Patent ID: 8160689

Claim:
An apparatus for detecting bruxism and providing feedback to a user, said apparatus comprising: I. a sensor system which is operable in a set-up mode and in a use mode; A. wherein when said sensor system is in the set-up mode it is operable to: (i) measure a first level of muscular activity of a user's jaw associated with a level of a biting force and generate a first signal corresponding thereto; and (ii) measure a second level of muscular activity of a user's jaw associated with normally occurring, non-biting jaw activity and generate a second signal corresponding thereto; B. and wherein when said sensor system is in the use mode, it is operable to measure the muscular activity of a sleeping user's jaw and generate a third signal corresponding thereto; II. a signal processor which is in communication with said sensor system and is operable to receive said first and second signals generated when said sensor system is in the set-up mode and calculate and store a threshold level of muscular activity which is less than 100% of the first level of muscular activity, but more than the second level of muscular activity; and III. a feedback signal generator which is in communication with said signal processor and with said sensor system when said sensor system is in said use mode, said feedback signal generator being operable to receive said third signal from said sensor system, generate a feedback signal, and direct said feedback signal to said sleeping user if the level of muscular activity measured by said sensor system exceeds the threshold level of muscular activity calculated by said signal processor.