Method and apparatus for verifying compliance with dental appliance therapy

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for verifying compliance with a dental appliance therapy for a human patient is described. At least one parameter of a dental appliance worn by the human patient is periodically measured and compliance with the dental appliance therapy is determined by performing a spectral analysis of the measured parameter.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for verifying compliance with a dental appliance therapy for a human patient, the method comprising:
 periodically measuring at least one parameter of a dental appliance worn by the human patient to obtain a time-domain series of measurements of the at least one parameter;   transforming at least a portion of the time-domain series of measurements to a frequency-domain series of measurements; and,   determining compliance with the dental appliance therapy by determining that components of the frequency-domain series of measurements are within pre-selected tolerances to indicate compliance.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one parameter is temperature. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein a component of the frequency-domain series of measurements is power, the method further comprising:
 determining a ratio of the total power in two frequency bands, the two frequency bands indicative of physiological frequency and mechanical frequency, respectively; and,   determining compliance with the dental appliance therapy when the ratio of the total power is within the pre-selected tolerances.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the ratio of the total power is within pre-selected tolerances when ratio of total power of the frequency band indicative of mechanical frequency and the frequency band indicative of physiological frequency is above a threshold value. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the pre-selected tolerances are determined in accordance with a statistical analysis of the temperature measurements over time. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein determining compliance with the dental appliance therapy comprises assessing the temperature measurements against expected minimum variations. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein determining compliance with the dental appliance therapy comprises determining that the temperature measurements indicate an expected nocturnal/diurnal variation in body temperature, as measured intra-orally. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein determining compliance with the dental appliance therapy comprises determining the temperature measurements are within a maximum expected short-term variation. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one parameter is a spatial orientation of the dental appliance. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein a component of the frequency-domain series of measurements is power, the method further comprising:
 determining an average power of the frequency-domain series of measurements; and,   determining compliance with the dental appliance therapy when the average power is above a threshold value.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein a component of the frequency-domain series of measurements is power, the method further comprising:
 determining a ratio of the total power in two frequency bands, the two frequency bands indicative of physiological frequency and mechanical frequency, respectively; and,   determining compliance with the dental appliance therapy when the ratio of the total power is within the pre-selected tolerances.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein determining compliance with the dental appliance therapy further comprises:
 analyzing the power spectrum of the frequency-domain spatial orientation measurements to determine that it is random.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 determining that the power spectrum lacks any significant frequency or frequencies indicative of a change in spatial orientation due to an artificial means.