GB2094949A - Improvements in or relating to aids for humans - Google Patents
Improvements in or relating to aids for humans Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2094949A GB2094949A GB8106670A GB8106670A GB2094949A GB 2094949 A GB2094949 A GB 2094949A GB 8106670 A GB8106670 A GB 8106670A GB 8106670 A GB8106670 A GB 8106670A GB 2094949 A GB2094949 A GB 2094949A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- switch
- mouth
- aid according
- teeth
- transducer means
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 230000003387 muscular Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 11
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000001356 surgical procedure Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000000763 evoking effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000002747 voluntary effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 206010011224 Cough Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 206010023149 Jaw fracture Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 208000027418 Wounds and injury Diseases 0.000 description 1
- NIXOWILDQLNWCW-UHFFFAOYSA-N acrylic acid group Chemical group C(C=C)(=O)O NIXOWILDQLNWCW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000004913 activation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 210000003484 anatomy Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008602 contraction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007796 conventional method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000006378 damage Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000004886 head movement Effects 0.000 description 1
- 208000014674 injury Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000691 measurement method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 1
- 201000006417 multiple sclerosis Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 210000003205 muscle Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 230000000474 nursing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010422 painting Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001766 physiological effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 231100000817 safety factor Toxicity 0.000 description 1
- 206010041232 sneezing Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 210000004872 soft tissue Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 239000013589 supplement Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000009747 swallowing Effects 0.000 description 1
- 210000001519 tissue Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 230000000007 visual effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
- A61F4/00—Methods or devices enabling patients or disabled persons to operate an apparatus or a device not forming part of the body
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
- Biomedical Technology (AREA)
- Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
- Vascular Medicine (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
- Dental Tools And Instruments Or Auxiliary Dental Instruments (AREA)
Abstract
An aid for humans comprising an intra-oral device including transducer means adapted to fit within the mouth and to transmit responsively to predetermined muscular operation in or around the mouth a signal for apparatus external of the mouth. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Improvements in or relating to aids for humans
This invention relates to aids for humans. The aids may be used by disabled persons or they may be used as accessory controls for the physically normal person.
Most man-controlled equipment for the disabled is operated by hand or foot. The needs of disabled people have stimulated searches for other methods and recently controls have been devised which are activated externally of the body by movements of the head, face or disabled limbs or which utilise the energy of suck and/or blow.
Their most useful application is to electric wheelchairs and communication equipment.
Mouth painting and page turning aids by which an implement is held between the jaws or temporarily affixed teeth have been used to work a switch external of the body but can be cumbersome in this respect. These known methods are not all always efficient and the skill to use them is denied to many, especially those severely handicapped. The present invention seeks to provide an aid which facilitates precise control of equipment independently of any gross anatomical movement.
According to the present invention an aid for humans comprises an intra-oral device including transducer means adapted to fit within the mouth and to transmit responsively to predetermined muscular operation in or around the mouth a signal for apparatus external of the mouth.
The transducer means may comprise a housing or base adapted to be secured to a tooth, teeth or a denture.
The transducer means may comprise at least one electrical switch contained within or secured to the housing, a signal from the switch or switches being transmitted via conductors for operating apparatus external of the mouth consequent upon production of the predetermined muscular operation.
The switch or switches may comprise a button or a lever operatively associated with each switch.
Each button or lever may be arranged to operate the switch with which it is associated in response to tongue or cheek pressure or in response to movement between the jaws.
The switch or switches may be operated by a switch actuator or actuators, the switch or switches being secured to the tooth, teeth or denture of one jaw and the actuator or actuators being likewise secured.
In one embodiment of the invention the transducer means may comprise one or more pressure sensitive hydraulic or pneumatic devices adapted to produce a hydraulic or pneumatic signal for apparatus external of the mouth responsive to the production of the predetermined muscular operation.
In another embodiment of the invention the transducer may comprise one or more piezoelectric devices responsive to pressure produced consequent upon production of the
predetermined muscular operation for generating an electrical signal or signals for apparatus external of the mouth.
As operation depends solely upon muscular
energy provided within the mouth and as this is
often still available even in the most severely
disabled person, use is practical for a wide range
of purposes and can extend the number of
controls a person can safely operate. It will be
appreciated that a small device worn in the mouth
is less obtrusive than a pipe and being
anatomically fitted to the wearer it is rendered
safe from accidential dislodgement.
Some embodiments of the invention will now
be described by way of example with reference to
the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 a is a generally schematic perspective view of a tongue activated button switch fitted to the upper teeth;
Figure 1 b is a sectional side view of the switch shown in Figure 1 a;
Figure 2 is a sectional side view of a tongue activated lever switch fitted to lateral tooth surfaces only;
Figure 3a is a side view of a miniature two tooth appliance;
Figure 3b is a plan view of the appliance shown in Figure 3a,
Figure 4 is a plan view of an appliance fitted to teeth of the upper jaw and comprising a number of electrical switches;
Figure 5 is a plan view of an appliance fitted to teeth of the lower jaw and incorporating a tongue operated button switch;
Figure 6 is a sectional side view of a bulb switch;;
Figure 7 is a side view of a pneumatically operated appliance;
Figures 8a, 8b and 8c are perspective views of an appliance operating pneumatically and arranged to cover the lower teeth; and
Figure 9 is a somewhat perspective side view of a pneumatically operated appliance.
The intra-oral devices or appliances hereinafter described are appliances fitted and operated within the mouth and functioning to control equipment remote from the mouth independently of hand, foot or head movement. The device or appliance may comprise a base into which is incorporated transducer means to initiate a signal which is conveyed beyond the mouth to control apparatus for aiding the disabled. The base may be a splint or cap fitted to natural or artificial teeth or forming a part of a denture. The fit of the base should be precise and may be achieved by specialised techniques of dental or oral surgery to conform to individual oral anatomy. The size and shape of the base will vary according to its location and it may include one or more actuators by means of which a signal can be initiated by the wearer.The actuators may comprise switches, levers, pressure conveyors or pneumatic and hydraulic chambers. The signal may comprise any form of energy produced to activate apparatus for aiding the disabled. Transmission of such signals from within to without the mouth may be achieved by narrow flexible wires or through tubes traversing the lips and thence either directly or by other mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, sonic or radio means to equipment for aiding the disabled. Activation of the intra-oral devices hereinafter described is achieved by energy evoked within the mouth by the operator. Forces are obtained by voluntary contraction of the muscles of the tongue, cheek or floor of the mouth.These can produce either direct mechanical pressure on the appliance as with a tongue controlled switch or can evoke a pneumatic pressure change ranging from voluntary expiration of air to smaller scales of pressure change obtained in local areas within the
mouth as for example when areas of the lips or
cheek are separately inflated or deflated the
latter being used to activate air switches. The base or splint may be fabricated using clinical
impression and measurement techniques as used
in oral surgery for construction of splints to treat fractured jaw and in dental surgery to construct crowns, bridges and dentures. An accurate model
may be made of the teeth jaws and surrounding tissue for such procedures.A cap or splint is then designed and constructed on this model and the shape and size of the splint is determined by (a) the measurement of the relationship the upper and lower jaws have to each other as they open and close to avoid impeding their natural closing movements; (b) location of the most efficient site for the devices to be worked by the wearer; estimation of the number of these which can be used competently; and (c) consideration of safety factors ensuring least risk of dislodgement and least interference with naturally existing spaces essential to speech, swallowing or other physiological activity.
The appliances may be constructed of transparent plastic material, (e.g. acrylic material), and they may be fitted to be worn on the upper or lower jaw covering any number of teeth.
Alternatively, they may lie below but attached to the teeth and conforming in shape to the adjacent soft tissue or be fitted on or within a denture when no teeth are present. Those devices which do not cover the tops of the teeth, or which are built in to a denture, permit complete natural closure of the teeth. Sneezing and coughing presents no hazard and electrical contacts and leads are designed to work at low voltage and are insulated.
Particular embodiments of the invention will now be considered and as shown in Figure 1 a base 1 is provided which is arranged to be fitted to the upper teeth and arranged to incorporate an electrical switch 2 electrical signals from the switch being transmitted via conductors 3. In order to provide an electrical signal on the conductors 3 the switch 2 is operated by tongue pressure.
Referring now to Figure 2 another tongue activated switch is shown comprising a base 4 which is fitted to the lateral tooth surfaces of the lower jaw only and it incorporates a switch lever 5 which is operated by means of tongue pressure.
Referring now to Figures 3a and 3b a miniature two tooth appliance is shown comprising a base 6 in the form of a cap which is arranged to embrace adjacent teeth 7 and 8, a transducer 9 comprising an electrical switch being fitted to the base 6. A conductor for the device 9 is fed through the base 6 and comprises wires 10.
Referring now to Figure 4 an appliance comprises a base 1 1 which is formed to fit on the upper teeth and has attached to it a number of electrical switches 12 which may be individually operated with the tongue.
Referring now to Figure 5 an alternative arrangement is shown wherein an appliance comprises a base 13 which incorporates on the inside thereof a button switch 14 which can be operated with the tongue and a lever switch 1 5 which might conveniently be operated by cheek pressure, each switch being arranged to control a different function in apparatus with which the device is connected by means of wires 16.
Referring now to Figure 6 a device is shown wherein the base comprises a cap 17 arranged to fit over a tooth 18, a bulb switch 19 including contacts being embodied in the cap 17 and positioned so that the bulb switch 19 can be operated by tongue pressure.
Referring now to Figure 7 a pneumatic device is shown comprising a base 20 which is arranged to fit over the lower teeth and incorporate a deformable pneumatic transducer 21 which in response to deformation as by means of pressure between the jaws provides a pneumatic signal on a a pneumatic line 22.
Referring now to Figures 8a, 8b and 8c an appliance is shown adapted to cover the lower teeth and comprising an inner chamber 23 which is arranged to communicate with apparatus remote from the mouth via a capillary tube 24 so that in response to pressure being produced between the jaws a signal is transmitted via the capillary tube 24 to apparatus (not shown) remote from the mouth.
Finally referring to Figure 9 a device is shown which is adapted to conform to the shape of the lower teeth and comprises a deformable pneumatic chamber 25 which is arranged to communicate via tube 26 with apparatus remote from the mouth.
As the devices or appliances hereinbefore described allow safe control of equipment without the use of conventional methods they will be of considerable use to handicapped people and in particular to those with multiple sclerosis, muscular distrophy, cerebrovascular injury or the like.
The primary value to the handicapped will be in supplying a means of unsupervised control for those incapable of using other means available to date. The simplest example is that they would afford a bed-ridden person in this group the means to attract attention and remove dependence upon constant visual nursing supervision. In others less disabled, it can extend their activities particularly with regard to electric chair control, leisure and communication equipment. In a person generally physiologically intact, it adds an additional means of control which any individual may competently manipulate to supplement the hand and/or the foot and this could apply to transport, industrial and other machinery.
The number of separate control mechanisms which can be built into one appliance is considerable being only restricted by (a) the number of pockets where pneumatic energy can be evoked and (b) the space intervals required between each switch for the tongue to register it separately. It is generally appreciated that most people can identify all but the smallest teeth by linguai palpatation.
Claims (9)
1. An aid for humans comprising an intra-oral device including transducer means adapted to fit within the mouth and to transmit responsively to predetermined muscular operation in or around the mouth a signal for apparatus external of the mouth.
2. An aid according to claim 1 in which the transducer means comprises a housing or base adapted to be secured to a tooth, teeth or a denture.
3. An aid according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the transducer means comprises at least one electrical switch contained within or secured to the housing, a signal from the switch or switches being transmitted via conductors for operating apparatus external of the mouth consequent upon production of the predetermined muscular operation.
4. An aid according to claim 3 and including a button or a lever for the or each switch.
5. An aid according to claim 4 in which the or each button or lever is arranged to operate the switch with which it is associated in response to tongue or cheek pressure or in response to movement between the jaws.
6. An aid according to claim 3 in which the or each switch is operated by a switch actuator, the or each switch being secured to the tooth, teeth o denture ofa jaw, and the or each switch actuator being likewise being secured to the tooth, teeth or denture of a jaw.
7. An aid according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the transducer means comprises one or more pressure sensitive hydraulic or pneumatic devices adapted to produce a hydraulic or pneumatic signal for apparatus external of the mouth responsive to the production of the predetermined muscular operation.
8. An aid according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the transducer means comprises one or more piezoelectric devices responsive to pressure produced consequent upon production of the predetermined muscular operation for generating an electrical signal or signals for apparatus external of the mouth.
9. An aid for humans, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB8106670A GB2094949A (en) | 1981-03-03 | 1981-03-03 | Improvements in or relating to aids for humans |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB8106670A GB2094949A (en) | 1981-03-03 | 1981-03-03 | Improvements in or relating to aids for humans |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
GB2094949A true GB2094949A (en) | 1982-09-22 |
Family
ID=10520108
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB8106670A Withdrawn GB2094949A (en) | 1981-03-03 | 1981-03-03 | Improvements in or relating to aids for humans |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
GB (1) | GB2094949A (en) |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0487027A1 (en) * | 1990-11-22 | 1992-05-27 | Walter Dr. Schmitt | Control apparatus for handicapped persons |
GB2254677A (en) * | 1991-04-10 | 1992-10-14 | Abbotsbury Software Ltd | Pressure-activated computer data input apparatus. |
GB2259970A (en) * | 1991-09-27 | 1993-03-31 | Samir Abed Issa Albasri | Oral communication device |
WO1995028728A1 (en) * | 1994-04-15 | 1995-10-26 | Schweizer Paraplegiker-Zentrum | Electronic control and triggering member set in the mouth, in particular for physically disabled persons |
EP0734704A1 (en) * | 1995-03-31 | 1996-10-02 | International Business Machines Corporation | Intraoral communication system |
-
1981
- 1981-03-03 GB GB8106670A patent/GB2094949A/en not_active Withdrawn
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0487027A1 (en) * | 1990-11-22 | 1992-05-27 | Walter Dr. Schmitt | Control apparatus for handicapped persons |
GB2254677A (en) * | 1991-04-10 | 1992-10-14 | Abbotsbury Software Ltd | Pressure-activated computer data input apparatus. |
GB2254677B (en) * | 1991-04-10 | 1995-01-04 | Abbotsbury Software Ltd | Pressure activated apparatus for enabling a person to enter data into a system |
GB2259970A (en) * | 1991-09-27 | 1993-03-31 | Samir Abed Issa Albasri | Oral communication device |
WO1995028728A1 (en) * | 1994-04-15 | 1995-10-26 | Schweizer Paraplegiker-Zentrum | Electronic control and triggering member set in the mouth, in particular for physically disabled persons |
EP0734704A1 (en) * | 1995-03-31 | 1996-10-02 | International Business Machines Corporation | Intraoral communication system |
US5689246A (en) * | 1995-03-31 | 1997-11-18 | International Business Machines Corporation | Intraoral communication system |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |