Intelligent bruxism detection system with passive dental splint and AI bracelet

Abstract

Portable system for the detection of bruxism, including: • a passive, intraoral dental splint with a piezoelectric foil sensor, • an externally worn bracelet with MEMS microphone, • a neural evaluation unit for real-time analysis of acoustic signals, • a feedback module with vibration, sound and display, whereby the dental splint contains no electronic components and the system operates completely energy autonomously.

Description

[0001] 1. Origins of Piezoelectricity (1880) In 1880, Pierre and Jacques Curie discovered the piezoelectric effect in crystals such as quartz: When pressure is applied, an electrical voltage is generated. This discovery laid the foundation for piezoelectric science.

[0002] 2. 1920s-1960s: Military applications and sonar systems In the following decades, rigid piezoelectric materials such as quartz and ceramics (e.g. PZT) were used in sonar systems, microphones and piezo igniters - however, they were still brittle and inflexible.

[0003] 3. 1969: Birth of the Piezoelectric Film (PVDF) The Pennwalt Corporation (USA), now part of TE Connectivity, developed the first flexible piezoelectric film made of PVDF. The material was polarized to achieve piezoelectric properties – the birth of the modern piezoelectric film.

[0004] 4. 1970s-1980s: Industrial and military experiments. Piezoelectric film was used in tactile sensors, structural monitoring, and extreme environments. The US Navy used it in piezoplastic sonar systems for underwater operations.

[0005] 5. 1990s: Miniaturization and the civilian market. Miniaturization led to the use of piezoelectric film in: • medical devices (breathing, blood pressure) • Consumer devices (touch-sensitive buttons, flexible microphones)

[0006] 6. 1995-2010: Development of piezoelectric film made from AlN (aluminum nitride), used in RF filters and MEMS, proved to be an excellent piezoelectric thin film – stable, biocompatible, and capable of high frequencies. Initial applications in biomedical sensors and high-frequency acoustic transducers (PMUTs).

[0007] 7. Since 2010: Age of wearables and artificial intelligence. Piezo films are integrated into: • smart textiles and bio-plasters • Microactuators for soft robotics • ultra-flat energy harvesting systems • AI-based devices (speech recognition, haptic feedback)

[0008] 8. 2025: A groundbreaking application emerges: A passive silicone dental splint with an AlN piezo film that converts bruxism into acoustic vibrations – detected by a smart bracelet with embedded AI. No battery, no cable: Just physics, design, and intelligence.

[0009] Conclusion: From the discovery of quartz in the 19th century to a smart bite guard that communicates with a wristband in 2025, piezoelectric film has revolutionized medicine, defense, space travel, and now personal health. It's an invisible, quiet, and powerful technology. Strategic protective arguments, differentiation from the state of the art and technological independence 1. Initial situation and legal framework

[0010] Historical reference: The original application is publicly available at: https: / / register.dpma.de / DPMAregister / pat / register

[0011] Publication DE102005058092A1 describes a dental splint with a battery, equipped with a piezoelectric pressure sensor for detecting bruxism. The patent has expired pursuant to Section 8 Paragraph 1 of the Utility Model Act (GebrMG) due to non-payment of annual fees. Therefore, pursuant to Section 4 Paragraph 2 of the Utility Model Act, there is no preclusive effect. Nevertheless, a clear technological demarcation from the relevant prior art is necessary to unequivocally demonstrate the patentability of the current technical teaching. 2. Motivation and interest in protection of the applicant

[0012] The applicant's goal is to secure full legal protection for the inventor's technical concept, enabling long-term commercial exploitation, medical relevance, and national and international protection. The existing concept of intraoral electronics is thereby completely superseded and replaced by an intelligent, energy-autonomous, and wireless wearable system with external, controlled analysis. 3. Paradigm shift - sensor passivity, wireless detection and external intelligence

[0013] The system represents a fundamental architectural shift: Unlike previous solutions, where all electronics, including power supply and signal processing, are housed directly within the oral cavity, the new concept pursues a radically different approach. The system's intelligence resides entirely outside the mouth, in a wristband that analyzes mechanically generated bite vibrations using highly sensitive acoustic detection. This separation between a passive, hygienic sensor unit in the mouth and an active, autonomous processing unit on the wrist represents a previously undescribed system architecture and sets new standards in functionality and practical implementation.

[0014] The piezoelectric foil system integrated into the intraoral unit does not transmit any electrical signals to the bracelet in the event of mechanical deformation (e.g. when biting down), but acts exclusively as a passive vibroacoustic impulse generator.

[0015] The micro-deformations that occur during a bruxism event lead to temporary stress changes within the piezoelectric material, which in turn trigger a minimal, but specific, mechanical natural vibration of the substrate material.

[0016] This natural oscillation is transmitted as an acoustic or bone conduction vibration. The bracelet detects this oscillation using a highly sensitive MEMS microphone optimized for frequencies of approximately 200-1200 Hz.

[0017] The signals are then classified by a neural network (e.g., CNN or decision tree). This is therefore a purely passive, acoustically coupled detection system that completely eliminates the need for electronic signal transmission, thus offering unique hygienic and functional advantages. • The dental splint is completely passive, battery-free and contains no electronic components. • A piezoelectric film is integrated in the biting area, which generates micro-mechanical vibrations when the teeth are biting together. • These vibrations are transmitted via bone conduction or air. • An externally worn wristband with an integrated MEMS microphone detects these signals. • A neural network embedded in the wristband, based on a TinyML model (e.g., lightweight CNN or Decision Tree) and run on an ESP32 microcontroller with integrated DSP functionality (e.g., TinyML on ESP32), analyzes acoustic patterns in real time and classifies bruxism events. • When a bruxism event is detected, immediate multisensory feedback is provided: vibration, acoustic signal and display indication. • The power supply is provided exclusively by piezoelectric energy recovery, in particular by flexible PVDF films or piezoceramic elements that generate voltages in the range of 1 to 5 volts through jaw movements or body activity. This amount of energy is sufficient to periodically power the microcontroller logic, the MEMS microphone, and the feedback module – utilizing body movements and muscle activity. • No cables, no battery and no charging unit are needed - the system works completely autonomously. 4. Technological unique selling points a) Modularity: Intraoral unit: purely mechanical, without electronics. Wearable unit: AI-controlled, energy self-sufficient. b) Sensors: Acoustic / microvibratory signal generation through bite pressure. The MEMS microphone detects transmitted vibrations (frequency range 200-1200 Hz). c) Pattern recognition: Real-time analysis via embedded neural networks (e.g., on ESP32 or STM32 platform). Detection of typical bruxism profiles while suppressing interfering signals. d) Feedback and display: Instant multisensory feedback (sound, vibration, display on OLED or AMOLED screen). e) Energy supply: All functions (detection, analysis, feedback, display) are powered by piezoelectrically generated energy. The intraoral foil does not generate any usable energy for external components, but serves exclusively as a vibroacoustic trigger. The bracelet is powered by separately integrated piezoelectric energy recovery units (e.g., flexible PVDF or ceramic elements) that can generate voltages of 1 to 5 volts through jaw or body movements—sufficient to periodically power the microcontroller logic, the MEMS microphone, and the feedback module. 5. Differentiation from existing intellectual property rights

[0018] ⍰ Feature / Patent DE102005058092A1 WO2007065387A1 US10,820,853B2 New Idea Intraoral electronics Yes Yes Yes No Energy self-sufficient No No No Yes Wireless, wireless Partially (BT) Yes (BT) Yes Yes (without Bluetooth) Passive sensors No No No Yes AI analysis No No No Yes MEMS audio analysis No No Partially Yes

[0019] This table illustrates that the new idea embodies a technically independent and previously undisclosed system combination, consisting of: • passive intraoral vibration sensor, • wireless acoustic transmission, • AI-based signal analysis, • Complete energy self-sufficiency without battery or charging process. 6. Eligibility for protection under the Utility Model Act (GebrMG)

[0020] The invention is: • technically repeatable and implementable in accordance with §2 GebrMG, • commercially applicable according to §3 GebrMG (sleep medicine, dentistry, telemedicine), • new in Germany according to §4 GebrMG, as no functionally equivalent teaching has been disclosed. 7. Market and health relevance • Early detection and interruption of stress-related bruxism, e.g., in patients who regularly grind their teeth at night due to work-related stress. The BruxiSense 2.0 AI system can detect this behavior during sleep in real time and interrupt it through vibroacoustic feedback, which reduces long-term wear on tooth structure and relieves jaw muscle strain. • Improved sleep quality without invasive procedures. • No environmental pollution from battery waste. • Fully hygienic intraoral component. • Compatible with telemedicine applications. • Suitable for use in private and clinical settings. 8. Personal statement of the inventor

[0021] "I am not only the inventor of this principle – I am also the guarantor of its continuous development. This new version is not just a technical improvement, but a functional new beginning. May it be recognized as an original, patentable invention." 9. International research and comparison of intellectual property rights • US 8,763,613 B2: purely mechanical, without electronic analysis. • US 10,517,525 B2: piezoelectric film with electronics and battery. • US 10,820,853 B2: Dental splint with electronics in the mouth. • US 2012 / 0272972 A1: passive dental splint without detection function. • WO 2015 / 169914 A1: Software evaluation of EMG data, without physical modularity. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 102005058092A1

[0011] US 8,763,613 B2

[0021] US 10,517,525 B2

[0021] US 10,820,853 B2

[0021] US 2012 / 0272972 A1

[0021] WO 2015 / 169914 A1

[0021] Cited non-patent literature

[0000] https: / / register.dpma.de / DPMAregister / pat / register

[0010]

Claims

[1] Portable system for the detection of bruxism, comprising: • a passive, intraoral dental splint with a piezoelectric foil sensor, • an externally worn bracelet with MEMS microphone, • a neural evaluation unit for real-time analysis of acoustic signals, • a feedback module with vibration, sound and display, whereby the dental splint contains no electronic components and the system operates completely energy autonomously. [2] System according to claim 1, wherein the acoustic detection takes place in the frequency range between 200 Hz and 1200 Hz. [3] System according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the neural analysis is performed by a TinyML model on an ESP32 or STM32. [4] System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the dental splint is made of medical-grade silicone and includes an integrated PVDF element for sound generation. [5] System according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the wristband additionally includes an OLED or AMOLED display for displaying events. [6] System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein all functions are operated without a battery and are powered exclusively by piezoelectric energy recovery. [7] System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the feedback module simultaneously outputs vibration and acoustic signal upon detection of a bruxism event. [8] System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the dental splint transmits bone sound by means of vibrations. [9] System according to any of the preceding claims, wherein no wireless communication (e.g. Bluetooth) is required. [10] System according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the wristband includes modular software functions for bruxism logging, threshold adjustment and user setting.

Images