Device for suppressing snoring

• US 20030192549A1
• Filed: 04/21/2003
• Published: 10/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Georges Boussignac
• Original Assignee: Georges Boussignac
• Inventors: Boussignac, Georges
• Application Number:
  US10/399,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20030192549A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/207.14
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/566 Intra-oral devices

Abstract

The invention concerns a device comprising a curved tubular body (2), designed to be inserted in the mouth (10) and whereof the curvature corresponds at least approximately to that of the tongue (11). The proximal end of the tubular body (2) is provided with a peripherally projecting stop ring, capable of being positioned on the outside of said patient'"'"'s incisors (12, 13)

Claims

1. A device for suppressing snoring by a patient who is susceptible to episodes of sleep apnea, being a device:

which comprises a curved tubular body (2) which is designed to be introduced into the mouth (10) of said patient, so as to rest at least partially on the tongue (11) of the patient, and of which the curvature corresponds at least approximately to that of said tongue; and

in which the proximal end of said tubular body (2) is provided with a peripherally projecting stop flange (6) which is able to be positioned on the outside of the incisors (12, 13) of said patient,

characterized in that the length of said tubular body is such that, when it is in place in the mouth of said patient, the distal end (21) of said tubular body (2) is situated in front of the lingual V of the circumvallate papillae (22) of said tongue, and in that the lateral wall of said tubular body is openworked.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the lateral wall of said curved tubular body is solid and is provided with lateral holes (3).

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said curved tubular body consists, at least for the most part, of a rigid grating (25).

4. The device as claimed in one of claims 1 through 3, characterized in that said stop flange (6) is openworked (at 7).

5. The device as claimed in one of claims 1 through 4, characterized in that said tubular body (2) is surrounded by a net sleeve (23).

6. The device as claimed in one of claims 1 through 4, characterized in that said tubular body (2) is filled with an open-cell foam material (24).

7. The device as claimed in one of claims 1 through 6, in which, in proximity to said flange (6), said tubular body (2) is shaped so as to present a support zone (8) which can be gripped between the incisors (12, 13) of the lower and upper jaws of said patient,

characterized in that the walls (16, 17) of said support zone (8) in contact with said incisors (12, 13), respectively, are inclined in such a way that said curved tubular body (2) bears against said tongue (11) when said support zone (8) is gripped between said incisors (12, 13).

8. The device as claimed in one of claims 1 through 7, characterized in that, on the proximal side of said stop flange (6), said curved tubular body (2) is continued by an extension piece (26) projecting from said flange.