# US 10,499,852 B2 · Dental appliance for use in supporting sensing devices within an oral cavity > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,499,852 B2 - Document ID: US10499852B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/730,281 - Filed: 2017-10-11 - Published: 2018-02-08 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2014-08-18 - Assignees: Klab LLC - Applicants: Klab LLC - Inventors: Ryan Keating; Tom Keating - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10499852B2 ## CPC - A61B 5/682: {Mouth, e.g., oral cavity; tongue; Lips; Teeth} - A61B 5/14539: {for measuring pH} - A61B 5/4547: {Evaluating teeth} - A61C 5/70: Tooth crowns; Making thereof - A61C 8/005: {Connecting devices for joining an upper structure with an implant member, e.g. spacers} - A61C 2204/005: using chip tag or any electronic identification mean, e.g. RFID - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61C: DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE (non-driven toothbrushes A46B; {tongue scrapers A61B17/24;} preparations for dentistry A61K6/00; preparations for cleaning the teeth or mouth A61K8/00, A61Q11/00) ## Abstract A dental appliance is described herein. The dental appliance includes an abutment device adapted to be coupled to a jawbone and a sensor support assembly coupled to the abutment device. The sensor support assembly includes a sensor chamber that is configured to receive a sensing device therein. A chamber cover is coupled to the sensor support assembly to enclose the sensor chamber. The chamber cover includes a plurality of orifices that are configured to couple the sensor chamber in flow communication with an oral cavity. A tooth cap is coupled to the abutment device and includes a cap opening to receive the sensor support assembly therein. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A dental appliance, comprising: an abutment device adapted to be coupled to a jawbone; a sensor support assembly coupled to the abutment device, the sensor support assembly including a sensor chamber that is configured to receive a sensing device therein; a chamber cover removably coupled to the sensor support assembly to enclose the sensor chamber, the chamber cover including an outer surface and a plurality of orifices defined along the outer surface of the chamber cover and configured to couple the sensor chamber in flow communication with an oral cavity; and a tooth cap coupled to the abutment device, the tooth cap including an inner surface that defines a cavity configured to receive the abutment device therein such that the tooth cap extends about a perimeter of the abutment device, and a tooth cap opening extending through an outer surface of the tooth cap, the tooth cap opening configured to receive the sensor support assembly therein such that the outer surface of the chamber cover is substantially flush with the outer surface of the tooth cap. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The dental appliance of claim 1, including at least one fastener configured to couple the chamber cover to the sensor support assembly. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The dental appliance of claim 1, wherein the tooth cap includes a contoured outer surface configured to form a biting surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The dental appliance of claim 3, wherein the tooth cap is orientated between adjacent teeth. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The dental appliance of claim 1, wherein the sensing device includes a pH sensor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The dental appliance of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of orifices are configured to allow saliva to enter the sensor chamber from the oral cavity. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The dental appliance of claim 1, further comprising a support ring coupled to the abutment device, the sensor support assembly coupled to the support ring and extending radially outwardly from an outer surface of the support ring. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The dental appliance of claim 1, including a jawbone anchoring member that is adapted to be coupled to the jawbone, the abutment device removably coupled to the jawbone anchoring member and extending outwardly from the jawbone anchoring member and into the oral cavity. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The dental appliance of claim 1, the abutment device having a supporting ridgeline configured to support the tooth cap thereon. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The dental appliance of claim 1, the sensing device includes at least one of a pH sensor, a pressure sensor, a force sensor, an RFID device, and an accelerometer. ### Claim 11 A dental appliance, comprising: a support ring adapted to be coupled to a tooth within an oral cavity, the support ring configured to extend radially about an outer surface of the tooth; a sensor support assembly extending radially outwardly from an outer surface of the support ring, the sensor support assembly including a recessed portion defining a sensor chamber that is configured to receive a sensing device therein; a chamber cover removably coupled to the sensor support assembly to enclose the sensor chamber, the chamber cover including an outer surface and at least one orifice defined along the outer surface of the chamber cover and configured to couple the sensor chamber in flow communication with an oral cavity; and a tooth cap coupled to the support ring and including an inner surface that defines a cavity configured to receive the support ring therein such that the tooth cap extends about a perimeter of the support ring, and a tooth cap opening extending through an outer surface of the tooth cap, the tooth cap opening configured to couple the sensor chamber in flow communication with the oral cavity such that the outer surface of the chamber cover is substantially flush with the outer surface of the tooth cap. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The dental appliance of claim 11, wherein the chamber cover includes a plurality of orifices configured to couple the sensor chamber in flow communication with an oral cavity. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The dental appliance of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of orifices are configured to allow saliva to enter the sensor chamber from the oral cavity. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The dental appliance of claim 11, wherein the tooth cap includes a contoured outer surface configured to form a biting surface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The dental appliance of claim 14, wherein the tooth cap is orientated between adjacent teeth. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The dental appliance of claim 11, wherein the sensing device includes a pH sensor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The dental appliance of claim 11 wherein the tooth cap extend across a space in a bite line vacated by one or more teeth. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The dental appliance of claim 11, wherein the outer surface of the tooth cap includes a contoured surface that is configured to resemble surrounding existing teeth. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The dental appliance of claim 11, wherein the sensing device includes at least one of a pH sensor, a pressure sensor, a force sensor, an RFID device, and an accelerometer. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The dental appliance of claim 11, including a plurality of fasteners configured to couple the chamber cover to the sensor support assembly.