Negative-pressure oral apparatus and method for maintaining negative oral pressure and collecting liquid
Inventors
Chen, Chung-Chu • Shen, Te-Yang
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11311692-B2
Publication Date
2022-04-26
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention discloses a negative-pressure oral apparatus capable of relieving discomfort of soft tissues in the oral cavity and improving fixation of the oral apparatus to prevent the oral apparatus from falling off due to mouth opening. The oral apparatus is compact and elastic so that it fits various shapes and sizes of the oral cavity and is easy to be put on and taken off to provide convenience and safety to the user. In another embodiment, a method for maintaining a negative oral pressure and collecting liquid by coupling the oral apparatus to a liquid collecting apparatus capable of effectively providing the oral cavity with a negative pressure to expel liquid in the oral apparatus and deliver the liquid to an absorbing element in the liquid collecting apparatus so as to prevent liquid leakage or contamination.
Core Innovation
A negative-pressure oral apparatus inserts an oral interface into an oral cavity of a user and defines a fluid passage configured to be in fluid communication with the oral cavity when inserted. A source of negative pressure is in fluid communication with the fluid passage and generates negative pressure within the oral cavity via the oral interface in use.
The apparatus includes a liquid-collecting container in fluid communication with the passage of the oral interface and the source of negative pressure. The liquid-collecting container is downstream of the oral interface and upstream of the source of negative pressure, and is configured to receive and collect saliva drawn into the container from the oral cavity of the user in use.
The oral interface, the source of negative pressure, and a control unit are operable to draw a soft palate of the user forward toward the front of the oral cavity in use. The control unit is in electrical communication with the source of negative pressure and controls operation of the source of negative pressure.
During activation, a flow sensor in electrical communication with the control unit senses breathing air flow of the user while the negative-pressure source is operating and generates an electrical flow signal indicative of the sensed breathing air flow. Additional refinement includes sensing oral-cavity pressure with a pressure sensor to generate an electrical pressure signal for receipt by the control unit.
Claims Coverage
The document provides two independent claims, one for a negative-pressure oral apparatus and one for a method. Across these claims, the inventive features center on an oral interface with a fluid passage, a negative-pressure source controlled by a control unit, drawing the soft palate forward, collecting saliva in a downstream liquid container, and sensing breathing flow via a flow sensor in electrical communication with the control unit.
Oral interface with fluid passage in oral cavity
An oral interface insertable in an oral cavity of the user, wherein the oral interface defines a fluid passage configured to be in fluid communication with the oral cavity of the user when the oral interface is inserted in the oral cavity of the user.
Source of negative pressure generating negative pressure in oral cavity
A source of negative pressure in fluid communication with the fluid passage of the oral interface, wherein the source of negative pressure is configured to generate negative pressure within the oral cavity of the user via the oral interface in use.
Downstream liquid-collecting container for collecting saliva
A liquid-collecting container in fluid communication with the passage of the oral interface and the source of negative pressure, wherein the liquid-collecting container is configured to receive and collect saliva drawn into the container from the oral cavity of the user in use, and wherein the liquid-collecting container is downstream of the oral interface and upstream of the source of negative pressure.
Control unit operable to draw soft palate forward
A control unit in electrical communication with the source of negative pressure, wherein the control unit is configured to control operation of the source of negative pressure, wherein the oral interface, the source of negative pressure, and the control unit are operable to draw a soft palate of the user forward toward the front of the oral cavity in use.
Method inserting oral interface and activating negative pressure
Inserting an oral interface into an oral cavity of the user, wherein a fluid passage of the oral interface is in fluid communication with the oral cavity of the user; activating a source of negative pressure in fluid communication with the fluid passage via a control unit in electrical communication with the source of negative pressure to draw a vacuum in the oral cavity of the user and pull a soft palate of the user forward toward a front portion of the oral cavity.
Method drawing saliva into liquid container during vacuum
Drawing saliva, simultaneously with said drawing a vacuum, from the oral cavity through the fluid passage and into a liquid container.
Flow sensing during negative-pressure activation with electrical flow signal
Sensing, via a flow sensor in electrical communication with the control unit, breathing air flow from the user during said activating a source of negative pressure; generating, via the flow sensor, an electrical flow signal indicative of the sensed breathing air flow of the user; and receiving, at the control unit, the electrical flow signal.
Across the independent apparatus and method claims, the core inventive coverage is a negative-pressure oral interface system that draws a soft palate forward by applying negative pressure through a fluid passage while collecting saliva in a downstream container, with control by an electrical control unit. The method coverage further requires sensing breathing air flow via a flow sensor to generate and receive an electrical flow signal at the control unit.
Stated Advantages
Alleviating snoring and obstructive sleep apnea by drawing a soft palate of the user forward using negative pressure.
Collecting saliva drawn into a liquid-collecting container from the oral cavity.
Sensing breathing air flow during operation by generating and receiving an electrical flow signal at the control unit.
Optionally sensing oral-cavity pressure and generating an electrical pressure signal for receipt at the control unit.
Documented Applications
Alleviating snoring and obstructive sleep apnea of a user using a negative-pressure oral apparatus and associated method.
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