Method and device for the prevention of snoring and sleep apnea

• US 20040144391A1
• Filed: 01/23/2003
• Published: 07/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mandibular Dynamics, LLC.
• Original Assignee: Mandibular Dynamics, LLC.
• Inventors: Brady, Patrick Raymond, Neville, Holly, Maale, Gerhard Emil
• Granted Patent: US 7,331,349 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/848
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/56 Devices for preventing snoring by influencing the respiratory system by gas treatment A61M16/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0694 Chin straps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 602/902 Antisnoring or mouth closing devices

Abstract

Snoring and sleep apnea are prevented by advancing the mandible of an individual during sleep. Instead of using an intra-oral device that has the potential to cause movement of the teeth, an extra-oral device is used, having a rigid headpiece, mandibular cradles that press against the posterior angle of the mandible, and a connector between the headpiece and the jaw pads to cause the force that maintains the mandible in the forward position to be transmitted to the head, rather than the teeth.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a rigid headpiece that fits to a given human head in a stable manner; and

first and second mandibular cradles, said mandibular cradles being operatively attached to said headpiece, wherein said first and second mandibular cradles maintain the mandible in a position anterior to its normal resting position.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said headpiece comprises a headband that encircles the head and a coronal piece that covers at least a portion of the crown of the head.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said headpiece is formed of sheet metal.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said headpiece is formed of molded plastic.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein said first and second mandibular cradles are joined to said headpiece through a klenzak joint.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the angulation of said mandibular cradles is adjustable.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said pair of mandibular cradles are operatively attached to said headpiece by metal rods.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said mandibular cradles are made of a vacuum molded plastic.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said mandibular cradles comprise padding.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein said mandibular cradles are padded with condylar pads.

11. A device for preventing snoring, comprising:

a rigid framework adapted to attach to a human head in a removable manner;

a first rod and a second rod, each of said rods being attached at a first end to opposite sides of said rigid framework, wherein, when said rigid framework is seated on a designated human head, a second end of each of said rods extends posterior to the mandible; and

first and second mandibular cradles operatively attached to respective ones of said first and said second rod;

wherein said first and second mandibular cradles are adjustable to provide an anteriorly directed force against the mandible.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein said first and said second mandibular cradles maintain the mandible in a protruded position with respect to the maxilla.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein said mandibular cradles are attached to respective rods through a klenzak joint.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein said first and said second rod form a single rod that extends across the crown of the head.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein said rigid framework is made of a metal.

16. The device of claim 11, wherein said rigid framework comprises a polyethylene or a polypropylene plastic.

17. A method for preventing snoring and sleep apnea in a person, comprising the steps of:

removably seating a rigid framework on the head of the person;

adjusting a pair of mandibular cradles attached to said framework so that said pair of mandibular cradles exert a force on the mandible of the person sufficient to maintain the mandible in a protruded position relative to the maxilla.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said seating step comprises activating a spring coil.