INTRA-ORAL LIGHT-THERAPY APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR THEIR USE

• US 20150140502A1
• Filed: 10/22/2014
• Published: 05/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LLLT Technologies SA
• Original Assignee: Biolux Research Limited
• Inventors: BRAWN, Peter, BREDIN, Ryan, SHAUGHNESSY, Timothy G., STRANGE, Kevin, MATHEWS, Paul, MARSANYI, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 9,730,780 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 433/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/006 Finger- or hand-supported dental trays
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/06 Implements for therapeutic treatment radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 2203/00 Means for making patients feel at ease during dental treatment, e.g. dental instruments in the form of toys
• 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: A61N 2005/0606 Mouth
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0632 Constructional aspects of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0651 Diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/06 using light

Abstract

In some embodiments, an apparatus comprises a housing, an emitter, and an electronic circuit. The housing is configured to fit within a patient'"'"'s mouth. The emitter is at least partially encased within the housing. The emitter is configured to emit an effective amount of light to the alveolar soft tissue when the housing is disposed within the mouth. The electronic circuit is operatively coupled to the emitter. The electronic circuit is configured to control the emitter when the housing is disposed within the mouth and the apparatus is in use during orthodontic treatment. The apparatus and its use for regulating tooth movement or maintaining or improving oral tissue health are disclosed herein.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a mouthpiece configured to fit within a patient'"'"'s mouth, the mouthpiece including a bite tray and a flange coupled to the bite tray, an inner face of the flange forming a first angle with an upper surface of the bite tray, the flange of the mouthpiece being deflectable with respect to the bite tray such that a second angle is formed between the inner face of the flange and the upper surface of the bite tray when the mouthpiece is disposed within the mouth, the second angle being less than the first angle; and

a light emitter disposed within the flange, the light emitter configured to emit light to the patient'"'"'s oral tissue when the mouthpiece is disposed within the mouth.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least of a portion of the mouthpiece defines a recess, the recess being configured to permit deflection of the flange of the mouthpiece with respect to the bite tray.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flange is a first flange, the mouthpiece includes a second flange coupled to the bite tray, the mouthpiece defines a notch between the first flange and the second flange, the notch configured to permit the first flange to deflect with respect to at least one of the mouthpiece or the second flange.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the mouthpiece defines a groove, the groove having a first end disposed at an anterior end of the mouthpiece and a second end disposed at a posterior end of the mouthpiece, the groove configured to permit the flange to deflect with respect to the mouthpiece.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a flexible circuit board disposed within the flange of the mouthpiece, the light emitter being coupled to a lingual side of the flexible circuit board; and

a heat transfer mechanism coupled to a buccal side of the flexible circuit board, the heat transfer mechanism configured to transfer at least a portion of heat generated by the light emitter to a buccal tissue of the patient when the mouthpiece is disposed within the patient'"'"'s mouth.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the heat transfer mechanism includes a copper tile.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the flange is a first flange, and the light emitter is a first light emitter, the oral tissue having a first region;

the mouthpiece includes a second flange coupled to the bite tray, an inner face of the second flange forming a third angle with the upper surface of the bite tray, the second flange of the mouthpiece being deflectable with respect to the bite tray such that a fourth angle less than the third angle is formed between the inner face of the second flange and the upper surface of the bite tray when the mouthpiece is disposed within the mouth; and

a second light emitter is embedded within the second flange, the second light emitter configured to emit a light to a second region of the patient'"'"'s oral tissue when the mouthpiece is disposed within the mouth.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece has a first orientation and a second orientation, the mouthpiece being upright in the first orientation and inverted in the second orientation, the apparatus further comprising:

a sensor configured to detect whether the mouthpiece is in its first orientation or its second orientation.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an electronic assembly configured to control at least one of an operational state of the emitter, a wavelength of the light emitted from the emitter, an intensity of the light emitted from the emitter, a frequency of the light emitted from the emitter, or a duration of light emission from the emitter, at least a portion of the electronic assembly being disposed in a bill coupled to the mouthpiece, the bill being disposed externally to the mouth when the mouthpiece is disposed within the mouth, the bill devoid of a wired connection with an external electronic device when the light emitter emits the light.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an external housing coupled to an anterior end of the mouthpiece and configured to be disposed exterior to the patient'"'"'s mouth when the mouthpiece is within the patient'"'"'s mouth, a power source and a microcontroller being disposed within the external housing.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bite tray includes a bite pad having a first thickness at a first portion of the bite pad and a second thickness at a second portion of the bite pad, the second thickness being greater than the first thickness.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bite tray includes a bite pad and a ridge extended between an inner perimeter of the bite pad and an outer perimeter of the bite pad, the ridge configured to be at least partially disposed between the central incisor teeth of the patient.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second angle is from about 10 degrees to about 15 degrees less than the first angle.

14. An apparatus, comprising:

a mouthpiece configured to be disposed within a mouth of a patient, a plurality of light emitters being disposed within the mouthpiece, the plurality of light emitters being configured to emit light to alveolar soft tissue of the patient;

a bill coupled to an anterior end of the mouthpiece, the bill configured to be disposed externally to the mouth when the mouthpiece is disposed within the mouth; and

an electronics assembly, at least a portion of the electronics assembly being disposed within the bill, the electronics assembly configured to control operation of the plurality of light emitters, the electronics assembly configured to send a first signal to cause a first light emitter from the plurality of light emitters to emit light, the electronics assembly configured to receive a second signal from a second light emitter from the plurality of light emitters, the second signal associated with the light emitted from the first light emitter, the electronics assembly configured to detect when the mouthpiece is disposed within the mouth based on the second signal.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein:

the mouthpiece includes a bite tray and a flange coupled to the bite tray, the plurality of light emitters being embedded within the flange,

a first angle is formed by an inner face of the flange and an upper surface of the bite tray when the flange is in a first position, a second angle is formed by the inner face of the flange and the upper surface of the bite tray when the flange is in a second position, the second angle being more acute than the first angle.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second angle is about 10 degrees to about 15 degrees more acute than the first angle.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the flange is a first flange, an upper portion of the mouthpiece defines a notch between the first flange and a second flange of the mouthpiece, the notch configured to permit the first flange to deflect with respect to the mouthpiece and the second flange.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the mouthpiece includes a groove defined by an outer surface of the mouthpiece, the groove having a first end disposed at an anterior end of the mouthpiece and a second end disposed at a posterior end of the mouthpiece, the groove configured to permit an upper portion of the mouthpiece to deflect towards the patient'"'"'s teeth when the mouthpiece is disposed in the mouth.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the mouthpiece includes a bite tray and a flange coupled to the bite tray, the plurality of light emitters being embedded within the flange, the apparatus further comprising:

a flexible circuit board disposed within the flange of the mouthpiece, the plurality of light emitters being coupled to a lingual side of the flexible circuit board; and

a heat transfer mechanism coupled to a buccal side of the flexible circuit board, the heat transfer mechanism configured to transfer at least a portion of heat generated by the light emitter to a buccal tissue of the patient when the mouthpiece is disposed within the patient'"'"'s mouth.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the mouthpiece has a first orientation and a second orientation, the mouthpiece being upright in the first orientation and inverted in the second orientation, the apparatus further comprising:

a sensor configured to detect whether the mouthpiece is in its first orientation or its second orientation.

21-61. -61. (canceled)