disconnection of the ear tray holding portion from the mouth tray holding portion.

33. An otoblock device adaptable for use in the alignment tool of claim 30 comprising a thin deformable wire intertwinable with a fine mesh material, said device comprising on one terminal end a mesh-work for use as an otoblock during ear impression taking, and on the other terminal end, a precision block which is fixably and rigidly connected to the ear tray holding portion of the alignment tool.

34. A non-magnetic apparatus adaptable for use in the alignment tool of claim 30 in lieu of the ear impression tray, said apparatus comprising an alignment marker and magnetic needles embedded therein, said needles capable of aligning to a magnetic field emanating from intra-oral cavity, wherein said apparatus can point to optimal orientation of an antenna located in the mouth;

said optimal orientation indicated by parallel alignment of the alignment marker to the magnetic needles.