Tooth microphone patent filed

Remember that big idea you had to develop a sneaky microphone implanted in your tooth — well save it dreamer 'cause a patent was already filed with the US Patent office earlier this month. Ok, technically it's not an implant since it's "clamped to a back tooth" but still the device would be ideal for noisy environments like battlefields (or Steve Ballmer keynotes) where even throat or skull clamped mics fail. This tooth-bone conduction mic is toggled with the tongue and transmits the signal to a retransmit module worn by the user, thus enabling two-way RF communication with others. More importantly, this will enable our Bluetooth headset wearin' brethren to return to the dating scene.

[Bob @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

Clamping anything to one's tooth can be a little annoying. How about implanting a tiny transmitter in one's throat that in turn picks up vibrations and translates them to sound, just like a throat mic would?

[Sarah Brabazon-Biggar @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

Ick, think of all the slurpy noises you'd transmit.

[Mark @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

And how would you turn off the transmitter? Seems like they would turn into tracking devices as well.

[Mykytiuk @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

#9

As far as clamping to the tooth being uncomfortable:

I used to wear braces, and on my back left bottom molar the brackets would never hold. Every time they'd reattache on it would break off within days. Finally they put on something called a "band", which is basically just a metal ring in the shape of the tooth. It hurt when it went on, but I got used to it. Aside from feeling metal if you run your tongue over your tooth, it doesn't feel any different or uncomfortable. I'm sure they could use something like that for this.

[swovtech @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

how 'real genius' of them?

[KurtRoedeger @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

swovtech, that's the first thing I thought of. Can the patent even be validated since the concept was created however long ago.

[Nelson @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

Kurt- That remains to be seen whether or not the patent will issue. It's only been filed (and was not filed earlier this month as the article says -- It was filed in April of this year... It was published this month).

What part of this invention was created long ago?

Here is the first claim:

A two-way tooth microphone communication apparatus comprising: a sound transducer element in contact with at least one tooth in a user's mouth, said transducer producing an electrical signal in response to speech; a first transceiver module transmitting said electrical signal to an external apparatus, external apparatus in proximity to said user; a second transceiver module in said external apparatus retransmitting said electrical signal to a second user.

[KurtRoedeger @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

The whole patent process is a bit much for me at times. I was referring to the "concept" of "tooth mic" as having been used in a 1980?-something movie.

Thanks for the additional info.

[swovtech @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

dude, this invention was used in a sub-plot in everyone's favorite val kilmer movie. the aforementioned 'real genius'. circa 1985.

obviously not physically created for the movie, just spawned the idea.
what is this thing, zigbee, where do you put the batteries?

[WOV @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

Wait, wouldn't this recieve a spectacular and deafening over-signal if you clicked your teeth together on closing?

Shortly before you gave your conversation partner the novel experience of listening to a fatal choking *from the inside?*

[DUG @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

um . . . I loved how well this device worked for Bill Murray in Charlie's Angels. Sounds like this patent is the building block foundation for providing terrorists and other evil doers hours and hours and hours of entertaining hilarity from bumbling fool secret agents trying to use this potentially horrible device. I can't wait! Build one now!

[tom @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

does it use bluetooth?