Disclosed herein is a probe 1 for measuring a lip closing force, the probe including: a hollow balloon 10 configured to be disposed between an upper lip 50 and lower lip 51 of a subject, and crushed and deformed by the lip closing force, and a base 20 which is connected to a pressure measurement device 100 for measuring an internal pressure of the balloon 10. The balloon 10 is provided with a fixable portion 13 configured to be sandwiched between teeth 52 and 53 or gums of the subject.

This invention presents an intraoral device for generation of contact perception between teeth, the device being configured for application to the upper or lower dental arch of a user and comprising a contact means (20, 20) configured to be associated with at least a portion of one to four posterior teeth (D1) of the upper or lower dental arch, the device (10) being configured to generate a perception of contact to the user upon the contact between the contact means (20, 20) and at least a portion of the opposing arch to at least a portion of one to four posterior teeth (D1), offering the option of an accessible intraoral device for practical use to the user, and that does not impair the mouth functions of the user during its use in the waking period. This invention further comprises a method of applying the device which allows the user to apply the device without assistance of a skilled professional, and a method for determining the thickness of the aforesaid device.

The wearable measurement device includes a mounting part for mounting the device to a human body, a variation detection part detecting a variation in distance from a predetermined portion of the human body, a posture detection part detecting a posture of the variation detection part in the case where the device is mounted to the human body through the mounting part, and a measurement part measuring the number of predetermined motions based on the variation detected by the variation detection part and the posture detected by the posture detection part. The variation detection part includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit, makes the light emitting unit emit light and the light receiving unit detect reflection light reflected at a predetermined portion, detects a distance from the predetermined portion and outputs an electric signal (voltage or current) in accordance with the detected distance at a predetermined sampling cycle.

Various examples are provided for a smart mouth guard for diagnosis, quantification, and/or management of e.g., bruxism. In one example, among others, a diagnostic mouth guard includes a plurality of pressure sensors and processing circuitry configured to provide pressure sensor data to an external processing unit when located in an oral cavity. The diagnostic mouth guard may also include temperature, pH and/or inertia sensors. In another example, a system includes the diagnostic mouth guard and the external processing unit such as, e.g., a smart phone, table or computer. The diagnostic mouth guard can communicate with the external processing unit over a wireless channel.

A relatively low cost sensor assembly that can be used to determine a person's maximum bite force (MBF) is described. The assembly comprises a planar force sensor that is sandwiched between pieces of rigid and compliant plastic that when situated between upper and lower molars and bitten facilitates an electronic signal that can be correlated to a bite force. A user's MBF can utilized to determine to diagnose a person as having bruxism.

An approach for obtaining measurements of mechanical properties of a gripping performed by masticatory apparatus. A mouthpiece provides a sensing arrangement (for obtaining the measurement) and one or more mouth contacting elements for protecting, cleaning or treating teeth/gums. In this way, measurements indicative of potential abnormalities or physiological dysfunction in the masticatory apparatus can be obtained using a mouthpiece that has a secondary function of protecting, cleaning and/or treating elements of the mouth.

A system and method are described for assessing muscle parameters (e.g., force(s) exerted, force dynamics, strength, voluntary muscle movement, etc.) in a diagnostic or therapeutic environment. The muscle parameter assessment system includes a force-gauging device and a computing device. The force-gauging device includes at least one pressure-sensing component (e.g., transducer, pressure sensor, etc.) configured to respond to a force applied by a subject and produce one or more output signals. The force-gauging device can further include electronic circuitry configured to convert the output signals into data indicative of a muscle parameter. The computing device is configured to build a muscle assessment protocol based on one or more patient characteristics and/or user input. The computing device is further configured to execute one or more muscle assessments via the force-gauging device, receive data from the force-gauging device, and determine one or more muscle measurements for a subject.

An oral appliance for the treatment of sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea, in a user is presented. The oral appliance may include a mouthpiece configured to receive a user's dentition. The mouthpiece may include an oxygen sensor, a pressure sensor, an airflow sensor, an actigraphy sensor, a noise detector, and at least one stimulator for providing stimulation to a user's tongue in the event of decreased oxygen saturation levels, increased pressure applied to occlusal surfaces of the user's dentition, decreased actual airflow levels and/or increased noise levels. The mouthpiece may be provided with pharmaceutical compound reservoirs that deliver pharmaceutical compounds to the oral mucosa of the user, which compounds treat symptoms of sleep apnea. The mouthpiece may further include a microprocessor that receives data from the oxygen sensor, pressure sensor, airflow sensor, actigraphy sensor and noise detector, and activates the at least one stimulator and/or pharmaceutical compound reservoirs.

A dental prosthetic device includes at least an anchor portion and in some instances a prosthetic portion arranged to engage the anchor portion. A sensor device is arranged to be engaged with the anchor portion. When the dental prosthetic device includes a prosthetic portion, the sensor device is arranged to be engaged with the anchor portion, with the prosthetic portion, or between the anchor portion and the prosthetic portion. A method of forming a dental prosthetic device is also provided.

A method for evaluation of a chewing function test includes the following steps. Spit-out chewed model food with chewing function pieces is made available. The chewed model food is collected in a sieve, and subsequently rinsing of the chewed model food is carried out, so as to obtain saliva-free unchewed chewing function pieces or saliva-free particles of the chewing function pieces, which particles include chewed chewing function pieces. Afterward, separation of the particles takes place. After a determination of the total number of particles, classification of the total number of particles takes place using predetermined standard values, which classification includes a differentiation with regard to unchewed components of the model food, partly chewed components without split-off particles of the model food, and split-off particles.