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Publication Number
US-10010444-B2
Publication Date
2018-07-03
Expiration Date
Abstract
Apparatus for providing breathing assistance, the apparatus including a body including a recess for receiving teeth of a user to thereby position the body within an oral cavity of the user, a first opening extending beyond lips of a user to allow air from outside the oral cavity to be drawn in through the opening, a second opening provided in the oral cavity to allow air to be directed into a posterior region of the oral cavity and a channel connecting the first and second openings, the channel extending through at least part of a buccal sulcus of the user.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a breathing-assist oral apparatus configured to be positioned within an oral cavity of a user. The apparatus includes a body having a recess configured to receive the user’s maxillary teeth, a first opening extending beyond lips to allow air from outside the oral cavity to be drawn in, and a second opening in the oral cavity to allow air to be directed into a posterior region of the oral cavity behind teeth of the user.
The apparatus further includes a channel connecting the first and second openings, where the channel extends along at least part of a buccal sulcus of the user. The channel is enclosed and extends behind the teeth of the user to allow air to flow through the channel directly into the posterior region of the oral cavity through an area behind the teeth of the user, and at least part of the channel is configured to extend between the user’s maxillary and mandibular teeth.
The disclosed arrangement is described as providing breathing assistance by bypassing nasal cavity obstruction and by bypassing obstructions associated with tongue and soft palate collapse. Optional structural variations described include enclosed versus open and/or multi-aperature channel designs for airflow and drainage, and anatomical interface features such as a lingual flange configured to engage mandibular teeth for jaw positioning.
Claims Coverage
Independent claim coverage is provided by a single independent claim directed to a breathing-assistance apparatus. The claim includes four inventive structural features: a body with a maxillary-teeth recess, a first lip-passing opening, a second posterior opening behind teeth, and an enclosed buccal-sulcus channel routing air behind teeth into a posterior oral region.
Oral-body with maxillary-teeth recess for positioning
A body configured to be positioned within an oral cavity of the user and including a recess configured to receive the user’s maxillary teeth
First opening beyond lips for outside air intake
A first opening configured to extend beyond lips of a user to allow air from outside the oral cavity to be drawn in through the first opening
Second posterior opening behind user’s teeth to direct air posteriorly
A second opening configured to be provided in the oral cavity to allow air to be directed into a posterior region of the oral cavity, wherein the second opening is configured to be provided behind teeth of the user
Enclosed buccal-sulcus channel connecting openings and routing air behind teeth into posterior region
A channel connecting the first and second openings, the channel being configured to extend along at least part of a buccal sulcus of the user, wherein the channel is enclosed and the channel is configured to extend behind the teeth of the user to thereby allow air to flow through the channel directly into the posterior region of the oral cavity through an area behind the teeth of the user, and wherein the body includes the channel and at least part of the channel is configured to extend between the user’s maxillary and mandibular teeth
Overall, the claim coverage centers on an oral-body that positions in the mouth via a maxillary-teeth recess and uses a lip-passing first opening plus a posterior second opening behind teeth. The key inventive routing is an enclosed channel extending along the buccal sulcus behind the teeth and between maxillary and mandibular teeth to deliver air directly into a posterior oral region.
Stated Advantages
Reducing snoring by bypassing nasal and tongue/soft-palate obstructions
Reducing obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) by bypassing nasal cavity obstruction and bypassing obstructions associated with tongue and soft palate collapse
Documented Applications
Breathing assistance related to reducing snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA)
Use with polysomnograph (PSG) and electromyograph (EMG) context as part of material/titration options
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