MOUTH GUARD WITH SENSOR
A mouth guard having a proximity sensor, an impact sensor, a processor in signal communication with the sensor, a memory in data communication with the processor, a transmitter in signal communication with the processor, and a battery. The processor is configured to allow data transmission the mouth guard has been inserted into a mouth. The processor is also configured to instruct the transmitter to transmit a signal if an impact above a predefined first threshold is sensed.
1 . A system comprising:
a mouth guard defining a channel for receiving a plurality of teeth within a mouth of a user;
a first sensor attached to the mouth guard for detecting whether the mouth guard has been inserted into the mouth; and
a second sensor attached to the mouth guard, the second sensor being configured to detect movement of the mouth guard.
2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a processor and a memory integrated into the mouth guard, the processor being in signal communication with the first sensor and the second sensor.
3 . The system of claim 2 , further comprising a transmitter integrated into the mouth guard, the processor being configured to cause the transmitter to transmit a first signal in response to a detected movement of the mouth guard by the second sensor.
4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the first sensor, the second sensor, the processor, the memory, and the transmitter are located between a first layer and a second layer of ethyl vinyl acetate forming the mouth guard.
5 . The system of claim 3 , further comprising a helmet and a repeater attached to the helmet, wherein the repeater transmits a second signal based on the first signal.
6 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a helmet, wherein the helmet comprises a processor, a memory, and a transmitter are attached to the helmet, the processor being configured to cause the transmitter to transmit a first signal in response to a detected movement of the mouth guard by the second sensor.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first sensor comprises a proximity sensor integrated in the mouth guard, the mouth guard further having a processor and a battery integrated into the mouth guard, the proximity sensor being in signal communication with the processor, wherein the processor is configured to allow power from a battery to flow to the second sensor when the proximity sensor detects that the mouth guard has been inserted into the mouth.
8 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the processor is configured to save information in the memory corresponding to movement detected by the second sensor.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the second sensor comprises an accelerometer and the detected movement comprises detected acceleration of the mouth guard, and further wherein the information includes the detected acceleration.
10 . The system of claim 9 , further comprising a transmitter integrated into the mouth guard, the processor being configured to determine whether the detected acceleration is above a threshold and to cause the transmitter to transmit a signal when the detected acceleration is above the threshold.
11 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a positional orientation sensor attached to the mouth guard.
12 . A method comprising:
providing a mouth guard, the mouth guard having a movement sensor attached to the mouth guard;
sensing a movement of the mouth guard with the sensor;
determining, using a processor and a memory, whether the movement exceeds a first threshold; and
transmitting a first signal when the movement exceeds the first threshold.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the movement sensor comprises an accelerometer and the step of sensing comprises sensing an acceleration of the mouth guard, and further wherein the step of determining comprises determining a period of time during which the acceleration exceeds the first threshold.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the first signal comprises an indication of a magnitude and a duration of the acceleration.
15 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising sensing whether the mouth guard is inserted into a mouth.
16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein transmitting the first signal includes transmitting a unique identifier associated with the mouth guard.
17 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising receiving a time synchronization signal after the first signal has been transmitted.
18 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising checking whether a transmission slot is clear before transmitting the first signal.