Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Measuring anatomical characteristic or force applied to or...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-10
2001-02-20
O'Connor, Cary (Department: 3736)
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Measuring anatomical characteristic or force applied to or...
C600S587000, C073S379020
Reexamination Certificate
active
06190335
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to probes for myographic measurements within the oral cavity.
Myography is concerned with the measurement of contractions and relaxations of the skeletal muscles. In the diagnosis and treatment of various disorders involving the face and mouth, it is often desirable to determine the strength of the face and mouth muscles. Such determinations may be useful, for example, in assessing and treating certain speech disorders, in assessing the need for physical therapy for stroke victims, to detect orofacial muscle imbalance, and for tracking progress in recovery from strokes or other injury to the mouth or face. Measurement of orofacial muscle strength may also be useful in connection with oral surgery, particularly where the musculature is to be cut. Measurements prior and post operation, for example, can aid in determining an appropriate course of isometric exercise or other physical therapy.
A system for direct measurement of orofacial muscle strength is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,452,727 and 5,609,161. Those patents provide an improved measurement technique especially suited to measurements in and about the oral cavity, and especially to measurements of lip and tongue muscle strength. As disclosed in those patents, the patient presses against a pressure-sensitive probe with the lips or tongue while the probe is held in a prescribed disposition typically with the aid of an ancillary support fixture. The probe generates an electrical signal characteristic of the applied force and hence the muscle strength.
The embodiment of probe disclosed in the above-referenced patents is illustrated in those patents for measurement of lip and tongue muscle strengths and is less suited for measurement of stronger muscle strengths, such as direct measurement of the strength of a patient's bite force.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an orofacial measurement probe extending the capabilities of the probes disclosed in the above-referenced U.S. patents. The present probe is able to measure strong muscle forces within the oral cavity without sacrificing convenience of use. In particular, the present probe is especially suited to measuring the force exerted by the masseter muscles when the patient bites down with maximum strength.
Briefly, a probe in accordance with the invention includes a bite member sized for insertion into the oral cavity and a pressure-sensitive transducer disposed in transducer housing. The bite member is formed with a rigid upper portion, a rigid lower portion and an elastomeric member holding the upper and power portions in spaced-apart relationship to one another. The upper and lower portions are formed and arranged so that together with the elastomeric member they define a hydraulic cavity, which carries a hydraulic fluid. In addition, at least one of the upper and lower portions is formed to provide a bite surface sized for engagement by one or more of the patient's teeth. The transducer housing is separate from the bite member and arranged to be external to the oral cavity when the bite member is inserted into the oral cavity. The pressure-sensitive transducer disposed within the transducer housing is responsive to pressures sufficiently great that it can respond to the maximum bite force of a strong adult. The probe includes a connecting member connecting the hydraulic cavity with the transducer housing for maintaining the hydraulic cavity in hydraulic communication with the transducer. A patient biting down on the bite surface imparts a bite force to the hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic cavity that is transmitted to the transducer whereupon the transducer provides an electrical signal indicative of the bite force.
Other aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention are described below or will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following specifications and drawings of illustrative embodiments.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2708367 (1955-05-01), Lusk
patent: 4488873 (1984-12-01), Bloomfield et al.
patent: 4976618 (1990-12-01), Anderson
patent: 5090421 (1992-02-01), Wagoner, III
patent: 5190051 (1993-03-01), Wilson
patent: 5381799 (1995-01-01), Hamilton et al.
patent: 5452727 (1995-09-01), Tura et al.
patent: 5609161 (1997-03-01), Tura et al.
patent: 5954673 (1999-09-01), Stachlin et al.
patent: 6050961 (2000-04-01), Arnold
patent: 93/18709 (1993-09-01), None
Howard Albert
Tura Ronald E.
Aronson Elliot B.
Marmor II Charles
O'Connor Cary
Oro-Myographic Measuring Instrument, Inc.
LandOfFree
Orofacial myographic measurement probe does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Orofacial myographic measurement probe, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Orofacial myographic measurement probe will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2613738