JP2024051968A - Cover for intraoral measuring device - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To provide an intra-oral measurement device cover that can be easily attached and detached to an intra-oral measurement device. [Solution] An intra-oral measurement device cover 1 attached to an intra-oral measurement device 100 has a contact part 2 that contacts the outer surface of the intra-oral measurement device 100 and a gap forming part 5 that forms a gap between the outer surface of the intra-oral measurement device 1 and is arranged in the circumferential direction of the intra-oral measurement device 1. [Selected Figure] Figure 1

Description

The present disclosure relates to a cover for an intraoral measurement device that can be detachably attached to an intraoral measurement device that measures, for example, body temperature, tongue pressure, sublingual muscle pressure, lip pressure, cheek pressure, bite force, etc.

For example, when measuring body temperature, a thermometer is inserted into the mouth, and when measuring tongue pressure, swallowing pressure, and bite force, a pressure measuring device is inserted into the mouth. These thermometers and pressure measuring devices can be collectively called intraoral measurement devices.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a cover for a temperature sensing probe that measures body temperature inside the mouth. This cover is made of a soft material and is disposable, and is formed so as to fit closely around the entire circumference of the flange of the temperature sensing probe.

For example, bite force is the force of the jaw when biting something with the upper and lower teeth, and may be measured by a measuring device called a bite force meter in clinical dentistry (see, for example, Patent Documents 2 and 3). The bite force meter disclosed in Patent Document 2 is configured to insert a pressure-sensitive sheet into the oral cavity of a subject and have the subject bite with the upper and lower teeth, then remove it from the oral cavity and scan it, and calculate and display the bite force using dedicated analysis software. The bite force meter disclosed in Patent Document 3 is configured to process the detection signal obtained from the plate-shaped bite force detection unit and display the bite force measurement value. A cover is detachably attached to the bite force detection unit. An engagement hole is formed in this cover, and a claw portion is formed on the outer surface of the bite force detection unit, and the cover is prevented from coming off and positioned by engaging the claw portion with the engagement hole.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-118126 International Publication No. 2015/111633 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-252245

In Patent Document 1, the cover needs to be removed from the temperature sensing probe after use, but it is difficult to remove because the cover fits tightly around the entire circumference of the flange of the temperature sensing probe. In particular, the cover is made of a soft material, so it tends to fit tightly around the flange, which also makes the removal process complicated. When installing the cover, there is a risk that the process will become complicated if you try to fit the soft cover around the entire circumference of the flange.

In addition, the shape of the dentition varies from patient to patient, and it can be difficult to position a ready-made sheet like that in Patent Document 2 appropriately to fit the dentition of an individual patient. In addition, the pressure-sensitive sheet is a disposable component, but is expensive, which increases running costs. Furthermore, the incidental equipment required to introduce the scanning and analysis software in Patent Document 2 is also expensive, and the introduction costs can be an issue. Also, analysis using analysis software is required to obtain the necessary occlusal force, and PC operation is also cumbersome, placing a burden on medical professionals.

In this regard, the bite force meter in Patent Document 3 can measure bite force, calculate it, and display it by itself, so no additional equipment is required, making the introduction cost low. In addition, the bite force meter itself can be used multiple times, and only the cover needs to be replaced, so running costs are also low. Therefore, when considering costs, it is thought that there will be more cases where a bite force meter like Patent Document 3 will be preferred over Patent Document 2.

However, when the cover of Patent Document 3 is attached to the bite force detection unit, the claws are engaged with the engagement holes. Therefore, when attempting to remove the cover from the bite force detection unit after measuring the bite force, even if the cover is pulled in the longitudinal direction, it cannot be removed because the claws are caught on the periphery of the engagement holes. In particular, if the cover is made of a soft material, the cover stretches in the longitudinal direction and the inner surface of the cover adheres to the bite force detection unit, making it even more difficult to remove. For this reason, it is necessary to hold the edge of the cover and spread the cover outward until the claws can be removed from the engagement holes, and then pull the cover in the longitudinal direction while maintaining this spread state, which is a cumbersome operation. During installation, if the cover is made of a soft material, it may adhere to the bite force detection unit midway, making installation difficult.

The present disclosure has been made in consideration of these points, and its purpose is to provide a cover for an intra-oral measurement device that can be easily attached and detached from the intra-oral measurement device.

In order to achieve the above object, one aspect of the present disclosure can be based on a cover for an intra-oral measurement device that is attached to an intra-oral measurement device. The cover for an intra-oral measurement device is provided with a contact portion that contacts the outer surface of the intra-oral measurement device and a gap forming portion that forms a gap between the outer surface of the intra-oral measurement device, and the contact portion is arranged in the circumferential direction of the intra-oral measurement device.

According to this configuration, when the cover for the intra-oral measurement device is attached to the intra-oral measurement device, the contact portion comes into contact with the outer surface of the intra-oral measurement device, but since the gap forming portion is provided next to this contact portion, it is possible to prevent the entire circumference of the cover for the intra-oral measurement device from coming into contact with the outer surface of the intra-oral measurement device at once. This makes it easy to attach the cover for the intra-oral measurement device.

On the other hand, when removing the cover for the intra-oral measurement device from the intra-oral measurement device, the contact portion is in contact with the outer surface of the intra-oral measurement device, but since there is a gap between the gap forming portion and the outer surface of the intra-oral measurement device, it is possible to deform the cover for the intra-oral measurement device so that the contact portion moves away from the outer surface, for example. This makes it easier to remove the cover for the intra-oral measurement device.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the contact portion may include a first contact portion and a second contact portion positioned to sandwich the intra-oral measurement device, and the gap forming portion may include a first gap forming portion and a second gap forming portion positioned to sandwich the intra-oral measurement device between the first contact portion and the second contact portion.

With this configuration, the first contact portion, the first gap forming portion, the second contact portion, and the second gap forming portion are arranged in the circumferential direction of the cover for the intra-oral measurement device, making it even easier to attach and remove the cover for the intra-oral measurement device.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the first contact portion and the second contact portion may be formed flat along the outer surface of the intra-oral measurement device. In this case, the first contact portion and the second contact portion may be configured to deform in a direction away from the outer surface of the intra-oral measurement device by pressing the first gap forming portion and the second gap forming portion in a direction to contact the outer surface of the intra-oral measurement device.

According to this configuration, when removing the cover for the intra-oral measurement device attached to the intra-oral measurement device, for example, if the user pinches the first gap forming portion and the second gap forming portion with a finger or the like, the first gap forming portion and the second gap forming portion come into contact with the outer surface of the intra-oral measurement device, and as a result, the first contact portion and the second contact portion deform in a direction away from the outer surface of the intra-oral measurement device, making the removal operation of the cover for the intra-oral measurement device even easier. At this time, the first gap forming portion and the second gap forming portion do not need to come into complete contact with the outer surface of the intra-oral measurement device. Simply by approaching the outer surface of the intra-oral measurement device, the first contact portion and the second contact portion can deform in a direction away from the outer surface of the intra-oral measurement device.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the portion inserted into the oral cavity may be made of a material that is softer than the material that constitutes the outer surface of the intraoral measurement device. This makes the portion inserted into the oral cavity soft, resulting in a cover for the intraoral measurement device that is gentle on the teeth and mucous membranes in the oral cavity and is comfortable to use.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the intra-oral measurement device may be provided with an occlusal portion that covers the occlusal force detection unit and against which the teeth of the subject come into contact. In this case, the occlusal portion may be made of a material that is softer than the material that constitutes the outer surface of the intra-oral measurement device. This makes it less likely that problems such as teeth breaking will occur when measuring occlusal force.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the cover for the intraoral measurement device may be configured to fit closely to the outer surface of the bite force detection unit of the intraoral measurement device. This makes the cover for the intraoral measurement device stable relative to the bite force detection unit, allowing accurate measurement of bite force. In addition, the cover for the intraoral measurement device may be configured to fit closely to the entire circumferential circumference of the outer surface of the tip of the intraoral measurement device.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the cover may include a tip side portion that covers the tip side of the intraoral measurement device, and a base side portion that covers a portion of the intraoral measurement device closer to the base side than the tip side. In this case, by forming the tip side portion from the soft material, it is possible to make the cover for the intraoral measurement device gentle on the teeth and mucous membranes in the oral cavity. Furthermore, by forming the base side portion from a hard material, the shape of the cover for the intraoral measurement device is less likely to be distorted, and the workability of attaching it to the intraoral measurement device is improved.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the base end side portion may be formed with a locking hole into which a protrusion protruding from the outer surface of the intra-oral measurement device is locked. This makes it even more difficult for the cover for the intra-oral measurement device to come off the intra-oral measurement device.

As described above, the contact portion that contacts the outer surface of the intraoral measurement device and the gap forming portion that forms a gap between the outer surface of the intraoral measurement device are arranged in line in the circumferential direction of the intraoral measurement device, so that the cover for the intraoral measurement device can be easily attached and detached to the intraoral measurement device.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bite force meter to which a cover according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bite force meter with the cover removed. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the bite force meter with the cover removed. FIG. 2 is a side view of the bite force meter with the cover removed. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the bite force meter with a cover attached. FIG. 2 is a side view of the bite force meter with the cover attached. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 5. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 6. FIG. FIG. 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating the cover before and after deformation. FIG. 12 relates to a first modified example of the first embodiment and corresponds to the upper side of FIG. 11 . FIG. 12 relates to a second modified example of the first embodiment and corresponds to the upper side of FIG. 11 . FIG. 10 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a view corresponding to FIG. 8 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a cover according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of a cover according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 17 is a view according to a first modified example of the second embodiment. FIG. 18 is a view according to a first modified example of the second embodiment. FIG. 18 is a view according to a second modified example of the second embodiment. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a cover according to a second modified example of the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a view corresponding to FIG. 8 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a cover according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of a cover according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a cover according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a view corresponding to FIG. 7 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

The following describes in detail an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. Note that the following description of the preferred embodiment is essentially merely an example and is not intended to limit the present invention, its applications, or its uses.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an intra-oral measuring device 100 to which a cover 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is attached. FIGS. 2 to 4 show the intra-oral measuring device 100 in a state in which the cover 1 is removed. As the intra-oral measuring device 100, for example, a bite force meter disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-252245 can be used. As shown in each figure, the base end side and the tip end side of the intra-oral measuring device 100 are defined, but this is only for convenience of explanation and does not limit the present invention. In addition, the base end side of the cover 1 is the side that becomes the base end side of the intra-oral measuring device 100 when attached to the intra-oral measuring device 100, and the tip end side of the cover 1 is the side that becomes the tip side of the intra-oral measuring device 100 when attached to the intra-oral measuring device 100.

(Configuration of the bite force meter)
Before describing the structure of the cover 1, the configuration of the intra-oral measurement device 100 will be described. The configuration of the main parts of the intra-oral measurement device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is the same as that of the occlusal force meter disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 8-252245. That is, the intra-oral measurement device 100 is an instrument for measuring the occlusal force of a person to be measured, and includes an insertion part 101 to be inserted into the oral cavity and a rod-shaped main body part 102 that can be held by the person to be measured. This intra-oral measurement device 100 is configured to be able to separately measure the occlusal force of the right side and the occlusal force of the person to be measured.

The main body 102 has a main body case 103 made of, for example, a hard resin material, a control unit A (shown only in Figs. 3 and 4) made of a microcomputer or the like housed in the main body case 103, a display unit 104 provided on the surface of the main body case 103, and operation buttons 105. A battery (not shown) is also built into the main body case 103. The side on which the display unit 104 and the operation buttons 105 are provided is referred to as the upper side, and the opposite side as the lower side, but this is only for the sake of convenience of explanation, and it is also possible to use it in the opposite direction, for example.

The operation button 105 is connected to the control unit A and is an operation unit for switching the power of the intra-oral measurement device 100 ON/OFF. When the control unit A detects the operation of the operation button 105, it switches the power of the intra-oral measurement device 100 from ON to OFF and from OFF to ON. The display unit 104 is connected to the control unit A and is a part that displays the measurement values calculated by the control unit A in numbers as described below.

The insertion portion 101 is generally plate-shaped, and as shown in FIG. 3, the width W1 of the insertion portion 101 is set to be narrower than the width W2 of the main body portion 102. In addition, the widthwise center of the insertion portion 101 and the widthwise center of the main body portion 102 are arranged on the same imaginary straight line extending from the base end to the tip end of the intra-oral measurement device 100.

The base end of the insertion part 101 is integrated with the tip of the main body part 102. The base end side portion of the insertion part 101 is composed of a thick part 101a. The thick part 101a protrudes from the tip of the main body part 102, and is formed so that the dimension (thickness) in the vertical direction gradually becomes shorter toward the tip, that is, the thickness gradually becomes thinner. The part of the insertion part 101 on the tip side from the thick part 101a is composed of a thin part 101b that is thinner than the thick part 101a. As shown in FIG. 3, the length L1 of the thin part 101b is set to be longer than the length L2 of the thick part 101a. Specifically, when measuring the bite force with the intra-oral measurement device 100, the length L1 of the thin part 101b is set so that the tip of the thin part 101b reaches the back teeth of an adult with the thin part 101b inserted until the thick part 101a is pinched by the lips. The vertical center of the insertion portion 101 is arranged on the same straight line as the vertical center of the main body portion 102. In other words, the axis of the main body portion 102 and the axis of the insertion portion 101 are positioned on the same axis.

The insertion section 101 is equipped with an exterior member 110 made of a hard resin material similar to the main body case 103 of the main body section 102. As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the upper surface 110a and the lower surface 110b on the base end side of the exterior member 110 are formed as planes extending in the width direction and are parallel to each other. In addition, the left side surface 110c and the right side surface 110d on the base end side of the exterior member 110 are formed as planes extending in the up-down direction and are parallel to each other. The upper surface 110a, the lower surface 110b, the left side surface 110c, and the right side surface 110d are surfaces that constitute the outer surface of the intra-oral measurement device 100.

The left side of the intra-oral measurement device 100 is the side located to the left of the subject when the subject inserts the insertion part 101 into the oral cavity, and the right side of the intra-oral measurement device 100 is the side located to the right of the subject when the subject inserts the insertion part 101 into the oral cavity. The left-right direction of the intra-oral measurement device 100 is the width direction. The circumferential direction of the intra-oral measurement device 100 is the direction in which the upper surface 110a, left side surface 110c, lower surface 110b, and right side surface 110d are continuous, and the circumferential direction of the intra-oral measurement device 100 can also be defined as the direction around the axis of the insertion part 101 (axis of the main body part 102).

The tip of the insertion part 101 is the part that the subject bites, that is, the bite force detection part 101c, which is provided on the tip side of the intra-oral measurement device 100. The bite force detection part 101c is provided with a detector 111 that functions as a sensor for detecting bite force. The detector 111 is covered by an exterior member 110. The control part A acquires the pressure in the pressure receiving chamber based on the electric signal output from the pressure detection means, and converts the acquired pressure into bite force by converting it using a predetermined conversion formula. The maximum value of the bite force measured during one measurement may be retained and the maximum value may be displayed on the display part 104, or the bite force that changes during the measurement may be displayed on the display part 104. In either case, the bite force of the subject can be acquired. The specific control procedure by the control part A is as disclosed in JP Patent Publication No. 8-252245.

(Cover configuration)
Next, the configuration of the cover 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 1, Fig. 5 to Fig. 11, etc. As shown in Fig. 1, the cover 1 is a cover for an occlusal force meter (cover for an intra-oral measuring device) that is detachably attached to the insertion part 101 of the intra-oral measuring device 100. In the description of the first embodiment, the cover for an intra-oral measuring device of the present invention is simply referred to as the cover 1. Note that Fig. 1, Fig. 5 to Fig. 8, and Fig. 11 show a state in which the cover 1 is attached to the intra-oral measuring device 100, and Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 show only the cover 1 in cross section, and the intra-oral measuring device 100 is not shown in cross section. Also, Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 show the cover 1 alone.

The cover 1 is cylindrical with its tip completely closed and its base open, and the open part of the base serves as an opening 1a (shown in FIG. 10) into which the insertion part 101 of the intra-oral measurement device 100 is inserted. The shape of the opening 1a is close to rectangular so as to correspond to the cross-sectional shape of the insertion part 101 of the intra-oral measurement device 100. The shape of this opening 1a is not limited to rectangular, and if the cross-sectional shape of the insertion part 101 is a shape other than rectangular, it may be set to match the cross-sectional shape of the insertion part 101.

Because the tip of the cover 1 is closed, saliva, etc. in the subject's mouth does not penetrate into the inside of the cover 1 from the tip during measurement. Also, because the cover 1 only has an opening 1a, saliva, etc. does not penetrate into the inside of the cover 1 from the peripheral wall of the cover 1. Also, the length of the cover 1 (the length from the tip to the opening 1a) is set to be approximately the same as the length of the insertion part 101 of the intra-oral measurement device 100, that is, the combined length of the thin part 101b length L1 and the thick part 101a length L2. As a result, the base end of the cover 1 faces outside the subject's mouth during measurement, making it difficult for saliva, etc. to penetrate into the inside of the cover 1 from the base end of the cover 1.

The portion of the cover 1 that is inserted into the oral cavity is made of a material that is softer than the material that constitutes the outer surface of the intraoral measurement device 100. Specifically, the cover 1 is integrally molded from the tip to the base end with the same soft material, and such a cover 1 can be manufactured by various molding methods such as injection molding, blow molding, and dip molding. The soft material that constitutes the cover 1 may be a thermoplastic resin, rubber, or a thermoplastic elastomer, such as silicone rubber, polybutadiene (PBD), styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer (SEBS), hydrogenated conjugated diene-based elastomer (HSBR), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), etc. Among these soft materials, the cover 1 may be made of only one type, or may be made of a material that is a mixture of any two or more types. In addition, the type of soft resin may be changed depending on the part of the cover 1.

The Shore hardness of the cover 1 should be between 30 and 60 in Type D (Shore D). Although it depends on the thickness of the bite portions 7 and 8 described below, the most preferable range of Shore hardness is between 35 and 50 in Shore D. If the Shore hardness is less than 30, it is difficult to mold, and if it is greater than 60, it becomes too hard and there is a risk that the subject's teeth may chip when biting.

At the base end portion of the cover 1, an upper contact portion (first contact portion) 2 and a lower contact portion (second contact portion) 3 that contact the outer surface of the intra-oral measurement device 100 when attached to the intra-oral measurement device 100, and a left gap forming portion (first gap forming portion) 4 and a right gap forming portion (second gap forming portion) 5 that form a gap between the outer surface of the intra-oral measurement device 100 are arranged in a circumferential direction of the intra-oral measurement device 100. The opening 1a at the base end of the cover 1 is formed by the edges of the upper contact portion 2, the lower contact portion 3, the left gap forming portion 4, and the right gap forming portion 5, with the upper side of the opening 1a being formed by the upper contact portion 2, the lower side of the opening 1a being formed by the lower contact portion 3, the left side of the opening 1a being formed by the left gap forming portion 4, and the right side of the opening 1a being formed by the right gap forming portion 5. In this embodiment, the gap forming portions 4, 5 and the contact portions 2, 3 are formed so as to be aligned in the circumferential direction at the base end of the cover 1, but they may also be formed in the center or tip of the cover 1 in a similar manner.

As shown in FIG. 7, the upper adhesion portion 2 is arranged to overlap the upper surface 110a of the exterior member 110, and is a plate-like portion formed flat along the upper surface 110a, and is in close contact with the upper surface 110a. The lower adhesion portion 3 is arranged to overlap the lower surface 110b of the exterior member 110, and is a plate-like portion formed flat along the lower surface 110b, and is in close contact with the lower surface 110b. The upper adhesion portion 2 and the lower adhesion portion 3 do not necessarily have to be plate-like portions formed flat along the outer layer member 110, and may be, for example, a curved surface, a rough surface with irregularities on the surface, or a surface that is partially flat and the other portions curved.

The upper contact portion 2 is disposed above the insertion portion 101 of the intra-oral measurement device 100, and the lower contact portion 3 is disposed below the insertion portion 101 of the intra-oral measurement device 100, so that the upper contact portion 2 and the lower contact portion 3 are positioned so as to sandwich the insertion portion 101 of the intra-oral measurement device 100 in the vertical direction. This makes it difficult for the base end portion of the cover 1 to move vertically relative to the insertion portion 101 of the intra-oral measurement device 100. Furthermore, due to the frictional forces acting between the upper contact portion 2 and the lower contact portion 3 and the upper surface 110a and the lower surface 110b of the exterior member 110, respectively, the base end portion of the cover 1 also makes it difficult for it to move horizontally relative to the insertion portion 101 of the intra-oral measurement device 100, and the cover 1 becomes difficult to come off from the insertion portion 101 of the intra-oral measurement device 100.

There are no steps or gaps between the peripheral edge of the base end of the cover 1 and the main body 102, and the cover 1 and the main body 102 are seamlessly configured to give the impression of an overall unity. Because there are no steps or gaps between the cover 1 and the main body 102, dust or dirt cannot get in during use, making it hygienic to use.

10 and 11, the left gap forming part 4 is disposed between the left end of the upper adhesive part 2 and the left end of the lower adhesive part 3, and the right gap forming part 5 is disposed between the right end of the upper adhesive part 2 and the right end of the lower adhesive part 3. As shown in FIG. 8, when attached to the intra-oral measurement device 100, the left gap forming part 4 is separated to the left from the left side surface 110c of the exterior member 110 and is in the form of a plate extending in the vertical direction. The left gap forming part 4 and the right gap forming part 5 do not necessarily have to be in the form of a plate extending in the vertical direction along the outer layer member 110, and may be, for example, a curved surface, a rough surface with unevenness on the surface, or a flat surface with curved surfaces in some parts.

A left gap S1 is formed between the left gap forming portion 4 and the left side surface 110c of the exterior member 110. The right gap forming portion 5 is located to the right of the right side surface 110d of the exterior member 110 and is a plate-like member extending in the vertical direction. A right gap S2 is formed between the right gap forming portion 5 and the right side surface 110d of the exterior member 110. In other words, the left gap forming portion 4 and the right gap forming portion 5 are parallel to each other and are positioned so as to sandwich the insertion portion 101 of the intra-oral measurement device 100 in the left-right direction. In this embodiment, the contact portions 2, 3 and the gap forming portions 4, 5 are parallel to each other and are positioned so as to sandwich the insertion portion 101 of the intra-oral measurement device 100 in the left-right direction, but the contact portions 2, 3 and the gap forming portions 4, 5 do not need to be parallel and may be arranged asymmetrically with the insertion portion 100 as the center. Also, the contact portions 2, 3 and the gap forming portions 4, 5 do not need to be two each, and may be one or three or more.

A left pressure surface portion 4a is formed on the outer surface of the left gap forming portion 4. A right pressure surface portion 5a is formed on the outer surface of the right gap forming portion 5. The left pressure surface portion 4a and the right pressure surface portion 5a are portions that the user presses with, for example, a finger when removing the cover 1 from the intra-oral measurement device 100. The upper adhesion portion 2 and the lower adhesion portion 3 are configured to deform in a direction away from the upper surface 110a and the lower surface 110b of the exterior member 110 by pressing the left gap forming portion 4 and the right gap forming portion 5 in a direction to contact the left side surface 110c and the right side surface 110d of the exterior member 110. The user may be the person to be measured, or may be a medical professional such as a dentist or a nurse.

Specifically, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 11, when the user pinches the left side pressure surface portion 4a and the right side pressure surface portion 5a with their fingers, the left side pressure surface portion 4a and the right side pressure surface portion 5a deform so as to approach each other, and the distance between the left side pressure surface portion 4a and the right side pressure surface portion 5a narrows, since the cover 1 is made of a soft material. Then, the upper contact portion 2 deforms so as to bend or curve upward and move away from the upper surface 110a of the exterior member 110, and the lower contact portion 3 deforms so as to bend or curve downward and move away from the lower surface 110b of the exterior member 110. The upper contact portion 2 and the lower contact portion 3 may have a portion that serves as a deformation starting point, and the upper contact portion 2 and the lower contact portion 3 may be deformed in a direction away from the upper surface 110a and the lower surface 110b of the exterior member 110, starting from the deformation starting point.

As shown in FIG. 7, the tip side of the cover 1 is formed to cover the bite force detection unit 101c provided at the tip side of the intra-oral measurement device 100, and is provided with an upper bite portion 7 against which the upper teeth of the subject abut, and a lower bite portion 8 against which the lower teeth of the subject abut. The upper bite portion 7 and the lower bite portion 8 are integrally molded with the cover 1, and are therefore made of a soft material as described above. The thickness of the upper bite portion 7 and the lower bite portion 8 is greater than the thickness of the other parts of the cover 1. As a result, the upper bite portion 7 protrudes slightly upward from the top surface of the tip side of the cover 1, and the user can estimate the position of the bite force detection unit 101c of the intra-oral measurement device 100 from the outside of the cover 1 even when the cover 1 is attached. Similarly, the lower bite portion 8 protrudes slightly downward from the bottom surface of the tip side of the cover 1. The upper occlusal portion 7 and the lower occlusal portion 8 may be formed with, for example, a concave portion, a convex portion, a textured pattern, or the like. This allows the user to easily estimate the position of the occlusal force detection unit 101c of the intra-oral measurement device 100. The thickness of the upper occlusal portion 7 and the lower occlusal portion 8 can be set in consideration of the ease of insertion between the molars. The thickness of the upper occlusal portion 7 and the lower occlusal portion 8 is preferably 2.5 mm or less, and more preferably 2.0 mm or less. In addition, considering that the patient's teeth may come into contact with the cover and cause breakage, the thickness is preferably 0.3 mm or more, and more preferably 0.8 mm or more. The thickness of the upper occlusal portion 7 and the lower occlusal portion 8 may be the same or different. If they are the same, the cover 1 is easier to mold, and manufacturing costs can be reduced.

As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the tip side of the cover 1 is configured to be in close contact with the outer surface of the exterior member 110 of the intra-oral measurement device 100. As shown in Figure 7, both the top and bottom inner surfaces of the cover 1 are in close contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the exterior member 110, and as shown in Figure 8, both the left and right inner surfaces of the cover 1 are in close contact with the left and right sides of the exterior member 110. As a result, the inner surface at the tip side of the cover 1 is in close contact with the entire circumferential outer surface at the tip side of the exterior member 110 of the intra-oral measurement device 100. Part or all of the tip side of the cover 1 does not need to be in close contact with the outer surface of the exterior member 110.

As shown in FIG. 7, the upper surface of the longitudinal middle portion of the cover 1 is formed so as to be spaced upward from the upper surface of the insertion portion 101. Also, the lower surface of the longitudinal middle portion of the cover 1 is formed so as to be spaced upward from the lower surface of the insertion portion 101.

As shown in FIG. 8, the left side surface of the longitudinal middle portion of the cover 1 is formed to contact the left side surface of the insertion portion 101, and the left gap S1 narrows toward the tip. The right side surface of the longitudinal middle portion of the cover 1 is formed to contact the right side surface of the insertion portion 101, and the right gap S2 narrows toward the tip.

(Removing and attaching the cover)
Next, the attachment and detachment of the cover 1 to the intra-oral measurement device 100 will be described. First, the procedure for attaching the cover 1 to the intra-oral measurement device 100 will be described. After the opening 1a of the cover 1 is opposed to the tip of the insertion part 101 of the intra-oral measurement device 100, the insertion part 101 of the intra-oral measurement device 100 is inserted into the opening 1a of the cover 1. At this time, the cover 1 may be fixed and the intra-oral measurement device 100 may be moved, or conversely, the cover 1 may be moved and the intra-oral measurement device 100 may be fixed.

When the insertion part 101 of the intra-oral measuring device 100 is inserted into the opening 1a of the cover 1, the opening 1a is larger than the outer shape of the tip of the insertion part 101 of the intra-oral measuring device 100, so that in the initial stage of insertion, the inner surface of the cover 1 hardly comes into contact with the outer surface of the insertion part 101 of the intra-oral measuring device 100, and almost no force is required for insertion. When the insertion part 101 of the intra-oral measuring device 100 is inserted further into the cover 1, the upper contact part 2 and the lower contact part 3 of the cover 1 come into contact with the upper surface 110a and the lower surface 110b of the exterior member 110, respectively, but the left gap forming part 4 and the right gap forming part 5 are formed so as to be separated from the left side surface 110c and the right side surface 110d of the exterior member 110, so the force required for insertion does not increase significantly. In addition, the inner surface of the tip end of the cover 1 comes into contact with the outer surface of the tip end of the insertion part 101 of the intra-oral measurement device 100, but because the tip end is thinner than the base end, the increase in insertion force due to this contact is small.

When the insertion part 101 of the intra-oral measurement device 100 is fully inserted into the cover 1, the upper and lower contact parts 2 and 3 of the cover 1 are in close contact with the upper and lower surfaces 110a and 110b of the exterior member 110, respectively, thereby preventing the cover 1 from falling off from the intra-oral measurement device 100. In addition, the inner surface of the tip side part of the cover 1 comes into contact with the outer surface of the tip side part of the insertion part 101 of the intra-oral measurement device 100, thereby also preventing the cover 1 from falling off from the intra-oral measurement device 100.

Next, the procedure for removing the cover 1 from the intra-oral measurement device 100 will be described. First, as shown in the lower diagram of FIG. 11, the user presses the left gap forming portion 4 and the right gap forming portion 5 in a direction that brings them into contact with the left side surface 110c and the right side surface 110d of the exterior member 110, and moves the upper contact portion 2 and the lower contact portion 3 away from the upper surface 110a and the lower surface 110b of the exterior member 110. This reduces the area where the base end portion of the cover 1 comes into contact with the outer surface of the exterior member 110. If the cover 1 is moved in this state in the direction to be removed, the force required to move the cover 1 in the direction to be removed is smaller since the contact area with the outer surface of the exterior member 110 has become smaller.

Even if the upper and lower contact portions 2 and 3 are kept in contact with the upper and lower surfaces 110a and 110b of the exterior member 110, the left and right gap forming portions 4 and 5 are spaced apart from the outer surface of the exterior member 110, so less force is required to move the cover 1 in the direction of removal.

(Measurement of bite force)
Next, a method for measuring the bite force of a subject using the intra-oral measurement device 100 to which the cover 1 is attached will be described. The subject inserts the insertion part 101 of the intra-oral measurement device 100 into the oral cavity and places the bite force detection part 101c between the upper and lower teeth. At this time, since the insertion part 101 is covered by the cover 1 made of a soft material, the measurement can be performed gently on the teeth and mucous membrane in the oral cavity. In addition, since the upper bite part 7 and the lower bite part 8 protrude from the outer surface of the cover 1, it is possible to estimate by touch which part of the cover 1 corresponds to the bite force detection part 101c without visually checking. Therefore, the bite force detection part 101c can be accurately placed between the targeted teeth.

The person being measured then bites down firmly on the bite force detection unit 101c together with the cover 1. The teeth come into contact with the upper bite portion 7 and lower bite portion 8 of the cover 1, but because these upper bite portion 7 and lower bite portion 8 are made of a soft material, the teeth will not break. The control unit A calculates the bite force based on the electrical signal output from the detector 111 and displays it on the display unit 104. This allows the user to understand the bite force.

If the subject is the same, the occlusal force can be measured at multiple locations without replacing the cover 1. When measuring the occlusal force of a different subject, the used cover 1 is removed from the insertion part 101 of the intra-oral measurement device 100 as described above, and then a new cover 1 is attached to the insertion part 101 of the intra-oral measurement device 100.

Figure 12 is a diagram of a first modified example of the first embodiment. In the first modified example, protrusions 9a, 9b, 9c, and 9d that protrude into the cover 1 are provided on the base end side of the cover 1. The upper left protrusion 9a is provided in the upper left corner of the cover 1 and is arranged so as to contact the upper part of the left side surface 110c of the exterior member 110. The upper right protrusion 9b is provided in the upper right corner of the cover 1 and is arranged so as to contact the upper part of the right side surface 110d of the exterior member 110. The lower left protrusion 9c is provided in the lower left corner of the cover 1 and is arranged so as to contact the lower part of the left side surface 110c of the exterior member 110. The lower right protrusion 9d is provided in the lower right corner of the cover 1 and is arranged so as to contact the lower part of the right side surface 110d of the exterior member 110.

In this modified example 1, when the left gap forming portion 4 and the right gap forming portion 5 are pressed, the protrusions 9a and 9c abut against the left side surface 110c of the exterior member 110 and elastically deform, and the protrusions 9b and 9d abut against the right side surface 110d of the exterior member 110 and elastically deform. As a result, the upper adhesion portion 2 and the lower adhesion portion 3 deform in a direction away from the upper surface 110a and the lower surface 110b of the exterior member 110. At this time, the portion between the protrusions 9a and 9c of the left gap forming portion 4 no longer contacts the left side surface 110c of the exterior member 110, and the portion between the protrusions 9b and 9d of the right gap forming portion 5 no longer contacts the right side surface 110d of the exterior member 110. Therefore, the contact area between the cover 1 and the exterior member 110 is reduced, making it easier to remove the cover 1 from the insertion portion 101 of the intra-oral measurement device 100.

A gap may be formed between the inner surface of the tip end portion of the cover 1 and the outer surface of the tip end portion of the insertion part 101 of the intra-oral measurement device 100. This further reduces the contact area between the cover 1 and the insertion part 101, making it easier to attach and remove the cover 1.

In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment 1, the contact portions are provided at the top and bottom, and the gap forming portions are provided at the left and right, but this is not limited thereto. As in modified example 2 shown in FIG. 13, the contact portions 12 and 13 may be provided at the left and right, respectively, and the gap forming portions 14 and 15 may be provided at the top and bottom, respectively. In this modified example 2, the upper gap S3 is formed by the upper gap forming portion 14, and the lower gap S4 is formed by the lower gap forming portion 15. This makes it easier to attach and remove the cover 1.

(Embodiment 2)
14 to 18 show an intra-oral measurement device 100 and a cover 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the intra-oral measurement device 100 can simultaneously measure the bite force of the subject on both sides, and the structure of the cover 1 has been changed accordingly. In the following, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals and their explanations are omitted, and the different parts are explained in detail.

As shown in FIG. 15, the insertion section 101 of the intra-oral measurement device 100 of embodiment 2 is branched to the left and right, and includes a left insertion section 101A and a right insertion section 101B. Each of the left insertion section 101A and the right insertion section 101B is provided with an occlusal force detection section 101c. The control section A calculates the occlusal force of the left teeth based on the electrical signal output from the left occlusal force detection section 101c, and calculates the occlusal force of the right teeth based on the electrical signal output from the right occlusal force detection section 101c. A plurality of occlusal force detection sections 101c can be provided in each of the left insertion section 101A and the right insertion section 101B.

As shown in Figures 16 to 18, the tip side portion of the cover 1 of the second embodiment is branched to the left and right, and has a left storage portion 1A into which the left insertion portion 101A is inserted, and a right storage portion 1B into which the right insertion portion 101B is inserted. The inner surface of the left storage portion 1A and the inner surface of the right storage portion 1B may be separated from the outer surfaces of the left insertion portion 101A and the right insertion portion 101B of the intra-oral measurement device 100, or may be in contact with the outer surfaces of the left insertion portion 101A and the right insertion portion 101B.

In this second embodiment, the upper and lower contact portions 2 and 3 of the cover 1 are also in close contact with the upper surface 110a and the lower surface 110b of the exterior member 110, respectively. A left gap S1 is formed between the left gap forming portion 4 and the left side surface 110c of the exterior member 110, and a right gap S2 is formed between the right gap forming portion 5 and the right side surface 110d of the exterior member 110.

Therefore, like the cover 1 of embodiment 1, the cover 1 of embodiment 2 has the contact portions 2 and 3 that contact the outer surface of the exterior member 110 and the gap forming portions 4 and 5 that form gaps S1 and S2 with the outer surface of the exterior member 110 arranged in a line in the circumferential direction of the intra-oral measurement device 100, so that the cover 1 can be easily attached and detached to the intra-oral measurement device 100.

Figures 19 and 20 show the cover 1 according to the first modified example of the second embodiment. In the first modified example of the second embodiment, the cover 1 is made of a combination of a soft material and a hard material, and includes a tip side portion 21 that covers the tip side of the intra-oral measurement device 100, and a base side portion 22 that covers the portion of the intra-oral measurement device 100 closer to the base side than the tip side. The tip side portion 21 is made of the soft material described above. The base side portion 22 is made of a hard material that is harder than the soft material. The hard material can be, for example, the same material as the material that constitutes the exterior member 110, but is not limited to this, and can be various resin materials. The base side portion 22 has elasticity.

The distal end portion 21 and the proximal end portion 22 may be molded as separate members and integrated, for example, by welding, bonding, fitting, etc. Alternatively, after one of the distal end portion 21 and the proximal end portion 22 is molded, it may be held in a mold for the other and molded integrally at the same time as molding the other. Alternatively, the distal end portion 21 and the proximal end portion 22 may be molded in the same molding device by a so-called two-color molding method.

Figures 21 and 22 show a cover 1 according to variant 2 of embodiment 2. This cover 1 has a left opening 1b formed at the tip of the left housing portion 1A, and a right opening 1c formed at the tip of the right housing portion 1B. When the cover 1 is attached to the intra-oral measurement device 100, the tip of the left insertion portion 101A protrudes from the left opening 1b, and the tip of the right insertion portion 101B protrudes from the right opening 1c.

In addition, in the second modification of the second embodiment, the length of the cover 1 is set short, and the base end side of the cover 1 is in close contact with the outer surface of the thin portion 101b of the insertion portion 101. That is, the base end side of the cover 1 is provided with an upper contact portion 2 that is in close contact with the upper surface of the thin portion 101b of the insertion portion 101, a lower contact portion 3 that is in close contact with the lower surface of the thin portion 101b of the insertion portion 101, a left gap forming portion 4 that forms a gap with the left side surface of the thin portion 101b of the insertion portion 101, and a right gap forming portion 5 that forms a gap with the right side surface of the thin portion 101b of the insertion portion 101.

(Embodiment 3)
23 to 27 show an intra-oral measurement device 100 and a cover 1 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment, a case where the intra-oral measurement device 100 is a thermometer will be described. In the following, the same parts as those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals and the description will be omitted, and the different parts will be described in detail.

As shown in FIG. 24, the intra-oral measurement device 100 of embodiment 3 has a long and slender rod-shaped portion 120 instead of the thin portion 101b of embodiments 2 and 3. A plate-shaped portion (not shown) may be provided instead of the rod-shaped portion 120. A temperature sensor (not shown) is built into the rod-shaped portion 120. The temperature sensor is a sensor that has traditionally been used in thermometers that measure body temperature, and is connected to the control unit A. The control unit A is configured to calculate the body temperature of the person being measured based on the electrical signal output from the temperature sensor and display it on the display unit 104.

As shown in Figures 23 and 24, the cover 1 has a cylindrical portion 20 into which the rod portion 120 of the intra-oral measurement device 100 is inserted. The inner surface of the cylindrical portion 20 may be separated from the outer surface of the rod portion 120 of the intra-oral measurement device 100, or may be in contact with the outer surface of the rod portion 120.

In this third embodiment, the upper and lower contact portions 2 and 3 of the cover 1 are also in close contact with the upper surface 110a and the lower surface 110b of the exterior member 110, respectively. A left gap S1 is formed between the left gap forming portion 4 and the left side surface 110c of the exterior member 110, and a right gap S2 is formed between the right gap forming portion 5 and the right side surface 110d of the exterior member 110.

Therefore, like the cover 1 of embodiment 1, the cover 1 of embodiment 3 has the contact portions 2 and 3 that contact the outer surface of the exterior member 110 and the gap forming portions 4 and 5 that form gaps S1 and S2 with the outer surface of the exterior member 110 arranged in a line in the circumferential direction of the intra-oral measurement device 100, so that the cover 1 can be easily attached and detached to the intra-oral measurement device 100.

(Embodiment 4)
28 and 29 show an intra-oral measurement device 100 and a cover 1 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The fourth embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the cover 1 is made of a combination of a soft material and a hard material, and that the cover 1 is prevented from coming off by a protrusion. In the following, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals and their explanations are omitted, and the different parts are explained in detail.

The cover 1 of the fourth embodiment has a tip side portion 21 that covers the tip side of the intra-oral measurement device 100, and a base side portion 22 that covers the portion of the intra-oral measurement device 100 that is closer to the base side than the tip side. The tip side portion 21 and the base side portion 22 are configured in the same manner as those of the first modified example of the second embodiment.

The base end side portion 22 has upper and lower locking holes 22a, 22b that respectively lock onto upper and lower protrusions 114, 115 that protrude from the outer surface of the exterior member 110 of the intra-oral measurement device 100. That is, the upper surface 110a of the exterior member 110 has an upper protrusion 114 that protrudes upward, and the lower surface 110b of the exterior member 110 has a lower protrusion 115 that protrudes downward. The upper locking hole 22a is formed in a portion of the base end side portion 22 of the cover 1 that corresponds to the upper protrusion 114, and the lower locking hole 22b is formed in a portion of the base end side portion 22 of the cover 1 that corresponds to the lower protrusion 115.

In this fourth embodiment, the base end side portion 22 of the cover 1 is elastically deformed while the cover 1 is moved in the mounting direction, so that the upper and lower protrusions 114, 115 can be inserted into the upper and lower locking holes 22a, 22b, respectively, and locked to the peripheral portions of the upper and lower locking holes 22a, 22b.

When removing the cover 1, the base end side portion 22 of the cover 1 is pinched in the left-right direction while applying force in the removal direction to elastically deform it, and the upper and lower protrusions 114, 115 are removed from the upper and lower locking holes 22a, 22b, respectively. At this time, by pressing the left gap forming portion 4 and the right gap forming portion 5 in a direction that brings them into contact with the left side surface 110c and the right side surface 110d of the exterior member 110, the upper adhesion portion 2 and the lower adhesion portion 3 are bent in the vertical direction, and the upper and lower protrusions 114, 115 can also be removed from the upper and lower locking holes 22a, 22b, respectively.

The above-described embodiment is merely illustrative in all respects and should not be interpreted as limiting. Furthermore, all modifications and alterations within the scope of the claims are within the scope of the present invention. For example, the present invention can be applied to a cover that is detachably attached to an intraoral measurement device that measures forces that may occur in the oral cavity, such as tongue pressure and swallowing pressure.

As described above, the cover for an intraoral measurement device according to the present invention can be attached to and used with an intraoral measurement device that measures, for example, body temperature, tongue pressure, sublingual muscle pressure, lip pressure, cheek pressure, bite force, etc.

1 Cover for intra-oral measurement device 2 Upper contact portion (first contact portion)
3 Lower contact portion (second contact portion)
4 Left side gap forming portion (first gap forming portion)
5 Right side gap forming portion (second gap forming portion)
7 Upper occlusal portion 8 Lower occlusal portion 21 Tip side portion 22 Base side portion 100 Intra-oral measurement device 101c Occlusal force detection unit

Claims (10)

A cover for an intra-oral measurement device to be attached to an intra-oral measurement device,
A cover for an intra-oral measurement device, characterized in that a contact portion that contacts the outer surface of the intra-oral measurement device and a gap forming portion that forms a gap between the outer surface of the intra-oral measurement device are arranged in line in the circumferential direction of the intra-oral measurement device. The cover for an intra-oral measurement device according to claim 1,
The contact portion includes a first contact portion and a second contact portion positioned so as to sandwich the intra-oral measurement device,
A cover for an intra-oral measurement device, characterized in that the gap forming portion includes a first gap forming portion and a second gap forming portion positioned so as to sandwich the intra-oral measurement device between the first contact portion and the second contact portion. The cover for an intra-oral measurement device according to claim 2,
A cover for an intra-oral measurement device, characterized in that the first contact portion and the second contact portion are formed flat along an outer surface of the intra-oral measurement device. The cover for an intra-oral measurement device according to claim 2,
A cover for an intra-oral measurement device, characterized in that the first adhesion portion and the second adhesion portion are configured to deform in a direction away from the outer surface of the intra-oral measurement device by pressing the first gap forming portion and the second gap forming portion in a direction to contact the outer surface of the intra-oral measurement device. The cover for an intra-oral measurement device according to claim 1,
A cover for an intra-oral measurement device, characterized in that a portion to be inserted into the oral cavity is made of a material softer than a material constituting the outer surface of the intra-oral measurement device. The cover for an intra-oral measurement device according to claim 1,
The intraoral measurement device includes an occlusal portion that covers the occlusal force detection portion provided at the tip side of the intraoral measurement device and that is in contact with the teeth of the subject,
A cover for an intra-oral measurement device, characterized in that the bite portion is made of a material softer than a material constituting the outer surface of the intra-oral measurement device. The cover for an intra-oral measuring device according to claim 6,
A cover for an intra-oral measurement device, characterized in that it is configured to fit closely to an outer surface of the bite force detection unit of the intra-oral measurement device. The cover for an intra-oral measuring device according to claim 7,
A cover for an intra-oral measurement device, characterized in that it is configured to fit closely around the entire circumferential circumference of the outer surface of the tip side of the intra-oral measurement device. The cover for an intra-oral measuring device according to claim 6,
A tip side portion covers a tip side of the intra-oral measurement device, and a base side portion covers a portion of the intra-oral measurement device closer to a base side than the tip side,
The tip side portion is made of the soft material,
A cover for an intra-oral measurement device, characterized in that the base end side portion is made of a hard material that is harder than the soft material. The cover for an intra-oral measurement device according to claim 9,
A cover for an intra-oral measurement device, characterized in that a locking hole is formed in the base end side portion to lock onto a protrusion protruding from the outer surface of the intra-oral measurement device.