METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VERIFYING COMPLIANCE WITH DENTAL APPLIANCE THERAPY
A method and an apparatus for verifying compliance with a dental appliance therapy for a human patient is described. At least one parameter of a dental appliance worn by the human patient is periodically measured and compliance with the dental appliance therapy is determined by performing a spectral analysis of the measured parameter.
1 . A method for verifying compliance with a dental appliance therapy for a human patient, the method comprising:
periodically measuring at least one parameter of a dental appliance worn by the human patient to obtain a time-domain series of measurements of the at least one parameter;
transforming at least a portion of the time-domain series of measurements to a frequency-domain series of measurements; and,
determining compliance with the dental appliance therapy by determining that components of the frequency-domain series of measurements are within pre-selected tolerances to indicate compliance.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one parameter is temperature.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein a component of the frequency-domain series of measurements is power, the method further comprising:
determining a ratio of the total power in two frequency bands, the two frequency bands indicative of physiological frequency and mechanical frequency, respectively; and,
determining compliance with the dental appliance therapy when the ratio of the total power is within the pre-selected tolerances.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the ratio of the total power is within pre-selected tolerances when ratio of total power of the frequency band indicative of mechanical frequency and the frequency band indicative of physiological frequency is above a threshold value.
5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the pre-selected tolerances are determined in accordance with a statistical analysis of the temperature measurements over time.
6 . The method of claim 2 , wherein determining compliance with the dental appliance therapy comprises assessing the temperature measurements against expected minimum variations.
7 . The method of claim 2 , wherein determining compliance with the dental appliance therapy comprises determining that the temperature measurements indicate an expected nocturnal/diurnal variation in body temperature, as measured intra-orally.
8 . The method of claim 2 , wherein determining compliance with the dental appliance therapy comprises determining the temperature measurements are within a maximum expected short-term variation.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one parameter is a spatial orientation of the dental appliance.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein a component of the frequency-domain series of measurements is power, the method further comprising:
determining an average power of the frequency-domain series of measurements; and,
determining compliance with the dental appliance therapy when the average power is above a threshold value.
11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein a component of the frequency-domain series of measurements is power, the method further comprising:
determining a ratio of the total power in two frequency bands, the two frequency bands indicative of physiological frequency and mechanical frequency, respectively; and,
determining compliance with the dental appliance therapy when the ratio of the total power is within the pre-selected tolerances.
12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein determining compliance with the dental appliance therapy further comprises:
analyzing the power spectrum of the frequency-domain spatial orientation measurements to determine that it is random.
13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
determining that the power spectrum lacks any significant frequency or frequencies indicative of a change in spatial orientation due to an artificial means.