Long-term, continual, wireless, intraoral monitor
This disclosure relates to wireless electronics designed for use within the oral cavity to measure biological or chemical variables, including pH or analyte concentrations, and transmit the measurements. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a wearable intraoral sensor comprising sensing electronics arranged within a flexible circuit mounted onto a molar band, a wireless transmission unit coupled to the sensing electronics and configured to wirelessly transmit electrical data signals to a receiver outside of the oral cavity, and a power source operably coupled to the sensing electronics and wireless transmission unit. The wearable intraoral sensor can be installed around a tooth and continually measure and wirelessly transmit measurement data for extended periods of time without user action.
1 . A method for continually measuring analytes in an oral cavity of a subject, comprising:
installing a wearable intraoral sensor in the oral cavity of the subject, wherein the wearable intraoral sensor comprises
a sensor module comprising a transducer, a data unit, a power source operably coupled to the data unit, and a proton exchange membrane, wherein the sensor module is configured to continually measure at least one analyte in the oral cavity for at least one day; and
a housing unit configured to enclose at least the transducer of the sensor module within the housing unit, wherein the housing unit and the proton exchange membrane are fixed relative to a tooth, and wherein the proton exchange membrane is configured to allow protons to pass from an exterior of the housing unit into an interior of the housing unit;
continually measuring the at least one analyte in the oral cavity of the subject for at least one day, thereby generating analyte measurement data; and
wirelessly transmitting the analyte measurement data from the wearable intraoral sensor at intervals.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the wearable intraoral sensor is configured as an antenna operably connected to a wireless transmission unit.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising orienting the proton exchange membrane buccally in the oral cavity, wherein the housing unit further comprises an impermeable molar-side wall, and a buccal-side wall disposed opposite the molar-side wall and including the proton exchange membrane.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising wirelessly transmitting the data signal at intervals for at least one day, one week, one month, two months, three months, or six months.
5 . The method of claim 1 , continually measuring at least one analyte in the oral cavity of the subject for at least one week, one month, two months, three months, or six months.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the transducer comprises an ISFET sensor.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising configuring a mobile device to receive the analyte measurement data from the wearable intraoral sensor.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein configuring a mobile device to receive the analyte measurement data from the wearable intraoral sensor comprises installing an application on the mobile device.
9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising transmitting subject data from the mobile device to a third party, wherein the subject data comprises the measurement data, subject identifying information, location information, device type, or a combination thereof.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the third party is selected from the group consisting of a doctor, dentist, medical office, dental office, parent, relative, insurance agency, an insurance office and a research office.
11 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising syncing data from the wearable intraoral sensor and the mobile device.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the housing unit comprises:
a molar-side wall; and
a buccal-side wall, the buccal-side wall disposed opposite the molar-side wall;
wherein the molar-side wall is coextensive with a molar band, the molar-side wall configured to abut a molar in the oral cavity of the subject.