CN111248856B

CN111248856B - Bruxism measuring apparatus and bruxism diagnosis system

Info

Publication number: CN111248856B
Application number: CN201811623069.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 徐珉植
Original assignee: Biolight Co ltd
Current assignee: Biolight Co ltd
Priority date: 2018-11-30
Filing date: 2018-12-28
Publication date: 2022-08-09
Anticipated expiration: 2038-12-28
Also published as: CN111248856A; KR102150935B1; KR20200065357A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a bruxism measurement apparatus and a bruxism diagnosis system. A bruxism measuring apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: an ear insert body inserted into an ear and having a first contact line and a second contact line at a front end spaced apart from each other by a distance; and a sensor unit coupled to the front end of the earinsertion body to detect surface movement of an ear canal due to bruxism or mandibular occlusion, wherein the sensor unit comprises: an earphone removably fitted into the front end; a flex sensor mounted on the earpiece to detect surface motion of the ear canal; a first signal line disposed in the earpiece to electrically connect the flexure sensor and the first contact line; and a second signal line provided in the earphone to electrically connect the flexure sensor and the second contact line.

Description

Bruxism measuring apparatus and bruxism diagnosis system

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a bruxism measuring apparatus and a bruxism diagnosis system, and more particularly, to a bruxism measuring apparatus and a bruxism diagnosis system which are worn in an ear as a receiver to provide a warning signal to a receiver wearer when an event such as bruxism or mandibular occlusion occurs, thereby correcting bruxism or mandibular occlusion.

Background

When a person feels stress, the simplest way for the brain to relieve the stress is bruxism (bruxism or mandibular occlusion). In addition, bruxism is a common symptom not only due to stress, but also for people who are motorcycling or bicycling or doing fitness exercises. Bruxism refers to the static (mandibular occlusion) and dynamic (molar) contact of teeth in an unconscious state.

In other words, bruxism means non-functional movement of teeth that occurs during the day or night. When such symptoms are present, the likelihood of traumatic occlusion or disability of the temporomandibular joint is high due to severe tooth wear. This bruxism is a common disease that modern people are increasingly strained.

Korean patent application laid-open No.10-2015-0053086 discloses an apparatus and method for analyzing molar and mandibular occlusions, which analyzes symptoms by analyzing signals related to molar and mandibular occlusions during sleep to enable the correction and treatment of sleeping postures.

Apparatuses and methods for analyzing molar and mandibular occlusions in the related art detect electroencephalographic signals of left and right temporal muscles of a subject through headphones to analyze symptoms of the molar and mandibular occlusions. There is a limit to correctly diagnosing the symptoms of bruxism and mandibular occlusion because the temporalis muscles are located far from the jawbone, and there is a disadvantage in that there is not enough therapeutic effect on bruxism and mandibular occlusion because an arousal effect is not exhibited during sleep.

Disclosure of Invention

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a bruxism measuring apparatus and a bruxism diagnosis system which are worn in an ear as a receiver to provide a warning signal to a receiver wearer when an event such as bruxism or mandibular occlusion occurs, thereby correcting bruxism or mandibular occlusion.

A bruxism measuring apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: an ear insert body inserted into an ear and having a first contact line and a second contact line at a front end spaced apart from each other by a distance; and a sensor unit coupled to the front end of the earinsert body to detect surface movement of the ear canal due to bruxism or mandibular occlusion, wherein the sensor unit comprises: an earphone removably fitted into the front end; a flex sensor mounted on the earpiece to detect surface motion of the ear canal; a first signal line disposed in the earpiece to electrically connect the flexure sensor and the first contact line; and a second signal line provided in the earphone to electrically connect the flexure sensor and the second contact line.

As an example, the front end of the ear plug-in body is provided with: a fitting engagement groove into which the sensor unit is fitted; and a support step which is stepped up with respect to the fitting engagement groove and is in contact with an inner surface of the sensor unit, and the first contact line may be formed along a circumference of the fitting engagement groove, and the second contact line may be formed along the circumference of the support step and thereby physically isolated from the first contact line disposed in the fitting engagement groove.

In addition, the earphone may include: a body fitted into the front end of the ear insertion body; and a wing portion bent from the main body and extending in such a manner as to surround an outer circumference of the main body and having the flexure sensor mounted in an inner surface thereof, the main body having a protrusion in the inner surface thereof disposed to be engaged with the fitting engagement groove, wherein the inner surface of the main body may have a cylindrical shape in such a manner as to be contacted along the circumference of the support step, one end of the first signal wire may be connected to the flexure sensor and the other end thereof disposed in the protrusion to electrically connect the flexure sensor and the first contact wire, and one end of the second signal wire may be connected to the flexure sensor and the other end thereof disposed in a portion of the inner surface of the main body contacting the support step to electrically connect the flexure sensor and the second contact wire.

Preferably, the flex sensor, the first signal line and the second signal line are printable in the headset.

As one example, the main body may include a first through hole passing through the protrusion and a second through hole passing through the main body at the portion where the inner surface of the main body contacts the support step, the first signal line may be electrically connected to the deflection sensor to pass through an inner surface of the wing and an outer surface of the main body and extend into the inner surface of the main body via the first through hole and thereby electrically connected to the first contact line, and the second signal line may be electrically connected to the deflection sensor to pass through the inner surface of the wing and the outer surface of the main body and extend into the inner surface of the main body via the second through hole and thereby electrically connected to the second contact line.

As another example, the first signal line may be bent from the flexure sensor through the outer surface of the body and from an end of the body and extend into the inner surface of the body up to the protrusion to thereby be electrically connected to the first contact line, the second signal line may be bent from the flexure sensor through the outer surface of the body and from the end of the body and extend through the protrusion into the inner surface of the body up to the portion in contact with the support step to thereby be electrically connected to the second contact line, and the sensor unit may further include an isolation film attached to a portion of the second signal line through the protrusion to prevent excitation of the second signal line with the first contact line.

As still another example, the first contact line may be formed in a semicircular range along the circumference of the fitting engagement groove, the second contact line may be formed in a second semicircular range symmetrical to the semicircular range of the first contact line along the circumference of the support step, and the first signal line and the second signal line may be electrically connected to the flexure sensor and to the first contact line and the second contact line, respectively, in such a manner as to be spaced apart from each other by more than a half circumference of the support step, even if the sensor unit is rotated at a predetermined angle with respect to the ear insertion type body.

A bruxism measuring apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention includes: an ear insertion body configured to be inserted into an ear and provided with an air pressure channel opening; and an air pressure sensor unit accommodated in the ear insertion type body and disposed in an air pressure moving channel introduced into the ear insertion type body via the air pressure channel opening to measure air pressure variation of the inner ear due to molar or mandibular occlusion.

The ear insert body may be configured to seal an ear canal and have the air pressure passage opening disposed at a front end.

The bruxism measuring apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention may further include a first earphone installed in a front end of the ear insertion body and having a shape that changes according to a movement of the ear canal when inserted into the ear, wherein the air pressure passage opening may be provided in the ear insertion body in such a manner as to face an inner surface of the wing of the first earphone, and the air pressure sensor unit may measure air pressure introduced into the inner ear in the ear insertion body while being pushed from the first earphone toward the air pressure passage opening due to deformation of the first earphone caused according to the movement of the ear canal.

The bruxism measuring apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention may further include a second earphone installed in the front end of the ear insert body in a hollow tubular structure and deformed in shape by the movement of the ear canal when inserted into the ear, wherein the second earphone may be provided with an earphone opening communicating with the air pressure passage opening when coupled to the ear insert body, and the air pressure sensor unit may measure the air pressure of the second earphone introduced into the ear insert body through the earphone opening and the air pressure passage opening according to the movement of the ear canal.

A bruxism diagnosis system according to still another embodiment of the present invention includes: a bruxism measurement device worn in the ear as a receiver to detect surface movement of the ear canal due to bruxism or mandibular occlusion and to transmit the detected event signal; and an analysis terminal which diagnoses molar or mandibular occlusion when the event signal falls within a range of a pre-stored molar pattern or mandibular occlusion pattern, calculates the number of occurrences, the occurrence time, and the intensity of the molar or mandibular occlusion, stores the calculated data and the analysis result, and displays the analysis result, when the event signal is received.

Here, the analysis terminal may transmit a warning signal to the bruxism measuring apparatus when the event signal corresponds to the molar or lower jaw occlusion.

Since the apparatus and system of the present invention is inserted into the ear as a receiver to detect the movement of the ear canal, it is possible to detect the electromyographic signals of the masticatory muscles adjacent to the jaw bone as in the prior art, thereby more accurately diagnosing molar or mandibular occlusion.

In addition, the present invention can diagnose whether the molars or mandibular occlusion occurs while listening to music, and provide a warning signal to a wearer of the receiver according to the occurrence of the molars or mandibular occlusion. The invention thus allows the wearer of the receiver to perceive a molar or mandibular occlusion, thereby stopping the molar or mandibular occlusion from occurring unintentionally.

The present invention can correct bruxism or mandibular occlusion, thereby preventing damage to teeth, jaw joints and jaw muscles due to the bruxism or mandibular occlusion.

Since the present invention has the front end of the ear insertion type body in a stepped structure such that the first contact line and the second contact line are physically separated from each other, and the sensor unit is configured such that the first signal line is connected to the first contact line and the second signal line is connected to the second contact line at a position different from the first signal line, the first signal line is in electrical contact with only the first contact line and the second signal line is in electrical contact with the first contact line, even when the sensor unit is rotated at a predetermined angle along the circumference of the front end of the ear insertion type body, thereby stably transmitting the event signal detected by the flexure sensor to the ear insertion type body.

According to the structural feature of the present invention, with only a simple operation of fitting the ear insertion body into the sensor unit of the earphone by the wearer, the sensor unit can stably transmit a signal to the ear insertion body and easily replace the sensor unit according to the size of the ear canal of the wearer, thereby ensuring easy use.

Drawings

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 is a view illustrating a state in which a bruxism measuring apparatus is worn by a wearer according to one embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 2 to 5 are views illustrating a bruxism measuring apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention; fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which the sensor portion is separated from the ear-insertion body; fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which a sensor portion is coupled to an ear insertion body; fig. 4 and 5 are views illustrating a structure of a sensor unit in a state that a wing of an earphone is inverted, that is, an inner surface of the wing is exposed to the outside;

fig. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a sensor unit applied to a bruxism measuring apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 7 and 8 are views illustrating a bruxism measuring apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 9, 10 and 11 are views illustrating a bruxism measuring apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 12 is a view illustrating a bruxism measuring apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 13 and 14 are views illustrating a bruxism measuring apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention; and

fig. 15 schematically illustrates a flowchart of a bruxism analysis program installed in an analysis terminal.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, a bruxism measuring apparatus and a bruxism diagnosis system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Bruxism measuring apparatus according to first embodiment

As shown in fig. 1, a bruxism measuring apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is worn in the ear as a receiver.

In fig. 2 to 5, the bruxism measuring apparatus 100 includes an ear insertion type body 110, a sensor unit 130, a signal transmitter 141, and a warning signal output unit 150.

The signal transmitter 141 and the warning signal output unit 150 are accommodated in the ear-insertion body 110. The signal transmitter 141 transmits the event signal detected by the sensor unit 130 to the analysis terminal. The warning signal output unit 150 may be used as a means for outputting a warning signal to the outside together with a speaker and/or a vibrator.

The sensor unit 130 is detachably mounted in the front end of the ear-insertion body 110. The ear-insertion body 110 is provided at its front end with a pair of

contact wires

142 and 143 that are energized with the sensor unit 130. In this embodiment, for convenience of description, the pair of

contact wires

142 and 143 is divided into the first contact wire 142 and the second contact wire 143.

The first contact line 142 is provided along the circumference of the fitting engagement groove 111 b. The first contact wire 142 is electrically connected to the first signal wire 132 when the sensor unit 130 is coupled to the earinsert body. The fitting engagement groove 111b is stepped with respect to the surface of the front end. The fitting engagement groove 111b is a groove into which the sensor unit 130 is fitted.

The second contact line 143 is provided along the circumference of the support step 111 a. The second contact wire 143 is electrically connected to the second signal wire 133 when the sensor unit 130 is coupled to the ear insertion body 110. The support step 111a refers to a portion of the front end surface that contacts the sensor unit 130. The support step 111a is stepped upward with respect to the fitting engagement groove 111 b.

The first contact line 142 and the second contact line 143 are positioned in a stepped manner with respect to each other by fitting the engagement groove and the stepped structure of the support step 111 a. The first contact wire 142 and the second contact wire 143 are electrically connected to the signal transmitter 141. The signal transmitter 141 transmits the event signal transmitted via the first contact wire 142 and the second contact wire 143 to the analysis terminal.

The first contact line 142 is provided along the circumference of the fitting engagement groove 111 b. When the sensor unit 130 is coupled to the ear plug body 110, the first contact wire 142 is electrically energized with the first signal wire 132. The second contact line 143 is provided along the circumference of the support step 111 a. When the sensor unit 130 is coupled to the earbud body 110, the second contact wire 143 is electrically energized with the second signal wire 133.

The sensor unit 130 is coupled to the front end to be electrically connected to a pair of

contact wires

142 and 143 in order to detect surface movement of the ear canal due to molar and mandibular occlusion.

The sensor unit 130 includes an earphone 135, a deflection sensor 131, a first signal line 132, and a second signal line 133.

The earphone 135 is detachably fitted into the ear insert body 110. Preferably, the earpiece 135 is made of a material that can flex according to the movement of the ear canal when the bruxism measurement apparatus 100 is worn in the ear of the wearer.

The headset 135 includes a body 136 and wings 137. The main body 136 is detachably coupled to the ear plug-in body 110. On the inner surface of the main body 136, there is provided a protrusion 136a that fits into the fitting engagement groove 111b of the ear insertion type main body 110. The protrusion 136a is provided to protrude in a circumferential direction of the inner surface of the body 136. The wing 137 extends to be bent from one side of the body 136 and thus is disposed to surround the body 136. When the bruxism measuring apparatus 100 is inserted into the ear, the wing 137 of the earphone 135 becomes a portion contacting with the surface of the ear canal.

The deflection sensor 131 is disposed on the inner surface 137a of the wing 137. The deflection sensor 131 detects surface movement of the ear canal due to bruxism or mandibular occlusion. The deflection sensor 131 may be used, for example, with a deflection sensor or a bending sensor. The deflection sensor 131 detects a resistance change due to deflection.

The first signal line 132 and the second signal line 133 are electrically connected to the deflection sensor 131. The first signal line 132 is electrically connected to the first contact line 142. The second signal line 133 is electrically connected to the second contact line 143.

The deflection sensor 131, the first signal line 132, and the second signal line 133 may be printed in a printing manner in the headphone 135, thereby being integrally made with the headphone 135. Alternatively, the deflection sensor 131, the first signal line 132, and the second signal line 133 may be attached to the earphone 135.

Fig. 4 and 5 illustrate the sensor unit 130 in which the inner surface 137a of the wing is exposed to the outside. Referring to fig. 4 and 5, the first signal line 132 and the second signal line 133 are electrically connected at the flexure sensor 131 and are electrically connected to the first contact line 142 and the second contact line 143, respectively, at positions different from each other.

The first signal line 132 extends from the flexure sensor 131 through the outer surface of the body 136 and into the inner surface of the body 136 via the first through hole. The first through hole is provided in the protrusion 136a of the body 136. The protrusion 136a of the main body 136 is a portion to be fitted into the fitting engagement groove 111 b. Specifically, the first through hole is provided at a portion that is in contact with the first contact wire 142 when the earphone 135 is coupled to the earbud body 110.

A second signal wire 133 extends from the flexure sensor 131 through the outer surface of the body 136 and into the inner surface of the body 136 via a second through hole. The second through hole is provided at a portion that contacts the supporting step 111a of the ear insertion type body 110. Specifically, the second through hole is provided at a portion that is in contact with the second contact wire 143 when the earphone 135 is coupled to the earbud body 110.

Thus, when the earphone 135 is coupled to the earbud body 110, the first signal line 132 contacts the first contact line 142, and the second signal line 133 contacts the second contact line 143, thereby electrically connecting the deflection sensor 131 with the signal transmitter 141.

Since the present invention has the front end 111 of the ear insertion body 110 in a stepped structure such that the first contact line 142 and the second contact line 143 are physically isolated from each other, and the sensor unit 130 is configured such that the first signal line 132 is connected to the first contact line 142 and the second signal line 133 is connected to the second contact line 143 at a different position from the first signal line 132, the first signal line 132 is in electrical contact with only the first contact line 142 and the second signal line 133 is in electrical contact with the first contact line 142, even when the sensor unit 130 is rotated at a predetermined angle along the circumference of the front end 111 of the ear insertion body 110, thereby stably transmitting an event signal detected by the deflection sensor to the ear insertion body 110.

According to the structural feature of the present invention, with only a simple operation of fitting the ear insertion body 110 into the earphone type sensor unit 130 by the wearer, the sensor unit 130 can stably transmit a signal to the ear insertion body 110 and easily replace the sensor unit 130 according to the size of the ear canal of the wearer, thereby ensuring easy use.

Bruxism measuring device according to the second embodiment

The bruxism measuring apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the structure of the sensor unit 130 a. Hereinafter, the sensor unit 130a according to the present embodiment will be described in order to avoid repetitive description.

As shown in fig. 6, the sensor unit 130a includes an earphone 135, a deflection sensor 131, a first signal line 132a, a second signal line 133a, and an isolation film 134. In this embodiment, the headphones 135 and the flexure sensors 131 are the same as those in the first embodiment described above, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, the first signal line 132a passes from the flexure sensor 131 through the outer surface of the main body 136 and extends up to a protrusion 136a provided on the inner surface of the main body 136.

A second signal line 133a extends from the flexure sensor 131 through the outer surface of the body 136 and into the inner surface of the body 136. The second signal line 133a passes through the protrusion 136a and extends up to a portion contacting the support step 111 a.

In this embodiment, the second signal line 133a extends into the inner surface of the main body 136 longer than the first signal line 132a, such that when the earphone 135 is coupled to the earbud body 110, the second signal line 133a is excited with the first contact line 142.

In this embodiment, to prevent the second signal line 133a from being excited with the first contact line 142 when the earphone 135 is coupled to the earbud body 110, the isolation membrane 134 is attached to the inner surface of the body 136. The separation film 134 is attached to the inner surface of the body 136 to cover the second signal line 133a at a portion where the first signal line 132a and the second signal line 133a simultaneously pass through.

The bruxism measuring apparatus according to the third embodiment

The bruxism measuring apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the structure of the sensor unit 130a and the pair of

contact wires

142b and 143 b. Hereinafter, the sensor portion 130a and the pair of

contact wires

142b and 143b according to the present embodiment will be described in order to avoid repetitive description.

Referring to fig. 7, the sensor unit 130a includes an earphone 135, a deflection sensor 131, a first signal line 132b, a second signal line 133b, and an isolation film 134. In this embodiment, the headphones 135 and the flexure sensors 131 are the same as those in the first embodiment described above, and the description thereof will be omitted.

Referring to fig. 7, the first signal line 132b and the second signal line 133b pass from the deflection sensor 131 through a protrusion 136a in the outer surface of the body 136 and extend into the inner surface of the body 136. The first signal line 132b and the second signal line 133b are electrically connected to the deflection sensor 131 in such a manner as to be spaced apart from each other by more than half of the circumference of the support step 111 a.

Referring to fig. 8, the first contact line 142b and the second contact line 143b are disposed within different semicircular ranges from each other along the circumference of the front end centered around the opening 111c at the front end. Specifically, the first contact line 142b is formed in a semicircular range along the circumference of the fitting engagement groove 111 b. The second contact line 143b is formed in a semicircular range along the circumference of the support step 111 a. As shown in (b) of fig. 8, the second contact line 143b is formed in a semicircular range symmetrical to the semicircular range of the first contact line.

Therefore, the first signal line 132b and the second signal line 133b are connected to the first contact line 142b and the second contact line 143b, respectively, even if the sensor unit 130b is rotated at a predetermined angle with respect to the ear insertion body 110 b.

The bruxism measuring apparatus according to the fourth embodiment

As shown in fig. 9, a bruxism measuring apparatus 100c according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus inserted into an ear to measure a change in air pressure of an inner ear due to bruxism or mandibular occlusion. As shown in fig. 10, the bruxism measurement apparatus 100c includes an ear insertion type body 110c and an air pressure sensor unit 130 c.

The ear insert body 110c is configured to seal the ear canal when inserted into the ear. To achieve this, the ear plug-in body 110c according to the present embodiment is manufactured in a customized manner by means of a modeling process.

The ear insert body 110c is modeled as a material such as alginate, filled into the ear, and then cured. Fig. 11 (a) shows the outline of the modeled inner ear. The three-dimensional molding operation is performed using the contour of the inner ear. Fig. 11 (b) shows a mold for inner ear contour.

With the mold manufactured in a customized manner, the shape of the ear insert body 110c corresponds to the shape of the inner ear of the wearer. An air pressure passage opening 119 is provided in the front end of the ear insertion body 110 c. Since the ear insert body 110c is manufactured in a customized manner, the ear insert body 110c is inserted into the ear such that the ear canal is sealed and air pressure variations of the inner ear can be transmitted to the ear insert body 110c through the air pressure passage opening 119.

As shown in fig. 10, when the air pressure sensor unit 130c is received in the ear insertion type body 110c, the air pressure sensor unit 130c is disposed in a movement path that transmits the air pressure of the inner ear through the air pressure passage opening 119. The air pressure sensor unit 130c detects a change in air pressure of the inner ear due to bruxism or mandibular occlusion and processes the detected event signal. The event signal is provided to the analysis terminal 200 through the signal transmitter 140 c. The signal transmitter 140c is accommodated in the ear-insertion body 110 c.

When receiving the event signal, the analysis terminal 200 analyzes the event signal according to a predetermined bruxism analysis program. When the analysis terminal 200 analyzes that the event signal is a change in air pressure within the range of a molar pattern or a mandibular occlusion pattern previously stored in the bruxism analysis program, the analysis terminal 200 diagnoses bruxism or mandibular occlusion. The analysis terminal 200 calculates the number of occurrences, the occurrence time, and the intensity of molar or mandibular occlusion, stores the calculated data and the analysis result, and displays the analysis result.

The bruxism measuring apparatus according to the fifth embodiment

The bruxism measuring apparatus 100d according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention is inserted into an ear to measure a change in air pressure of an inner ear due to bruxism or mandibular occlusion. As shown in fig. 12, the bruxism measurement apparatus 100d includes an ear insertion type body 110d and an air pressure sensor unit 130 d.

The ear-insertion body 110d is configured to be inserted into an ear and has a barometric pressure sensor unit 130d accommodated therein. The ear insert body 110d is provided with a first earphone 117d at a front end thereof. The first earphone 117d is made of a flexible material so that its shape is easily deformed according to the movement of the ear canal. The first earphone 117d is in contact with the surface of the ear canal when inserted into the ear, with the result that its shape is deformed in accordance with the movement of the ear canal.

The ear insert body 110d is provided with an air pressure passage opening 119 d. The air pressure channel opening 119d is provided in the ear insert body 110d in such a manner as to face the inner surface of the wing of the first earphone 117 d. The air pressure P2 formed inside the first earphone 117d is introduced into the ear insert body 110d through the air pressure passage opening 119d while being pushed from the earphone 117d toward the air pressure passage opening 119d by the pressure P1 applied to the first earphone 117d according to the movement of the ear canal.

As shown in fig. 12, when the air pressure sensor unit 130d is received in the ear insertion type body 110d, the air pressure sensor unit 130d is disposed in a movement path that transmits air pressure of the inner ear through the air pressure passage opening 119 d. The air pressure sensor unit 130d measures the air pressure P2 introduced into the ear-insertion body 110d through the air pressure passage opening 119 d.

The air pressure sensor unit 130d detects changes in air pressure of the inner ear due to bruxism or mandibular occlusion, wherein the detected event signals are processed. The event signal is provided to the analysis terminal 200 through the signal transmitter 140 d. The signal transmitter 140d is accommodated in the ear-insertion body 110 d.

The bruxism measuring apparatus 100d according to the present embodiment interlocks (interlock) with an analysis terminal to analyze information about bruxism. When the event signal is received, the analysis terminal analyzes the event signal according to a predetermined bruxism analysis program. When the analysis terminal 200 analyzes that the event signal is a change in air pressure within the range of a molar pattern or a mandibular occlusion pattern previously stored in the bruxism analysis program, the analysis terminal 200 diagnoses bruxism or mandibular occlusion. The analysis terminal 200 calculates the number of occurrences, the occurrence time, and the intensity of molar or mandibular occlusion, stores the calculated data and the analysis result, and displays the analysis result.

The bruxism measuring apparatus according to the sixth embodiment

The bruxism measuring apparatus 100e according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention is inserted into an ear to measure a change in air pressure of an inner ear caused according to bruxism or mandibular occlusion. As shown in fig. 13 and 14, the bruxism measurement apparatus 100e includes an ear insertion type body 110e and an air pressure sensor unit 130 e.

The ear-insertion body 110e is configured to be inserted into an ear and has a barometric pressure sensor unit 130e accommodated therein. The ear insert body 110e is provided with an air pressure passage opening 119 e. The air pressure passage opening 119e is a passage through which air pressure of the inner ear is introduced from the ear into the ear insertion body 110 e. The ear insert body 110e is provided with a second earphone 117e at its front end.

The second earphone 117e is made of a flexible material so that its shape is easily deformed according to the movement of the ear canal. When the second earphone 117e is inserted into the ear, the second earphone 117e comes into contact with the surface of the ear canal, with the result that its shape is deformed in accordance with the movement of the ear canal.

The second earpiece 117e is provided with an earpiece opening 118e, the earpiece opening 118e being in communication with the air pressure channel opening 119e when coupled to the ear insert body 110 e. While being pushed from the earphone 118e to the air pressure passage opening 119d by the pressure P1 applied to the second earphone 117e in accordance with the movement of the ear canal, the air pressure P2 formed inside the second earphone 117e is introduced into the ear insertion body 110e through the air pressure passage opening 119 d.

As shown in fig. 14, when the air pressure sensor unit 130e is received in the ear insertion type body 110e, the air pressure sensor unit is disposed in a movement path that transmits the air pressure of the inner ear through the air pressure passage opening 119 e. The air pressure sensor unit 130e measures the air pressure P2 introduced into the ear-insertion body 110e through the air pressure passage opening 119 e.

The air pressure sensor unit 130e detects changes in air pressure of the inner ear due to bruxism or mandibular occlusion, wherein the detected event signals are processed. The event signal is provided to the analysis terminal 200 through the signal transmitter 140 e. The signal transmitter 140e is accommodated in the ear insertion body 110 e.

The bruxism measuring apparatus 100e according to the present embodiment interlocks with an analysis terminal to analyze information about bruxism. When the event signal is received, the analysis terminal analyzes the event signal according to a predetermined bruxism analysis program. When the analysis terminal analyzes the event signal as a change in air pressure within a range of a molar pattern or a mandibular occlusion pattern previously stored in the bruxism analysis program, the analysis terminal diagnoses the molar or mandibular occlusion. The analysis terminal 200 calculates the number of occurrences, the occurrence time, and the intensity of molar or mandibular occlusion, stores the calculated data and the analysis result, and displays the analysis result.

Bruxism diagnostic system

As shown in fig. 1, the bruxism diagnosis system according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a bruxism measurement apparatus 100 and an analysis terminal 200. The bruxism measuring apparatus 100 is worn on the ear in a receiver type to detect surface movement of the ear canal occurring during bruxism or mandibular occlusion, and transmits an event signal detected during bruxism or mandibular occlusion to the analysis terminal.

The analysis terminal 200 may transmit/receive a signal to/from the bruxism measuring apparatus through the communication module according to a wireless communication method. Alternatively, the analysis terminal may transmit/receive a signal to/from the bruxism measurement apparatus 100 through a receiver cable in a wired manner. Since any known technique within the scope of those skilled in the art can be applied to the signal transmission method between the bruxism measurement apparatus 100 and the analysis terminal, a description thereof will be omitted in the present embodiment.

As shown in fig. 15, when receiving the event signal, the analysis terminal 200 analyzes the event signal according to a predetermined bruxism analysis program. The analysis terminal diagnoses bruxism or mandibular occlusion when the event signal falls within a range of a bruxism pattern or mandibular occlusion pattern previously stored in a bruxism analysis program.

When the analysis terminal diagnoses bruxism or mandibular occlusion, the analysis terminal outputs a warning signal to the bruxism measuring apparatus. The analysis terminal calculates the number of occurrences, the occurrence time, and the intensity of molar or mandibular occlusion, stores the calculated data and the analysis result, and displays the analysis result.

Since the present invention is inserted into the ear in a receiver type to detect the movement of the ear canal, it is possible to detect the electromyographic signals of masticatory muscles adjacent to the jaw bone as in the prior art, thereby more accurately diagnosing molar or mandibular occlusion.

In addition, the present invention can diagnose whether bruxism or mandibular occlusion occurs while listening to music, and provide a warning signal to a wearer of the receiver according to the occurrence of bruxism or mandibular occlusion. The invention thus allows the wearer of the receiver to perceive a molar or mandibular occlusion, thereby stopping the molar or mandibular occlusion from occurring unintentionally.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims. As will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.

Claims

1. A bruxism measurement apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

an ear insert body inserted into an ear and having a first contact line and a second contact line at a front end spaced apart from each other by a distance; and

a sensor unit coupled to the front end of the earinsertion body to detect surface movement of an ear canal due to dynamic bruxism or static mandibular occlusion,

wherein the sensor unit includes: an earphone removably fitted into the front end; a flex sensor mounted on the earpiece to detect surface motion of the ear canal; a first signal line disposed in the earpiece to electrically connect the flexure sensor and the first contact line; and a second signal line provided in the earphone to electrically connect the flexure sensor and the second contact line,

wherein, the front end of the ear insertion type main body is provided with: a fitting engagement groove into which the sensor unit is fitted; and a support step which is stepped up with respect to the fitting engagement groove and is in contact with an inner surface of the sensor unit, and

the first contact line is formed along a circumference of the fitting engagement groove, and the second contact line is formed along a circumference of the support step and is thereby physically isolated from the first contact line disposed in the fitting engagement groove.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the headset comprises: a body fitted into the front end of the ear insertion body; and a wing portion bent from the main body and extending in such a manner as to surround an outer circumference of the main body and having the flexure sensor mounted in an inner surface thereof,

the main body has a protrusion provided in an inner surface thereof to be engaged with the fitting engagement groove, the inner surface of the main body has a cylindrical shape in such a manner as to be in contact along a circumference of the support step,

one end of the first signal line is connected to the flexure sensor and the other end is disposed in the protrusion to electrically connect the flexure sensor and the first contact line, and

one end of the second signal line is connected to the flexure sensor and the other end is disposed in a portion of the inner surface of the main body that contacts the support step to electrically connect the flexure sensor and the second contact line.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the flex sensor, the first signal line, and the second signal line are printed in the headset in a printed manner.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the body includes a first through hole passing through the protrusion and a second through hole passing through the body at the portion where the inner surface of the body contacts the support step,

the first signal line is electrically connected to the flexure sensor to pass through an inner surface of the wing and an outer surface of the body, and extend into the inner surface of the body via the first through hole and thereby electrically connected to the first contact line, and

the second signal wire is electrically connected to the deflection sensor to pass through the inner surface of the wing and the outer surface of the body, and extend into the inner surface of the body via the second through hole and thereby electrically connected to the second contact wire.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first signal wire is bent from the flexure sensor through the outer surface of the body and from an end of the body and extends into the inner surface of the body up to the protrusion, thereby electrically connecting to the first contact wire,

the second signal line is bent from the flexure sensor through the outer surface of the body and from the end of the body and extends into the inner surface of the body through the protrusion to the portion in contact with the support step to thereby be electrically connected to the second contact line, and

the sensor unit further includes an isolation film attached to a portion of the second signal line passing through the protrusion to prevent excitation of the second signal line with the first contact line.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first contact line is formed in a semicircular range along a circumference of the fitting engagement groove,

the second contact line is formed along the circumference of the support step in a second semicircular range symmetrical to the semicircular range of the first contact line, and

the first signal line and the second signal line are electrically connected to the flexure sensor in such a manner as to be spaced apart from each other by more than half of the circumference of the support step, and are respectively connected to the first contact line and the second contact line even if the sensor unit is rotated at a predetermined angle with respect to the ear insertion body.