Intraoral appliances for sampling soft-tissue
AssigneeAlign Technology, Inc.
InventorsAvi KOPELMAN, Srinivas KAZA
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Soft tissue (e.g., gingival) sensors for sensing one or more analytes from the soft tissue while being stably held in position against hard tissue, such as the teeth. Described herein are methods and apparatuses for stably holding a soft tissue sensor relative to the teeth so that the soft tissue sensor can sample, including continuously sample. In particular, described herein are methods and apparatuses for holding a sensor having one or more microneedles in position for sampling from the gingiva.
Claims21
An intraoral, soft-tissue sensor system, the system comprising:
- an intraoral appliance shaped to receive a patient's teeth within a cavity and to secure the intraoral appliance against the patient's teeth;
- a soft tissue sensor mounted to the intraoral appliance, wherein the soft tissue sensor comprises one or more microneedles projecting from the intraoral appliance that are configured to penetrate soft tissue adjacent to the patient's teeth when worn,
- wherein the soft tissue sensor is configured to detect at least one analyte through the one or more microneedles;
- and
- a bias coupled to the soft tissue sensor configured to apply a biasing force to the soft tissue sensor.
A method of detecting an analyte from a patient's soft tissue, the method comprising:
- placing an intraoral appliance onto the patient's teeth so that the patient's teeth are secured within a cavity of the intraoral appliance;
- biasing a soft tissue sensor mounted to the intraoral appliance against the soft tissue, wherein the soft tissue sensor comprises one or more microneedles projecting from the intraoral appliance, further wherein biasing comprises applying a biasing force to the soft tissue sensor to penetrate a soft tissue adjacent to the patient's teeth;
- and
- sensing an analyte through the one or more microneedles.
An intraoral, soft-tissue sensor system, the system comprising:
- an intraoral appliance shaped to receive a patient's teeth within a cavity and to secure the intraoral appliance against the patient's teeth;
- and
- a soft tissue sensor detachably mounted to the intraoral appliance, wherein the soft tissue sensor comprises one or more microneedles projecting from the intraoral appliance that are configured to penetrate soft tissue adjacent to the patient's teeth when worn, wherein the soft tissue sensor is configured to detect at least one analyte from the patient's soft tissue through the one or more microneedles.
21-51. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.