# US 11,026,603 B2 · System and method of using a tooth antenna > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,026,603 B2 - Document ID: US11026603B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/374,496 - Filed: 2019-04-03 - Published: 2019-10-03 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-03 - Assignees: Trustees of Tufts College - Applicants: Trustees of Tufts College - Inventors: Fiorenzo G. Omenetto; Peter Tseng; Bradley Napier; Mark Brenckle; Logan Garbarini - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11026603B2 ## CPC - A61B 5/14507: {specially adapted for measuring characteristics of body fluids other than blood (devices for taking samples of body liquids A61B10/0045)} - A61B 5/14532: {for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement} - A61B 5/14539: {for measuring pH} - A61B 5/14546: {for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes} - A61B 5/1468: using chemical or electrochemical methods, e.g. by polarographic means - A61B 5/682: {Mouth, e.g., oral cavity; tongue; Lips; Teeth} - G01N 27/028: {Circuits therefor (measuring impedance per se G01R27/02)} - A61B 5/01: Measuring temperature of body parts {; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue} (clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20) - A61B 5/4845: {Toxicology, e.g. by detection of alcohol, drug or toxic products (A61B5/4848 takes precedence)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract This disclosure provides a dielectric sensor configured to detect a physiological variable within a subject. The dielectric sensor having at least one split-ring resonator configured to be positioned within an oral cavity of the subject and to be bioresponsive to at least one physiological variable. The split-ring resonator having a first resonator loop, a second resonator loop, and a dielectric interlayer interposed between and contacting the first resonator and the second resonator. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A dielectric sensor configured to detect a physiological variable within a subject, the dielectric sensor comprising: a split-ring resonator configured to be positioned within an oral cavity of the subject and to be bioresponsive to at least one physiological variable, the split-ring resonator comprising: a first resonator loop; a second resonator loop; and a dielectric interlayer interposed between and contacting the first resonator and the second resonator, wherein the dielectric interlayer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a silk film, a silk gel, a responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogel, a PNIPAM-based hydrogel, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The dielectric sensor of claim 1, wherein the dielectric interlayer has a thickness between the first resonator loop and the second resonator loop is between 0.5 and 3 micrometers. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The dielectric sensor of claim 1, wherein the first resonator loop and the second resonator loop are positioned to form a broadside-coupled split-ring resonator. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The dielectric sensor of claim 1, wherein the physiological variable is selected from the group consisting of glucose concentration, ethanol concentration, salinity, pH, and temperature. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The dielectric sensor of claim 1, wherein the dielectric sensor is sized to fit within a 3 mm by 3 mm by 1 mm box. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The dielectric sensor of claim 1, wherein the dielectric sensor is configured to integrate with a tooth of the subject. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The dielectric sensor of claim 1 further comprising a porous outer layer enveloping the at least one split-ring resonator. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The dielectric sensor of claim 7, wherein the porous outer layer comprises silk fibroin. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The dielectric sensor of claim 1, wherein the dielectric interlayer undergoes a change in thickness as a bioresponse to the at least one physiological variable. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The dielectric sensor of claim 1, wherein the dielectric constant of the dielectric interlayer undergoes a change as a bioresponse to the at least one physiological variable. ### Claim 11 A bio-sensing system configured to detect a physiological variable within a subject, the bio-sensing system comprising: a split-ring resonator configured to be positioned within an oral cavity of the subject and to be bioresponsive to at least one physiological variable, the split-ring resonator comprising: a first resonator loop; a second resonator loop; a dielectric interlayer interposed between and contacting the first resonator and the second resonator, wherein the dielectric interlayer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a silk film, a silk gel, a responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogel, a PNIPAM-based hydrogel, and combinations thereof; and a radiofrequency (RF) network analyzer configured to detect the resonant frequency and amplitude generated by the split-ring resonator; and a processing system coupled to the RF network analyzer configured to: control the RF network analyzer to detect the resonant frequency and amplitude generated by the at least one split-ring resonator; and provide information regarding the at least one physiological variable. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The bio-sensing system of claim 11 further comprising at least one additional split-ring resonator configured to be positioned within an oral cavity of the subject and to be bioresponsive to at least one additional physiological variable. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The bio-sensing system of claim 11, wherein the first resonator loop and the second resonator loop are positioned to form a broadside-coupled split-ring resonator. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The bio-sensing system of claim 11, wherein the physiological variable is selected from the group consisting of glucose concentration, ethanol concentration, salinity, pH, and temperatures. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The bio-sensing system of claim 11, wherein the at least one split-ring resonator is configured to integrate with a tooth of the subject. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The bio-sensing system of claim 11, wherein the dielectric interlayer undergoes a change in thickness as a bioresponse to the at least one physiological variable, thereby altering at least one of the resonant frequency or resonant amplitude of the generated by the at least one split-ring resonator. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The bio-sensing system of claim 11, wherein the dielectric constant of the dielectric interlayer undergoes a change as a bioresponse to the at least one physiological variable, thereby altering at least one of the resonant frequency or resonant amplitude of the generated by the at least one split-ring resonator. ### Claim 18 A method of detecting a physiological variable within a subject, the method comprising: positioning a dielectric sensor within an oral cavity of the subject, wherein the dielectric sensor comprises at least one split-ring resonator configured to be bioresponsive to at least one physiological variable, the split-ring resonator comprising: a first resonator loop; a second resonator loop; and a dielectric interlayer interposed between and contacting the first resonator and the second resonator, wherein the dielectric interlayer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a silk film, a silk gel, a responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogel, a PNIPAM-based hydrogel, and combinations thereof; applying a controlled electromagnetic field to the dielectric sensor; detecting the resonant frequency and amplitude generated by the dielectric sensor; and providing information regarding the at least one physiological variable.