Oral Insert for Accurate Head Force Measurement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for detecting and calculating forces experienced by the head during physical activities, such as sports, often result in inaccurate measurements and false positives due to skin movement issues, poor correlation with head acceleration, and degradation over time, particularly in mouthguard designs.

Innovation Solution

An oral insert with a sensing device that contacts the interior surfaces of the upper teeth and gums, utilizing a connecting structure and surface texture to maintain persistent contact, providing accurate measurements of head motion and forces experienced, and incorporating a processor to determine concussion risk.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a sensing device is attached to the neck to measure head forces, then it can detect acceleration, but it shows false positives due to skin movement and adipose tissue acceleration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of head force measurementVSAvoidfalse positive rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an oral insert as an intermediary device placed in the mouth, which serves as a stable reference point connected to the skull. This mediator allows the sensing device to measure forces more accurately by eliminating the interference of soft tissue movement that occurs with neck-mounted devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical attachment method (adhering sensors to neck skin) with an oral insertion method that anchors the sensing device to the teeth and skull structure, providing a more stable and reliable measurement platform that does not suffer from soft tissue acceleration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If a sensor protrudes beyond the teeth in a mouthguard design, then it can measure acceleration, but it shows false positives due to poor correlation with head acceleration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveacceleration measurement capabilityVSAvoidcorrelation with head acceleration

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of having the sensor protrude outward from the mouthguard, the patent inverts the design by placing the sensing device inside the oral insert, in contact with the interior surfaces of the teeth. This inverted configuration improves the correlation with head acceleration by directly coupling the sensor to the dental structure that moves with the skull.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Ease of operation

If a mouthguard is made of elastic material to fit around teeth, then it provides comfort and snug fit, but it degrades over time due to biting and chewing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomfort and fitVSAvoiddurability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs composite materials for the oral insert, combining materials that provide both the necessary flexibility for comfort and fit, and sufficient durability to resist degradation from biting and chewing. This composite construction allows the device to maintain its functional properties over extended use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

4Ease of operation

If a mouthguard wears down over time, then it becomes more comfortable initially, but it moves within the mouth and loses measurement accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinitial comfortVSAvoidimpact force calculation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes parameter changes in the material properties of the oral insert, specifically designing the material to undergo controlled deformation during initial wear-in for comfort, while maintaining structural integrity and positional stability for accurate measurements throughout the device's service life.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The oral insert offers improved durability, accuracy, and comfort by maintaining interfacial surface tension and minimizing false positives, enabling effective detection of forces indicative of concussion risk during sports activities.

Implementation Method 1

maintaining interfacial surface tension between at least a portion of the first insert surface and at least a portion of the first surface of the user's mouth, and between at least a portion of the second insert surface and at least a portion of the second surface of the user's mouth

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurface tension: Surface Tension

Data Source

PatentUS11684314B2Oral insert and uses thereof for calculating forces to the head

Publication Date: 2023.06.27 OCELLUS LLC

AI summary

The present disclosure generally provides oral inserts useful for determining forces experienced by a user, such as a human user, to the head, for example, by measuring one or more of acceleration, velocity, displacement, or rotation. In some aspects, the disclosure provides oral inserts that, when worn properly by a human user, calculate the forces experienced by the user's head with high accuracy. In some aspects, the disclosure provides systems for detecting and calculating forces experienced by the user's head and to determine whether such forces are above a certain threshold indicative of increased concussion risk. In some aspects, the disclosure provides methods for calculating forces experienced by the user's head and determining whether such forces are above a certain threshold indicative of concussion.