Backscatter device-based dental imaging apparatus

A system for non-invasive monitoring of an orthodontic-element;

• wherein the system comprises:
• one or more monitoring-sensor-tags attached to the orthodontic-element, wherein each of the one or more monitoring-sensor-tags attached to the orthodontic-element comprises:
• at least one electric circuit, at least one electronic sensor, and a first-antenna, wherein the at least one electric circuit is operatively connected to both the at least one electronic sensor and the at least one first-antenna;
• the orthodontic-element, wherein the orthodontic-element is selected from one or more of:
• a lock that at least partially covers an orthodontic-bracket-receiving-cavity but that does not cover over an entirety of an orthodontic bracket, wherein the orthodontic-bracket-receiving-cavity is configured to receive a portion of an orthodontic-archwire;
• the orthodontic-archwire, wherein the orthodontic-archwire exists in one of two configurations with respect to the one or more monitoring-sensor-tags:
• a first configuration, wherein the one or more monitoring-sensor-tags is an elongate member that functions as an archwire configured for orthodontic use;
• or a second configuration, wherein a length of the orthodontic-archwire is covered by an isolation-layer, wherein the isolation-layer has at least some of the one or more monitoring-sensor-tags disposed therein;
• wherein in both the first configuration and in the second configuration the orthodontic-archwire has a uniform thickness;
• and wherein the orthodontic-archwire is a separate component from orthodontic brackets;
• an orthodontic-spring;
• an orthodontic-expander configured to widen a jaw of a patient, wherein the orthodontic-expander comprises at least one expander-arm and at least one force-generating-means that is in communication with the at least one expander-arm, wherein the one or more monitoring-sensor-tags are attached to the at least one expander-arm and/or are attached to the at least one force-generating-means, wherein the at least one expander-arm and the at least one force-generating-means are not touching a tooth of the patient, wherein the one or more monitoring-sensor-tags of the at least one expander-arm and/or of the at least one force-generating-means are not touching the tooth of the patient;
• an orthodontic elastic-band;
• or
• an orthodontic-power-chain;
• one or more readers;
• wherein each of the one or more readers comprises one or more second-antennas;
• wherein the one or more readers using the one or more second-antennas transmits electromagnetic radiation of a predetermined characteristic;
• wherein the first-antenna receives the electromagnetic radiation of the predetermined characteristic as an input;
• wherein this input causes the at least one electric circuit to take one or more readings from the at least one electronic sensor and to then transmit the one or more readings using the first-antenna back to the one or more second-antennas;
• wherein at least one of the second-antennas selected from the one or more second-antennas then receives the one or more readings;
• and the one or more readers or a device in communication with the one or more readers uses the one or more readings to determine a current state of the orthodontic-element;
• wherein the one or more monitoring-sensor-tags are passively powered from the electromagnetic radiation of the predetermined characteristic and not from an internal power source.