Mouth guard for determining physiological conditions of a subject and systems and methods for using same
AssigneeUniversity of Alaska Anchorage
InventorsAnthony J. Paris, Jennifer M. Brock, John A. Lund
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Mouth guards having electrodes, sensors, and/or accelerometers for determining one or more physiological conditions of a subject. Processing circuitry receives the outputs of the electrodes, sensors, and/or accelerometers. Optionally, at least a portion of the processing circuitry can be positioned within a helmet that is worn by a subject. The mouth guard can optionally be tethered to the helmet.
Claims20
A measurement system for determining at least one physiological condition of a subject, the subject having a head, a mouth, and upper and lower teeth, the measurement system comprising:
- a mouth guard comprising:
- a U-shaped element having an outer side wall, an inner side wall, and at least one biting surface, the outer side wall, the inner side wall, and the at least one biting surface together defining at least one channel configured to receive at least one of the upper teeth and the lower teeth of the subject;
- a plurality of electrodes operatively associated with the U-shaped element, the plurality of electrodes being spaced from one another about the U-shaped element and configured to remain in contact with tissue of the mouth of the subject when the at least one channel of the mouth guard receives at least one of the upper teeth and the lower teeth of the subject;
- and
- processing circuitry in operative communication with the plurality of electrodes of the mouth guard,
- wherein the processing circuitry is configured to measure impedance between respective electrodes of the plurality of electrodes through tissue within the mouth of the subject, and
- wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine at least a respiratory rate of the subject based upon the measured impedance between respective electrodes of the plurality of electrodes, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:
- (a) record a series of time-separated measurements of impedance within the mouth of the subject;
- (b) calibrate and transform the series of time-separated measurements to identify a plurality of peak impedance measurements within a selected frequency range;
- and
- (c) use the identified peak impedance measurements to determine the respiratory rate of the subject.
A method for determining at least one physiological condition of a subject, the subject having a head, a mouth, and upper and lower teeth, the method comprising:
- positioning a mouth guard within the mouth of the subject, the mouth guard comprising:
- a U-shaped element having an outer side wall, an inner side wall, and at least one biting surface, the outer side wall, the inner side wall, and the at least one biting surface together defining at least one channel that receives at least one of the upper teeth and the lower teeth of the subject;
- a plurality of electrodes operatively associated with the U-shaped element, the plurality of electrodes being spaced from one another about the U-shaped element and positioned in contact with tissue of the mouth of the subject when the at least one channel of the mouth guard receives at least one of the upper teeth and the lower teeth of the subject;
- using processing circuitry in operative communication with the plurality of electrodes of the mouth guard to measure impedance between respective electrodes of the plurality of electrodes through tissue within the mouth of the subject;
- and
- using the processing circuitry to determine a respiratory rate of the subject based upon the measured impedance between respective electrodes of the plurality of electrodes, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:
- (a) record a series of time-separated measurements of impedance within the mouth of the subject;
- (b) calibrate and transform the series of time-separated measurements to identify a plurality of peak impedance measurements within a selected frequency range;
- and
- (c) use the identified peak impedance measurements to determine the respiratory rate of the subject.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.