Mouthpiece, nasal seal, head appliance, apparatus, and methods of treating sleep apnea

• US 20030183227A1
• Filed: 03/26/2002
• Published: 10/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walter G. Klemperer
• Original Assignee: Walter G. Klemperer
• Inventors: Klemperer, Walter G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,000,611 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/201.26
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0694 Chin straps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0216 Materials providing elastic properties, e.g. for facilitating deformation and avoid breaking

Abstract

A CPAP device and a method for treating sleep apnea use a head appliance with an oral adaptor comprising a tube partially inserted in a person'"'"'s mouth and a diaphragm applied over the tube against the mouth, such that the lips are formed into a tight seal with the tube. A nasal seal is described comprising two rollers to which a strap is attached, so that the nasal seal is easily put in place, adjusted and maintained by rolling the rollers on the nose sides or pulling the straps.

Claims

1. An oral adaptor for a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) device, comprising:

an oral insert having a passage therein, comprising an insertion portion to be inserted into a person'"'"'s mouth and a connection portion for connecting the oral insert to a CPAP respirator, and

a sealing element to be placed on the person'"'"'s mouth,

wherein the sealing element is a flexible material such that the person'"'"'s lips form a seal on the oral insert.

2. An oral adaptor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sealing element is an elastic material.

3. An oral adaptor as claimed in claim 1, comprising at least one holding strap to be placed around the person'"'"'s head for maintaining the sealing element on the person'"'"'s mouth.

4. An oral adaptor as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sealing element is a diaphragm and wherein a foam pad is placed between the diaphragm and the at least one holding strap.

5. An oral adaptor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sealing element is a diaphragm.

6. An oral adaptor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sealing element faces a flange of the insertion portion when the oral adaptor is applied to the person'"'"'s mouth.

7. An oral adaptor as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an exhalation port.

20. A head appliance for a CPAP device, comprising:

an oral adaptor according to claim 1, and

a nasal seal.

23. A CPAP device, comprising:

a CPAP respirator, and

an oral adaptor according to claim 1.

8. An oral adaptor to be applied to a person'"'"'s mouth, comprising:

a tubular portion having an insertion end to be inserted in a person'"'"'s mouth and a connection end to be connected to a source of positive pressure, and

a first surface which faces an inner side of a person'"'"'s lips, and

a second surface which faces an outer side of the person'"'"'s lips, when the oral adaptor is applied to the person'"'"'s mouth,

such that the person'"'"'s lips are conformed between the second surface and at least one of the tubular portion and the first surface when a positive pressure is created inside the mouth to form a seal around the oral adaptor.

9. An oral adaptor as claimed in claim 8, wherein at least one of the first surface and the second surface is made of flexible material.

10. An oral adaptor as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second surface is made of a more flexible material than the first surface.

11. An oral adaptor as claimed in claim 8, wherein at least one of the first surface and the second surface is made of an elastic material.

12. An oral adaptor as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first surface is carried by a flange to be placed between the person'"'"'s teeth and lips around the insertion end of the tubular portion.

13. An oral adaptor as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second surface is carried by a sealing element to be placed on the person'"'"'s lips around the tubular portion.

14. An oral adaptor as claimed in claim 8, further comprising an exhalation port.

21. A head appliance for a CPAP device, comprising:

an oral adaptor according to claim 8, and

a nasal seal.

15. A nasal seal comprising two curved pieces to be placed on respective sides of a person'"'"'s nose, the curved pieces being connected to each other so as to leave a space between them for the person'"'"'s nose,

wherein a holding strap is attached to the nasal seal for application on the person'"'"'s nose.

16. A nasal seal as claimed in claim 15, wherein the curved pieces are rollers rotatable around respective axes, the axes being connected to each other so as to leave a space between the rollers for the person'"'"'s nose.

17. A nasal seal as claimed in claim 16, wherein ends of the holding strap are attached to the respective rollers at a distance from their respective rotation axes, so that a degree of rotation of the rollers can adjusted by adjusting the strap.

18. A nasal seal as claimed in claim 17, wherein the ends of the holding strap are attached to the cylinders such that the rollers rotate in opposite directions when the strap ends are pulled.

19. A head appliance for a CPAP device, comprising:

a mouthpiece having an insertion portion to be inserted in a person'"'"'s mouth and a connection portion to be connected to a CPAP respirator,

a connection tube having an end connected to the connection portion of the mouthpiece,

a head strap to be placed over a persons'"'"' head, and

a tube support element attached to the head strap for supporting the connection tube.

22. A CPAP device, comprising:

a CPAP respirator, and

a head appliance according to claim 19.

24. A method for treating symptoms of sleep apnea in a person, comprising:

inserting an insertion portion of an oral insert in the person'"'"'s mouth,

applying a sealing element on the person'"'"'s mouth so that the person'"'"'s lips form a tight seal with the insertion portion of the oral insert, and

connecting the oral insert to a source of positive pressure.

25. A method for treating symptoms of sleep apnea in a person, comprising:

inserting an insertion portion of an oral insert in the person'"'"'s mouth such that a first surface of the insertion portion faces an inner side of the person'"'"'s lips,

applying a sealing element on the person'"'"'s mouth such that a second surface of the sealing element faces an outer side of the person'"'"'s lips, so that the lips form a tight seal with the insertion portion of the oral insert, and

connecting the oral insert to a source of positive pressure.