# US 10,946,188 B2 · Systems and methods for treatment of 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 10,946,188 B2 - Document ID: US10946188B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/285,103 - Filed: 2019-02-25 - Published: 2019-06-20 - Granted: 2021-03-16 - Earliest claimed: 2007-09-05 - Assignees: Biolectrics LLC - Applicants: Biolectrics LLC - Inventors: Issam Nemeh; William J. Leimkuehler, Jr.; James G. Azlein; David Mandel; Leon Marucchi; Michael Keller; David Pierson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10946188B2 ## CPC - A61N 1/0548: {Oral electrodes} - A61C 5/90: Oral protectors for use during treatment, e.g. lip or mouth protectors (A61C5/82 takes precedence) - A61C 17/005: {Devices for dental prophylaxis} - A61C 19/06: Implements for therapeutic treatment (radiation therapy A61N5/00) - A61C 19/063: {Medicament applicators for teeth or gums, e.g. treatment with fluorides} - A61N 1/025: {Digital circuitry features of electrotherapy devices, e.g. memory, clocks, processors} - A61N 1/20: continuous direct currents - A61N 1/205: {for promoting a biological process} - A61N 1/32: alternating or intermittent currents {(applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling A61N1/40; microwave apparatus A61N5/02)} - B29C 45/14008: {Inserting articles into the mould (B29C45/14827 takes precedence)} - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) - 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) - 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) ## Abstract A method and apparatus for the concurrent treatment of multiple oral diseases and defects while promoting general oral hygiene utilizing direct current electricity and methods for manufacturing the same. Electrodes are used to deliver a direct current to the gingival tissues of a mouth in order to achieve a number of therapeutic, prophylactic, and regenerative benefits. These benefits include killing oral microbes, increasing oral vasodilation, reducing oral biofilm, improving oral blood circulation, reversing oral bone resorption, promoting oral osteogenesis, treating gum recession, and fostering gingival regeneration. Other benefits include the treatment of gingivitis, periodontitis, and oral malodor, and other systemic diseases correlated with oral pathogens. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for treatment of an oral cavity, said apparatus comprising: a U-shaped mouthpiece configured to be situated about a plurality of teeth of a patient; a first electrode supported by the mouthpiece; a second electrode supported by the mouthpiece and positioned transverse from the first electrode; an electrically conductive medium disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; and a power supply electrically coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode, the power supply being capable of delivering direct electrical current to at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the electrically conductive medium comprises a teeth whitening agent. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein delivering direct electrical current to at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode catalyzes the teeth whitening agent. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein the power supply comprises a microcontrolled power supply, the system further comprising a user input device connected to the power supply. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A system according to claim 3, the user input device comprising controls allowing the patient to control at least one of power on/off, direct current delivery level, treatment duration, and electrode polarity. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) A system according to claim 3, further comprising a plurality of electrical conductors connecting the first electrode 5 and the second electrode to the power supply. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein the direct electrical current is approximately between 1 and 500 microamps. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A system according to claim 6, wherein the direct electrical current is approximately between 5 and 250 microamps. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein when the system is placed in the mouth of the patient and the direct current is delivered by the power supply, the delivery has at least one effect of killing oral microbes, increasing oral vasodilation, improving oral blood circulation, teeth whitening, reversing oral bone resorption, increasing oral osteogenesis, reducing gum tissue recession, increasing gingival regeneration, and reducing oral malodor. ### Claim 9 A method of treating an oral cavity comprising the steps of: placing a first electrode in a mouth of a patient; placing a second electrode in the mouth; placing an electrically conductive medium between the first electrode and the second electrode; delivering a direct electrical current from the first electrode, through the electrically conductive medium, to the second electrode, wherein the electrically conductive medium comprises a teeth whitening agent. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A method according to claim 9, wherein the teeth whitening agent is catalyzed during the delivering step. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) A method according to claim 9, wherein the delivery step has at least one effect of killing oral microbes, increasing oral vasodilation, improving oral blood circulation, teeth whitening, reversing oral bone resorption, increasing oral osteogenesis, reducing gum tissue recession, increasing gingival regeneration, and reducing oral malodor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) A method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of placing a mouthpiece in the mouth so as to substantially cover a plurality of teeth in the mouth, the first electrode and the second electrode being supported by the mouthpiece. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) A method according to claim 9, wherein the duration of the delivering step is approximately 5 to 15 minutes.