Methods and devices for monitoring bruxism and/or sleep apnea and alleviating associated conditions
OwnerAris MARDIROSSIAN, Robert J. SANKERinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Techniques and wearable appliances for monitoring bruxism, and/or for alleviating bruxism or sleep apnea related to bruxism are provided. In certain example embodiments, there is provided a custom teeth guard configured to be attached to at least some teeth in one of the upper or lower jaws, having at least two different non-zero amounts of padding arranged at positions located between teeth in the upper jaw and teeth in the lower jaw in accordance with predetermined strength of grinding of teeth at the positions. The custom teeth guard may be useful in helping to preempt apneic events and/or the like, e.g., by reducing the incidence and/or severity of teeth grinding.
Claims19
A custom teeth guard configured to be attached to at least some teeth in one of the upper or lower jaws, having at least two different non-zero amounts of padding arranged at positions located between teeth in the upper jaw and teeth in the lower jaw in accordance with predetermined strength of grinding of teeth at the positions.
A custom teeth guard, comprising:
- a first part configured to be attached to at least some teeth in the upper jaw;
- a second part configured to be attached to at least some teeth in the lower jaw, at least one of the first or the second part having at least two different non-zero amounts of padding arranged at positions located between teeth in the upper jaw and teeth in the lower jaw in accordance with predetermined strength of grinding of teeth at the positions;
- a connector part coupling the first part and the second part at the back of the mouth when the first part is attached to the teeth in the upper jaw and the second part is attached to the teeth in the lower jaw;
- and
- a through hole for facilitating breathing.
A system, comprising:
- an apparatus with a wearable part configured to be positioned in the mouth of a patient between the upper jaw and the lower jaw and comprising:
- a plurality of pressure sensors to detect grinding pressure of corresponding teeth when teeth in the upper jaw and teeth in the lower jaw contact each other;
- and
- circuitry to report, for respective teeth, the detected grinding pressure and an identification of the tooth for which the detected grinding pressure is being reported.
A system including an apparatus wearable by a patient, comprising:
- a first part comprising at least one pressure sensor and configured to be positioned in the mouth of the patient between the upper jaw and the lower jaw to detect a pressure event when teeth in the upper jaw and teeth in the lower jaw contact each other;
- a second part comprising at least one of an airflow sensor configured to detect air flow associated with the throat of the patient, or a vibration sensor configured to detect a vibration event in the throat of the patient;
- and
- a processor configured to receive signals from the at least one pressure sensor and at least one of the air flow sensor or the vibration sensor, and further configured to:
- based upon the detected pressure event and at least one of the detected air flow or the detected vibration event, determine an occurrence of an apnea event;
- and
- in response to the determined apnea event, generate a signal to cause at least one of opening the jaw or providing pressurized air to induce breathing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.