Patent Publication Number: US-2021161634-A1

Title: Ultrasonic mammalian teeth and gum treatment system and method

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Various embodiments described herein relate generally to treating teeth and gum pain, including systems, and methods used in treating teeth and gum pain. 
     BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
     It may be desirable to treat teeth and gum pain including pain caused by teething, the present invention provides a system and method for such treatment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a simplified side diagram of an ultrasonic mammalian teeth and gum treatment (UMTGT) system according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 1B  is a simplified, enlarged diagram of the UMTGT system area AA shown in  FIG. 1  A with the teeth and gum engaging module operatively removed from the base according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 1C  is a simplified front diagram of the ultrasonic mammalian teeth and gum treatment (UMTGT) system shown in  FIG. 1A  according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 2A  is a simplified side diagram of another ultrasonic mammalian teeth and gum treatment (UMTGT) system according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 2B  is a simplified, enlarged diagram of the UMTGT system area BB shown in  FIG. 2A  with the teeth and gum engaging module operatively removed from the base according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 2C  is a simplified front diagram of the ultrasonic mammalian teeth and gum treatment (UMTGT) system shown in  FIG. 2A  according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 3A-4  are diagrams of signals that may be applied to one or more transducers of a UMTGT system according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 5  is a flow diagram illustrating the ultrasonic mammalian teeth and gum treatment (UMTGT) system processing algorithms according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram of an article according to various embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Mammals may experience teeth and gum pain due to various factors including teething when young, cavities in a tooth, gum pain due to prosthetics including bridges and dentures. Numbing creams, oil, ice, and chewable appliances may be employed for local treatment. Medicines may be taken to remove pain and inflammation systemically. Each of these treatments have limitations including only treating the symptoms and not the cause of the symptoms. Embodiments of the present invention may alleviate symptoms of teeth and gum pain temporarily and in some cases may treat the underlying cause of the teeth and gum pain. 
       FIG. 1A  is a simplified side diagram of an ultrasonic mammalian teeth and gum treatment (UMTGT) system  10 A according to various embodiments. As shown in  FIG. 1A , the UMTGT system  10 A may include a base  12 A coupled to a teeth and gum engaging module  50 A.  FIG. 1B  is a simplified, enlarged diagram of the UMTGT system area AA shown in  FIG. 1A  with the teeth and gum engaging module  50 A operatively removed from the base  12 A according to various embodiments.  FIG. 1C  is a simplified front diagram of the ultrasonic mammalian teeth and gum treatment (UMTGT) system  10 A shown in  FIG. 1A  according to various embodiments. 
     In an embodiment, the teeth and gum engaging (TGE) module  50 A may include a treatment head  53 A and base  12 A engaging extension  52 A. The head  53 A and extension  52 A may be formed of a medical grade, pliable material including silicon, rubber, polymer or combinations thereof. In an embodiment, the TGE module  50 A may be permanently attached to the base  12 A at end  13 A. In an embodiment, shown in  FIG. 1B , the TGE module  50 A may be removably couplable to the base  12 A at end  13 A using various mechanisms. In an embodiment, the base  12 A end  13 A may include an opening  14 A having a diameter greater than the diameter of the TGE module  50 A extension  52 A to enable the secure but removable coupling of the TGE module  50 A to the base  12 A. The opening  14 A may include one or more notches  16 A that form channels to engage mating registration tabs MA on the outer diameter of the extension  52 A. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1A , the base  12 A may include a control module  30 , transducer  20 , control switch(es)  32 , light emitting modules  40 A, and module interface  38  therein. The transducer  20  may be coupled to one or more extensions  22 A,  24 A that are sized to engage to the outer diameter of the TGE module  50 A extension  52 A when operatively coupled to the base  12 A end  13 A. In an embodiment, the extensions  22 A,  22 B may be formed of various hard materials including metals, alloys, ceramics, or hardened polymers. The control module  30  may be electrically coupled to the transducer  20 , control switch(es)  32 , light emitting modules  40 A, and module interface  38  via wires  34 D,  34 A,  34 B,  34 C, and  34 E, respectively. In an embodiment, the light emitting modules  40 A may include one or more light emitting diodes (LED) that output light at various frequencies including in the infrared spectrum of frequencies in an embodiment toward the TGE module  50 A. 
     The control module  30  may be directed to provide signals to the transducer  20  to cause the transducer to vibrate the extensions  22 A,  24 A together or independently, causing the TGE module  50 A extension  52 A and thus the head  53 A to vibrate. In an embodiment, the control module  30  via the transducer may causes the extensions  22 A,  24 A to vibrate or generate sound waves that cause the extensions  22 A,  24 A to vibrate at 10,000 to 10,000,000 pulses or twice as many movements per second. The vibration frequency and pattern may be selected or controlled via the control module  30 . In an embodiment, the vibration pulses  152 ,  154 ,  156  having magnitude A 1 , duty T 1 , during period P 1  (pulse pattern  150 ) with a selected vibration frequency as shown in  FIG. 3A  may be applied to the extensions  22 A,  24 A. For a User having teeth or gum issues, the vibration of a head  53 A at ultrasonic frequencies may temporarily deactivate nerve receptors (numb the pain) for a time interval. For a User having teething issues, the vibration of a head  53 A at ultrasonic frequencies may temporarily deactivate nerve receptors (numb the pain) for a time interval and also help speed up the gum cutting process due the vibrations (ultrasonic cutting effect). 
     In an embodiment, the vibration pulses  132 ,  134 ,  136  having magnitude A 1 , duty T 1 , during period P 1  (pulse pattern  130 ) with a selected vibration frequency as shown in  FIG. 3B  may be applied to the extensions  22 A while the vibration pulses  142 ,  144 ,  146  having magnitude B 1 , duty T 2 , during period P 2  (pulse pattern  140 ) with a selected vibration frequency as shown in  FIG. 3B  may be applied to the extensions  24 A forming offset pulses vibrations to the extensions  22 A,  24 A and thus to the head  53 A. As shown in  FIG. 4 , pulses  172 ,  174 ,  176 ,  178 ,  182 ,  184  of varied vibration frequency having duty T 3  over period P 3  over time may be applied to the extensions  22 A,  24 A via the controller  30  and transducer  20 . In an embodiment, the control module  30  may cause the light modules  40 A to generate light when the transducer is active, during the entire periods or only during the duty cycles. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the control module  30  may apply a first signal or series of signals to the transducer (activity  142  of algorithm  140 ) for a predetermined 1 st  time internal (activity  144 ) when the UMTGT system  10 A is triggered (activity  141 ). In an embodiment, the module interface  38  may be a power and data interface electrically coupled to the control module  30  enabling a User to program the operation of the control module  30  including vibration patterns to be applied and lighting of LEDs  40 A and charge an internal battery ( 192  of  FIG. 6 ). In an embodiment, the module interface  38  may be a standard interface such as one compliant with a universal serial bus (USB) standard or Apple® standard. In embodiment, the control module  30  may include a transceiver ( 184 - FIG. 6 ), enabling a User to operate, charge, and control the operation of a UMTGT system  10 A.  10 B wirelessly using various standards including Bluetooth, zigbee, WiFi, mesh, cellular, and others. 
     Further, the case  12 A may include one or more switches  32  that enable a User to control the operation of the UMTGT system  10 A. In an embodiment, the head  53 B (shown in  FIG. 2B ), may include a pressure sensor  58 B embedded therein and electrically coupled to the module  30 . In an embodiment, the UMTGT system  10  may triggered via the switches  32 , the interface  38 , detection of pressure in the head  53 A,  53 B, or via a wireless command. In embodiment, after the 1 st  time interval has lapsed (activity  144 ), the module  30  may apply a second signal or groups of signals to the transducer or LEDs  40 A for a 2 nd  time interval (activities  146 ,  148 ).  FIG. 2A  is a simplified side diagram of another ultrasonic mammalian teeth and gum treatment (UMTGT) system  10 B according to various embodiments.  FIG. 2B  is a simplified, enlarged diagram of the UMTGT system  10 B area BB shown in  FIG. 2A  with the TGE module  50 B operatively removed from the base  12 B according to various embodiments.  FIG. 2C  is a simplified front diagram of the UMTGT system shown in  FIG. 2A  according to various embodiments. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2A-2C , the TGE module  50 B may receive an extension  22 B and electric connections  36 B protruding from the base  12 B end  13 B. The TGE module  50 B extension  52 B may include a transducer extension coupler MB and electric signal coupling pins  56 B. The transducer extension coupler MB may extend into the head  53 B as shown in  FIG. 2B . In an embodiment, the extensions  22 A,  36 B and coupler MB may be formed of various hard materials including metals, alloys, cermanics, or hardened polymers. As also shown in  FIG. 2B , the light modules  40 B, which may include LEDs may be embedded in the pliable head  53 B along with a pressure sensor  58 B. It is noted that the head  53 A,  53 B may have different shapes and sizes a function of the intended User. The head  53 A,  53 B may be circular from side view ( FIG. 1B, 2B ) and oval shaped from a top view ( FIG. 1C, 2C ). It may be sized for human infants&#39; mouths, about 0.5 to 1.5 inches in diameter (from side) and maximum width (from top) of about 0.2 to 0.7 inches in an embodiment. It may be sized or include other sized heads  50 A,  50 B for human adults&#39; mouths, about 1.0 to 2.0 inches in diameter (from side) and maximum width (from top) of about 0.3 to 1.2 inches in an embodiment. 
       FIG. 6  is a block diagram of an article  160  according to various embodiments. The article  160  shown in  FIG. 6  may be used in various embodiments as elements of the base  12 A,  12 B and head  50 A,  50 B including the control module  30 . The article  160  may include a central processing unit (CPU)  182 , a random access memory (RAM)  178 , a read only memory (ROM″)  166 , a transceiver application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)  184 , a digital to analog (D/A) and analog to digital (A/D) convertor  188 , a microphone  168 , a speaker  162 , and an antenna  164 . The CPU  182  may include a module interface  192  and switches  32 . In an embodiment, a User may be able to trigger the UMTGT system  10 A,  10 B via voice commands detected by microphone  168 . The module  30  may indicate operational information via the speaker  162  in an embodiment or play various songs having various length to encourage usage of the system  10 A,  10 B for predetermined periods of time. 
     The ROM  166  is coupled to the CPU  182  and may store the program instructions to be executed by the CPU  182 . The RAM  178  is coupled to the CPU  182  and may store temporary program data, overhead information, and frequency patterns. The microphone  168  and speaker  162  may be incorporated into the base  12 A,  12 B. Received data may be transmitted to the CPU  182  via a bus  176  where the data may include signals for the transducer  20  and light modules  40 A,  40 B. The transceiver ASIC  184  may include an instruction set necessary to communicate data, screens, or signals. The ASIC  184  may be coupled to the antenna  164  to communicate wireless messages, pages, and signal information within the signal. When a message is received by the transceiver ASIC  184 , its corresponding data may be transferred to the CPU  182  via the serial bus  176 . The data can include wireless protocol, overhead information, and operational data to be processed by the module  30  in accordance with the methods described herein. 
     The D/A and A/D convertor  188  may be coupled to one or more optical modules  40 A,  40 B to generate a signal to be used to energize one of the optical modules. The D/A and A/D convertor  186  may also be coupled to the transducer  20 . Any of the components previously described can be implemented in a number of ways, including embodiments in software. Any of the components previously described can be implemented in a number of ways, including embodiments in software. The modules may include hardware circuitry, single or multi-processor circuits, memory circuits, software program modules and objects, firmware, and combinations thereof, as desired by the architect of the systems  10 A,  10 B and as appropriate for particular implementations of various embodiments. 
     They are not intended to serve as a complete description of all the elements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use of the structures described herein. 
     It may be possible to execute the activities described herein in an order other than the order described. Various activities described with respect to the methods identified herein can be executed in repetitive, serial, or parallel fashion. 
     A software program may be launched from a computer-readable medium in a computer-based system to execute functions defined in the software program. Various programming languages may be employed to create software programs designed to implement and perform the methods disclosed herein. The programs may be structured in an object-orientated format using an object-oriented language such as Java or C++. Alternatively, the programs may be structured in a procedure-orientated format using a procedural language, such as assembly or C. The software components may communicate using a number of mechanisms well known to those skilled in the art, such as application program interfaces or inter-process communication techniques, including remote procedure calls. The teachings of various embodiments are not limited to any particular programming language or environment. 
     The accompanying drawings that form a part hereof show, by way of illustration and not of limitation, specific embodiments in which the subject matter may be practiced. The embodiments illustrated are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the teachings disclosed herein. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. This Detailed Description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of various embodiments is defined only by the appended claims, along with the full range of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. 
     Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred to herein individually or collectively by the term “invention” merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any single invention or inventive concept, if more than one is in fact disclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. 
     The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with  37  C.F.R. § 1.72(b), requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In the foregoing Detailed Description, various features are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted to require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, inventive subject matter may be found in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.