# US 11,304,778 B2 · Intraoral appliances with proximity and contact sensing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,304,778 B2 - Document ID: US11304778B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/146,465 - Filed: 2021-01-11 - Published: 2021-08-12 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2016-06-17 - Assignees: Align Technology, Inc. - Applicants: Align Technology, Inc. - Inventors: Yaser Shanjani; Bruce Cam; Jun Sato; John Y. Morton; Victor Chen; Chunhua Li; Allen R. Boronkay; Srinivas Kaza - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11304778B2 ## CPC - A61C 7/002: {Orthodontic computer assisted systems} - A61B 5/0015: {characterised by features of the telemetry system} - A61B 5/0816: {Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency (measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00)} - A61B 5/4818: {Sleep apnoea} - A61B 5/682: {Mouth, e.g., oral cavity; tongue; Lips; Teeth} - 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)} - H04B 5/00: Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems - H04B 5/22: Capacitive coupling - H04B 5/26: using coils - H04B 5/70: specially adapted for specific purposes - H04B 5/72: for local intradevice communication - H04B 5/77: for interrogation - H04Q 9/00: Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom - H04B 5/45: Transponders - H04Q 2209/43: using wireless personal area networks [WPAN], e.g. 802.15, 802.15.1, 802.15.4, Bluetooth® or Zigbee® - H04Q 2209/50: using a mobile data collecting device, e.g. walk by or drive by - 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) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04Q: SELECTING (switches, relays, selectors H01H; wireless communication networks H04W) ## Abstract Detection of placement of dental aligners in patient mouth on teeth for indication of wearing compliance. Described herein are apparatuses and methods for detecting wearing, including compliance. In some variations these apparatuses and methods may include a sensor configured to detect deflection of the one or more deflectable structures. In some variations, these apparatuses and methods may include a proximity sensor coupled to the appliance shell and configured to generate sensor data when in proximity with intraoral tissue. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for monitoring a characteristic of a patient's intraoral cavity or airway, the apparatus comprising: an intraoral appliance shaped to receive the patient's teeth and comprising a transmitter and a receiver; and one or more processors configured to: cause the transmitter to emit a signal within the patient's intraoral cavity, measure a signal returning from the patient's intraoral cavity or airway in response to the emitted signal using the receiver, and determine the characteristic of the patient's intraoral cavity or airway based on the measured signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the characteristic comprises one or more of: airway diameter, airway volume, airway resistance, lung fluid level, soft tissue crowding, breathing rate, muscle activity, ionic composition of saliva, or ionic composition of oral mucosa. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the characteristic is related to a sleep disorder of the patient, the sleep disorder comprising one or more of sleep apnea, snoring, or bruxism. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the emitted signal comprises electrical energy, acoustic energy, or mechanical energy. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the emitted signal comprises electrical energy and wherein the one or more processors is configured to determine the characteristic of the patient's intraoral cavity or airway based on the measured signal by determining an electrical impedance of the patient's intraoral cavity or airway based on the measured signal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the emitted signal comprises a first waveform, the measured signal comprises a second waveform, and wherein the one or more processors is configured to determine the characteristic of the patient's intraoral cavity or airway based on the measured signal by identifying a change between the first and second waveforms. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are disposed on or within the intraoral appliance. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intraoral appliance comprises a polymeric shell having a plurality of teeth-receiving cavities. ### Claim 9 A method for monitoring a characteristic of a patient's intraoral cavity or airway, the method comprising: positioning an intraoral appliance in the patient's intraoral cavity, the intraoral appliance shaped to receive the patient's teeth and comprising a transmitter and a receiver; causing the transmitter to emit a signal within the patient's intraoral cavity; measuring a signal returning from the patient's intraoral cavity or airway in response to the emitted signal using the receiver; and determining the characteristic of the patient's intraoral cavity or airway based on the measured signal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the characteristic comprises one or more of: airway diameter, airway volume, airway resistance, lung fluid level, soft tissue crowding, breathing rate, muscle activity, ionic composition of saliva, or ionic composition of oral mucosa. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the characteristic is related to a sleep disorder of the patient, the sleep disorder comprising one or more of sleep apnea, snoring, or bruxism. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the emitted signal comprises electrical energy, acoustic energy, or mechanical energy. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the emitted signal comprises electrical energy and wherein determining comprises determining an electrical impedance of the patient's intraoral cavity or airway based on the measured signal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the emitted signal comprises a first waveform, the measured signal comprises a second waveform, and wherein determining comprises identifying a change between the first and second waveforms. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the causing, measuring, and determining steps are performed by one or more processors disposed on or within the intraoral appliance. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the intraoral appliance comprises a polymeric shell having a plurality of teeth-receiving cavities. ### Claim 17 A device for monitoring usage of an intraoral appliance, the device comprising: an appliance shell comprising a plurality of teeth receiving cavities; one or more vibration sensors operably coupled to the appliance shell and configured to generate sensor data of intraoral vibration patterns; and a processor operably coupled to the one or more vibration sensors and configured to process the sensor data so as to determine whether the intraoral appliance is being worn on a patient's teeth, wherein the processor determines whether the intraoral appliance is being worn by comparing the intraoral vibration patterns to patient-specific intraoral vibration patterns.