Biomeasuring Dental Treatment Room

Abstract

To provide a system for monitoring anxiety of an individual during a dental procedure.SOLUTION: The system for monitoring anxiety of an individual includes a chair having at least a seat and a back, a base for supporting the chair, and a first sensor disposed on at least one of the seat and the back. The first sensor is configured to continuously obtain data associated with a first physical characteristic from an individual seated in the chair without direct contact with the individual. The first physical characteristic is one of a respiration rate and a heart rate. The system further includes a display and a controller. The controller is configured to receive data associated with the first physical characteristic from the first sensor in real time and compile first metric information from the received data. The first metric information is configured to visually indicate a change in the first physical characteristic. The controller is further configured to output the first metric information to the display in real time.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE INVENTION The embodiments described herein relate generally to dental clinics, and more particularly to dental clinics that are enabled to read and report biometric data from patients. [Background technology]

[0002] A major problem facing the dental industry is patient anxiety. Many patients are anxious about visiting the dentist and may not keep regularly scheduled appointments. Problems that could have been detected and corrected early with simple, routine procedures now require extensive and expensive restorations for the patient. Patient anxiety can also lead to procrastination or abandonment of care. The result is significantly increased costs, increased pain and suffering, and increased time for the patient, and lost productivity for the dentist.

[0003] However, it can be difficult for dentists and staff to recognize patient anxiety during a procedure. Dental teams are typically focused on a small workspace within the patient's mouth. Unless the patient vocalizes (which is difficult when the dentist is working inside the mouth) or reacts in an aggressive way, dentists are unlikely to notice the patient's growing anxiety. Furthermore, if the patient's anxiety reaches this stage, the procedure may be slowed or stopped earlier than usual. Also, guesswork and late detection can lead to unnecessary higher risks through potentially unwarranted and costly interventions, for example, through larger and more expensive doses of anesthesia.

[0004] It would be desirable to provide technology that allows for real-time active (preferably unobtrusive) monitoring of conscious patients to detect and report their anxiety levels during dental procedures, allowing dentists to intervene appropriately while continuing the continuity of treatment. Furthermore, with an increasing understanding of the relationship between oral health and overall health, such recorded data may also provide a longitudinal view of a patient's overall health that can be shared with a primary care physician or the like. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Briefly, one embodiment includes a system for monitoring anxiety in an individual. The system includes a chair having at least a seat and a back, a base supporting the chair, and a first sensor disposed on at least one of the seat or back of the chair. The first sensor is configured to continuously obtain data related to a first physical characteristic from an individual seated in the chair without direct contact with the individual. The first physical characteristic is one of a respiratory rate or a heart rate. The system further includes a display and a controller operably connected to the first sensor and the display. The controller is configured to receive data related to the first physical characteristic from the first sensor in real time and compile first metric information from the received data related to the first physical characteristic. The first metric information is configured to visually indicate changes in the first physical characteristic. The controller is further configured to output the first metric information to the display in real time. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In one embodiment, the system further includes a second sensor disposed on at least one of the seat or back of the chair. The second sensor is configured to continuously obtain data related to a second physical characteristic from an individual seated in the chair without direct contact with the individual. The second physical characteristic is one of a respiratory rate or a heart rate. The second physical characteristic is different from the first physical characteristic. The controller is operably connected to the second sensor and further configured to receive the data related to the second physical characteristic from the second sensor in real time.

[0007] In another aspect, the controller is further configured to compile second metric information from the received data related to the second physical characteristic. The second metric information is configured to visually indicate a change in the second physical characteristic. The controller is further configured to output the second metric information to a display in real time.

[0008] In another embodiment, a first sensor is located on the seat of a chair and the first physical characteristic is heart rate, and a second sensor is located on the back of a second chair and the second physical characteristic is respiration rate.

[0009] In another embodiment, the system further includes a second sensor disposed on at least one of the back or base of the chair. The second sensor is configured to continuously obtain data related to a second physical characteristic from an individual seated in the chair without direct contact with the individual. The second physical characteristic is one of weight or body mass. The controller is operably connected to the second sensor and is further configured to receive the data related to the second physical characteristic from the second sensor in real time and output a current value of the second physical characteristic to a display in real time.

[0010] In another embodiment, the second sensor is at least one of a strain gauge load cell or a force transducer.

[0011] In another embodiment, the first sensor is a piezoelectric film strip.

[0012] In another embodiment, the seat or back of the chair on which the first sensor is located is formed by a pad at least partially surrounded by a cover, the first sensor being located between the pad and the cover.

[0013] In another aspect, the system includes a plurality of first sensors, and the controller is configured to compile the first metric information based on a combination of received data related to the first physical characteristic from each of the plurality of first sensors.

[0014] In another embodiment, the first metric information is a plot of the first physical characteristic against time.

[0015] In another embodiment, the first physical characteristic is a heart rate, and the controller is further configured to output a current value of the heart rate to the display in addition to the first metric information.

[0016] In another embodiment, the first physical characteristic is a respiration rate, and the controller is further configured to output a current value of the respiration rate to the display in addition to the first metric information.

[0017] In another aspect, the controller is further configured to calculate a standard deviation from the data related to the first physical characteristic and output a value in real time to the display indicating the first metric information with a predicted level of accuracy based on the calculated standard deviation.

[0018] In another aspect, the controller is located within the base.

[0019] In another aspect, the chair has at least one configuration in which the seat and back of the chair form a non-zero angle with respect to one another.

[0020] Another embodiment includes a method for monitoring anxiety in an individual seated in a chair. The chair has at least a seat and a back. The method includes continuously obtaining data related to a first physical characteristic from an individual seated in the chair without direct contact with the individual by a first sensor disposed on at least one of the seat or back of the chair. The first physical characteristic is one of a respiration rate or a heart rate. The method further includes receiving data related to the first physical characteristic from the first sensor in real time by a controller operatively connected to the first sensor, and compiling, by the controller, first metric information from the received data related to the first physical characteristic. The first metric information is configured to visually indicate changes in the first physical characteristic. The method further includes outputting, by the controller, the first metric information on a display in real time.

[0021] In one aspect, the method further includes continuously obtaining data related to a second physical characteristic from the individual seated in the chair without direct contact with the individual by a second sensor disposed on at least one of the seat or back of the chair. The second physical characteristic is one of a respiratory rate or a heart rate and is different from the first physical characteristic. The method further includes receiving the data related to the second physical characteristic from the second sensor in real time by a controller operatively connected to the second sensor.

[0022] In another aspect, the method further includes compiling, by the controller, second metric information from the received data related to the second physical characteristic, the second metric information configured to visually indicate a change in the second physical characteristic, and outputting, by the controller, the second metric information to a display in real time.

[0023] In another embodiment, a first sensor is located on the seat of the chair and the first physical characteristic is heart rate, and a second sensor is located on the back of the chair and the second physical characteristic is respiratory rate.

[0024] In another embodiment, the first metric information is a plot of the first physical characteristic against time.

[0025] Yet another embodiment includes a dental treatment room equipped for monitoring patient anxiety. The treatment room includes a dental chair having at least a seat and a back, a base supporting the chair, a dental light with a light head configured to emit light toward the oral cavity of a patient seated in the dental chair, and a first sensor disposed on the seat or back of the dental chair or on the light head of the dental light. The first sensor is configured to continuously obtain data related to a first physical characteristic from a patient seated in the dental chair without direct contact with the patient. The first physical characteristic is one of a respiratory rate or a heart rate. The system further includes a display and a controller operably connected to the first sensor and the display. The controller is configured to receive data related to the first physical characteristic from the first sensor in real time and compile first metric information from the received data related to the first physical characteristic. The first metric information is configured to visually indicate changes in the first physical characteristic. The controller is further configured to output the first metric information to the display in real time.

[0026] In one embodiment, the first physical characteristic is a respiration rate, and the first sensor is located on an optical head of the dental light. The first sensor is a radar or lidar sensor.

[0027] In another embodiment, the first sensor is a piezoelectric film strip and is positioned between the pad and a cover forming the back or seat of the dental chair on which the first sensor is located.

[0028] The following detailed description of the preferred embodiments will be better understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. For purposes of illustration, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and equipment shown. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of an example dental treatment room according to the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a partial top perspective exploded view of a dental chair armrest incorporating a sensor according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 is an exploded top perspective view of a dental optical head incorporating a sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4A] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary data output from the sensor of FIG. 3. [Figure 4B] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary data output from the sensor of FIG. 3. [Figure 5] 1 is a schematic block diagram of an exemplary control system in accordance with the present invention. [Figure 6A] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an example of a chair-integrated sensor, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6B] FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional side plan view of a portion of the chair of FIG. 6A. [Figure 7] 10 is a screenshot of an exemplary display output according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] Certain terminology is used in the following description for simplicity only and not as a limitation. The words "right," "left," "lower," and "upper" designate directions in the figures to which reference is made. The words "inwardly" and "outwardly" refer to directions toward and away from the geometric center of the device and its designated portion, respectively. Terms include those listed above, their derivatives, and words of similar origin. Additionally, the words "a" and "an," as used in the claims and corresponding parts of the specification, mean "at least one."

[0031] It should also be understood that the terms "about," "approximately," "generally," "substantially," and the like, when used herein when referring to a dimension or feature of a component, indicate that the described dimension / feature is not a strict boundary or parameter, and do not exclude minor variations therefrom that are functionally similar. At a minimum, such references involving numerical parameters will include variations that do not alter the least significant digit using art-recognized mathematical and industrial principles (e.g., rounding, measurement or other systematic errors, manufacturing tolerances, etc.).

[0032] Referring to FIG. 1 , there is shown a schematic representation of portions of a dental treatment room 10 in accordance with a possible embodiment of the present invention. As is conventionally known, treatment room 10 may include a patient chair 12, which may be supported by a base 14, for seating a patient during a dental procedure. Treatment room 10 may also include a dental light 16 with a light head 18 that emits light into the patient's oral cavity during the dental procedure. Treatment room 10 may also include an instrument tray 20 containing a plurality of instruments 22, one or more of which may be used during the dental procedure. Treatment room 10 may also include other conventional components not shown in FIG. 1 , such as a dentist's stool, a compressor, a vacuum, an irrigation unit, an x-ray machine, etc.

[0033] Various embodiments of the dental treatment room 10 preferably include one or more sensors or other similar types of detection devices for monitoring one or more physical or behavioral aspects of the patient before and / or during a dental procedure. For example, one or more sensors 100, 101, 102 may be connected to, disposed on, or embedded within various portions of the dental chair 12, such as the seat 12a, the back and / or headrest 12b, and the armrests 12c. The chair 12 may be adjustable to change the configuration of, for example, the seat 12a relative to the back / headrest 12b. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the chair 12 has at least one configuration in which the seat 12a and the back / headrest 12b of the chair 12 form a non-zero angle with respect to each other.

[0034] Examples of sensors 101, 102 that may be associated with or distributed among the seat 12a and back / headrest 12b include, but are not limited to, temperature sensors (e.g., thermistors, IC temperature sensors, thermocouples, etc.), resistance or impedance sensors, pressure sensors, accelerometers, etc. Examples of sensors 100 that may be utilized in the armrest 12c include, but are not limited to, temperature sensors (e.g., thermistors, IC temperature sensors, thermocouples, etc.), resistance or impedance sensors or other types of electrical sensors (voltage, current, etc.), pressure sensors, glucose sensors (e.g., finger-prick type blood sensors or sensors that communicate with subcutaneously implanted continuous glucose monitoring chips), optical sensors (with or without corresponding light sources), accelerometers, etc. The dental chair 12 may include a single sensor, multiple types of sensors, multiples of the same sensor type, or combinations thereof. Furthermore, one sensor may have multiple components distributed among the various portions 12a, 12b, 12c of the dental chair 12.

[0035] The base 14 of the dental chair 12 may also, or alternatively, include one or more sensors 103 connected to, disposed on, or embedded therein. Examples of sensors 103 that may be used in the base 14 include pressure sensors or other types of weight scales, accelerometers, etc. The base 14 may include a single sensor, multiple types of sensors, multiples of the same sensor type, or a combination thereof.

[0036] The dental light 16 may also, or alternatively, include one or more sensors 104 connected to, disposed on, or embedded within, preferably within the light head 18. Examples of sensors 104 that may be used in the dental light 16 include, but are not limited to, cameras or other photodetectors sensitive to particular wavelengths of light, including, but not limited to, ultraviolet, infrared, visible light, combinations thereof, etc., radar sensors, lidar sensors, etc. The dental light 16 may include a single sensor, multiple types of sensors, multiples of the same sensor type, or combinations thereof.

[0037] One or more instruments 22 may also or alternatively include one or more sensors 105 connected thereto, disposed thereon, or embedded therein. For example, an instrument 22 may include a lancet, such as a sensor 105 for obtaining a blood sample from a patient during a procedure in the oral cavity. The sensor 105 may also be an optical sensor, a temperature sensor, a resistance or impedance sensor, or the like. An instrument 22 may include a single sensor, multiple types of sensors, multiples of the same sensor type, or a combination thereof. Furthermore, different types of instruments may include different sensor types. Furthermore, a single sensor may have multiple components distributed among the instruments 22 and other components of the treatment room 10, such as the dental chair 12. For example, the instrument 22 may form one electrode of the sensor, while the dental chair 12 incorporates a second electrode for measuring impedance, or the like.

[0038] The sensors 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105 may be used alone or in conjunction with others to obtain data regarding the patient's physical and behavioral characteristics, where appropriate, that can be used by the dentist to assess the patient's anxiety and / or report concerns of various conditions to the patient's primary care physician or other healthcare provider. The following are non-limiting examples of patient data that can be obtained by the various sensors 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105:

[0039] Blood pressure may be measured with a sensor 100 in the form of an optical sensor and an associated LED light source within the armrest 12c. For example, the patient's finger may rest on top of the sensor 100 within the armrest 12c. In another embodiment, the sensor 100 may be utilized within a clip (not shown) attached to the patient's finger. Such a sensor 100 may be coupled either wirelessly or by cable to associated circuitry (not shown) within the armrest 12c or to other components within the dental treatment room 10. A significant change to the patient's blood pressure before or during a dental procedure may indicate an elevated level of anxiety.

[0040] Core body temperature may be measured with one or more sensors 101, 102 in the form of a temperature sensor (e.g., a thermistor, etc.) in the seat 12a or back / headrest 12b of the dental chair 12. Additionally or alternatively, core body temperature may be measured using a sensor 104 in the form of an infrared camera mounted in the dental light 16. Additionally or alternatively, core body temperature may be measured using a sensor 105 in the form of a temperature sensor (e.g., a thermistor, etc.) included as or with the dental instrument 22. A significant change to a patient's core body temperature before or during a dental procedure may indicate elevated anxiety levels.

[0041] Tip (e.g., hand) temperature may be measured with one or more sensors 100 in the form of temperature sensors (e.g., thermistors, etc.) in the armrest 12c. For example, the patient's hand may rest on top of the sensor 100 in the armrest 12c. In another embodiment, the sensor 100 may be utilized in a clip (not shown) attached to the patient's finger or other portion of the hand. Such a sensor 100 may be coupled, either wirelessly or by cable, to associated circuitry (not shown) in the armrest 12c or to other components in the dental treatment room 10. Additionally or alternatively, tip temperature may be measured using a sensor 104 in the form of an infrared camera mounted in the dental light 16. A significant change to the patient's tip temperature before or during a dental procedure may indicate an elevated anxiety level.

[0042] Galvanic skin conductance may be measured by one or more sensors 100, 101, 102 in the form of resistance or impedance sensors within the dental chair 12. Such sensors 100, 101, 102 require direct skin contact with the patient, whereby the patient may place a hand, leg, neck, etc., over the appropriate sensor 100, 101, 102. Alternatively, one or more sensors 100, 101, 102 may be in the form of a patch (not shown) attached to the patient's skin. Such sensors 101, 101, 102 may be coupled, either wirelessly or by cable, to associated circuitry (not shown) within the dental chair 12 or to other components within the dental treatment room 10. In another embodiment, a sensor 105 in the form of a resistance or impedance sensor may be included as or with the dental instrument 22. An increased patient galvanic skin response before or during a dental procedure may indicate elevated anxiety levels.

[0043] Glucose levels may be measured with one or more sensors 100 in the form of finger-prick type glucose sensors in armrest 12c. The patient is required to press a finger against sensor 100 to obtain a blood sample for the glucose level test. Alternatively, if the patient has a continuous glucose monitoring clip (not shown) implanted on the arm (such as near the wrist), sensor 100 may be in the form of a module capable of wirelessly communicating with the implanted chip to obtain measured glucose data. A significant change to the patient's extremity temperature before or during a dental procedure may indicate elevated anxiety levels.

[0044] Grip pressure may be measured with one or more sensors 100 in the form of pressure sensors in armrest 12c. Before or during a dental procedure, an anxious patient may tend to grip or squeeze armrest 12c. Sensor 100 is therefore placed in an optimal position on armrest 12c to detect the amount of pressure exerted by the patient during such gripping or squeezing.

[0045] Peripheral oxygen saturation (SpC) may be measured, similar to the blood pressure detection described above, with a sensor 100 in the form of an optical sensor and an associated LED light source in the armrest 12c. A significant change to a patient's peripheral oxygen saturation before or during a dental procedure may indicate elevated anxiety levels.

[0046] Sweating may be measured using sensors 100, 101, 102 in the form of resistance or impedance sensors within the dental chair 12, similar to the galvanic skin conductance detection described above. Skin resistance and impedance can vary depending on the state of the sweat glands in the patient's skin, and sweating before or during a dental procedure may indicate elevated anxiety levels.

[0047] The heart rate may be measured with a sensor in the form of an optical sensor and an associated LED light source within the armrest 12c. In the example of FIG. 2, the heart rate sensor 100 is model PulseSensor_864620000204, available commercially at PulseSensor.com. To access the heart rate sensor 100, the patient's finger may, for example, rest on top of the sensor 100 within the armrest 12c. FIG. 2 shows an example in which the heart rate sensor 100 is positioned between a plastic core 30 of the armrest 12c and an elastomeric cover 32 that partially surrounds the core 30. The cover 32 includes an opening 34 positioned toward its distal end that is aligned with the location of the sensor 100. Light from the sensor 100 passes through the opening 34 and can be retro-reflected by the patient's finger covering the opening 34. A ridge 36 is further provided on the cover 32 that partially surrounds the opening 34, thereby helping to guide the patient's finger into the opening 34. Data collected by sensor 100 may be transmitted by cable 38 for evaluation and display, as described in further detail below. In another embodiment, sensor 100 may be utilized in a clip (not shown) attached to the patient's finger. Such sensor 100 may be coupled, either wirelessly or by cable, to associated circuitry (not shown) in armrest 12c or to other components within dental treatment room 10. An increase in the patient's heart rate before or during a dental procedure may indicate elevated anxiety levels.

[0048] Pupil dilation may be measured by a sensor 104 in the form of a visible light camera mounted within the dental light 16. For example, such a camera could be positioned to monitor the patient's eyes during a dental procedure, and software running on the camera or in a connected controller (see, e.g., FIG. 5) can analyze sequential images to detect changes in pupil size. Dilation of a patient's pupils before or during a dental procedure may indicate elevated anxiety levels.

[0049] The respiration rate may be measured by a sensor 104 in the form of a radar or lidar sensor mounted within the dental light 16. For example, the optical head 18 may be positioned to allow the radar or lidar to detect chest movement representative of the patient's respiration rate. An example in which the radar sensor 104 is located within the housing 40 of the optical head 18 is shown in FIG. 3. The radar sensor 104 is at least partially shielded from view behind an optical outlet plate 42 that closes the housing 40. The radar sensor 104 may be attached to a circuit board 44 that may be secured to the housing 40 and / or the optical outlet plate 42 and may include additional circuitry for data capture and analysis. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the radar sensor 104 is part of an X4M200 respiration data sensor commercially available from Novelda AS of Oslo, Norway. In this example, the radar sensor 104 may be powered by a power supply (not shown) of the dental light 16, which itself receives power from the dental procedure room 10 (e.g., via an electrical outlet, etc.). Examples of data that may be acquired by the radar sensor 104 are shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. FIG. 4A shows a plot of breaths per minute over time, and FIG. 4B shows the breathing pattern detected via the rise and fall of the patient's chest. Data from the radar sensor 104 may be communicated wirelessly or via a cable (not shown) from the sensor 104 itself or from the circuit board 44 for evaluation and display, as described in further detail below. Additionally or alternatively, the breathing rate can be measured by one or more sensors 101, 102 in the form of accelerometers in the seat 12a and / or back / headrest 12b of the dental chair 12. The accelerometers can be used to detect repetitive movements of the patient in the chair that are representative of breathing rate. An increase in the patient's heart rate before or during a dental procedure may indicate elevated anxiety levels.

[0050] Tremor may be measured by a sensor 104 in the form of a radar or lidar sensor mounted within the dental light 16, or by one or more sensors 101, 102 in the form of accelerometers in the seat 12a and / or back / headrest 12b of the dental chair 12, similar to the respiratory rate described above. Excessive movements, which may indicate elevated anxiety levels before or during a dental procedure, are noted by the sensors 101, 102, 104.

[0051] Sedation levels may be measured by one or more sensors that observe various patient behaviors that tend to reflect characteristics of sedation (or, conversely, agitation). For example, various behaviors may be monitored for comparison with recognized sedation scales, such as the Riker Sedation-Agitation Scale, the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale, etc. Such behaviors may include, for example, movement (detected by sensors 104 in dental light 16, such as radar / lidar sensors, cameras, or by sensors 101, 102 in the form of accelerometers in seat 12a and / or back / headrest 12b), heart rate (detected by heart rate sensor 100 in armrest 12c, as described above), respiratory rate (detected by radar / lidar sensor 104 in dental light 16, or by accelerometers in seat 12a and / or back / headrest 12b, as described above), oxygen level (detected by sensor 100 in armrest 12c, as described above), etc. The various detected behaviors can be analyzed and combined by the controller 50 (FIG. 5) to determine and report the sedation level.

[0052] Weight or body mass index may be measured by a sensor 103 in the form of a pressure sensor, strain gauge load cell, force transducer, or other weighing scale located within the base 14 of the dental chair 12. Such a sensor 103 may also be located directly within the chair 12, including within the seat 12a or back / headrest 12b.

[0053] The AIC level may be measured by a sensor 105 in the form of a lancet included as or with the dental instrument 22. During a dental procedure, e.g., probing, the dentist may use the lancet 105 to obtain a blood sample from the patient for the AIC level test.

[0054] The edentulous jaw may be measured by a sensor 104 mounted within the dental light 16 in the form of a camera or other photodetector sensitive to specific wavelengths of light, including, but not limited to, ultraviolet, infrared, visible light, combinations thereof, etc. The sensor 104 is used to detect the presence or absence of one or more teeth in the patient and can be as simple as a visible light camera. In another exemplary embodiment, the sensor 104 may be provided to detect bioluminescence of tissue within the patient's mouth following excitation by a light source (not shown), which may be mounted within the dental light 16 or may be a handheld device, etc. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the sensor 104 may be in the form of an infrared camera used as part of a photothermal radiometry system, in which tissue within the patient's mouth may be stimulated by a laser or other light source (not shown), such as within the dental light 16, and the resulting thermal conversion is detected by the sensor 104.

[0055] Body composition metrics (e.g., body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, water composition, skeletal muscle mass percentage) may be measured using the weight described above in combination with data from other sensors, such as one or more sensors 100, 101, 102 in the form of resistance or impedance or other electrical sensors within the dental chair 12. For example, bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) can be used to estimate body composition by passing a weak electrical current through the body and measuring the voltage to calculate the body's impedance. Suitable touch points (not shown) for delivering electrical current to the patient, such as electrical plates, may be provided on the dental chair 12, such as within the armrests 12c.

[0056] Referring now to FIG. 5 , one or more sensors 100-105 deployed within the dental treatment room 10 may communicate with a controller 50 configured to collect and analyze data received from the sensors 100-105. Such communication may occur over a wired connection. Simple sensors with basic signal out pins may connect directly to the controller 50 via dedicated inputs. More sophisticated sensors integrated with or coupled to their own dedicated processing circuit boards (e.g., circuit board 44 of FIG. 3 ) may transmit data to the controller using conventional wired protocols, e.g., via USB, FireWire, etc. In another alternative, communication may occur over a local area network (LAN), etc., or via the Internet. Similarly, communication may be wireless through direct data exchange (e.g., via Bluetooth, etc.), or over a wireless network or the Internet (e.g., via Wi-Fi, a cellular network, etc.), etc. The controller 50 may be located nearby, such as within the dental treatment room 10 (e.g., the controller 50 may be stored within the base 14 of the chair 12) or in a utility room, or may be located remotely.

[0057] The controller 50 may also provide power to one or more of the sensors 100-105, such as by a dedicated power cable or through a communication line (e.g., USB, etc.). Alternatively, the sensors 100-105 may have their own dedicated power source separate from the controller 50. In yet another embodiment, the sensors 100-105 may derive power from an associated component of the dental treatment room 10. For example, the light sensor 100 in the armrest 12c of FIG. 2 may be coupled to the power source of the dental chair 12. Similarly, the sensor 104 in the dental light 16 may derive power from an associated lamp power source, etc.

[0058] Where possible, dental treatment room 10 components preferably include or are designed to allow for closed passage of any communication and / or power cables from sensors 100-105 to reduce noise and potential tripping hazards. For example, cable 38 from optical sensor 100 in FIG. 2 may be routed under cover 32 and ultimately through an opening (not shown) in core 30, allowing cable 38 to pass into seat 12a of dental chair 12 and ultimately into base 14. Cable 38 can emerge from base 14 for connection to controller 50 or other receptacle. Similarly, a USB cable (not shown) connected to circuit board 44 of radar sensor 104 in optical head 18 in FIG. 3 may extend from housing 40 into stand 19 (FIG. 1) or other support for optical head 18 to prevent dangling wires.

[0059] Memory 52 may be connected to or integrated with controller 50 to store data received from any sensors 100-105, and potentially store other information such as results from analyses performed on data received by controller 50, instructions for operation of controller 50, patient data, notes from the dentist, etc. Memory 52 may be, for example, flash memory, random access memory (RAM), a hard disk, a solid state drive, etc., or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, at least a portion of memory 52 may be located remotely from controller 50, such as on one or more remote servers.

[0060] The controller 50 may further be connected to a display 54 configured to display the sensor data and / or the results of analyses performed on the sensor data by the controller 50. The connection may be via wired or wireless communication, or may occur over a network or the internet. Alternatively, the display 54 may be integrated with the controller 50 in a common housing (not shown). The display 54 is preferably located so that it can be easily viewed by the dentist during the dental procedure, allowing the dentist to assess in real time whether anxiety-relief measures are appropriate for the patient. At the same time, the display 54 is preferably located so that it cannot be viewed by the patient, so as to prevent further anxiety. For example, a dedicated display 54 may be mounted within the dental treatment room 10 (e.g., on a wall) or integrated into one of the dental treatment room 10 components, such as the dental chair 12, dental light 16, or instrument tray 20. The display 54 may alternatively be portable. In other embodiments, the display 54 need not be dedicated and may be provided by another general-purpose computing device or mobile device, such as a desktop monitor, tablet, mobile phone, laptop, or the like. In such an example, the computer or mobile device may have an app that enables communication with the controller 50 for receiving and displaying relevant data. Alternatively, the computer or mobile device may include the controller 50 and include software for receiving and analyzing sensor data.

[0061] The controller 50 may also include or be connected to a communications module 56. The communications module 56 may serve to facilitate the above-described communications with the sensors 100-105, but may also be utilized to communicate received sensor data, analyses, patient data, dentist notes, etc., externally, such as to a primary care physician or other healthcare provider, a pharmacy, etc. The communications module may be a wired or wireless connection to a private network or the Internet, and thus may be an Ethernet port, a Wi-Fi network card, a cellular network card, etc. The controller 50 may include multiple communications modules 56 as needed for operation or to provide options to the dentist for receiving / transmitting.

[0062] As described above, the controller 50 may use the display 54 to present direct sensor data to the dentist, such as the patient's breaths per minute rate and breathing pattern shown in Figures 4A and 4B. If multiple patient characteristics are available from either a single sensor or multiple sensors, the display 54 may be configured to present all of the data simultaneously. Alternatively, the display 54 may automatically cycle through each at a predetermined rate, or the dentist may be able to switch between data for display as desired.

[0063] The controller 50 may further analyze data from one or more sensors 100-105 to, for example, present a dentist-understandable output, compile the data into a single metric, make treatment recommendations, or a combination thereof. For example, the controller 50 may analyze received sensor data by comparison with corresponding baseline data. For example, the received heart rate from the optical sensor 100 in FIG. 2 can be compared to the baseline heart rate to determine whether the received heart rate is higher than the baseline. The baseline data may be predetermined and stored in the memory 52 from a survey regarding appropriate levels for the patient and may vary by, for example, age, weight, height, gender, etc., or a combination thereof. In one example, the survey may indicate that for a patient with certain characteristics, the average resting heart rate should be approximately 80 beats per minute. Thus, the controller 50 may determine whether and by how much the patient's detected heart rate exceeds this pre-established threshold. The dentist may be able to select appropriate parameters for comparison via an interface (not shown), such as a keyboard, mouse, touchscreen, etc., or a combination thereof.

[0064] Alternatively, a baseline value may be established by capturing and storing the patient's sensor data prior to the dental procedure or from a previous session. For example, before the procedure begins (perhaps before the patient experiences any anxiety), optical sensor 100 of FIG. 2 may detect that the patient has a heart rate of 84 beats per minute. This may be stored in memory 52 and used by controller 50 for comparison while the dental procedure is underway. In this way, the baseline value is more individualized to the patient, rather than based on a general class of patients.

[0065] The baseline or other threshold may also be gradually increased. For example, a resting heart rate may be established as 84 beats per minute, mild anxiety may be characterized by an elevated heart rate of 105 beats per minute, and extreme anxiety may be set at 120 beats per minute. Thus, the controller 50 may be capable of establishing various levels of anxiety at multiple threshold assessment points.

[0066] The controller 50 may also convert the received sensor data into an anxiety score or result that provides the dentist with easy-to-understand metrics, for example. Considering the above example of various heart rate levels, the controller 50 may cause the display 54 to output different alerts to the dentist based on a comparison with the received heart rate data. For example, if the patient's heart rate is between 84 and 105 beats per minute, the display 54 may output a green color; if between 105 and 120 beats per minute, the display may output a yellow color; and if above 120 beats per minute, the display may output a red color. The controller 50 may also, or alternatively, communicate various detected levels of patient anxiety using a numerical scale, verbal indications, images, or the like, or a combination thereof. In addition to or alternatively to the display 54, the controller 50 may have or be connected to an audible or tactile alert device (not shown), such as a speaker.

[0067] It may be useful to use data from multiple different types of sensors 100-105 to more accurately reflect a patient's anxiety level. For example, a combination of heart rate, respiration rate, and respiration level may be measured by sensors 100, 102, and 104 in armrest 12c, back / headrest 12b, and dental light 16, respectively, to analyze the patient's anxiety. Controller 50 may be configured to analyze the data collected from the three sensors 100, 102, and 104 (either individually against a baseline value and / or together against a combined baseline value) to determine an appropriate alert for output via display 54. The analysis may include the relative weighting of various sensor readings based on various factors, such as sensor accuracy, change from baseline, representativeness of anxiety, etc., or a combination thereof. For example, heart rate data may be weighted more heavily in the above example if optical sensor 100 in armrest 12c is deemed to provide a more accurate reading than respiration sensor 104 or impedance sensor 102, and / or if heart rate data is deemed more representative of anxiety than respiration rate or sweating. Similarly, impedance sensor 102 data may be weighted less heavily if the readings deviate less from the baseline than data from the other sensors 100, 104.

[0068] In addition to, or alternatively to, output data indicating the patient's current anxiety level, the controller 50 may be programmed to make appropriate recommendations to the dentist to alleviate the patient's anxiety. Recommendations may be based on individual sensor data and / or any analysis by the controller 50 of the anxiety level, with reference to a pre-stored protocol table or other instructions stored in the memory 52. ​​For example, recommended courses of action may include changing the temperature of the dental chair 12, changing the room temperature, changing the height of the dental chair 12, pausing the procedure, speaking to the patient, encouraging the patient to take deep breaths, changing the music or other audible or visual stimuli in the room, engaging in relaxation techniques such as visualization, adjusting the flow of an anesthetic agent such as nitrous oxide, combinations thereof, etc. To the extent the controller 50 may be connected to any equipment in the dental treatment room 10, some mitigation measures may be applied automatically. For example, the controller 50 may have the ability to adjust the flow rate of nitrous oxide to the patient.

[0069] In some embodiments, the dental treatment room 10 may respond to the controller 50's anxiety detection to help calm the patient. For example, the dental chair 12, in response to an alert by the controller 50, may provide relief through temperature changes via heating or cooling elements (not shown) distributed throughout the dental chair 12, gentle movement via one or more motors (not shown) or similar devices within the dental chair 12 and / or base 14, auditory cues via a speaker (not shown) within the dental chair 12, etc., or a combination thereof. Similarly, the controller 50 may be in communication with room lighting, audio, temperature control, or other similar systems (not shown) within the dental treatment room 10 that can be altered to alleviate patient anxiety. The controller 50 may continue to monitor sensor feedback to determine that the measures utilized are working to reduce patient anxiety and recommend or trigger additional measures as needed.

[0070] While the system depicted in FIG. 5 is shown with a single centralized controller 50, the functionality of the controller 50 may be spread among multiple devices while still retaining the spirit of the invention. For example, each individual sensor 100-105 may have its own dedicated controller that performs some or all of the necessary analysis before reporting results to a centralized location. In some embodiments, the sensors may provide data or analysis directly to a display 54 or the like. In some embodiments, the central controller 50 may be associated with or connected to each individual sensor from which all other sensors in the system report. The architecture for data collection, analysis, and reporting can be modified according to the needs of the dentist and is not limited to the exemplary embodiment shown and described herein.

[0071] FIG. 6A illustrates an example of a chair 212 for use in the systems described herein. The chair 212 in FIG. 6A includes a seat 212a and a back 212b. A first sensor 201 is shown disposed within the seat 212a, and a second sensor 202 is disposed within the back 212b. In this example, the first and second sensors 201, 202 are both piezoelectric film strips that generate a charge or voltage output upon dynamic strain, such as the "Sleep Monitor Strip," Part No. 10184000-01, commercially available from TE CONNECTIVITY LTD. of Schaffhausen, Switzerland. However, the first and second sensors 201, 202 may be different from each other and, if desired, may be one of the other types of sensors described herein. For example, one of the sensors may be a strain gauge load cell or force transducer configured to measure body weight or mass. The first and second sensors 201, 202 are each configured to continuously obtain data relating to a different respective physical characteristic without direct contact with the individual seated in the chair 212. Although first and second sensors 201, 202 are shown, more or fewer sensors may be deployed as desired.

[0072] For example, in FIG. 6A , a first sensor 201 is configured to obtain data related to a seated individual's heart rate, and a second sensor 202 is configured to obtain data related to the individual's respiration rate. Using more than one of the first and / or second sensors 201, 202 allows for additional data collection and improved accuracy of the physical characteristic measurement. In the particular example shown in FIG. 6A , there are two first sensors 201 located within the seat 212 a for detecting data related to heart rate, and four second sensors 202 located on the back 212 b for detecting data related to respiration rate. However, more or fewer of each sensor 201, 202 can be used as desired. Furthermore, when multiple first sensors 201 are used, the first sensors 201 need not be constrained to a single portion of the chair 212, such as the seat 212 a. The first sensors 201 can be distributed between the seat 212 a and the back 212 b as desired. This is true for the second sensor 202, and any other configuration in which multiples of the same sensor are deployed.

[0073] FIG. 6B shows an example of a first sensor 201 positioned within a seat 212a in such a way that the required data can be obtained from an individual seated in the chair 212 without direct contact with the individual. In this example, the seat 212a is formed by a pad 211 at least partially surrounded by a cover 213. The first sensor 201, in the form of a piezoelectric strip as described above or as another sensor type, is positioned between the pad 211 and the cover 213. The cover 213 removably receives the pad 211, similar to a pillowcase, and may include a closure member (not shown). The cover 213 may also be more permanently attached to the pad 211 by stitching, fasteners, a friction fit, injection molding, or the like. Sensors positioned on the back 212b or other parts of the chair 212 may be configured in a similar manner. One objective of embodiments such as those shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B is to obtain data of an individual's physical characteristics in a passive manner, i.e., without the individual having to take any active action (or preferably even being aware of it) to obtain the data.

[0074] FIG. 7 is a screenshot of an exemplary display output. Referring to chair 212 from FIG. 6A, first sensor 201 acquires and provides data related to a physical characteristic (e.g., heart rate) to controller 50 (FIG. 5) in real time. Controller 50 may compile metric information from the received data, such as a visual representation of changes in the physical characteristic, and then output the metric information to a display in real time. In FIG. 7, controller 50 has compiled a plot 360 of heart rate over time and output it to a display. This trend line is easier for an oral-focused clinician to quickly read and evaluate than, for example, observing or detecting changes in a recorded heart rate graph 361 or continuously monitoring a current heart rate value 362. However, controller 50 may output one or all of such data to a display. When multiple first sensors 201 are utilized, such as in FIG. 6A, controller 50 may base the metric information on a combination of data received from all of first sensors 201. In one example, the controller 50 may determine the heart rate from each first sensor 201 and average the heart rates to obtain the metric information. In another example, the controller 50 may evaluate the data from each first sensor 201 and select the data that is most appropriate (e.g., has the least amount of noise, etc.).

[0075] The second sensor 202 similarly acquires and provides data related to another physical characteristic (e.g., respiration rate) to the controller 50 in real time. The controller 50 may again compile metrics from received data similar to that of the first sensor 201 for output to a display in real time. For example, in FIG. 7 , the controller 50 compiled another plot 370 showing respiration rate over time and output to the display. Additionally, or alternatively, the controller 50 may output a stored respiration graph 371 or a current respiration value 372 to the display. The controller 50 may provide as many metrics or other data from the sensors as desired. The clinician may also have the option to choose which data is presented on the display.

[0076] In some embodiments, the controller 50 may also output a value indicating one or more predicted accuracy levels of the metric information to a display. For example, FIG. 7 shows a heart rate "confidence" level 363 and a respiration rate "confidence" level 373, each provided as a dial positioned on a scale between "low" and "high." Other display interfaces, such as alphanumeric values ​​or phrases, colors, etc., may also be used. The predicted accuracy level the controller 50 indicates may be an indicator of the quality of the signals received from the sensors 201, 202, for example, due to noise levels, etc. One method for determining the predicted accuracy level value is to calculate a standard deviation from the data associated with the physical characteristic. For example, the controller 50 may use a predetermined number of previous readings (e.g., 50, 100, etc.) to determine the standard deviation. The larger the standard deviation, the lower the predicted accuracy level, and vice versa.

[0077] While the examples described above involve sensors located within the seat, one or more sensors may be located in the base, dental light, and / or other areas of the dental treatment room to provide data related to physical characteristics, as desired.

[0078] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that any boundaries between the above operations are merely examples. Multiple operations may be combined into a single operation, a single operation may be distributed into additional operations, and operations may be performed with at least partial overlap in time. Furthermore, alternative embodiments may include multiple instances of a particular operation, and the order of operations may be changed in various other embodiments.

[0079] While specific and individual embodiments are shown in the drawings, various individual elements or combinations of elements from different embodiments may be combined with each other while maintaining the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, individual features described herein with respect to only one embodiment should not be construed as incompatible with, or otherwise included in, other embodiments described herein.

[0080] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0081] 10 Dental Treatment Room 12 Patient Chair 12a sheet 12b Back / Headrest 12c Armrest 14 base 16 dental lights 18 Optical head 19 Stand 20 Instrument Tray 22 Equipment 30 cores 32 Cover, elastomer cover 34 Aperture 36 Ridge 38 Cable 40 Housing 42 Optical output plate 44 Circuit Board 50 Controller, Centralized Controller, Central Controller 52 memory 54 Display 56 Communication Module 100 sensors, heart rate sensors, light sensors 101 Sensors 102 Sensor, Impedance Sensor 103 Sensors 104 Sensors 105 Sensor, Lancet 201 First Sensor 202 Second Sensor 211 Pad 212 Chair 212a seat 212b Back 213 Cover 360 Plot 361 Heart Rate Graph 362 Heart Rate Value 370 plots 371 recorded respiration graphs 372 Current respiration rate

Claims

1. a chair having at least a seat and a back; a base supporting the chair; a sensor for measuring a heart rate disposed in an armrest of the chair, the sensor for measuring a heart rate including a light sensor and an associated light source housed within the armrest, whereby light from the light source passes through an opening in the armrest and is reflected by an individual's finger covering the opening and detected by the light sensor; a first sensor disposed on the back of the chair, the first sensor being a piezoelectric film strip configured to continuously obtain data related to a first physical characteristic from the individual seated in the chair without direct contact with the individual, the first physical characteristic being a respiration rate; and The display and a controller operably connected to the first sensor, the sensor for measuring the heart rate, and the display, receiving the data related to the first physical characteristic from the first sensor in real time; compiling the received data related to the first physical characteristic to obtain first metric information configured to visually indicate a change in the first physical characteristic; outputting the first measurement information to the display in real time; receiving a heart rate in real time from a sensor for measuring the heart rate; compiling the received heart rates to obtain heart rate metrics configured to visually indicate variations in the heart rates; outputting the heart rate metric information to the display in real time; calculating a first standard deviation from the first physical characteristic; calculating a heart rate deviation from the heart rate; determining an anxiety level for the individual based on the calculated first standard deviation and the calculated heart rate deviation and a relative weighting of the first physical characteristic and the heart rate; Analyzing the determined anxiety level against a threshold; Based on the determined anxiety level exceeding the threshold, (1) outputting an alert on the display indicating the individual's elevated anxiety level and recommending one or more courses of action to reduce the individual's elevated anxiety level, or (2) automatically initiating remedial action to be taken using the chair to reduce the individual's elevated anxiety level. a controller configured to:

1. A system for monitoring anxiety in an individual, comprising:

2. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the back of the chair on which the first sensor is located is formed by a pad at least partially surrounded by a cover, and the first sensor is located between the pad and the cover.

3. 10. The system of claim 1, comprising a plurality of the first sensors, wherein the controller is configured to compile the first metric information based on a combination of the received data related to the first physical characteristic from each of the plurality of first sensors.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first metric information is a plot of the first physical characteristic against time.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the heart rate metric information is a plot of heart rate against time.

6. 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the controller is further configured to output a current value of the heart rate to the display in addition to the heart rate metric information.

7. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the controller is further configured to output the current value of the respiration rate to the display in addition to the first metric information.

8. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to output to the display in real time a value indicative of a first predicted accuracy level for the first metric information based on the calculated first standard deviation and a value indicative of a heart rate accuracy level for the heart rate metric information based on the calculated heart rate deviation.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is located within the base.

10. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the chair has at least one configuration in which the seat and the back of the chair form a non-zero angle with respect to one another.

11. 1. A method for monitoring anxiety in an individual seated in a chair having at least a seat and a back, comprising: continuously obtaining a heart rate by a sensor for measuring a heart rate located in an armrest of the chair, the sensor for measuring a heart rate including a light sensor and an associated light source housed within the armrest, whereby the heart rate is obtained by light from the light source passing through an opening in the armrest, being reflected by the individual's finger covering the opening, and detecting the reflected light by the light sensor; continuously obtaining data related to a first physical characteristic from the individual seated in the chair without direct contact with the individual by a first sensor in the form of a piezoelectric film strip disposed on at least one of the seat or the back of the chair, the first physical characteristic being a respiratory rate; receiving the data related to the first physical characteristic from the first sensor in real time by a controller operatively connected to the first sensor; compiling, by the controller, the received data related to the first physical characteristic to obtain first metric information, the first metric information configured to visually indicate a change in the first physical characteristic; outputting, by the controller, the first metric information on a display in real time; receiving a heart rate in real time from the sensor for measuring the heart rate by a controller operatively connected to the sensor for measuring the heart rate; compiling, by the controller, the received heart rates to obtain heart rate metrics configured to visually indicate variations in the heart rates; outputting the heart rate metric information in real time by the controller to the display; calculating, by the controller, a first standard deviation from the first physical characteristic; calculating, by the controller, a heart rate deviation from the heart rate; determining, by the controller, an anxiety level of the individual based on the calculated first standard deviation and the calculated heart rate deviation and a relative weighting of the first physical characteristic and the heart rate; analyzing, by the controller, the determined anxiety level against a threshold value; based on the determined anxiety level exceeding the threshold, (1) outputting an alert on the display indicating the individual's elevated anxiety level and recommending one or more courses of action to reduce the individual's elevated anxiety level, or (2) automatically initiating remedial action taken using the chair to reduce the individual's elevated anxiety level; A method comprising:

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the heart rate metric information is a plot of heart rate against time.

13. outputting, by the controller, to the display in real time, a value indicative of a first predicted accuracy level for the first metric based on the calculated first standard deviation and a value indicative of a heart rate accuracy level for the heart rate metric based on the calculated heart rate deviation; 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

Images