Sealed Intraoral Pressure Sensor with Deformable Membrane
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intraoral pressure sensors are limited by their design, often requiring venting materials, which complicates their construction, increases material usage, and can lead to moisture ingress, compromising their effectiveness in monitoring physiological states like sleep apnea and orthodontic treatment milestones.
Innovation Solution
A sealed pressure sensor module with an airtight encapsulated cavity, using deformable materials to transduce pressure changes, integrated into dental appliances, which includes control circuitry for data processing and wireless communication, allowing for continuous monitoring of intraoral pressure without the need for venting materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If venting materials are used in pressure sensor construction, then pressure equalization is achieved, but device complexity and material usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the venting mechanism entirely from the pressure sensor design. The sealed cavity encapsulates the pressure sensor without any venting materials, eliminating the complexity associated with venting while maintaining pressure sensing capability through the deformable membrane that transmits pressure changes from the oral cavity to the sensor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a deformable membrane as an intermediary between the oral cavity and the sealed pressure sensor cavity. This membrane transmits pressure changes without requiring direct venting, solving the contradiction by providing pressure equalization through deformation rather than through venting materials.
2Reliability
If venting materials are used in pressure sensor construction, then pressure equalization is achieved, but moisture ingress risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes venting materials from the design, eliminating the pathway through which moisture could ingress into the sensor. The sealed cavity with deformable membrane provides pressure sensing while maintaining protection against moisture in the oral environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a deformable membrane as a flexible barrier that allows pressure transmission while preventing moisture ingress. This thin film structure maintains the seal integrity while enabling the pressure sensor to function in the moist oral environment without requiring venting materials.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If sealed encapsulation is used, then moisture resistance is improved, but pressure transduction capability must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a deformable membrane as part of the sealed encapsulation that flexes in response to pressure changes from the oral cavity. This flexible film transmits pressure changes to the sensor inside the sealed cavity while maintaining the moisture barrier, thus achieving both moisture resistance and pressure transduction reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the encapsulation dynamic by incorporating a deformable membrane that can flex and deform in response to pressure changes. This dynamic structure allows the sealed cavity to transduce pressure changes while maintaining its protective seal against moisture, resolving the contradiction between sealing and pressure sensitivity.
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 solution provides reliable, moisture-resistant, and sensitive monitoring of intraoral pressure, enabling effective detection of physiological states such as sleep apnea and orthodontic treatment progress, with reduced complexity and material usage.
Implementation Method 1
Deformability of the encapsulation materials allows the pressure sensor to transduce air pressure changes in the intraoral environment
Data Source
AI summary
Pressure sensor modules adapted for use with a dental appliance may include one or more pressure sensors encapsulated within a sealed cavity in which one or more walls of the sealed cavity are deformable so as to transduce pressure from outside of the cavity, due to deformation or movement of the dental appliance and/or the environment around the dental appliance, including the environment within a patient's mouth when wearing the dental appliance. Also described herein are method of making and using these apparatuses to identify and/or monitor the dental appliance, a patient condition and/or an orthodontic treatment. Also described herein are methods and apparatuses for identifying and/or characterizing sleep apnea using these pressure sensor modules.