Patent Description:
Currently, a technique to perform various treatments has been established in which a mouthpiece or the like for holding a sensor is worn in an oral cavity of a subject to acquire biological data from the subject. For example, PTL <NUM> discloses an intraoral-installed biological monitor including a biological sensor, a signal processing unit, a communication unit, and an operating equipment unit. The biological sensor is attached to a denture base or a mouthpiece and includes a sensor that detects a body temperature, a pulse, and enzymes or metabolites or the like in saliva, and an acceleration sensor that detects a body posture or a movement. The signal processing unit evaluates data obtained from the biological sensor, detects an abnormal value, and stores the data. The communication unit uses a wireless system to transmit the data in the signal processing unit to a management center such as a medical center, and to receive a command signal from the management center such as the medical center. The operating equipment unit is operated, based on a command signal from the management center.

<CIT> discloses intraoral appliances with sensing for detection of placement of dental aligners in a patient's mouth on teeth for indication of wearing compliance. The disclosed apparatuses and methods are for detecting wearing, including compliance, and for reliably transferring data, by wired or wireless direct or indirect communication of electronic compliance information to a smartphone. Also described are dental appliances that can detect physiological parameters related to respiration and sleep. Also described are aligner cases that enable NFC communication with electronic compliance indicator (ECI) devices and Bluetooth communication with smartphones.

The intraoral-installed biological monitor configured in this way is usually sealed in the denture base or the mouthpiece. Accordingly, it is necessary to transmit acquired data to an external device such as a computer used by a doctor with wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy (BLE). For example, the data referred to herein is biological data acquired while being attached to a crown of a subject, and attachment/detachment determining data which is a basis for determining whether or not the intraoral-installed biological monitor itself is installed in an oral cavity of the subject.

However, when the above-described intraoral-installed biological monitor adopts the wireless communication such as the BLE, the acquired data cannot be transmitted to the external device unless the acquired data is advertised to the external device. On the other hand, the intraoral-installed biological monitor consumes a large amount of electric power due to the advertising. Therefore, it is preferable to perform the advertising only when the acquired data is transmitted to the external device.

However, in many cases, the intraoral-installed biological monitor is miniaturized in view of a fact that the intraoral-installed biological monitor is installed to be in the intraoral of the subject. Therefore, in the intraoral-placed biological monitor, it is difficult to be switched between a case where advertising is performed and a case where advertising is not performed, and it is difficult to receive power used for the advertising from a large capacity battery.

The present invention is made in view of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide an intraoral biological monitoring device capable of performing advertising when necessary while avoiding a size increase.

According to an aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above-described object, there is provided an intraoral biological monitoring device as defined in claim <NUM>.

An intraoral biological monitoring device according to another aspect of the present invention is defined in claim <NUM>.

According to the present invention, advertising can be performed when necessary while avoiding a size increase.

An example of an intraoral biological monitoring device according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG>. <FIG> is a view showing an example of an appearance of the intraoral biological monitoring device according to the first embodiment. <FIG> is a view showing an example of a cross section in a plane passing through a sensor and a photodetector which are included in the intraoral biological monitoring device according to the first embodiment. <FIG> is a view showing an example of a hardware configuration of the intraoral biological monitoring device according to the first embodiment.

As shown in <FIG>, and <FIG>, an intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> includes a sensor <NUM>, a communication unit <NUM>, a battery <NUM>, a substrate <NUM>, a mouthpiece <NUM>, a central processing unit (CPU) <NUM>, a read only memory (ROM) <NUM>, a random access memory (RAM) <NUM>, and a real-time clock (RTC) <NUM>.

The sensor <NUM> is an optical sensor including a photodetector <NUM> that detects light, and is disposed in a gum G of a subject. The sensor <NUM> is disposed in the gum G of the subject. For example, the photodetector <NUM> detects the light having a wavelength belonging to a near infrared region or a visible light region. The light detected by the photodetector <NUM> may be subjected to a predetermined modulation. The predetermined modulation referred to herein means optionally changing a wavelength, an intensity, a timing at which an output starts, or a timing at which the output ends. Furthermore, the photodetector <NUM> may include a photovoltaic element <NUM> that receives the light to generate electric power, and may detect the light by using the electric power generated by the photovoltaic element <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> may be controlled by a sensor integrated circuit (IC) <NUM> shown in <FIG>, and may be intermittently operated, for example, every <NUM> seconds.

The communication unit <NUM> performs communication, that is, advertising, in response to an operation in which a signal is input to the sensor <NUM>. For example, the communication unit <NUM> performs the communication in response to an operation in which the photodetector <NUM> detects the light. The length of one advertising is <NUM> seconds, for example. The communication unit <NUM> performs the communication with an external device <NUM> (to be described later) in order to transmit attachment/detachment determining data acquired by the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> to the external device <NUM>. The battery <NUM> supplies the electric power to each unit of the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM>. The substrate <NUM> holds the sensor <NUM>, the communication unit <NUM>, and the battery <NUM>.

The mouthpiece <NUM> holds the sensor <NUM>, the communication unit <NUM>, the battery <NUM>, and the substrate <NUM>, is made of a light-transmitting material, and is attached to a crown T of the subject in a state where the photodetector <NUM> faces at least one of the crown T and the gum G of the subject. Light transmittance of this material is preferably <NUM>% or higher, for example. The mouthpiece <NUM> covers at least a part of the gum G of the subject. Furthermore, the mouthpiece <NUM> covers at least the photodetector <NUM> in the sensor <NUM>. Specifically, the mouthpiece <NUM> seals the sensor <NUM> together with the communication unit <NUM>, the battery <NUM>, and the substrate <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view showing an example of a functional configuration of the intraoral biological monitoring device according to the first embodiment. The CPU <NUM> reads various programs stored in the read only memory (ROM) <NUM> when necessary, deploys various programs in the random access memory (RAM) <NUM>, and executes various programs to function as the determination unit <NUM> and the control unit <NUM> which are shown in <FIG>. The RTC <NUM> activates the CPU <NUM> which is normally in a sleep state, when necessary.

The determination unit <NUM> determines that the mouthpiece <NUM> is attached to the crown T of the subject, when the sensor <NUM> does not detect the light, and determines that the mouthpiece <NUM> is not attached to the crown T of the subject, when the sensor <NUM> detects the light. The control unit <NUM> controls an operation of each unit of the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM>, for example, the sensor <NUM> and the communication unit <NUM>, when necessary.

Next, an example of an operation of the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG> is a sequence diagram showing an example of a process performed by the intraoral biological monitoring device and the external device according to the first embodiment.

<FIG> shows an example of a process performed when the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> transmits the attachment/detachment determining data acquired by an attachment/detachment determining sensor (not shown) to the external device <NUM>. The attachment/detachment determining sensor is an optical sensor or a temperature sensor, for example.

For example, when the attachment/detachment determining sensor is an optical sensor, the period during which the optical sensor does not detect light corresponds to the period during which the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> is attached to the crown T of the subject. On the other hand, a period during which the optical sensor detects the light corresponds to a period during which the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> is not attached to the crown T of the subject.

Alternatively, when the attachment/detachment determining sensor is the temperature sensor, a period during which a temperature detected by the temperature sensor is approximately the same as a body temperature of the subject corresponds to a period during which the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> is attached to the crown T of the subject. On the other hand, a period during which the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is different from the body temperature of the subject by a prescribed temperature or higher corresponds to a period during which the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> is not attached to the crown T of the subject.

For example, the external device <NUM> is a computer used by a doctor. Based on data acquireed by the attachment/detachment determining sensor, the external device <NUM> estimates the period during which the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> is attached to the crown T of the subject and the period during which the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> is not attached to the crown T of the subject. The external device <NUM> includes a communication unit <NUM>, a control unit <NUM>, and a light emitting unit <NUM>.

The communication unit <NUM> performs the communication with the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> controls an operation of each unit of the external device <NUM>, when necessary. Under the control of the control unit <NUM>, the light emitting unit <NUM> outputs the light subjected to the above-described predetermined modulation, to the photodetector <NUM>.

In Step S101, the control unit <NUM> transmits a light emitting start signal instructing the light emitting unit <NUM> to start light emitting to the light emitting unit <NUM>. For example, the control unit <NUM> transmits the light emitting start signal to the light emitting unit <NUM>, when a switch provided in the external device <NUM> is operated or a request is made from a program installed in the external device <NUM>.

In Step S102, the light emitting unit <NUM> starts light emitting.

In Step S103, the photodetector <NUM> starts light detection.

In Step S104, the light emitting unit <NUM> ends the light emitting. A time from a start to an end of the light emitting of the light emitting unit <NUM> is set in advance.

In Step S105, the photodetector <NUM> ends the light detection.

In Step S106, the photodetector <NUM> transmits a light detection signal indicating that the light is detected, to the control unit <NUM>.

In Step S107, the control unit <NUM> transmits an advertising start signal instructing the communication unit <NUM> to start advertising, to the communication unit <NUM>.

In Step S108, the communication unit <NUM> transmits an advertising packet to the communication unit <NUM>.

In Step S109, the communication unit <NUM> receives the advertising packet from the communication unit <NUM>.

In Step S110, the communication unit <NUM> notifies the control unit <NUM> that the advertising packet is received.

In Step S111, the control unit <NUM> transmits a connection performing signal instructing to the communication unit <NUM> to transmit a connection request signal requesting the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> for communication connection, to the communication unit <NUM>.

In Step S112, the communication unit <NUM> transmits the connection request signal to the communication unit <NUM>.

In Step S113, the communication unit <NUM> transfers the connection request signal received from the communication unit <NUM> to the control unit <NUM>.

In Step S114, the control unit <NUM> causes the communication unit <NUM> to establish the communication connection with the external device <NUM>.

In Step S115, the communication unit <NUM> transmits a data reception request signal requesting the external device <NUM> to receive attachment/detachment determining data to the communication unit <NUM>.

In Step S116, the communication unit <NUM> transmits a data transmission permission signal permitting the transmission of attachment/detachment determining data to the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM>.

In Step S <NUM>, the communication unit <NUM> transmits the attachment/detachment determining data to the communication unit <NUM>.

In Step S118, the communication unit <NUM> receives the attachment/detachment determining data from the communication unit <NUM>.

In Step S119, the communication unit <NUM> transmits a data transmission end signal indicating that the attachment/detachment determining data is completely transmitted to the external device <NUM>, to the control unit <NUM>.

In Step S120, the control unit <NUM> transmits a communication end signal instructing the communication unit <NUM> to end the communication with the external device <NUM>.

In Step S121, the communication unit <NUM> ends the communication with the external device <NUM>.

Hitherto, the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> according to the first embodiment has been described. The intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> performs the communication with the external device <NUM> in response to an operation in which a signal is input to the sensor <NUM>. Therefore, the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> does not require a switch for switching between a case where the advertising is performed and a case where the advertising is not performed. Accordingly, a size increase can be avoided. In addition, the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> can perform the advertising only when necessary. Furthermore, the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> can avoid the electric power stored in the battery <NUM> from being wasted by performing the advertising more than necessary. Accordingly, the size increase caused by an increase in size of the battery <NUM> can be avoided.

In addition, as the sensor <NUM>, the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> adopts the optical sensor including the photodetector <NUM> made of a light-transmitting material and covered with the mouthpiece <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> is smaller than the switch for switching between a case where the advertising is performed and a case where the advertising is not performed. Therefore, the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> can perform the advertising simply by inputting the light to the photodetector <NUM> while avoiding the size increase.

In addition, the mouthpiece <NUM> is attached to the crown T of the subject in a state where the photodetector <NUM> faces at least one of the crown T and the gum G of the subject. In this manner, the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> is attached to the crown T of the subject. It is possible to avoid a situation in which the advertising is unnecessarily performed since the light is input to the photodetector <NUM> when the subject opens his or her mouth. Simultaneously, the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> can perform the advertising by inputting the light to the photodetector <NUM> only when the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> performs the communication with the external device <NUM> after being detached from the crown T of the subject.

In addition, the photodetector <NUM> detects the light having a wavelength belonging to the near infrared region of the visible light region. In this manner, the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> avoids a situation in which an oral cavity of the subject is irradiated with ultraviolet rays that may adversely affect a human body, and dental materials used for treatment of the oral cavity of the subject can be more widely selected.

In addition, the photodetector <NUM> detects the light subjected to a predetermined modulation. In this manner, the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> can avoid a situation in which the advertising is unnecessarily performed due to disturbance of the light input to the photodetector <NUM> when the subject opens his or her mouth.

In addition, the photodetector <NUM> includes a photovoltaic element that receives the light to generate electric power, and detects the light by using the electric power generated by the photovoltaic element. In this manner, the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> can less rely on the battery <NUM> for the electric power required for the advertising, and can save the electric power stored in the battery <NUM>.

In addition, the sensor <NUM> is intermittently operated, for example, every <NUM> seconds. In this manner, the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> can reduce the electric power consumed by the sensor <NUM>, and can save the electric power stored in the battery <NUM>.

In addition, the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> includes the determination unit <NUM> for determining that the mouthpiece <NUM> is attached to the crown T of the subject, when the sensor <NUM> does not detect the light, and determining that the mouthpiece <NUM> is not attached to the crown T of the subject, when the sensor <NUM> detects the light. In this manner, the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> can omit the attachment/detachment determining sensor for acquiring the attachment/detachment determining data, and can avoid a size increase. Alternatively, based on the attachment/detachment determining data acquired from both the attachment/detachment determining sensor and the sensor <NUM>, the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> can complexly and accurately determine whether or not the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> itself is attached to the crown T of the subject.

An example of an intraoral biological monitoring device according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG> is a view showing an example of a hardware configuration of the intraoral biological monitoring device according to the second embodiment. An intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> according to the second embodiment includes a sensor including a temperature detector <NUM> instead of the sensor <NUM> including the photodetector <NUM> included in the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> according to the first embodiment. In the following description, with regard to the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> according to the second embodiment, points different from those of the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> according to the first embodiment will be mainly described, and repeated description of the first embodiment will be omitted as appropriate.

The intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> includes the sensor <NUM>, the communication unit <NUM>, the battery <NUM>, the substrate <NUM>, the mouthpiece <NUM>, the determination unit <NUM>, and the control unit <NUM> which are described above. In addition, the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> includes the CPU <NUM>, the ROM <NUM>, the RAM <NUM>, and the RTC <NUM> which are shown in <FIG>.

The sensor <NUM> included in the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> is a temperature sensor including the temperature detector <NUM> that detects a temperature. The communication unit <NUM> performs the communication in response to an operation in which the temperature detector <NUM> detects a temperature rise equal to or greater than a predetermined first threshold value. For example, the predetermined threshold value is a temperature of <NUM> degrees Celsius or higher, and <NUM> degrees Celsius. The temperature of <NUM> degrees Celsius or higher referred to herein is an example of a temperature at which the temperature detector <NUM> fails due to a high temperature. The temperature of <NUM> degrees Celsius referred to herein is an example of a temperature which is sufficiently higher than the body temperature of the subject and is relatively easily raised.

The temperature detector <NUM> is covered with the mouthpiece <NUM> made of a light-transmitting material. The communication unit <NUM> performs the communication in response to an operation in which the temperature detector <NUM> detects a temperature rise equal to or greater than the predetermined first threshold value when the temperature detector <NUM> is irradiated with the light. The sensor <NUM> may be controlled by a sensor IC <NUM> shown in <FIG>, and may be intermittently operated. Furthermore, the electric power supplied to the temperature detector <NUM> may be controlled by a power supply control unit <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

The determination unit <NUM> determines that the mouthpiece <NUM> is attached to the crown T of the subject, when the sensor <NUM> detects a temperature equal to or greater than a predetermined second threshold value, and determines that the mouthpiece <NUM> is not attached to the crown T of the subject, when the sensor <NUM> detects a temperature smaller than the predetermined second threshold value.

Next, an example of an operation of the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG> is a sequence diagram showing an example of a process performed by the intraoral biological monitoring device and the external device according to the second embodiment. Step <NUM> and Step S202, Step S204, and Step S207 to Step S221 which are shown in <FIG> are the same as Step <NUM> and Step S102, Step S104, and Step S107 to Step S121 which are shown in <FIG>. Therefore, in the following description, Step S203, Step S205, and Step S206 will be described.

In Step S204, the temperature detector <NUM> starts temperature detection.

In Step S206, the temperature detector <NUM> ends the temperature detection.

In Step S207, the temperature detector <NUM> transmits a temperature detection signal indicating that the temperature is detected, to the control unit <NUM>.

Hitherto, the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> according to the second embodiment has been described. The intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> performs the communication with the external device <NUM> in response to an operation in which a signal is input to the sensor <NUM>. Therefore, the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> does not require a switch for switching between a case where the advertising is performed and a case where the advertising is not performed. Accordingly, a size increase can be avoided. In addition, the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> can perform the advertising only when necessary. Furthermore, the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> can avoid the electric power stored in the battery <NUM> from being wasted by performing the advertising more than necessary. Accordingly, the size increase caused by an increase in size of the battery <NUM> can be avoided.

In addition, as the sensor <NUM>, the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> adopts the temperature sensor including the temperature detector <NUM>, and performs the communication in response to an operation in which the temperature detector <NUM> detects a temperature rise equal to or greater than the predetermined first threshold value. The sensor <NUM> is smaller than the switch for switching between a case where the advertising is performed and a case where the advertising is not performed. Therefore, the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> can perform the advertising simply by inputting the light or heat to the temperature detector <NUM> and increasing the temperature while avoiding the size increase.

In addition, the communication unit <NUM> adopts the temperature of <NUM> degrees Celsius, as the predetermined first threshold value. In this manner, the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> can avoid a situation in which the communication unit <NUM> unnecessarily performs the advertising in response to an operation in which the temperature detector <NUM> detects the temperature rise caused by the body temperature of the subject.

In addition, the communication unit <NUM> adopts the temperature of <NUM> degrees Celsius or higher, as the predetermined first threshold value. In this manner, the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> can avoid a situation in which the communication unit <NUM> unnecessarily performs the advertising in response to an operation in which the temperature detector <NUM> detects the temperature rise caused by the body temperature of the subject. In addition, when the mouthpiece <NUM> is used for orthodontics, in many cases, it is premised as follows in the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM>. The attachment/detachment determining data is discarded as it is after the attachment/detachment determining data is acquired for a certain period of time. In this case, there is no particular problem even when the temperature detector <NUM> fails due to a high temperature.

In addition, the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> performs the communication in response to an operation in which the temperature detector <NUM> detects a temperature rise equal to or greater than the predetermined first threshold value when the temperature detector <NUM> covered with the mouthpiece <NUM> made of a light-transmitting material is irradiated with the light. Therefore, the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> can avoid a situation in which a part other than the temperature detector <NUM> is damaged due to the heat by using the light to locally heat the temperature detector <NUM>.

In addition, the sensor <NUM> is intermittently operated. In this manner, the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> can reduce the electric power consumed by the sensor <NUM>, and can save the electric power stored in the battery <NUM>.

In addition, the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> includes the determination unit <NUM> for determining that the mouthpiece is attached to the crown T of the subject, when the sensor <NUM> detects a temperature equal to or greater than the predetermined second threshold value, and determining that the mouthpiece <NUM> is not attached to the crown T of the subject, when the sensor <NUM> detects a temperature smaller than the predetermined second threshold value. In this manner, the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> can omit the attachment/detachment determining sensor for acquiring the attachment/detachment determining data, and can avoid a size increase. Alternatively, based on the attachment/detachment determining data acquired from both the attachment/detachment determining sensor and the sensor <NUM>, the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> can complexly and accurately determine whether or not the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> itself is attached to the crown T of the subject.

In the first embodiment and the second embodiment which are described above, as shown in <FIG>, a case where the sensor <NUM> is disposed in the gum G of the subject has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. <FIG> is a view showing an example of a cross section in a plane passing through a sensor and a photodetector which are included in an intraoral biological monitoring device according to another embodiment. As shown in <FIG>, the sensor <NUM> may be disposed in the crown T and the gum G of the subject. In this case, the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> according to the first embodiment and the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> according to the second embodiment include a mouthpiece <NUM> shown in <FIG> instead of the mouthpiece <NUM> described above.

<FIG> is a view showing an example of a cross section in a plane passing through a sensor and a photodetector which are included in an intraoral biological monitoring device according to another embodiment. As shown in <FIG>, the sensor <NUM> may be disposed in the crown T of the subject. In this case, the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> and the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> include a mouthpiece <NUM> shown in <FIG> instead of the mouthpiece <NUM> described above.

That is, the sensor <NUM> is disposed in at least one of a part of the crown T of the subject which does not come into contact with other teeth and the gum G of the subject, even when the subject occludes a tooth of an upper jaw and a tooth of a lower jaw. In this manner, the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> according to the first embodiment and the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> according to the second embodiment can avoid a situation in which occlusion of the subject is affected.

In addition, in the first embodiment described above, as shown in <FIG>, a case where the mouthpiece <NUM> is attached to the crown T of the subject in a state where the photodetector <NUM> faces at least one of the crown T and the gum G of the subject has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. <FIG> is a view showing an example of a cross section in a plane passing through a sensor and a photodetector which are included in an intraoral biological monitoring device according to another embodiment. As shown in <FIG>, the mouthpiece <NUM> may be attached to the crown T of the subject in a state where the sensor <NUM> faces a direction different from a direction in which the crown T and the gum G of the subject are present. When the sensor <NUM> includes the photodetector <NUM> or the temperature detector <NUM>, the photodetector <NUM> or the temperature detector <NUM> may be in a state of facing a direction different from the direction in which the crown T and the gum G of the subject are present. In this manner, the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> or the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> can perform the advertising in response to an operation in which the light or the temperature rise is detected, even when the mouthpiece <NUM> is attached to the crown T of the subject.

In addition, when the sensor <NUM> includes the temperature detector <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> may include a light-absorbent member <NUM> provided in a region irradiated with the light to absorb the light. For example, the light-absorbent member <NUM> is made of a material containing carbon, and is attached to the substrate <NUM> to surround the temperature detector <NUM>. In this manner, the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> can efficiently convert light irradiation into heat, and can perform the communication in response to an operation in which a temperature rise equal to or greater than the predetermined first threshold value is detected.

In addition, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, a case where the sensor <NUM> is sealed in the mouthpiece <NUM> has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the mouthpiece <NUM> may only cover a part of the sensor <NUM>. Alternatively, the mouthpiece <NUM> may cover a part except for a part where the photodetector <NUM> or the temperature detector <NUM> fetches the light.

In addition, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, a case where the whole mouthpiece <NUM> is made of the light-transmitting material has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the mouthpiece <NUM> may be made of a material which does not transmit the light, except for a part where the photodetector <NUM> or the temperature detector <NUM> fetches the light. In addition, when the sensor <NUM> includes the temperature detector <NUM> and the temperature detector <NUM> detects the temperature rise caused by heating instead of the temperature rise caused by light irradiation, the whole mouthpiece <NUM> may be made of a material which does not transmit the light.

In addition, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, a case where the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> and the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> include the CPU <NUM>, the ROM <NUM>, and the RAM <NUM> has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> and the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> may include a microcomputer having the three functions instead of the CPU <NUM>, the ROM <NUM>, and the RAM <NUM>.

Similarly, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, a case where the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> and the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> include the CPU <NUM>, the ROM <NUM>, the RAM <NUM>, the RTC <NUM>, and the communication unit <NUM> has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> and the intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> may include a microcomputer having the five functions instead of the CPU <NUM>, the ROM <NUM>, the RAM <NUM>, the RTC <NUM>, and the communication unit <NUM>.

In addition, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, a case where the external device <NUM> irradiates the temperature detector <NUM> with the light by using the light emitting unit <NUM> has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the external device <NUM> may include a heat generating unit having a heat source such as a heating wire instead of the light emitting unit <NUM>, and the temperature detector <NUM> may be heated by using the heat generating unit.

In addition, the functions included in the above-described intraoral biological monitoring device <NUM> may be entirely or partially recorded as a program on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program may be executed by a computer system. The computer system includes hardware such as a peripheral device. In addition, for example, the computer-readable recording medium includes a portable medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, and a CD-ROM, a storage device such as a hard disk incorporated in the computer system, or a RAM included in a server on a network such as the Internet. A volatile memory is an example of a recording medium that holds a program for a certain period of time.

In addition, the above-described program may be transmitted to another computer system by a transmission medium, for example, a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line.

In addition, the above-described program may be a program that entirely or partially realizes the above-described functions. The program that partially realizes the above-described functions may be a program that can realize the above-described functions in combination with a program recorded in advance in the computer system, that is, a so-called difference program.

Claim 1:
An intraoral biological monitoring device (<NUM>) comprising:
a sensor (<NUM>);
a communication unit (<NUM>) that is configured to perform communication in response to an operation in which a signal is input to the sensor (<NUM>);
a mouthpiece (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) that holds the sensor (<NUM>) and the communication unit (<NUM>), and is configured to be attached to a crown (T) of a subject, and covers at least a part of a gum (G) of the subject; and
a determination unit (<NUM>),
wherein the sensor (<NUM>) is an optical sensor including a photodetector (<NUM>) that is configured to detect light,
the mouthpiece (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) is made of a light-transmitting material, and covers at least the photodetector (<NUM>) of the sensor (<NUM>), and
the communication unit (<NUM>) is configured to perform the communication in response to an operation in which the light is detected by the photodetector (<NUM>),
characterized in that
the photodetector (<NUM>) is configured to face at least one of the crown (T) and the gum (G) of the subject by attachment of the mouthpiece (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) to the crown (T) of the subject, and
the determination unit (<NUM>) is configured to determine that the mouthpiece (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) is attached to the crown (T) of the subject when the sensor (<NUM>) does not detect the light, and to determine that the mouthpiece (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) is not attached to the crown (T) of the subject when the sensor (<NUM>) detects the light.