# US 10,869,630 B2 · Systems and methods for tongue-palate pressure measurement > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,869,630 B2 - Document ID: US10869630B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/007,022 - Filed: 2016-01-26 - Published: 2016-07-28 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2015-01-27 - Assignees: University of Kansas - Applicants: University of Kansas - Inventors: Jeff P. Searl - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10869630B2 ## CPC - A61B 5/4552: {Evaluating soft tissue within the mouth, e.g. gums or tongue} - A61B 5/682: {Mouth, e.g., oral cavity; tongue; Lips; Teeth} - B29C 39/02: for making articles of definite length, i.e. discrete articles - B29C 39/38: Heating or cooling - A61B 5/01: Measuring temperature of body parts {; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue} (clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20) - A61B 2562/0247: Pressure sensors - A61B 2562/12: Manufacturing methods specially adapted for producing sensors for in-vivo measurements - 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)} - B29D 99/0003: {Producing profiled members, e.g. beams} - B29L 2031/753: {Medical equipment; Accessories therefor (bloodbags, medical bags B29L2031/7148; artificial eyes B29L2011/0008)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - 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) - B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00) - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES ## Abstract A device for measuring the pressure applied between a user's tongue and palate includes a body shaped to fit complimentarily against the user's palate and a pressure sensor affixed to the body such that the device has a total thickness less than 4 millimeters. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tongue-palate pressure sensing device configured to engage at least a portion of a labial surface and at least a portion of a lingual surface of one or more of a user's teeth, and at least a portion of said user's palate, the device comprising; a body, the body having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the body having a thickness between the first surface and the second surface, the body being capable of being plastically deformed by an application of a pressure of between 3 pounds per square inch and 5 pounds per square inch at a deformation temperature between 38° C. and 100° C. and incapable of being plastically deformed by an application of between 3 pounds per square inch and 5 pounds per square inch below a rigid temperature of 38° C., the body including: a tooth region configured to engage at least said portion of a labial surface and at least said portion of a lingual surface of one or more of said user's teeth; and a palate region configured to engage said portion of said user's palate; a sensor connected to the body, the sensor configured to operate with less than 5% drift for at least 10 minutes; a communication module in data communication with the sensor; and at least one conduit providing data communication between the sensor and the communication module, wherein the at least one conduit does not protrude above the second surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tongue-palate pressure sensing device of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor located on the body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The tongue-palate pressure sensing device of claim 1, wherein the sensor measures both pressure and temperature. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The tongue-palate pressure sensing device of claim 2, wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor and the pressure sensor has a sensor thickness no greater than 2 millimeters. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The tongue-palate pressure sensing device of claim 4, wherein the device has a total thickness including the thickness of the body and the sensor thickness of no greater than 4 millimeters. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The tongue-palate pressure sensing device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor and the pressure sensor measures pressure applied to the sensor as low as 0.20 kilopascal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The tongue-palate pressure sensing device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor and the pressure sensor may operate with less than 1% drift for at least 10 minutes. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The tongue-palate pressure sensing device of claim 1, further comprising an incisor region having a lingual side and a labial side, the incisor region configured to engage at least one incisor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The tongue-palate pressure sensing device of claim 8, the labial side having a labial side height in a range of 2.0 millimeters to 10.0 millimeters. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The tongue-palate pressure sensing device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of pressure sensors in data communication with the communication module. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A method for using a tongue-palate pressure sensing device, the method comprising: providing the tongue-palate pressure sensing device of claim 1; placing the tongue-palate pressure sensing device of claim 1 in contact with a user's palate; and providing data to a computing device using the communication module of claim 1 and the sensor of claim 1. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the data is provided wirelessly. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising shaping a base plate by plastically deforming the base plate using a pressure greater than 3.0 pounds per square inch and less than 5.0 pounds per square inch. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the sensor is affixed to the body by dental adhesive. ### Claim 15 A tongue-palate pressure sensing device configured to engage at least a portion of a labial surface and at least a portion of a lingual surface of one or more of a user's teeth, and at least a portion of said user's palate, the device comprising; a body, the body having first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the body being capable of being plastically deformed by an application of a pressure of between 3 pounds per square inch and 5 pounds per square inch at a deformation temperature between 38° C. and 100° C. and incapable of being plastically deformed by an application of between 3 pounds per square inch and 5 pounds per square inch below a rigid temperature of 38° C., the body having a thickness between the first surface and second surface, the body having a tooth region configured to interact with a user's teeth, the body shaped to wrap around at least said portion of a labial surface and at least said portion of a lingual surface of one or more of said user's teeth and extend back onto said portion of said user's palate; a pressure sensor connected to the body; and a communication module in data communication with the pressure sensor. ### Claim 16 A tongue-palate pressure sensing device, the device comprising; a body, the body having first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the body having a thickness between the first surface and second surface no greater than 2 millimeters; a sensor connected to the body, the sensor including both a pressure sensor and a temperature sensor, the sensor having a thickness of no greater than 2 millimeters such that a total thickness including the thickness of the body and the sensor thickness of no greater than 4 millimeters, the sensor capable of measuring pressure applied to the sensor as low as 0.20 kilopascal, and the sensor capable of operating with less than 5% drift for at least 10 minutes, the body being capable of being plastically deformed by an application of a pressure of between 3 pounds per square inch and 5 pounds per square inch at a deformation temperature between 38° C. and 100° C. and incapable of being plastically deformed by an application of between 3 pounds per square inch and 5 pounds per square inch below a rigid temperature of 38° C.; and a communication module in data communication with the sensor; and at least one conduit providing data communication between the sensor and the communication module, wherein the at least one conduit is positioned in a recess between two of said user's teeth. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The tongue-palate pressure sensing device of claim 16, wherein the sensor is entirely within the body. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The tongue-palate pressure sensing device of claim 15, wherein the body and the tooth region are a unitary piece. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The tongue-palate pressure sensing device of claim 16, wherein the at least one conduit is positioned between said user's biscuspids.