Oral tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12343158-B2
Application number	US-202117328395-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 24, 2021
Priority date	Jun 8, 2020
Publication date	Jul 1, 2025
Grant date	Jul 1, 2025

Abstract

An oral tool is provided that includes a body and a measurement unit. The measurement unit is disposed in a movable configuration with respect to the body, and includes a sensor unit at an end opposite to an end where the body is disposed. The sensor unit is constructed to be inserted into a mouth. The end of the measurement unit opposite to the end where the sensor unit is disposed is disposed inside the body. The oral tool includes a stress reliever disposed between the measurement unit and the body at a portion where the measurement unit changes a distance from the body while moving.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. An oral tool, comprising:
a body;
a measurement unit connected to the body and including a sensor disposed at an end opposite to an end where the measurement unit is connected to the body, with the measurement unit connected to the body and movable relative to the body where the measurement unit connects to the body; and
a stress reliever disposed at a boundary between the measurement unit and the body at a position where the measurement unit changes a distance from the body when the measurement unit moves relative to the body,
wherein the end of the measurement unit connected to the body is disposed inside the body, and
wherein the stress reliever is disposed at a position, such that the stress reliever is pressed by the measurement unit when the measurement unit moves relative to the body and the stress reliever is constructed to form a protrusion that protrudes outward at one of an upper portion and a lower portion of the boundary and to further form a recess at the other of the upper portion and lower portion of the boundary.

2. The oral tool according to claim 1 , wherein the stress reliever comprises a material selected from a group consisting of natural rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, chloroprene rubber, acrylonitrile rubber, butyl rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber, silicone rubber, and thermoplastic polyurethane.

3. The oral tool according to claim 1 , wherein a ratio of a length of the measurement unit to a length of the body in an extension direction in which the measurement unit extends with respect to the stress reliever serving as the boundary is within a range of 1:1 to 1:2.

4. The oral tool according to claim 1 , wherein a shape of the measurement unit increases in thickness in an extension direction toward the body from the end where the sensor is disposed.

5. The oral tool according to claim 4 , wherein a ratio of a thickness of the measurement unit where the stress reliever is disposed to a thickness of the stress reliever is within a range of 1:1 to 1:2.

6. The oral tool according to claim 1 , wherein the stress reliever comprises a convex shape that protrudes in a movement direction of the measurement unit.

7. The oral tool according to claim 1 , further comprising a finger mount constructed to enable a gripping of the body, with the stress reliever being disposed adjacent to the finger mount.

8. The oral tool according to claim 1 , further comprising a mechanical switch configured to switch the sensor between a measurement mode and a no-measurement mode.

9. The oral tool according to claim 8 , further comprising an elastic member constructed to urge the mechanical switch to a position for the no-measurement mode.

10. The oral tool according to claim 1 , wherein the stress reliever comprises an annular shape when viewed in an extension direction of the body.

11. The oral tool according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor unit is configured to be inserted into a mouth and the sensor comprises a sensor board configured to measure a moisture in the mouth.

12. An oral tool, comprising:
a body;
a measurement unit connected to the body and including a sensor disposed at an end opposite to an end where the measurement unit is connected to the body,
wherein the measurement unit is constructed to move relative to the body,
wherein a stress reliever is disposed at a boundary between the measurement unit and the body, with the boundary being at a position where the measurement unit moves relative to the body,
wherein the stress reliever is pressed by the measurement unit when the measurement unit moves relative to the body, such that the stress reliever at least partially prevents deformation to the oral tool due to a movement operation of the measurement unit, and
wherein, when the stress reliever is pressed by the measurement unit, the stress reliever is constructed to form a protrusion that protrudes outward at one of an upper portion and a lower portion of the boundary and to further form a recess at the other of the upper portion and lower portion of the boundary.

13. The oral tool according to claim 12 , wherein the end of the measurement unit connected to the body is disposed inside the body.

14. The oral tool according to claim 12 , wherein the stress reliever comprises a material selected from a group consisting of natural rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, chloroprene rubber, acrylonitrile rubber, butyl rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber, silicone rubber, and thermoplastic polyurethane.

15. The oral tool according to claim 12 , wherein a ratio of a length of the measurement unit to a length of the body in an extension direction in which the measurement unit extends with respect to the stress reliever serving as the boundary is within a range of 1:1 to 1:2.

16. The oral tool according to claim 12 , wherein a shape of the measurement unit increases in thickness in an extension direction toward the body from the end where the sensor is disposed.

17. The oral tool according to claim 16 , wherein a ratio of a thickness of the measurement unit where the stress reliever is disposed to a thickness of the stress reliever is within a range of 1:1 to 1:2.

Assignees

• Murata Manufacturing Co

Inventors

• Takahashi Tomoki
• Takagi Jun
• Togashi Hiroaki
• ACHIWA Hiroki

Classifications

• A61B5/6843

  Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure · CPC title

• A61B2560/0468

  Built-in electrodes · CPC title

• A61B2560/0266

  for monitoring or limiting apparatus function · CPC title

• A61B2562/0247

  Pressure sensors · CPC title

• A61B5/4552

  Evaluating soft tissue within the mouth, e.g. gums or tongue · CPC title