Intraoral sensing apparatus

Abstract

To provide an intraoral sensing apparatus that is easily manufactured and has high safety in use.SOLUTION: An intraoral sensing apparatus is configured to be installed in an oral cavity, and is provided with: an electronic device 2 equipped with electronic components mounted on a circuit board; a first dental resin material 3 which completely covers the electronic device; a second dental resin material 4 which completely covers the first dental resin material 3; and an intraoral instrument 1 having a first recess in which the electronic device covered with the first dental resin material and the second dental resin material is accommodated. The second dental resin material is provided in the gap between the electronic device, completely covered by the first dental resin material, and the first recess, and is bonded to the inner side of the first recess. A protrusion 1c for fixing the electronic device accommodated in the first recess is formed on the first recess or the second dental resin material. The electronic device, covered by the first and second dental resin materials, can be detached from the oral appliance when the protrusion deforms.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an intra-oral sensing device. [Background technology]

[0002] To date, intraoral sensing devices that are placed in the oral cavity to obtain biometric information have been put into practical use. Conventionally, when electronic devices such as biomonitoring sensors are attached to oral appliances, they are attached to the oral appliance using a resin that has adhesive properties to both the oral appliance and the electronic device. When attempting to remove the electronic device from the oral appliance to recharge the battery, etc., the resin is tightly attached to the electronic device and cannot be removed, and there is a problem that the electronic device may be damaged if the electronic device is forcibly removed. One possible solution to this problem is to dissolve the resin that bonds the oral appliance and the electronic device with a solvent and remove the electronic device. However, since the electronic device is equipped with a battery, there is also a problem that immersing the electronic device in a solvent may cause a short circuit between the circuit terminals, destroying the electronic device. To cope with such problems, it is also possible to cover the entire electronic device with the material of the oral appliance. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a method for forming a protective coating having moisture resistance and insulation at least in a portion of an electronic circuit board on which electronic components are mounted, which is required to have moisture resistance and insulation, the method comprising a first step of applying a first coating agent containing a resin to form a first coating, and a second step of applying a second coating agent to which an additive that imparts viscosity to the first coating agent is added to form a second coating. In this case, the electronic device and the oral appliance are not bonded, so the possibility of the electronic device being broken when removed is low. However, when this method is adopted, the thickness of the material of the oral appliance must be increased in the manufacturing process, and in the case of an orthodontic appliance, for example, there is a problem that it becomes difficult to control the force applied to the teeth. Furthermore, if a crack occurs in the material of the oral appliance, moisture will come into direct contact with the electronic device, which may result in the electronic device being broken. For safety reasons, a second means must be provided to prevent leakage of electricity even if a crack occurs in one of the means (in this case, the material of the orthodontic appliance). The above-mentioned method has safety issues because only one means is provided. In addition, the dental resin material that fixes the intraoral appliance and the electronic device is made by polymerizing and curing two liquids, so the viscosity of the liquid is low, and there is an issue that the dental resin material flows off before it hardens.

[0003] To address these issues, it may be possible to construct an oral appliance 41 by sandwiching an electronic device 42 between two sealing films made of a thermoplastic polymer compound, as shown in FIG. 17, but there is a demand for further simplification of the manufacturing process. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2011-66080 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an intraoral sensing device that is easy to manufacture and has excellent safety in use. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] (1) The intraoral sensing device of the present invention is a sensing device to be installed in the oral cavity, comprising: an electronic device having electronic components mounted on a circuit board; a first dental resin material covering all of the electronic device; a second dental resin material covering the entire first dental resin material; and an intraoral appliance having a first recess for housing the electronic device covered with the first dental resin material and the second dental resin material, wherein the second dental resin material is provided in the gap between the electronic device entirely covered by the first dental resin material and the first recess and is adhered to the inside of the first recess, a protrusion is formed in the first recess or the second dental resin material for fixing the electronic device housed in the first recess, and the electronic device covered with the first dental resin material and the second dental resin material can be removed from the intraoral appliance by deformation of the protrusion.

[0007] (2) The second dental resin material may be formed so that one of the broad surfaces of the first dental resin material serves as a bottom surface, and the thickness of at least two or more corners of the surface opposite the bottom surface is thinner than the thickness of other parts, the protrusion is formed in the first recess, and the electronic device is fixed between the protrusion and the part of the second dental resin material where the thickness of the corner is thinner than the thickness of other parts.

[0008] (3) The second dental resin material has a second recess on at least two or more surfaces corresponding to side surfaces of the first dental resin material, with one of the broad surfaces of the first dental resin material serving as a bottom surface, and the protrusion is formed in a location of the second dental resin material corresponding to the second recess, and the electronic device may be fixed by the second recess and the protrusion.

[0009] (4) The protrusion is formed in the second dental resin material, and is formed on at least two or more surfaces of the first dental resin material, with one of the broad surfaces serving as a bottom surface and corresponding to a side surface, and a recess is formed in the first recess at a location corresponding to the protrusion, and the electronic device may be fixed by the recess and the protrusion.

[0010] (5) The second dental resin material may be made of a material softer than the first dental resin material.

[0011] (6) The first dental resin material may be formed of a material that provides weaker adhesion between the first dental resin material and the second dental resin material than adhesion between the second dental resin material and the oral appliance, and that provides weaker adhesion between the first dental resin material and the electronic device. Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an intraoral sensing device that is easy to manufacture and has excellent safety in use. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an intraoral sensing device when an electronic device 2 is attached to an intraoral appliance 1. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the intraoral sensing device when electronic device 2 is attached to intraoral appliance 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of another intra-oral sensing device when an electronic device 2 is attached to an intra-oral appliance 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the shape of an electronic device covered with a second dental resin material 4 to be placed in a first cavity of an intraoral appliance. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the first recess of the oral appliance 1 when the electronic device 2 is placed in the first recess. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the electronic device 2 placed in the first cavity of the oral appliance 1 is being removed. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing another shape of an electronic device covered with a second dental resin material 4 to be placed in a first cavity of an intra-oral appliance. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of another first cavity portion of the oral appliance 1 when the electronic device 2 is placed in the first cavity. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing another shape of an electronic device covered with a second dental resin material 4 to be placed in a first cavity of an intra-oral appliance. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of another first cavity portion of the oral appliance 1 when an electronic device 2 is placed in the first cavity. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing another shape of an electronic device covered with a second dental resin material 4 to be placed in a first cavity of an intra-oral appliance. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing another shape of an electronic device covered with a second dental resin material 4 to be placed in a first cavity of an intra-oral appliance. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of another first cavity portion of the oral appliance 1 when an electronic device 2 is placed in the first cavity. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of another first cavity portion of the oral appliance 1 when an electronic device 2 is placed in the first cavity. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the intraoral sensing device when the electronic device 2 is attached to an implant denture 32. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a schematic block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the electronic device 2. As shown in FIG. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional intraoral sensing device when an electronic device 42 is attached to an intraoral appliance 41. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a process flow diagram illustrating a method for manufacturing an intra-oral sensing device. [Figure 19]FIG. 19 is a process flow diagram illustrating another method for manufacturing an intra-oral sensing device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] The present invention has the following advantageous features: When used in the oral cavity, the electronic device 2 is doubly covered with the first dental resin material 3 and the second dental resin material 4, so that even if a crack occurs in one of them, the other protects the electronic device, and therefore the electronic device 2 is highly safe for the human body. In particular, when the first dental resin material 3 is a silicone resin, the silicone resin does not adhere to the electronic device 2, so the first dental resin material 3 can be easily peeled off from the electronic device 2, and the electronic device 2 can be reused without being damaged. Furthermore, the first dental resin material 3 can be peeled off from the electronic device 2 and installed in the electronic device 2 to replace the battery, which is particularly useful when the battery is a primary battery.

[0015] In a first specific embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Fig. 1, an electronic device 2 entirely covered with a first dental resin material 3 is housed in a first recess of an oral appliance 1, a second dental resin material 4 is filled in a gap between the electronic device 2 entirely covered with the first dental resin material 3 and the first recess, and the electronic device 2 and the oral appliance 1 are bonded by the second dental resin material 4. Figs. 2 and 3 are perspective views of the oral appliance 1. When the oral appliance is attached to the teeth and gums, the electronic device 2 may be arranged on the inside (lingual side) of the oral cavity as shown in Fig. 2, or on the outside (cheek side) of the oral cavity as shown in Fig. 3. By adopting such a configuration, the intraoral sensing device is safer to use and the manufacture of the intraoral sensing device is easier.

[0016] In a second specific embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, a second dental resin material 4 covering an electronic device entirely covered with a first dental resin material is molded so that one of the broad surfaces of the first dental resin material serves as a bottom surface, and the thickness of at least two or more corners of the surface opposite the bottom surface is thinner than the thickness of other parts, and as shown in FIG. 5, the first recess of the oral appliance 1 has a first protrusion 1c provided at a location corresponding to the portion of the side surface of the second dental resin material 4 where the thickness of the corner is thinner than the thickness of other parts. By adopting this configuration, as shown in Fig. 6, the force applied to the oral appliance 1 when attaching and removing the oral appliance 1 is not directly applied to the electronic device 2, reducing the possibility of the electronic device 2 being damaged by repeated attachment and removal. In particular, when the oral appliance 1 is molded by vacuum molding, the first protrusion 1c can be formed at the same time as the first recess, and the setting of the electronic device 2 is also performed automatically, improving work efficiency.

[0017] In a third specific embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figure 7, a second dental resin material 4 covering an electronic device entirely covered with a first dental resin material has a second recess provided on at least two or more surfaces corresponding to the side surfaces relative to one of the broad surfaces of the first dental resin material, with the bottom surface being one of the broad surfaces, and as shown in Figure 8, a first protrusion 1c is provided at a position of the first recess corresponding to the second recess on the side surface of the dental resin material. By adopting such a configuration, it has become easier to remove the electronic device 2 from the oral appliance 1 and to reattach the electronic device 2 to the oral appliance 1. In particular, when the oral appliance 1 is molded by vacuum molding, the first protrusion 1c can be formed simultaneously with the formation of the first recess, and the setting of the electronic device 2 is also performed automatically, improving work efficiency.

[0018] In a third specific embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figure 9, a second dental resin material 4 covering an electronic device entirely covered with a first dental resin material has a second protrusion provided on at least two or more surfaces corresponding to the side surfaces relative to a bottom surface, with one of the broad surfaces of the first dental resin material serving as a bottom surface, and as shown in Figure 10, a recess 1d is provided at a position of the first recess corresponding to the second protrusion on the side surface of the second dental resin material 4. By adopting such a configuration, it has become easier to remove the electronic device 2 from the oral appliance 1 and to reattach the electronic device 2 to the oral appliance 1. In particular, when the oral appliance 1 is molded by vacuum molding, the recess 1d can be formed simultaneously with the formation of the first recess, and the setting of the electronic device 2 is also performed automatically, improving work efficiency.

[0019] In the second and third specific embodiments of the present invention described above, the shape is not limited to a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the corners may be rounded or chamfered as shown in Fig. 11 or 12. Also, the corner that contacts the bottom of the first depression may be chamfered or rounded as shown in Fig. 13 or 14.

[0020] [Intraoral sensing device] The intraoral sensing device is composed of an electronic device 2, an intraoral appliance 1, a first dental resin material 3, and a second dental resin material 4.

[0021] <Electronic equipment> As shown in FIG. 16, the electronic device 2 is composed of a wireless module section 23 combining a wireless transceiver section 26, a signal processing section 24 and a memory 25, a sensor 22 and a battery 21, and is entirely covered with a first dental resin material while mounted on a circuit board. The electronic device 2 is composed of a wireless module unit 23 that combines a wireless transmitting / receiving unit 26, a signal processing unit 24, and a memory 25, a sensor 22, and a battery 21, and is embedded in an orthodontic appliance, a denture, or an implant. The wireless transmitting / receiving unit 26 has a role of transmitting digital data sensed inside the oral cavity to a network connector 27 outside the oral cavity, and receiving commands transmitted from the network connector 27 to the electronic device 2. The signal processing unit 24 is composed of a microcomputer and an AD converter, and has the following functions: converting the sensing data sent from the sensor 22 into digital data and storing it in the memory 25; converting the digital data stored in the memory 25 into transmittable data; and interpreting commands sent from the network connector 27 to control the operation of the sensor 22 and the wireless transceiver unit 26. The sensor 22 is composed of at least one type selected from the group consisting of a temperature sensor, an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, a pressure sensor, a strain sensor, a pulse wave sensor that uses light to measure pulse waves, a pulse oximeter that uses light to measure blood oxygen concentration, a heart rate sensor that uses light to measure heart rate, and a laser sensor that uses laser light to measure blood flow, and acquires various physical information and biological information. The battery 21 is composed of a primary battery or a secondary battery, and supplies power to the wireless transceiver unit 26, the signal processing unit 24, the memory 25 and the sensor 22. These circuit blocks are implemented on a thin circuit board or a flexible board, and include a battery 21, a sensor 22, a signal processing unit 24, a wireless transceiver unit 26, and a memory 25. In general, the wireless transceiver unit 26, the signal processing unit 24, and the memory 25 are often provided as a single chip. Also, in the electronic device 2, the battery 21, the sensor 22, the signal processing unit 24, the memory 25, and the wireless transceiver unit 26 are implemented on a thin circuit board or a flexible board.

[0022] The electronic device 2 is covered with the first dental resin material 3, and the outside of the first dental resin material 3 is further covered with the second dental resin material 4 and placed in the oral appliance, thereby preventing the intrusion of moisture into the electronic device 2. Even if the second dental resin material 4 is cracked, the electronic device 2 is covered with the soft first dental resin material 3, so that double safety is ensured.

[0023] The wireless module unit 23 mounted on the electronic device 2 does not necessarily need to wirelessly exchange data with the outside, and may be an electronic device that exchanges data using a wire. However, in the case of an electronic device that exchanges data using a wire, it is necessary to waterproof the connector portion that connects the electronic device 2 and the network connector 27. The connector portion is provided with a lid-like mechanism that opens when reading data and closes when placed in the oral cavity. Therefore, transmitting and receiving data wirelessly has the advantage of making the waterproof structure easier.

[0024] By using a temperature sensor for the sensor 22, not only can the time that the intraoral appliance is worn be measured and utilized in intraoral orthodontic treatment, but also daily changes in body temperature can be monitored. By using an acceleration sensor and a gyro sensor for the sensor 22, it is possible to not only count the number of chews, but also to measure the number of steps, the amount of activity, the jaw movement, and bruxism (teeth grinding). By using a pressure sensor and a strain sensor for sensor 22, it is possible to measure not only the force applied to teeth, dentures, and implants, but also the force applied to teeth by oral appliances, bruxism (teeth grinding), biting force, number of chews, and the time the oral appliance is worn.

[0025] <Intraoral appliances> The oral appliance 1 may be, for example, an orthodontic appliance, a denture, or an implant.

[0026] In the case of an orthodontic device, the oral appliance 1 is preferably formed from a thermoplastic polymer compound, and more preferably from any one of the thermoplastic polymer compounds selected from the group consisting of polyethylene-based materials, polyurethane-based materials, and acrylic resins. When attaching an electronic device to an oral appliance, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, the oral appliance is preferably molded by pressing a material for manufacturing the oral appliance against a dental mold that matches the teeth and gums of the user who will be wearing the intraoral sensing device, or by molding the oral appliance into a dental mold and gum shape using a 3D printer, and it is more preferable to press the material for manufacturing the oral appliance against a dental mold that matches the teeth and gums of the user who will be wearing the intraoral sensing device. The material for manufacturing the oral appliance is preferably a sheet or film of the thermoplastic polymeric compound described above. A recess is provided in a part of the oral appliance 1, and the electronic device 2 is installed in the recess. The location of the electronic device 2 may be either a location corresponding to the side wall of the tooth crown or a location corresponding to the gums, but considering the bite of the upper and lower teeth, it is preferable to install it in a location corresponding to the gums as shown in Fig. 1. In addition, in the case of a pulse wave sensor that uses light to measure pulse waves, a pulse oximeter that uses light to measure blood oxygen concentration, a heart rate sensor that uses light to measure heart rate, or a laser sensor that uses laser light to measure blood flow, it is preferable to install it in a location corresponding to the gums in order to obtain information from blood vessels in the gums. Furthermore, when mounting a sensor using light or a laser as described above, light transmission is essential, so the oral appliance 1 is made of a material that can transmit light of any wavelength within the range of 400 to 1000 nm.

[0027] In a first specific embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the entire periphery of the electronic device 2 is covered with a first dental resin material 3, and the entire periphery of the first dental resin material 3 is further covered with a second dental resin material 4, and the recess of the oral appliance 1 is filled with the second dental resin material 4 to bond the oral appliance 1 and the electronic device 2 together.

[0028] In the second specific embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the second dental resin material 4 has a structure in which the thickness of at least two or more corners of the surface opposite the bottom surface is thinner than the thickness of the other parts, with one of the broad surfaces of the first dental resin material as the bottom surface. As shown in FIG. 5, the electronic device is fixed by the part where the corner thickness of the second dental resin material 4 is thinner than the other parts and the first protrusion 1c of the oral appliance 1, so that even if a large force is applied to the oral appliance 1, the force is not directly applied to the electronic device 2. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the problem that the electronic device 2 is broken due to the force applied to the electronic device 2 when the oral appliance 1 is attached or removed. In addition, if the corner thickness of the second dental resin material 4 is formed at only one place, the probability of falling off is very high, which is not preferable. By forming at least two corners, preferably four corners, the electronic device will not fall off even when the oral appliance 1 is attached or removed. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the state when the electronic device 2 covered with the first dental resin material 3 and the second dental resin material 4 is removed from the oral appliance 1. When the electronic device 2 is removed in the direction of the arrow, the first protrusion 1c of the oral appliance 1 is deformed, so that the electronic device 2 covered with the first dental resin material 3 and the second dental resin material 4 can be easily removed from the oral appliance 1.

[0029] In the third specific embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the second dental resin material 4 has a structure in which one of the wide surfaces of the first dental resin material is the bottom surface, and the second recess 4g is provided on at least two surfaces corresponding to the side surfaces of the bottom surface. As shown in FIG. 8, the electronic device 2 is fixed by the second recess 4g formed on the side surface of the second dental resin material 4 and the first protrusion 1c of the oral appliance, so that even if a large force is applied to the oral appliance 1, the force is not directly applied to the electronic device 2. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the problem that the electronic device 2 is broken due to the force applied to the electronic device 2 when the oral appliance 1 is attached or removed. In addition, if the second recess 4g is formed on only one side surface, the probability of falling off is very high, which is not preferable. By forming the second recess 4g on at least two side surfaces, preferably four surfaces, the oral appliance 1 will not fall off even when it is attached or removed. It is preferable that the second recess 4g is parallel to the bottom surface.

[0030] In the fourth specific embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the second dental resin material 4 has a structure in which one of the wide surfaces of the first dental resin material is the bottom surface, and the second protrusions 4h are provided on at least two surfaces corresponding to the side surfaces of the bottom surface. As shown in FIG. 10, the electronic device 2 is fixed by the second protrusions 4h formed on the side surfaces of the second dental resin material 4 and the recess 1d of the oral appliance, so that even if a large force is applied to the oral appliance 1, the force is not directly applied to the electronic device 2. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the problem that the electronic device 2 is broken due to the force applied to the electronic device 2 when the oral appliance 1 is attached or removed. In addition, if the second protrusions 4h are formed only on one side surface, the probability of the electronic device falling off is very high, which is not preferable. By forming the second protrusions 4h on at least two side surfaces, preferably four surfaces, the electronic device 2 will not fall off even when the oral appliance 1 is attached or removed. It is preferable that the second protrusions 4h are parallel to the bottom surface.

[0031] In the case of the second specific embodiment (FIG. 4), the third specific embodiment (FIG. 7), or the fourth specific embodiment (FIG. 9), the oral appliance 1 is made of a thermoplastic polymer compound such as a polyethylene-based material, a polyurethane-based material, or an acrylic resin, and is suitable for a method of embossing on a dental mold formed by gypsum or a 3D printer. When the electronic device 2 covered with the second dental resin material 4 shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 7, or FIG. 9 is placed at the location on the dental mold where the electronic device 2 is to be installed, and a sheet or film of the thermoplastic polymer compound is molded by vacuum embossing, the thermoplastic polymer compound enters the thin corners and the first recess, and the first protrusion 1c of the oral appliance 1 as shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. 8, or the recess 1d of the oral appliance 1 as shown in FIG. 10 can be automatically formed. When the oral device 1 is produced using a 3D printer, it is then necessary to set the electronic device 2 in the first recess of the oral device 1. However, when vacuum embossing is performed using the electronic device 2 having the shape shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 7, or FIG. 9, the labor of setting is eliminated, and the work can be made more efficient.

[0032] The position where the electronic device 2 is attached to the oral appliance 1 may be either the upper or lower jaw, and further may be either inside (tongue side) or outside (cheek side) of the oral cavity.

[0033] When attaching the electronic device 2 to a denture or an implant, it is preferable to place the electronic device 2 inside the denture (implant denture 32) as shown in Fig. 15. Fig. 15 shows an example of an implant embedded in the alveolar bone 34, but the same applies to the case of a denture. It is preferable that the electronic device 2 is entirely doubly covered with a first dental resin material 3 and a second dental resin material 4, and placed inside the denture or implant denture 32. In the case of a pulse wave sensor that uses light to measure pulse waves, a pulse oximeter that uses light to measure blood oxygen concentration, a heart rate sensor that uses light to measure heart rate, or a laser sensor that uses laser light to measure blood flow, it is preferable to install them in a location that corresponds to the gums 33 in order to obtain information from blood vessels in the gums. Furthermore, when the above-mentioned light or laser-based sensor is installed, a part of the denture or implant denture is made of a material that can transmit light with any wavelength of 400 to 1000 nm in order to allow light to pass through.

[0034] <First Dental Resin Material> The first dental resin material 3 is, for example, a silicone resin mainly composed of polydimethylsiloxane or a methacrylate to which butyl phthalate is added as a plasticizer and polymerized and hardened. Examples of the silicone resin include condensation type silicone rubber and addition type silicone rubber. The first dental resin material 3 is not limited to the above-mentioned materials, and other plastics and the like can also be used. As the first dental resin material 3, a silicone resin is preferable.

[0035] The silicone resin has a weak adhesive force to the electronic device 2, and can be easily removed. Therefore, when the electronic device 2 is reused, the cleanliness is always maintained by replacing the silicone resin with a new one. In addition, since the adhesive force between the second dental resin material 4 described later and the silicone resin is weak, the electronic device 2 can be easily peeled off from the intraoral appliance 1 when the electronic device 2 is reused.

[0036] <Second dental resin material> The second dental resin material 4 is, for example, a polymerized and cured material of methyl methacrylate and polymethyl methacrylate, a material mainly composed of 2,2-bis(4-(3-methoxoloxy-2-hydroxypropoxy)phenyl)propane, urethane dimethacrylate, triethylene glycol dimethacrylate, a polymerized and cured material of polymethyl methacrylate, 4-methacryloyloxyethyl trimellitate anhydride, tri-n-butylborane, a polyethylene resin, a polyurethane resin, or an acrylic resin. The second dental resin material 4 is not limited to the above-mentioned materials, and other plastics and the like can also be used. As the second dental resin material 4, a polymerized and cured material of methyl methacrylate and polymethyl methacrylate is preferable because it has good coverage for covering the electronic device 2 and can prevent moisture from entering the device.

[0037] Dental resin materials made by polymerizing and curing methyl methacrylate and polymethyl methacrylate, or polymethyl methacrylate, 4-methacryloyloxyethyl trimellitate anhydride, and tri-n-butylborane are of the type that polymerize and cure liquid and powder, so the dental resin material will not run off and can fill the gap between the electronic device 2 and the oral appliance. The polymerization procedure is to first apply liquid to a brush or a small hand, and then apply powder to the brush or small hand. This increases the viscosity of the dental resin material, allowing it to be piled up in the gap between the electronic device 2 and the oral appliance.

[0038] The second dental resin material 4 is softer than the first dental resin material 3 and has a strong adhesive force with the intraoral appliance 1, so that the electronic device 2 can be fixed to the intraoral appliance 1 with a strong holding force. In addition, the first dental resin material 3 is harder than the second dental resin material 4 and is suitable for protecting the electronic device 2 from external forces.

[0039] [Manufacturing method of intraoral sensing device] The intraoral sensing device according to the first specific embodiment of the present invention can be manufactured, for example, as shown in FIG. 18, by preparing an electronic device 2 having electronic components mounted on a circuit board, covering the entire electronic device 2 with a first dental resin material 3, preparing a dental mold that matches the teeth and gums of a user who is to wear the intraoral sensing device, placing the electronic device 2 covered with the first dental resin material 3 on the dental mold, and pressing the dental mold against a material for manufacturing an oral appliance to perform embossing to form an oral appliance 1 having a first depression in which the electronic device 2 covered with the first dental resin material 3 can be accommodated, removing the oral appliance 1 from the dental mold with the electronic device 2 covered with the first dental resin material 3 housed in the first depression, and covering the electronic device 2 covered with the first dental resin material 3 with a second dental resin material 4 so as to cover the entire first dental resin material 3 and to adhere to the inside of the first depression of the oral appliance 1.

[0040] The intraoral sensing device according to the second specific embodiment of the present invention includes, for example, as shown in FIG. 19, preparing an electronic device 2 having an electronic device mounted on a circuit board, covering the entire electronic device 2 with a first dental resin material 3, covering the entire first dental resin material 3, and covering the electronic device 2 covered with the first dental resin material 3 with a second dental resin material 4 so that one of the broad surfaces of the first dental resin material 3 is the bottom surface and the thickness of at least two or more corners of the surface opposite the bottom surface is thinner than the thickness of the other parts, and then mounting the intraoral sensing device. The dental mold that matches the user's teeth and gums is prepared, the electronic device 2 covered with the first dental resin material 3 and the second dental resin material 4 is placed on the dental mold, and the dental mold is pressed against a material for manufacturing an oral appliance to perform embossing to form an oral appliance 1 having a first recess in which the electronic device 2 covered with the first dental resin material 3 and the second dental resin material 4 can be accommodated, and the oral appliance 1 is removed from the dental mold with the electronic device 2 covered with the first dental resin material 3 and the second dental resin material 4 housed in the first recess.

[0041] The intraoral sensing device according to a third specific embodiment of the present invention includes, for example, as shown in FIG. 19, preparing an electronic device 2 having an electronic device mounted on a circuit board, covering the entire electronic device 2 with a first dental resin material 3, covering the entire first dental resin material 3 with a second dental resin material 4 so that one of the broad surfaces of the first dental resin material 3 is set as a bottom surface and at least two or more surfaces corresponding to the side surfaces with respect to the bottom surface have second recesses, and attaching the intraoral sensing device to a user to which the intraoral sensing device is to be attached. The dental mold is prepared to fit the teeth and gums of a user, the electronic device 2 covered with the first dental resin material 3 and the second dental resin material 4 is placed on the dental mold, the dental mold is pressed against a material for manufacturing an oral appliance to perform embossing, an oral appliance 1 having a first recess in which the electronic device 2 covered with the first dental resin material 3 and the second dental resin material 4 is placed is molded, and the oral appliance 1 is removed from the dental mold with the electronic device 2 covered with the first dental resin material 3 and the second dental resin material 4 housed in the first recess. The second recess is preferably provided parallel to the bottom surface.

[0042] The intraoral sensing device according to a fourth specific embodiment of the present invention includes, for example, as shown in FIG. 19, preparing an electronic device 2 having an electronic device mounted on a circuit board, covering the entire electronic device 2 with a first dental resin material 3, covering the entire first dental resin material 3 with a second dental resin material 4 so that one of the broad surfaces of the first dental resin material 3 is set as a bottom surface and second protrusions are provided on at least two or more surfaces corresponding to the side surfaces relative to the bottom surface, and attaching the intraoral sensing device to a user to which the intraoral sensing device is to be attached. The dental mold is prepared to fit the teeth and gums of a user, the electronic device 2 covered with the first dental resin material 3 and the second dental resin material 4 is placed on the dental mold, the dental mold is pressed against a material for manufacturing an oral appliance to perform embossing, an oral appliance 1 having a first recess in which the electronic device 2 covered with the first dental resin material 3 and the second dental resin material 4 is placed is molded, and the oral appliance 1 is removed from the dental mold with the electronic device 2 covered with the first dental resin material 3 and the second dental resin material 4 housed in the first recess. The second protrusion is preferably provided parallel to the bottom surface.

[0043] The intraoral appliance 1, electronic device 2, first dental resin material 3 and second dental resin material 4 are the same as those described for the intraoral sensing device of the present invention, and the preferred embodiments are also the same.

[0044] [Effects] In the intraoral sensing device of the present invention, the first dental resin material 3 covers the entire electronic device 2, so that even if the adhesion between the first dental resin material 3 and the electronic device 2 is very weak, the electronic device will not peel off during use. By using silicone resin as the first dental resin material 3, even when the electronic device 2 is reused for charging or the like, the electronic device 2 can be easily peeled off from the oral appliance 1, and the silicone resin can be peeled off cleanly, so that the electronic device 2 is not destroyed and can be easily reused. When reusing an item that has been placed in the oral cavity, sufficient sterilization procedures are required. However, in the intraoral sensing device of the present invention, the silicone resin is disposable after each use, so that the electronic device 2 is easy to clean. When used in the oral cavity, the electronic device 2 is covered with the first dental resin material 3 and the second dental resin material 4, and therefore the waterproofing of the electronic device 2 is improved. When the electronic device 2 is used in the oral cavity, it is covered with the first dental resin material 3 and the second dental resin material 4, so that even if a crack occurs in either one, it is protected by the other material, and safety to the human body is ensured.

[0045] In the intraoral sensing device of the present invention, a part of the intraoral appliance 1 is recessed and the electronic device 2 is attached thereto, so that the manufacturing process is simple. By making a recess in part of the oral appliance 1 and attaching the electronic device 2 thereto, the thickness of the material of the oral appliance 1 can be made thin. For example, if the oral appliance 1 is an orthodontic device, it is possible to finely control the force applied to the dentition. Since the second dental resin material 4 used to attach the electronic device 2 to the oral appliance 1 is a liquid and powder that is polymerized and hardened, the second dental resin material 4 does not run off. Therefore, when covering the first dental resin material 3 with the second dental resin material 4, a brush-layering method in which the liquid material is first soaked into a brush and then the brush is dipped in powder and applied around the first dental resin material 3, or a sprinkling method in which the liquid material and powder are alternately sprinkled, can be used. In the second specific embodiment, the electronic device 2 is fixed to the first projection 1c of the oral appliance 1 and to the corner portion where the thickness is thinner than the other portions via the second dental resin material 4, so that even if a large force is applied to the oral appliance, the force is not directly applied to the electronic device 2. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the problem of the electronic device 2 being damaged by the force applied to the electronic device 2 when the oral appliance 1 is attached or detached.

[0046] In the third specific embodiment, the electronic device 2 is fixed by the second recess of the second dental resin material 4 and the first protrusion 1c of the intraoral appliance 1 via the second dental resin material 4, so that even if a large force is applied to the intraoral appliance 1, the force is not directly applied to the electronic device 2. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a problem that the electronic device 2 is broken due to the force applied to the electronic device 2 when the intraoral appliance 1 is attached or removed. If the intraoral appliance 1 is molded by vacuum stamping, and a part of the intraoral appliance 1 is recessed and the electronic device 2 is attached in a structure with the first protrusion 1c, the first protrusion 1c can be automatically formed and the electronic device 2 is automatically set, improving the work efficiency.

[0047] In the fourth specific embodiment, the electronic device 2 is fixed via the second dental resin material 4 between the second protrusion of the second dental resin material 4 and the recess 1d of the intraoral appliance 1, so that even if a large force is applied to the intraoral appliance 1, the force is not directly applied to the electronic device 2. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a problem that the electronic device 2 is broken due to the force being applied to the electronic device 2 when the intraoral appliance 1 is attached or removed. If the electronic device 2 is attached in a structure in which a part of the intraoral appliance 1 is recessed and further recess 1d is provided by a method of molding the intraoral appliance 1 by vacuum stamping, the recess 1d can be automatically formed and the electronic device 2 is automatically set, improving work efficiency.

[0048] By providing the electronic device 2 with the wireless transceiver unit 26, it is easy to extract the sensed information to the outside. By using a temperature sensor for the sensor 22, not only can the time that the intraoral appliance 1 is worn be measured and utilized in intraoral orthodontic treatment, but also daily changes in body temperature can be monitored. By using an acceleration sensor and a gyro sensor for sensor 22, it is possible not only to count the number of chews, but also to measure one or more items selected from the group consisting of steps, activity, jaw movement, and bruxism (teeth grinding). By using a pressure sensor / strain sensor for sensor 22, it is possible not only to measure the force applied to the teeth, dentures, or implants, but also to measure one or more types of measurements selected from the group consisting of the force applied to the teeth by the oral appliance 1, bruxism, biting force, number of chews, and time the oral appliance is worn.

[0049] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-044440 filed in Japan on March 13, 2020, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Note that the term "silicon resin" in the specification of Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-044440 means "silicone resin" in the specification of this application.

[0050] The present invention includes the following aspects. <1> A sensing device to be placed in the oral cavity, An electronic device having electronic components mounted on a circuit board; a first dental resin material that covers all of the electronic devices; A second dental resin material that covers the entirety of the first dental resin material; an intraoral sensing device having an intraoral appliance having a first recess in which the electronic device is housed, the first recess being covered with the first dental resin material and the second dental resin material. <2> The second dental resin material adheres the electronic device covered with the first dental resin material to the inside of the first recess. <1> An intraoral sensing device as described in <3> The second dental resin material has a bottom surface which is one of the broad surfaces of the first dental resin material, and at least two corners of a surface opposite the bottom surface are thinner than the thickness of the other portions, and a first protrusion is provided at a location of the first recess corresponding to the portion where the thickness of the corner of the second dental resin material is thinner than the thickness of the other portions. <1> An intraoral sensing device as described in <4> A second recess is provided on at least two or more surfaces of the second dental resin material, the second recess being a bottom surface of one of the broad surfaces of the first dental resin material, the surfaces corresponding to the side surfaces of the bottom surface, and a first protrusion is provided on the first recess at a position corresponding to the second recess on the side surface of the second dental resin material. <1> An intraoral sensing device as described in <5> the second recess is parallel to the bottom surface; <4> An intraoral sensing device as described in <6> A second protrusion is provided on at least two or more surfaces of the second dental resin material that correspond to a side surface relative to one of the broad surfaces of the first dental resin material as a bottom surface, and a recess is provided in the first recess at a position corresponding to the second protrusion on the side surface of the second dental resin material. <1> An intraoral sensing device as described in <7> The second protrusion is parallel to the bottom surface. <6> An intraoral sensing device as described in <8> The oral appliance is formed from a thermoplastic polymer compound. <1> from <7> 13. An intraoral sensing device according to any one of the preceding claims. <9> The first dental resin material is mainly composed of polydimethylsiloxane. <1> from <7> 13. An intraoral sensing device according to any one of the preceding claims. <10> The first dental resin material is a methacrylate to which butyl phthalate is added as a plasticizer, and the resulting mixture is polymerized and hardened. <1> from <7> 13. An intraoral sensing device according to any one of the preceding claims. <11> The second dental resin material is obtained by polymerizing and curing methyl methacrylate and polymethyl methacrylate. <1> from <7> 13. An intraoral sensing device according to any one of the preceding claims. <12> The second dental resin material is mainly composed of at least one selected from the group consisting of 2,2-bis(4-(3-methoxoloxy-2-hydroxypropoxy)phenyl)propane, urethane dimethacrylate, and triethylene glycol dimethacrylate. <1> from <7> 13. An intraoral sensing device according to any one of the preceding claims. <13> The second dental resin material is obtained by polymerizing and curing polymethyl methacrylate, 4-methacryloyloxyethyl trimellitate anhydride, and tri-n-butylborane. <1> from <3> 13. An intraoral sensing device according to any one of the preceding claims. <14> The second dental resin material is characterized in that it can be applied by a brush-laying method in which a liquid material is first soaked into a brush, and then powder is applied to the brush and applied around the first dental resin material. <11> from <13> 13. An intraoral sensing device according to any one of the preceding claims. <15> The second dental resin material is characterized in that it can be applied by a sprinkling method in which a liquid material and a powder are alternately sprinkled. <11> from <13> 13. An intraoral sensing device according to any one of the preceding claims. <16> The second dental resin material is any one selected from the group consisting of a polyethylene resin, a polyurethane resin, and an acrylic resin. <1> from <7> 13. An intraoral sensing device according to any one of the preceding claims. <17> The electronic device includes: A sensor for sensing biological information; a battery for powering the sensor; a signal processing unit that receives power from the battery and generates digital data based on an output signal from the sensor; A memory for storing the digital data; a wireless transceiver unit that receives power from the battery and transmits the digital data stored in the memory to the network connector in response to a signal sent from the network connector, <1> from <16> 13. An intraoral sensing device according to any one of the preceding claims. <18> The sensor is at least one selected from the group consisting of a temperature sensor, an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, a pressure sensor, a strain sensor, a pulse wave sensor that uses light to measure a pulse wave, a pulse oximeter that uses light to measure a blood oxygen concentration, a heart rate sensor that uses light to measure a heart rate, and a laser sensor that uses laser light to measure blood flow. <17> An intraoral sensing device as described in <19> The oral appliance is an orthodontic appliance, a denture, or an implant. <1> from <18> 13. An intraoral sensing device according to any one of the preceding claims. <20> The oral appliance is formed of a material that can transmit light of any wavelength within a wavelength range of 400 to 1000 nm. <1> from <19> 13. An intraoral sensing device according to any one of the preceding claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1...oral appliance, 1c...first protrusion, 1d...recess, 2...electronic device, 3...first dental resin material, 4...second dental resin material, 4g...second recess, 4h...second protrusion, 5...tooth, 21...battery, 22...sensor, 23...wireless module section, 24...signal processing section, 25...memory, 26...wireless transceiver section, 27...network connector, 31...implant, 32...implant denture, 33...gums, 34...alveolar bone, 41...oral appliance, 42...electronic device

Claims

1. A sensing device to be placed in the oral cavity, An electronic device having electronic components mounted on a circuit board; a first dental resin material that covers all of the electronic devices; A second dental resin material that covers the entirety of the first dental resin material; an intraoral appliance having a first recess for accommodating the electronic device, the first recess being covered with the first dental resin material and the second dental resin material; the second dental resin material is provided in a gap between the electronic device entirely covered with the first dental resin material and the first recess, and is adhered to an inside of the first recess; a protrusion for fixing the electronic device housed in the first recess is formed in the first recess or the second dental resin material; An intraoral sensing device, wherein the electronic device covered with the first dental resin material and the second dental resin material is removable from the oral appliance by deformation of the protrusion.

2. The intraoral sensing device according to claim 1 , The second dental resin material is formed such that one of the broad surfaces of the first dental resin material is a bottom surface, and the thickness of at least two or more corners of the surface opposite the bottom surface is thinner than the thickness of the other parts, the protrusion is formed in the first recess, An intraoral sensing device, wherein the electronic device is fixed by the protrusion and a portion of the second dental resin material where the thickness of the corner is thinner than the thickness of other portions.

3. The intraoral sensing device according to claim 1 , The second dental resin material has a second recess on at least two or more surfaces corresponding to side surfaces of the first dental resin material, the second recess being defined as a bottom surface of one of the broad surfaces of the first dental resin material; The protrusion is formed at a location of the second dental resin material corresponding to the second recess, An intraoral sensing device, wherein the electronic device is fixed by the second recess and the protrusion.

4. The intraoral sensing device according to claim 1 , The protrusion is formed on the second dental resin material, and is formed on at least two or more surfaces of the first dental resin material, with one of the broad surfaces being a bottom surface and corresponding to a side surface relative to the bottom surface; The first recess has a recess formed at a position corresponding to the protrusion, An intraoral sensing device, wherein the electronic device is fixed by the recess and the protrusion.

5. The intraoral sensing device according to claim 1 , An intraoral sensing device, wherein the second dental resin material is formed of a material that is softer than the first dental resin material.

6. The intraoral sensing device according to claim 1 , An intraoral sensing device, wherein the first dental resin material is formed from a material that has a weaker adhesion between the first dental resin material and the second dental resin material than the adhesion between the second dental resin material and the oral appliance, and also has a weaker adhesion between the first dental resin material and the electronic device.

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