Abstract:
A mouthguard apparatus is disclosed herein. In various aspects, the mouthguard apparatus includes an electronics package adapted to attach removably to a dental appliance. The dental appliance may be configured to be secured within the mouth of a user. At least portions of the electronics package adapted to extend external to a mouth of the user when the electronics package is attached to the dental appliance and the dental appliance is secured within the mouth of the user, in various aspects. Related methods are disclosed herein. This Abstract is presented to meet requirements of 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b) only. This Abstract is not intended to identify key elements of the apparatus and methods disclosed herein or to delineate the scope thereof.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority and benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/350,231 filed 1 Jun. 2010 and entitled “INTERCHANGABLE MOUTHGUARD COMPONENT SYSTEM”, the priority and benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/350,243 filed 1 Jun. 2010 and entitled “MOUTHGUARD FITMENT TOOL SYSTEM,” which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates to oral apparatus, and, more particularly, to oral apparatus and associated methods for monitoring the user of the oral apparatus. 
         [0004]    2. Background 
         [0005]    Various dental appliances including mouthguards may be removably received within the mouth of the user in order to confer protection upon the user while the user is engaged in various sporting or other physical activities. The dental appliances may offer various therapeutic or other benefits to the user apart from protection, in various aspects. In addition, the dental appliances may include various electronic components that may be used to monitor the condition of the user. Other electronic components may be disposed about the user that may be used to monitor the condition of the user. 
         [0006]    For example, it may be desirable to measure impacts upon the user such as impacts that result from engagement in a sport. While various sensors that measure impacts may be disposed about a helmet or garment of the user, a direct connection of the sensor to the user&#39;s head may be desirable for measurement of impacts upon the user&#39;s head including the neck. 
         [0007]    The electronic components included in the dental appliance may receive power from a power source that may include a battery. It may be desirable, for example, to position the battery portion of the power source externally to the user while the user wears the dental appliance, as the battery may be toxic or otherwise injurious to the user. 
         [0008]    Various forces may be applied to the dental appliance while the dental appliance is in use that may lead to failure of the dental appliance. For example, the dental appliance may be subjected to mechanical forces applied to the user as a consequence of the user&#39;s participation in sport or other activity or merely as a result of routine life events. The user may bite upon the dental appliance. The user may remove the dental appliance from its secured position in the mouth while retaining the dental appliance generally in the mouth, and then chew the dental appliance, manipulate the dental appliance with the lips, and so forth. Such actions and their attendant forces, as well as other forces and actions to which the dental appliance may be subjected, may result in failure of the dental appliance. 
         [0009]    When electronic components are included in the dental appliance to monitor the condition of the user, these electronic components are rendered inoperative for their intended purpose when the dental appliance fails. Similarly, the electronic components may fail, which renders the dental appliance with the electronic components embedded therein inoperative for its intended purpose. Accordingly, it may be desirable to make the electronic components, at least in part, replaceable with respect to the dental appliance, and to make the dental appliance replaceable with respect to at least a portion of the electronic components. When the dental appliance fails, a new dental appliance may be secured to at least a portion of the electronic components that remain functional, or, when the electronic components fail, the electronic components may be removed from the dental appliance and replaced in the dental appliance with functional electronic components. 
         [0010]    Accordingly, there may be a need for improved mouthguard apparatus and related methods that may satisfy at least some of the above noted needs, or that may overcome at least some of the above noted disadvantages. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    These and other needs and disadvantages may be overcome by the mouthguard apparatus, component system and related methods of operation disclosed herein. Additional improvements and advantages may be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art upon study of the present disclosure. 
         [0012]    A mouthguard apparatus is disclosed herein. In various aspects, the mouthguard apparatus includes an electronics package adapted to attach removably to a dental appliance. The dental appliance may be configured for securement within the mouth of a user and may include at least one bite surface. At least portions of the electronics package adapted to extend external to a mouth of the user when the electronics package is attached to the dental appliance and the dental appliance is secured within the mouth of the user, in various aspects. Related methods are disclosed herein. 
         [0013]    This summary is presented to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the apparatus and methods disclosed herein as a prelude to the detailed description that follows below. Accordingly, this summary is not intended to identify key elements of the apparatus and methods disclosed herein or to delineate the scope thereof. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  illustrates by an exploded perspective view an exemplary implementation of a mouthguard apparatus; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  illustrates by bottom view the exemplary implementation of the mouthguard apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3A  illustrates by perspective view portions of the exemplary implementation of the mouthguard apparatus of  FIG. 1  including a male attachment and corresponding female attachment; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3B  illustrates by top cut-away view portions of the exemplary implementation of the mouthguard apparatus of  FIG. 1  including the male attachment received within the female attachment; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3C  illustrates by side cut-away view portions of the exemplary implementation of the mouthguard apparatus of  FIG. 1  including the electronics package attached to the dental appliance; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3D  illustrates by side view the electronics package secured to the dental appliance in the exemplary implementation of the mouthguard apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4A  illustrates by top view an exemplary implementation of the electronics package of the mouthguard apparatus of  FIG. 1  secured to a strap; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4B  illustrates by side cut-away view a detail of an exemplary implementation of the attachment of the electronics package to the strap; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  illustrates by top view another exemplary implementation of an electronics package; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  illustrates by schematic block diagram an exemplary implementation of a mouthguard apparatus including an electronics package in communication with electronic circuitry disposed within a dental appliance; 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  illustrates by perspective view the exemplary implementation of the mouthguard apparatus of  FIG. 6  in use by a user; 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  illustrates by perspective view an exemplary plug for use in a mouthguard apparatus; 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  illustrates by perspective view an exemplary handle for manipulation of a mouthguard apparatus; 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  illustrates by schematic block diagram an exemplary implementation of a mouthguard apparatus including an electronics package removably securable to a dental appliance; 
           [0028]      FIG. 11  illustrates by schematic block diagram an exemplary implementation of a mouthguard apparatus including an electronics package in communication with electronic circuitry integrated with a dental appliance; 
           [0029]      FIG. 12A  illustrates by top view a portion of an exemplary implementation of a mouthguard apparatus including an electronics package secured to a strap; 
           [0030]      FIG. 12B  illustrates by top view a portion of another exemplary implementation of a mouthguard apparatus including a strap with electronics packaged disposed at both ends thereof; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 13  illustrates by process flow chart an exemplary method of use of a mouthguard apparatus. 
       
    
    
       [0032]    The Figures are exemplary only, and the exemplary implementations illustrated therein are selected to facilitate explanation. The number, position, relationship and dimensions of the elements shown in the Figures to form the various exemplary implementations described herein, as well as dimensions and dimensional proportions to conform to specific force, weight, strength, flow and similar requirements are explained herein or are understandable to a person of ordinary skill in the art upon study of this disclosure. Where used in the various Figures, the same numerals designate the same or similar elements. Furthermore, when the terms “top,” “bottom,” “right,” “left,” “forward,” “rear,” “first,” “second,” “inside,” “outside,” and similar terms are used, the terms should be understood in reference to the orientation of the exemplary implementations shown in the drawings and are utilized to facilitate description thereof. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0033]    A mouthguard apparatus and associated methods are disclosed herein for sensing the user status of a user including impacts upon the user. The user status of the user may include, for example, a physiological state of the user, a spatial location of the user, orientation of the user, sounds or movements emanating from the user, or an impact such as a blow to the user&#39;s head, neck, other parts of the user, or combinations thereof, in various aspects. 
         [0034]    The mouthguard apparatus may include a dental appliance and an electronics package. The dental appliance disclosed herein is generally receivable within the mouth of a user, and is removably securable to at least a portion of the teeth of the user, in various aspects. The dental appliance may include at least one bite surface that may be positioned about the user&#39;s teeth. In various aspects, the dental appliance is configured as a mouth guard for the protection of the teeth, tongue, lips, mandible, or other anatomical features of the mouth, jaw, or face. The dental appliance may support various anatomical features of the mouth, jaw, or face such as, for example, the temporomandibular joint, in various aspects. The dental appliance, in various aspects, may perform other functions, such as, for example, the reduction of snoring, as would be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art upon study of this disclosure. 
         [0035]    An electronics package may be removably attached to the dental appliance. With the electronics package attached to the dental appliance and with the dental appliance positioned within the user&#39;s mouth, at least portions of the electronics package may be positioned external to the mouth, in various aspects. 
         [0036]    The electronics package may include at least a portion of a power source that provides electrical power to the electronics package, and at least portions of the power source, such as a battery, may be positioned external to the mouth of the user when the dental appliance is engaged with the mouth. The electronics package may include at least a portion of a transceiver, and at least portions of the transceiver may be positioned external to the mouth of the user when the dental appliance is engaged with the mouth. The electronics package may be adapted to detect the user status of the user. One or more sensors may be included in the electronics package to detect the user status, in various aspects. 
         [0037]    In some aspects, the electronics package may be operable to determine independently the user status of the user. That is, the sensor, power source, transceiver, and other electronic components are contained entirely in the electronics package. In other aspects, the dental appliance may include electronic circuitry adapted to communicate electrically with the electronics package, and the electronic circuitry may cooperate with the electronics package to determine user status of the user. The electronic circuitry may cooperate with the electronics package to transmit via a transceiver signals indicative of the user status of the user, in various aspects. The transceiver may be included, at least in part, in the electronics package, the electronic circuitry, or both the electronics package and the electronic circuitry, in various aspects. The electronic circuitry may cooperate with the electronics package to receive power from the power source, in various aspects. The electronic circuitry may cooperate with the electronics package to regulate the delivery of power from the power source to, for example, the sensor, the transceiver, or other elements of the electronics package, the electronic circuitry, or both, in various aspects. 
         [0038]    The electronic circuitry may include the sensor that, for example, detects the user status of the user and generates sensor data indicative of the user status. For example, the sensor may detect physiologic indicators that are indicative of user status such as, for example, the user&#39;s body temperature, pulse rate, cardiac rhythm, breathing rate, CO 2  in the user&#39;s breath, electrical activity such as neurological activity, or various other physiologic indicators or combinations of physiologic indicators that may be present in the user&#39;s breath, saliva, electrical activity, tongue, teeth, pallet, gums, lips, blood, or otherwise detectable about the user&#39;s mouth or head. The sensor may generate a data signal indicative of the physiologic indicator. The sensor may be embedded in the one or more material layers, or may be secured about the surface of the dental appliance such that portions of the sensor are exposed, or both in various aspects. The sensor may be positioned about the dental appliance to interact with the user at a specified location that may be conducive to detection of, for example, a particular physiologic indicator such as heart rate. 
         [0039]    The sensor may be affixed to the mouthguard, to the electronics package that is affixed to the mouthguard, or both, and the mouthguard is secured to the upper mandible or the lower mandible, in various aspects, so that the sensor is in generally mechanical communication with the user. Because the sensor is in generally mechanical communication with the user, user status including motions of the user, the position of the user, and impacts upon the user are communicated to the sensor through the mechanical communication. The user status may be communicated to the sensor through the rigid mechanical connection without substantial damping, phase lag, or other disconnect between the sensor and the user status. 
         [0040]    For example, sensor may detect user status in the form of the position of the user with respect to a reference x-y-z coordinate system such as a global position system (GPS). The sensor may, for example, detect user status in the form of the user&#39;s orientation with the vertical or horizontal, and such orientation may be relatable to a position, orientation, or spatial location of the user, or combination thereof. 
         [0041]    As yet another example, the sensor may detect user status in the form of an impact upon the user, such as a blow to the user&#39;s head, in various aspects. The sensor may detect the magnitude of the impact, or the sensor may detect the user&#39;s response to the impact, or both, in various aspects. For example, the sensor may detect the motion of the user&#39;s head, including the neck and upper extremities, when this motion is induced by an impact to the user&#39;s head. The impact to the user&#39;s head may result from the user&#39;s participation in a sport such as football, hockey, lacrosse, rugby, and so forth. The user status may, for example, include the magnitude of the impact, the user&#39;s response to the impact, or both may enable determination of the user status of the user. Impacts and various blows delivered to the user or by the user may be communicated to the sensor that is in substantially rigid mechanical communication with the user. 
         [0042]    The dental appliance may be constructed of a plurality of material layers bonded or otherwise secured to one another in various ways. For example, the material layers may include a material layer formed as a base, and may include a material layer formed as an occlusal pad. The dental appliance may be constructed, at least in part, of the base bonded to the occlusal pad, and the base with the occlusal pad bonded thereto forms at least a portion of the dental appliance. In various aspects, the base may support the occlusal pad, may interact with other elements of the dental appliance, and may confer various mechanical properties upon the dental appliance. In various aspects, the occlusal pad may engage the user&#39;s teeth to secure the dental appliance thereto, and the occlusal pad may be custom fitted to engage the user&#39;s teeth. 
         [0043]    The base is composed of one or more base materials. In various aspects, the base material may include a mixture of styrene block copolymer and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). An exemplary styrene block copolymer is available as DYNAFLEX® part number G2782 from GLS Corporation, Thermoplastic Elastomers Division, 833 Ridgeview Dr., McHenry, Ill. 60050. EVA is available from a number of sources, such as the ELVAX® resins from Dupont Packaging and Industrial Polymers, 1007 Market Street, Wilmington, Del. 19898. 
         [0044]    In various aspects, the base material may include a mixture of a styrene block copolymer and a polyolefin elastomer. The polyolefin elastomer may be a copolymer of ethylene and octene-1. An exemplary copolymer is available as ENGAGE® from Dupont Canada, Inc., P.O. Box 2200, Streetsville, Mississauga, Ontario L5M 2H3. 
         [0045]    The base material may include, in various aspects, a mixture of a thermoplastic rubber, which includes thermoplastic elastomer and thermoplastic urethane, with a polyolefin elastomer. Exemplary thermoplastic rubbers are Santoprene® thermoplastic elastomer from Advanced Elastomer Systems, L. P., 388 South Main Street, Akron, Ohio 44311 and Kraton® thermoplastic elastomer from the Shell Oil Company, Houston, Tex. Kraton® includes a styrene-ethylenelbutylenes-styrene block copolymer. In various aspects, the base material may include polypropylene part number AP6112-HS from Huntsman Corporation, Chesapeake, Va. 23320. In various aspects, the base material of base  20  may include HD-6706 ESCORENE® Injection Molding Resin [a high density polyethylene] from ExxonMobil Chemical Company, P.O. Box 3272, Houston, Tex. In some aspects, the base material of the base has a Shore A hardness of about 82. 
         [0046]    The occlusal pad is composed of one or more occlusal pad materials. The occlusal pad material may be transformable between a pliable state and a non-pliable state. In the pliable state, the occlusal pad material of the occlusal pad may be shaped to conform to the teeth of the user. In the non-pliable state, the occlusal pad material of the occlusal pad generally retains its conformance to the teeth of the user as shaped when in the pliable state. In various aspects, the occlusal pad may be transformed between the pliable state and the non-pliable state by heating and cooling, respectively. For example, heating the occlusal pad material in warm water may allow the occlusal pad to be fitted to the user&#39;s teeth and, after having been fitted, the occlusal pad material may be cooled to the non-pliant state thereby capturing the fit of the user&#39;s teeth in the occlusal pad material. The occlusal pad material is transformed from the non-pliable state to the pliable state at a temperature tolerable by the user upon placement of the occlusal pad material in the pliable state within the user&#39;s mouth, in various aspects. The occlusal pad material may transform between the non-pliant and pliant state at a temperature greater than human body temperature but less than about 100° C., in various implementations. 
         [0047]    In various aspects, the occlusal pad material of the occlusal pad includes a mixture of polycaprolactone. An exemplary polycaprolactone is Capra 6500 polycaprolactone from Perstorp, UK Limited, Warrington, Cheshire UK. In various aspects, the occlusal pad material of occlusal pad  40  includes a mixture of polycaprolactone and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) such as ELVAX®. In various aspects, the occlusal pad material of occlusal pad  40  includes ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) alone, such as ELVAX®. In various aspects, the occlusal pad material of occlusal pad  40  includes a mixture of polycaprolactone and a polyolefin elastomer, and the polyolefin elastomer may be a copolymer of ethylene and octene-1. An exemplary copolymer is available as ENGAGE® from Dupont Canada, Inc., P.O. Box 2200, Streetsville, Mississauga, Ontario L5M 2H3. 
         [0048]    The electronic circuitry may be attached at least in part to the surface of the dental appliance, embedded at least in part within at least one material layer of the dental appliance, or both attached to the surface of the dental appliance and embedded within at least one material layer of the dental appliance. For example, the electronic circuitry may be embedded in the base, and portions of the electronic circuitry distributed about a surface of the base. In aspects having multiple material layers, the electronic circuitry may be embedded in a single material layer of the material layers, or, alternatively, the electronic circuitry may be distributed among the material layers in various ways. For example, in aspects of the dental appliance having a base and an occlusal pad, at least portions of the electronic circuitry may be embedded in the occlusal pad, and the remaining portions, if any, of the electronic circuitry may be embedded in the base. In aspects of the dental appliance having material layer(s) in addition to the base and the occlusal pad or in aspects of the dental appliance having material layer(s) other than the base and the occlusal pad, the electronic circuitry may be embedded, at least in part, within those additional material layers or other material layer(s). 
         [0049]    In various aspects, the electronics package may be removed from the dental appliance and an alternate electronics package attached to the dental appliance to confer different capabilities upon the mouthguard apparatus. In various aspects, when the electronics package fails, the electronics package may be removed from the dental appliance and a functional electronics package attached to the dental appliance in replacement of the failed electronics package. Conversely, if the dental appliance fails, including structural failure or failure of the electronics circuitry, the dental appliance may be replaced with an alternate dental appliance and the electronics package attached to the alternate dental appliance. Elements of the mouthguard apparatus may be allocated between the electronics package and the dental appliance that may enhance the disposability of either the electronics package or of the dental appliance, in various aspects. 
         [0050]    In various aspects, kits may be provided may include a plurality of electronics packages that may be attachable to a particular dental appliance, each electronics package of the plurality of electronics packages having particular attributes. The kits may include an electronics package attachable to a plurality of dental appliances, each dental appliance of the plurality of dental appliances having a particular attribute. The kits may include a plurality of electronics packages, a plurality of dental appliances that may be interchanged to configure various combinations of electronics packages and dental appliances having a variety of attributes. 
         [0051]    In various aspects, the electronics package may be removed from the dental appliance and a plug inserted into the dental appliance in replacement of the electronics package. The plug may be electronically non-functional. 
         [0052]    The electronics package, the plug, or both the electronics package and the plug may include a display surface, and an identifying mark, slogan, name, logo, combinations thereof, or so forth, may be displayed upon the display surface, in various aspects. The electronics package, the plug, or both the electronics package and the plug may be securable to a tether. The tether may, in turn, be securable to, for example, various portions of the user&#39;s clothing or equipment such as the user&#39;s helmet or faceguard, in various aspects, to secure thereto the electronics package and dental appliance attached to the electronics package. 
         [0053]    With reference to the exemplary implementations of the Figures,  FIG. 1  illustrates an implementation of the mouthguard apparatus  10 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the mouthguard apparatus  10  includes dental appliance  20  and electronics package  50 , with electronics package  50  illustrated as removed from the dental appliance  20 . The dental appliance  20 , as illustrated, is formed in a generally U-shaped structure passing between end  21  and end  23 . In this implementation, the dental appliance includes base  30  and occlusal pad  40  with occlusal pad  40  bound to the base  30 . Other implementations (not shown) may include only one structure such as a base and the structure may be formed of a single material or single combination of materials. For example, the dental appliance may be formed as a single structure of a ruberous material. Still other implementations of the dental appliance (not shown) may include multiple structures in addition to the base structure bound to occlusal pad structure of the implementation illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0054]    The occlusal pad  40 , in this implementation, defines channel  42  generally bounded by opposing walls  45 ,  47  with bottom  46 , all formed of occlusal pad material. Channel  42  may receive one or more teeth therein in order to removably secure the dental appliance  20  within the mouth to the one or more teeth of the user. With the teeth engaged in channel  42 , the dental appliance  20  is generally frictionally secured to the teeth. In this implementation, channel  42  of dental appliance  20  is oriented to engage teeth of the upper jaw to secure dental appliance  20  to the teeth of the upper jaw. With channel  42  of implementation of dental appliance  20  secured to the teeth of the upper jaw, ends  21 ,  23  of dental appliance  20  are located posterially within the mouth, for example, about the molars, so that the teeth of the user anterior of the molars engaged with ends  21 ,  23  are received within channel  42 . Side  22  of dental appliance  20  is oriented in the buccal-labial direction, side  24  of dental appliance  20  is oriented in the lingual direction, and middle portion  25 , which is medial between ends  21 ,  23 , is oriented toward the user&#39;s lips (i.e. labially), in this implementation. In other implementations (not shown), the channel, such as channel  42  could be oriented to engage the teeth of the lower jaw to secure the dental appliance to the teeth of the lower jaw. 
         [0055]    In implementations with occlusal pad  40  formed of occlusal pad material that is transformable between a pliable state and a non-pliable state, channel  42  of occlusal pad  40  of dental appliance  20  may be custom fit to a particular user. For example, the dental appliance  20  may be heated by placement in hot water to soften the occlusal pad material of the occlusal pad  40  into a pliable state. With occlusal pad material of occlusal pad  40  in the pliable state, the user may position dental appliance  20  in the mouth such that the user&#39;s teeth are placed within channel  42  and the dental appliance  20  is otherwise properly positioned in the user&#39;s mouth. With the dental appliance so properly positioned, the user may then bite to force the occlusal pad  40  including channel  42  into fitment to the user&#39;s teeth. When the user bites, the occlusal pad material, which is in the pliable state, deforms until the occlusal pad  40  including channel  42  assumes a shape that conforms to the user&#39;s teeth—i.e. the shape of the user&#39;s teeth is impressed into the occlusal pad  40  so that channel  42  conforms to the user&#39;s teeth. The temperature at which the occlusal pad material of the occlusal pad  40  becomes pliant is, for example, generally tolerable by the user when the user engages in this fitting process. Tolerable to the user, in various implementations, means unobjectionable to the user and non-injurious to the user. After the occlusal pad  40  has conformed to the teeth, the user may cool the occlusal pad material of the occlusal pad  40  by, for example, taking cool water into the mouth. Upon being cooled, the occlusal pad material is transformed into the non-pliant state in which the occlusal pad material recovers sufficient rigidity to retain its shape, which now conforms to the user&#39;s teeth as imprinted upon the occlusal pad by biting thereupon. The dental appliance is now fitted to the user&#39;s mouth. 
         [0056]    The implementation of the mouthguard apparatus  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1  includes electronics package  50 . Electronics package  50  may be secured about recess  70  in base  30  proximate middle portion  25  of dental appliance  20 , in this implementation. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , end  51  of electronics package  50  includes male fittings  61 ,  63 ,  65 ,  67 ,  69  that may be removably received within female fittings  71 ,  73 ,  75 ,  77 ,  79 , respectively to removably secure electronics package to dental appliance  20 . With male fittings  61 ,  63 ,  65 ,  67 ,  69  received within female fittings  71 ,  73 ,  75 ,  77 ,  79 , portions of the electronics package  50  proximate end  51  may be formed to fit within recess  70  and otherwise contoured such that a generally smooth surface transition is formed between base  30  of dental appliance  20  and electronics package  50 . In other implementations, female fittings may be disposed about electronics package  50  to secure removably electronics package  50  to corresponding male fittings on dental appliance  20 . In yet other implementations, combinations of male fittings and female fittings may be disposed about electronics package  50  to secure removably electronics package  50  corresponding fittings on the dental appliance  20 . In other implementations, other fittings may be positioned about the electronics package  50  and corresponding fittings positioned about the dental appliance  20  to allow the electronics package  50  to be removably secured to the dental appliance  20 . 
         [0057]    With the electronics package  50  secured to the dental appliance  20  and dental appliance  20  positioned within the mouth of the user, the electronics package  50  is secured to the jaw of the user. The electronics package may extent forth from the user&#39;s mouth such that at least portions of electronics package  50  proximate end  53  lie outside the user&#39;s mouth when electronics package  50  is secured to the dental appliance  20  and dental appliance  20  positioned within the mouth of the user. Accordingly, when so positioned, portions of the electronics package  50  may lie between the user&#39;s lips, and the user&#39;s lips may be generally biased about portions of the electronics package  50 . The electronics package  50  may be conformed in various ways to facilitate placement between the lips, such as by being curved, being of a width or thickness that accommodates placement between the lips, being surfaced with various textures, and so forth, in various implementations. Various logos or other displays may be formed about the surface of the electronics package  50 , in various implementations, and the logos may be, at least in part, positioned external to the user&#39;s mouth. 
         [0058]    The electronics package  50  may include various electronic components such as, for example, a transceiver, a video camera, audio device, or a power source such as a battery. In various implementations, the electronics package  50  is formed such that at least portions of the electronic components within electronics package  50  are positioned external to the user when the mouthguard apparatus  10  is engaged with the user&#39;s mouth. 
         [0059]      FIG. 2  illustrates mouthguard apparatus  10  with electronics package  50  secured to dental appliance  20 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the traction pads  111 ,  113  are disposed about base  30  of dental appliance  20  to contact lower posterior teeth of the user when dental appliance  20  is positioned in the mouth. Traction pads  111 ,  113  are formed to prevent slippage between the posterior teeth and the dental appliance  20 . Dental appliance  20  includes electronic circuitry  80  that branches into circuit  83  that extends generally toward end  23  of dental appliance  20 , and branches into circuit  81  that extends generally toward end  21  of dental appliance  20 . The electronic circuitry  80  includes sensor  84  that communicates with circuit  81  and sensor  86  that communicates with circuit  83 , in this implementation. The electronic circuitry  80  may include fewer or additional branches, such as branches  81 ,  83 . The electronic circuitry  80  may include any number of sensors, such as sensors  81 ,  83 , and the sensor(s) may be located in various locations about the electronic circuitry. In some implementations, the electronic circuitry  80  may include no sensors. Various electrical devices may be included in the electronic circuitry  80 , in various implementations. 
         [0060]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , electronics package  50  is secured to dental appliance  20 . Contacts  91 ,  93 ,  95 ,  97 ,  99  are formed about male fittings  61 ,  63 ,  65 ,  67 ,  69 , respectively, to enable electrical communication between electronics circuitry  80 , and electronic components within electronics package  50  in this implementation. Contacts  91 ,  93 ,  95 ,  97 ,  99  may be formed in various ways about end  51  of electronics package  50  and face  70  of dental appliance  20 , in various implementations, for electrical communication between electronics package  50  and electronics circuitry  80 . 
         [0061]      FIG. 3A  illustrates an implementation of male fitting  61  and corresponding female fitting  71 . Male fittings  63 ,  65 ,  67 ,  69  and corresponding female fittings  73 ,  75 ,  77 ,  79  of mouthguard apparatus  10  may be formed in a similar manner as male fitting  61  and female fitting  71 , respectively, as illustrated in  FIG. 3A . Male fitting  61  includes ridges  102  that extend at least partially circumferentially around male fitting  61  near end  104  of male fitting  61 . In other implementations, ridges, such as ridges  102  may be variously positioned about male fitting  61  in various relationships with end  104 . Ridges  102  may surround about 40% to about 60% of the circumference of the male fitting  61 , in various implementations. In various implementations, ridges  102  may surround about 20% to about 80% of the circumference of the male fitting  61 . In various implementations, ridges  102  may surround about 30% to about 70% of the circumference of the male fitting  61 . 
         [0062]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3A , female fitting  71  includes passage  121  of base  30  of dental appliance  20  and slot  123 . Contact  125  surrounds passage  121 , as illustrated, to provide electrical communication with the electronics package  50  with the male fitting  61  fully received in female fitting  71  (see  FIG. 3C ). Slot  123  extends generally along the length of passage  121  to vent passage  121  to the external environment. As illustrated, male fitting  61  may be received within passage  121  of female fitting  71  such that ridges  102  are embraced by the sidewall  127  of passage  121  to secure male fitting  61  in female fitting  71  thereby securing electronics package  50  to dental appliance  20 . Partial circumferential extension of ridges  102  around male fitting  61  may allow venting of air, which prevents buildup of pressure or development of vacuum within passage  121  as the male fitting  61  is inserted into female fitting  71  or as male fitting  61  is withdrawn from female fitting  71 , respectively. This venting of air may facilitate attachment of the electronics package  50  to the dental appliance  20 , removal of the electronics package  50  from the dental appliance  20 , or both. 
         [0063]      FIG. 3B  illustrates a detail of ridge  102  proximate end  104  of male fitting  61  received within passage  121  of female fitting. Passage  129 , as illustrated, is formed between the boundary of ridge  102  and sidewall  127  of passage  121 . Air may pass through passage  129  as the as the male fitting  61  is inserted into female fitting  71  or as male fitting  61  is withdrawn from female fitting  71 . As illustrated, air may pass through slot  123  as the as the male fitting  61  is inserted into female fitting  71  or as male fitting  61  is withdrawn from female fitting  71 . As illustrated, male fitting  61  is generally cylindrical with generally cylindrical ridges  102  that pass at least partially circumferentially around cylindrical male fitting  61 . Female fitting  71  is formed as a cylindrical passage  121  in correspondence to male fitting  61 . In other implementations, the male fitting, such as male fitting  61 , may have other shapes such as a rectangular post, triangular post, and so forth, the ridge(s), such as ridges  102 , may be shaped accordingly, and the female fitting, such as female fitting  71 , may be correspondingly shaped to receive the male fitting. Other attachment mechanisms may be employed to attach removably the electronics package  50  to the dental appliance  20  in other implementations. 
         [0064]      FIG. 3C  illustrates male fitting  61  received within female fitting  71  such that electronics package  50  is secured to dental appliance  20  with faces  51 ,  54  of electronics package  50  biased against faces  71 ,  74 , respectively, of dental appliance  20 . End  104  of male fitting  61  is biased against end  124  of passage  121  of female fitting  71 , as illustrated, and portions of ridges  102  are biased against sidewall  127  of passage  121  to frictionally secure male fitting  61  within passage  121  of female fitting  71 . 
         [0065]    Although not included in the illustration, electronic circuitry  80  communicates with contact  125  and electronic components of electronics package  50  communicate with contact  126 . In this implementation, with male fitting  61  inserted as illustrated within female fitting  71 , contact  125  on dental appliance  20  is biased against contact  126  on electronics package  50  so that electronic circuitry  80  of dental appliance  20  and electronics package  50  are in electrical communication with one another, as illustrated. Contact  146 , which is located at end  104  of male fitting  61 , is biased against contact  145  on dental appliance  20  so that dental appliance  20  and electronics package  50  are in electrical communication with one another, as illustrated. In other implementations, contact(s) may be variously located about male fitting  61  and corresponding contact(s) located about passage  121  of female fitting  71 . In other implementations, various clips, contact points, and so forth may be positioned, for example, about face  70  of dental appliance  20  or otherwise located about dental appliance  20  with corresponding contacts on electronics package  50  so that the electronics package  50  may electrically communicate with electronic circuitry  80  within dental appliance  20  when the electronics package  50  is attached to dental appliance  20 . 
         [0066]      FIG. 3D  illustrates electronics package  50  secured to dental appliance  20 . As illustrated, electronics package  50  is secured to middle portion  25  of dental appliance  20  with faces  51 ,  54  of electronics package  50  biased against faces  71 ,  74 , respectively, of dental appliance  20 . The surfaces of electronics package  50  and dental appliance  20  are formed to make a generally smooth transition between the electronics package  50  and the dental appliance  20 . The electronics package  50 , as illustrated, is secured to dental appliance  20  and extends past the lips of the user such that portions of the electronics package  50  including end  53  form an external portion  58  of electronics package  50 . External portion  58  is positioned external to the mouth when the dental appliance is properly positioned within the user&#39;s mouth, in this implementation. 
         [0067]      FIG. 4A  illustrates electronics package  50  secured to strap  130 . As illustrated, strap  130  includes sleeve portion  135  proximate end  131 . At least portions of electronics package  50  may be received securely within sleeve portion  135  of strap  131 . End  133  of strap  130 , which is opposite of end  131  of strap  130 , is formed as attachment  136  that may be secured to a helmet, including other piece of equipment or clothing, to secure the strap thereto, thereby securing electronics package  50  and dental appliance  20 , if attached to electronics package  50 , to the helmet. 
         [0068]      FIG. 4B  illustrates a detail of the attachment of electronics package  50  to strap  130 . As illustrated, with portions of electronics package  50  received within sleeve portion  135  of strap  130 , protrusions  57  located about the surface of electronics package  50  are received in corresponding holes  132  located about sleeve portion  135  to secure the electronics package  50  to strap  130 . 
         [0069]      FIG. 5  illustrates another implementation of electronics package  250  that forms a portion of mouthguard apparatus  200 . As illustrated, male fittings  261 ,  263 ,  265 ,  267  are received within corresponding female fittings (not shown) on a corresponding dental appliance (not shown) to secure removably electronics package  250  to the dental appliance. With the electronics package  250  so secured to the dental appliance, faces  251 ,  254  align with corresponding faces (not shown) on the dental appliance. Electronics package  250 , as illustrated, is formed with a narrow section  255  that passes between the lips when the dental appliance with electronics package  250  secured thereto is positioned in the mouth. External portion  258  of electronics package  250  then lies outside the mouth, and external portion  258  is generally aligned parallel to the lips, in this implementation. In other implementations, the electronics package may assume various shapes, and, the electronics package may be aligned with the user&#39;s head, face, or jaw in various ways. 
         [0070]      FIG. 6  illustrates an implementation of mouthguard apparatus  300  that includes electronics package  350  in communication with electronic circuitry  380 . Sensor  384 , as illustrated, is in communication with electronic circuitry  380 , and electronic circuitry  380  is included in dental appliance  320 . The electronic components  360  within electronics package  350  include controller  352 , power source  354 , accelerometer  356 , and transceiver  362  in this illustrative implementation, but may include other combinations of electronic components in other implementations. Other implementations may include or exclude the sensor  384 , the accelerometer  356 , or other electronic components, and the sensor  384 , the accelerometer  386 , or other electronic components may be apportioned between the dental appliance, such as dental appliance  320 , and the electronics package, such as electronics package  350 , in various ways in various other implementations. 
         [0071]    Electronics package  350  may be formed similarly to electronics packages  50 ,  250 , and dental appliance  320  may be formed similarly to dental appliance  20 , in various implementations. Electronics package  350  includes an external portion  358 . External portion  358  of electronics package  350  may be generally positioned externally to the mouth when electronics package  350  is secured to dental appliance  320  and dental appliance  320  is positioned within the mouth of the user, and controller  352 , power source  354 , accelerometer  356 , and transceiver  362  are located generally within external portion  358 , as illustrated. Accordingly, controller  352 , power source  354 , accelerometer  356 , and transceiver  362  are generally positioned externally to the user when dental appliance  320  is positioned within the mouth of the user, which may reduce any physical impacts of the controller  352 , power source  354 , accelerometer  356 , and transceiver  362  on the user. 
         [0072]    Controller  352  may include a microprocessor, memory, analogue-digital (A/D) converter, clock, input/output (I/O) ports, and so forth, in various implementations. The controller  352  may communicate with the power source  354 , accelerometer  356 , and transceiver  362  as well as with electronic circuitry  380  including sensor  384  to receive data from the power source  354 , accelerometer  356 , transceiver  362 , or electronic circuitry  380  including sensor  384 . The data, for example, may be indicative of the status of the power source  354 , accelerometer  356 , transceiver  362 , or electronic circuitry  380  including sensor  384 , or may be indicative of the operation of the power source  354 , accelerometer  356 , transceiver  362 , or electronic circuitry  380  including sensor  384 . The data may include sensor data indicative of a parameter being sensed by the sensor  384  such as body temperature, respiration, heart rate, and so forth. 
         [0073]    The controller  352  may communicate with the power source  354 , accelerometer  356 , and transceiver  362  as well as with electronic circuitry  380  including sensor  384  to control the operation of the power source  354 , accelerometer  356 , transceiver  362 , or electronic circuitry  380  including sensor  384 . For example, the controller  352  may regulate the flow of power from power source  354  to accelerometer  356 , transceiver  362 , or electronic circuitry  380  including sensor  384 . The controller  352  may control the collection of data by the accelerometer  356  or sensor  384 . The controller  352  may acquire data from the accelerometer  356  or from the sensor  384 , the controller  352  may process the data acquired from the accelerometer  356  or sensor  384 . The controller  352  may communicate data to the transceiver  362  for transmission. The controller  352  may regulate the transmission of data by transceiver  362  including data from the accelerometer  356  or sensor  384 . The controller  352  may receive data communicated from the transceiver where such data is received by the transceiver  362  from some external source such as remote station  390  (see  FIG. 6 ). Data so received may alter the operation of the controller  352 , or may alter, for example, the operation of power source  354 , accelerometer  356 , transceiver  362 , or electronic circuitry  380  including sensor  384 , as may be directed by controller  352 . 
         [0074]    The power source  354 , in the implementation illustrated in  FIG. 6 , is adapted to flow electrical power to the controller  352 , accelerometer  356 , transceiver  362 , and electronic circuitry  380  including sensor  384 . The flow of power from the power source  354  to the controller  352 , accelerometer  356 , transceiver  362 , or electronic circuitry  380  including sensor  384  may be controlled by the controller  352 . In various implementations, the power source  354  may include a battery, and the battery may be, for example, Ni—Cd, Ni-Metal Hydride, or Li-ion based. The battery portion of the power source  354  may be placed within external portion  358  of electronics package  350  so that the battery is positioned externally to the user when the user is wearing mouthguard apparatus  300 . 
         [0075]    Accelerometer  356  may measure the acceleration data indicative of acceleration of the user in one or more dimensional space. Accelerometer, as used herein, includes devices that measure acceleration, position, or velocity, and the remaining parameters of position, velocity, acceleration may be derived from these measurements. For example, if the accelerometer measures position over time, the remaining parameters of velocity (rate of change of position with respect to time) and acceleration (rate of change of velocity with respect to time) may be derived from the measured position vs. time data. Depending upon the particular usage of accelerometer herein, (i.e. whether the accelerometer is measuring position, velocity, or acceleration) appropriate adjustment of the accelerometer data may then be made to derive the position, velocity, or acceleration of the user therefrom, as would be readily understood by those of ordinary skill in the art upon study of this disclosure. Accelerometer, as used herein, further includes other devices that may detect an impact upon the user. In various examples in this disclosure, the accelerometer may be a sensor that measures acceleration, but this is exemplary only and not limiting. 
         [0076]    Because the accelerometer  356  is secured to the upper mandible in this implementation, the accelerometer is fixed to the head of the user, and, thus may measure accelerations experienced by the head, neck, or other portions of the user or may measure the acceleration of the user in toto. Motions of the head are transmitted to accelerometer  356 , which is in secured engagement to the head, in this implementation. 
         [0077]    For example, accelerometer  356  may measure acceleration data in three-dimensional space with 6 degrees of freedom—i.e. linear acceleration along the x, y, and z axes and rotational acceleration about the x, y, and z axes. Velocity data indicative of the velocity of the user may be determined from the acceleration data as measured by the accelerometer  356 , in various implementations, and the controller  352  may determine the velocity data from the acceleration data. In various implementations, position data indicative of the position of the user may be determined from the acceleration data, and the controller  352  may determine the position data from the acceleration data. 
         [0078]    In various implementations, the acceleration data, data derived from the acceleration data such as velocity data or position data, or both, may be indicative of stresses upon the user such as those induced by walking, running, or other activity. In various implementations, the acceleration data, data derived from the acceleration data such as velocity data or position data, or both, may be indicative of work produced by the user as the result of user activity. The stress on the user or the work produced by the user may be indicative of the health of the user, or the level of effort expended in, for example, an athletic training regimen. 
         [0079]    In various implementations, the acceleration data, data derived from the acceleration data such as velocity data or position data, or both, may be indicative of impact upon the user such as impacts resulting from participation in a contact sport such as football, hockey, lacrosse, and so forth. Because the sensor is generally secured to the upper mandible, the accelerometer data may be indicative of the magnitude of a particular impact to the user, including impacts to the head and neck area of the user, and the resultant displacement of the head, neck, or both head and neck and the rate of displacement of the head, neck, or both the head and neck, for example, linearly along the x, y, and z axes and rotationally about the x, y, and z axes. This, in turn, may be indicative of injury to the user or the potential for injury to the user from the impact. The location of the accelerometer  356  with respect to the user&#39;s spinal column, brain cavity, and other sensitive anatomical structures may be generally determined in various ways in order to relate acceleration data measured by accelerometer  356  to corresponding displacements of the head, neck, and so forth of the user and, thus, to indications of injury to the user. 
         [0080]    For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the dental appliance  320  (not visible in  FIG. 7 ) is positioned within the mouth and secured to the teeth of the user. The electronics package  350  is secured to dental appliance  320  and extends past the lips of the user such that portions of the electronics package  350  including end  353  form an external portion  358  of electronics package  530  that is positioned external to the mouth of the user, as illustrated. Accelerometer  356 , which is positioned in external portion  358  of electronics package  350 , is generally in mechanical communication with the teeth of the upper jaw to which the dental appliance  320  is secured, so that accelerations measured by accelerometer  356  are indicative of accelerations of the upper jaw, and, thus, of the user. Accelerometer  356  measures linear acceleration along the x, y, and z axes and rotational acceleration about the x, y, and z axes, as illustrated. Accelerometer  356  is generally positioned at distance l from the user&#39;s Cl vertebrae. Accordingly, if distance l is generally known, the linear accelerations along the x′, y′, and z′ axes and the rotational accelerations about the x′, y′, and z′ axes centered at the Cl vertebrae may be derived from the linear acceleration along the x, y, and z axes and rotational accelerations about the x, y, and z axes as determined by accelerometer  356 . In various implementations, three linear sensors that are not aligned about a single point may be used to measure rotational acceleration. 
         [0081]    With reference to  FIG. 6 , electronic circuitry  380  including sensor  384  may be located about dental appliance  320  and may be in communication with electronic components  360  of electronics package  350 . For example, power source  354  may flow power upon electronic circuitry  380  including sensor  384 , controller  352  may control the operation of electronic circuitry  380  including the measurement of data by sensor  384 , and data measured by sensor  384  may be communicated via electronic circuitry  380  to transceiver  362  for transmission. Electronic circuitry  380  may support various electronic components  360 , so that portions of electrical components  360  are apportioned over portions of electronic circuitry  380 . 
         [0082]    Sensor  384 , illustrated in  FIG. 6 , may detect data indicative of the user status of the user. For example, sensor  384  may detect data indicative of physiologic indicators of user status such as, for example, the user&#39;s body temperature, heart rate, cardiac rhythm, breathing rate, CO 2  in the user&#39;s breath, or various other physiologic indicators or combinations of physiologic indicators that may be present in the user&#39;s breath or saliva or otherwise detectable about the user&#39;s mouth or head. The physiologic indicators may indicate that the user is experiencing health problems or is excessively physically stressed due to exercise or activity. For example, the user&#39;s body temperature may be indicative of the user&#39;s status as being hyperthermic or hypothermic. As another example, heart rate in excess of some maximum heart rate value may be indicative of the user&#39;s status as being excessively physically stressed. Various cardiac arrhythmias may be detected by sensor  384 , in some implementations. Sensor  384  may communicate data indicative of the status of the user to the transceiver  362 . 
         [0083]    Transceiver  362  may transmit signals indicative of the operation of the electrical components  360  within electronics package  350 , or the operation of the electronic circuitry  380  including sensor  384  within dental appliance  320 . In various implementations, the transceiver may transmit signals indicative of acceleration data measured by accelerometer  356  or data derived from the acceleration data such as velocity data or position data to remote station  390 . In various implementations, the transceiver  362  may receive signals from the remote station  390  that regulate the operation of the electrical components  360 , electronic circuitry  380 , sensor  384 , or combinations thereof, and the transceiver  362  may distribute such signals received from remote station  390  as appropriate within electronics package  350 , electronic circuitry  380 , and sensor  384 . 
         [0084]    Signals may pass between transceiver  362  and remote station  390  via electromagnetic wave. Remote station  390  may be a computer, any of various hand held devices such as a cell phone or iPad®, a dedicated monitoring apparatus, combinations thereof, or so forth. Remote station  390  may be positioned at any suitable location with respect to the user. Remote station  390  may process signals received from the transceiver  362  to derive data therefrom. Remote station  390  may transmit signals to the transceiver  362  to control the operation of the electronics package  350 , electronic circuitry  380 , or sensor  384 , in various implementations. The signals may pass through the electromagnetic spectrum between transceiver  362  and remote station  390 , and the signals may conform to various standards such as CDMA2000, Bluetooth™, IEEE 802.11, and so forth, in various implementations. 
         [0085]      FIG. 8  illustrates plug  400  that may replace electronics package  50  in mouthguard apparatus  10 . As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , plug  400  includes male fittings  461 ,  463 ,  465 ,  467 ,  469  that may be removably received within female fittings  71 ,  73 ,  75 ,  77 ,  79 , respectively of dental appliance  20  to secure plug  400  to dental appliance  20  with surfaces  451 ,  454  biases against surfaces  71 ,  74  of dental appliance  20 . Plug  400  is positioned entirely within the mouth when received in dental appliance  20  and dental appliance  20  is positioned within the user&#39;s mouth. A display surface  453  may display a team logo, and a number of plugs may be provided that may be interchanged with dental appliance  20 , for example, to display various displays upon display surfaces  453  in concert with dental appliance  20 . Plug  400  includes no electronics, in this implementation, but may confer mechanical, decorative, or protective attributes to dental apparatus  20  when inserted therein. In other implementations, the plug, such as plug  400 , may include an electronics package, such as electronics package  350 . 
         [0086]      FIG. 9  illustrates handle  500  that may be removably inserted into dental appliance  20  of mouthguard apparatus  10 . As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , handle  500  includes male fittings  561 ,  563 ,  565 ,  567 ,  569  that may be removably received within female fittings  71 ,  73 ,  75 ,  77 ,  79 , respectively of dental appliance  20  to secure handle  500  to dental appliance  20  with surfaces  551 ,  554  biases against surfaces  71 ,  74  of dental appliance  20 . Handle  500  may be used to place dental appliance  20  into hot water during the fitment process to soften the occlusal pad material of the occlusal pad into the compliant state. With the occlusal pad material in the compliant state, handle  500  may be used to remove dental appliance  20  from the hot water and then position dental appliance  20  in the mouth for fitment. Wings  513  are provided on handle  500  to assist the user in manipulation of handle  500  with dental appliance  20  attached thereto during the fitment process. Following fitment, handle  500  may be removed from dental appliance  20  and replaced with, for example, electronics package  50  or plug  400 . 
         [0087]      FIG. 10  illustrates an implementation of mouthguard apparatus  600  that includes electronics package  650 . The electronic components  660  within electronics package  650  include controller  652 , power source  654 , accelerometer  656 , sensor  684 , and transceiver  662  in this illustrative implementation, but may include other combinations of electronic components in other implementations. Dental appliance  620  is shown schematically in  FIG. 10 , is devoid of electronic circuitry or other electronic components. All electronic components are disposed within electronics package  650  in this implementation illustrated in  FIG. 10 . Electronics package  650 , in this implementation, may be mechanically attached to or detached from dental appliance  620 , and dental appliance  620  may be secured to the teeth of the upper jaw of the user to secure electronics package  650  to the upper jaw of the user. In the event of failure of one or more electronic components  660 , electronics package  650  may be removed from dental appliance  620  and another electronics package  620  secured to dental appliance  620  without the need for replacement of both the failed electronics package  650  and the still functional dental appliance  620 . In the event of failure of dental appliance  620 , the electronics package  650  may be removed from dental appliance  620  and secured to another dental appliance  620  without the need for replacement of both the still functional electronics package  650  and the failed dental appliance  620 . Accordingly, the electronics package  650  and the dental appliance  620  are fungible. When either the electronics package  650  or the dental appliance  620  wear out or otherwise need replacement, the electronics package  650  may be replaced with a substitute electronics package  650  or the dental appliance  620  may be replaced with a substitute dental appliance  620 . The substitute dental appliance  620  connects to the electronics package  650 , and the substitute electronics package  650  connects to the dental appliance  620 , in various implementations. 
         [0088]    In various implementations, components of the electronics package, such as electronics package  650 , may be replaceable. For example, if the power source  354  becomes exhausted, at least portions of the power source  354 , such as a battery, may be replaced. In other implementations, various sensors such as accelerometer  356  may be replaced with a replacement sensor, and the replacement sensor may sense various user status that may differ from the user status sensed by the sensor. 
         [0089]    Electronics package  650  may be formed similarly to electronics packages  50 ,  250 , and dental appliance  620  may be formed similarly to dental appliance  20 , in various implementations. Electronics package  650  includes an external portion  658 . External portion  658  of electronics package  650  may be generally positioned externally to the mouth when dental appliance  620  is positioned within the mouth of the user, and controller  652 , power source  654 , accelerometer  656 , sensor  684 , and transceiver  662  are located generally within external portion  658 , as illustrated. Accordingly, controller  652 , power source  654 , sensor  684 , accelerometer  656 , and transceiver  662  are generally positioned externally to the user when dental appliance  620  is positioned within the mouth of the user, which may reduce any potential physical impacts of the controller  652 , power source  654 , accelerometer  656 , and transceiver  662  on the user. In various implementations, at least a portion of the electronic components  660  of electronics package  650 , such as sensor  684  or accelerometer  656 , may be positioned within the mouth of the user when electronics package  650  is secured to dental appliance  620  and dental appliance  620  is secured to the jaw of the user. 
         [0090]    Power source  654 , accelerometer  656 , sensor  684 , and transceiver  662  may communicate with one another as generally indicated in  FIG. 10  as directed by controller  652 . Transceiver  662  may communicate with remote station  690  to communicate sensor data from sensor  684  to remote station  690 , to communicate acceleration data from accelerometer  656  to remote station  690 , and to receive signals from remote station  690  that may direct the operation of electronics package  650  including controller  652 , power source  654 , accelerometer  656 , sensor  684 , and transceiver  662 . 
         [0091]    Accelerometer  656  is included in electronics package  650 , electronics package  650  is secured to dental appliance  620 , and dental appliance  620  is secured to the jaw in this implementation. Accordingly, in this implementation, accelerometer  656  is fixed to the head of the user, and, thus may measure accelerations of the head, neck, or other portions of the user. Accelerometer  656  may measure linear acceleration, angular acceleration, combinations thereof, and may measure linear acceleration or angular acceleration or both in one dimension, two dimensions, or three dimensions, in various implementations. Sensor  684 , in this implementation, measures the user status of the user, and sensor  684  is included in electronics package  650 , in this implementation. 
         [0092]      FIG. 11  illustrates an implementation of mouthguard apparatus  700  that includes electronics package  750 . The electronic components  760  within electronics package  750  include controller  752 , power source  754 , video camera  764 , and transceiver  762 , in this illustrative implementation, but may include other combinations of electronic components in other implementations. Dental appliance  720 , illustrated schematically in  FIG. 11 , includes electronic circuitry  780 , which is located on or about the material layer(s) that make up dental appliance  720 . Electronic circuitry  780  includes accelerometer  756  and sensor  784  in this implementation. 
         [0093]    Electronics package  750 , in this implementation, may be mechanically attached to or detached from dental appliance  720 , and dental appliance  720  may be secured to the jaw of the user to secure electronics package  750  and electronic circuitry  780  to the jaw of the user. When dental appliance  720  is secured to the jaw of the user, external portion  758  of electronics package  750  may be generally positioned externally to the mouth, and controller  752 , power source  754 , video camera  764 , and transceiver  762  are located generally within external portion  758 , as illustrated. Accordingly, controller  752 , power source  754 , video camera  764 , and transceiver  762  are generally positioned externally to the user when dental appliance  720  is secured to the jaw of the user, which may reduce the effects of the controller  752 , power source  754 , video camera  764 , and transceiver  762  on the user. Sensor  784  and accelerometer  756  are positioned within the mouth of the user and secured to the jaw of the user when dental appliance  620  is secured to the jaw of the user in this implementation. 
         [0094]    Power source  754 , accelerometer  756 , sensor  784 , video camera  764 , and transceiver  762  communicate with one another as generally indicated in  FIG. 11  as directed by controller  752 . Transceiver  762  may communicate with remote station  790  to communicate sensor data from sensor  784  to remote station  790 , to communicate acceleration data from accelerometer  756  to remote station  790 , to communicate images from video camera  764 , and to receive signals from remote station  790  that may direct the operation of electronics package  750  including controller  752 , power source  754 , accelerometer  756 , sensor  784 , video camera  764 , and transceiver  762 . 
         [0095]    Video camera  764 , which is positioned in external portion  758  of electronics package  750 , may be configured to capture images, sound, or both images and sound, in various implementations. Video camera  764  may include memory for the capture of images for later viewing, may be configured to transmit images in real time to remote station  790 , or both, in various implementations. Transceiver  762  may transmit the images to the remote station. 
         [0096]    Accelerometer  756  is included in electronic circuitry  780 , which is integral with dental appliance  720 , and dental appliance  720  is secured to the jaw in this implementation. Accordingly, in this implementation, accelerometer  756  is fixed to the head of the user, and, thus may measure accelerations of the head, neck, or other portions of the user. Sensor  784 , in this implementation, measures the user status of the user, and sensor  784  is included in electronic circuitry  780 , in this implementation. Sensor  784  may be positioned about electronic circuitry  780  and thus with respect to dental appliance  720  to contact the body of the user at a particular position or otherwise positioned about the electronic circuitry in ways that may enhance the ability of sensor  784  to detect the user status of the user when dental appliance  720  is secured to the jaw of the user. 
         [0097]    In the event of failure of one or more electronic components  760 , electronics package  750  may be removed from dental appliance  720  and another electronics package  720  secured to dental appliance  720 . In the event of failure of dental appliance  720  or of electronic circuitry  780 , the electronics package  750  may be removed from dental appliance  720  and secured to another dental appliance  720 . 
         [0098]      FIG. 12A  illustrates an implementation of portions of mouthguard apparatus  800  including electronics package  820 . Male connectors  821 ,  823 ,  825 ,  827  allow for attachment of electronics package  820  to a dental appliance (not shown), and the dental appliance may be secured to the user&#39;s jaw so that electronics package  820  is secured to the user&#39;s jaw accordingly. In various implementations, the electronics package  820  may electrically communicate with electronic circuitry including various sensors integrated with the dental appliance, and may so electrically communicate, at least in part, through male connectors  821 ,  823 ,  825 ,  827 . End  831  of strap  830  includes sleeve portion  835  that receives portions of electronics package  820  therein to attach strap  830  thereto. End  831  of strap  830  may be attached to electronics package  820  in various other ways in other implementations. End  833  of strap  830 , which is opposite of end  831  of strap  830 , is formed as attachment  836  that may be secured to a helmet, including other pieces of equipment or clothing, to secure strap  830  in order to attach the electronics package  820  and the dental appliance, if attached to electronics package  820 , to the helmet or other piece of equipment or clothing. Pathways  841 ,  843 , which may be electrically conductive, fiber optic, or suchlike, are located about strap  830  in communication with electronics package  820 , as illustrated, to communicate power, signals, or both power and signals between electronics package  820  and end  833  of strap  830 . Pathways  841 ,  843  proximate end  833  of strap  830  may communicate with one or more devices including sensors located about the helmet, clothing, equipment, or the body of the user or otherwise disposed about the user in various implementations to allow the one or more devices to communicate with the electronics package  820  or with electronic circuitry integrated with the dental appliance (if any), or both electronics package  820  and electronic circuitry integrated with the dental appliance through pathways  841 ,  843  of strap  830 . 
         [0099]      FIG. 12B  illustrates an implementation of portions of mouthguard apparatus  850  including electronics package  870 . Male connectors  871 ,  873 ,  875  allow for attachment of electronics package  820  to a dental appliance (not shown), and the dental appliance may be secured to the user&#39;s jaw so that electronics package  870  is secured to the user&#39;s jaw accordingly. In various implementations, the electronics package  870  may electrically communicate with any electronic circuitry including various sensors that may be integrated with the dental appliance, and may so electrically communicate, at least in part, through male connectors  871 ,  873 ,  875 . End  881  of strap  880  is attached to electronics package  870 . End  883  of strap  880 , which is opposite of end  881  of strap  880 , is formed as attachment  886  that may be secured to a helmet or other piece of equipment or clothing to secure strap  880  thereto. Electronics package  890  is located at end  883  of strap  880 , as illustrated. Various electronic components such as a controller, power source, accelerometer, sensor, or transceiver, or combinations thereof, may be apportioned between electronics package  870  and electronics package  890 , and the electronic components may be apportioned between electronics package  870  and electronics package  890  in various ways in various implementations. Pathways  891 ,  893 , which may be electrically conductive, fiber optic, etc., are located about strap  880  in communication with electronics package  820 , as illustrated, to communicate power, signals, or both power and signals between electronics package  820  and electronics package  890 . Fewer or additional pathways, such as pathways  891 ,  893  or pathways  841 ,  843 , may be provided through the strap, such as strap  830 ,  880 , in various other implementations. 
         [0100]    In operation, a mouthguard apparatus, such as mouthguard apparatus  10 ,  300 ,  600 ,  700 ,  800 ,  850  may be positioned within the user&#39;s mouth and the electronics package, such as electronics package  50 ,  250 ,  250 ,  350  activated. Various switches and so forth may be provided to allow activation of the electronics package by allowing the flow of power therein. The user may then engage in various activities with the mouthguard apparatus positioned in the mouth and the electronics package activated. The mouthguard apparatus may detect the user status of the user including physiologic condition(s) of the user, impact(s) on the user, and so forth. Various sensors, such as sensor  84 ,  86 ,  384 ,  684 ,  784  and accelerometer  356 ,  656 ,  756 , may be provided within the dental appliance, within the electronics package, or both within the electronics package and the dental appliance to detect the user status of the user. The mouthguard apparatus may transmit signal(s) indicative of the user status of the user to a remote station, such as remote station  390 ,  690 ,  790 . The remote station may analyze the signal(s). The remote station may transmit signal(s) to the mouthguard apparatus to control the operation of the mouthguard apparatus including the detection of data and the transmission of data. A coach, physician, or other personnel may use the data from the mouthguard apparatus to monitor for injury, physical distress, level of exertion, and so forth, in various implementations. 
         [0101]    Alternate electronics packages may be attached to the dental appliance, such as dental appliance  20 ,  320 ,  620 ,  720 . For example, if the dental appliance should fail, the electronics package may be removed from the failed dental appliance and attached to a functional dental appliance. Alternatively, should the electronics package fail, the failed electronics package may be removed from the dental appliance and a function electronics package attached to the dental appliance. In various implementations, the dental appliance, the electronics package, or both the dental appliance and the electronics package may be generally disposable. Various electronics packages, handles, such as handle  500 , and plugs, such as plug  400 , may be interchanged with the dental appliance as the user desires. Various combinations of electronics packages, handles, plugs, and dental appliances that may be interchangeable with one another in various combinations may be provided, and the functional characteristics of the mouthguard apparatus may be varied by combination. 
         [0102]    An exemplary method of use of the mouthguard apparatus  900  is illustrated by flow diagram in  FIG. 13 . As illustrated in  FIG. 13 , method  900  starts at step  901 . At step  905  a sensor configured as an accelerometer detects accelerometer data indicative of acceleration. The data may be indicative of linear acceleration or may be indicative of radial acceleration, or combinations thereof, and the data may have any dimensionality such as, for example, with respect to an x, y, or z coordinate axis, or combinations of the x, y, or z coordinate axes. At step  910 , the sensor may detect sensor data indicative of the user status of the user. At step  915  the transceiver, such as transceiver  362 , transmits the accelerometer data to the remote station. At step  920  the transceiver transmits the sensor data to the remote station. At step  925  the remote station receives the accelerometer data, and the remote station receives the sensor data at step  930 . At step  935  the remote station analyses the accelerometer data. The remote station may determine velocity, position, impact on the user, the user&#39;s response to impact, and so forth at step  935 . The remote station may cooperate with controller, such as controller  352 , in the electronics package in determining, for example, the velocity, position, impact on the user, and the user&#39;s response to impact. The remote station analyzes the sensor data to determine user status at step  940 . The remote station may cooperate with the controller to determine user status. Method  900  terminates at step  941 . The remote station, the controller, or both may direct the collection of data, the transmission of data, and the operation of the mouthguard apparatus in various implementations. The remote station may be positioned generally proximate the user, for example, proximate an athletic field upon which the user is engaged in athletic activity, in some implementations. The remote station may be positioned at a geographically remote local from the user in other implementations. 
         [0103]    The foregoing discussion along with the Figures discloses and describes various exemplary implementations. These implementations are not meant to limit the scope of coverage, but, instead, to assist in understanding the context of the language used in this specification and in the claims. Upon study of this disclosure and the exemplary implementations herein, one of ordinary skill in the art may readily recognize that various changes, modifications and variations can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventions as defined in the following claims.