Method and device for addressing sleep apnea and related breathing disorders
First Claim
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1. An oral device removable insertable in the mouth of a user for facilitating breathing while sleeping comprising:
- an upper member, the upper member having upper and lower depressions and right and left sides corresponding to the location of at least back molars and second bicuspids configured to fit a mouth of a user, said upper and lower depressions forming right and left biting surfaces wherein said biting surfaces are spaced at a height to force the mouth open the upper member further having a plate-like bridge conforming to the back of the maxillary anterior and the upper palate of the mouth, said bridge joining the biting surfaces;
a lower member positioned in underlying spaced relationship relative to the plate-like bridge of the upper member, the lower member having a lateral member, the lateral member having an upper surface oriented toward the plate-like bridge, a lower surface opposed to the upper surface, and at least one curvilinear side surface extending from a frontal location to a terminal location proximate to the maxillary anterior of the user'"'"'s mouth, the at least one side edge adapted to engage associated interiorly oriented regions of the upper member, the lower member positioned relative to the upper member so as to form an air passage for conveying introduced auxiliary pressured air from the mouth opening to the anterior of the mouth of the user.
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Abstract
A device which is removably insertable in the mouth for facilitating breathing while sleeping which provides a clear unobstructed airway by protrusive positioning of the mandible and/or delivery of pressurized air to the back of the mouth. The device has upper and lower tooth-contacting members and an airway defined between them.
76 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An oral device removable insertable in the mouth of a user for facilitating breathing while sleeping comprising:
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an upper member, the upper member having upper and lower depressions and right and left sides corresponding to the location of at least back molars and second bicuspids configured to fit a mouth of a user, said upper and lower depressions forming right and left biting surfaces wherein said biting surfaces are spaced at a height to force the mouth open the upper member further having a plate-like bridge conforming to the back of the maxillary anterior and the upper palate of the mouth, said bridge joining the biting surfaces;
a lower member positioned in underlying spaced relationship relative to the plate-like bridge of the upper member, the lower member having a lateral member, the lateral member having an upper surface oriented toward the plate-like bridge, a lower surface opposed to the upper surface, and at least one curvilinear side surface extending from a frontal location to a terminal location proximate to the maxillary anterior of the user'"'"'s mouth, the at least one side edge adapted to engage associated interiorly oriented regions of the upper member, the lower member positioned relative to the upper member so as to form an air passage for conveying introduced auxiliary pressured air from the mouth opening to the anterior of the mouth of the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An oral device removably insertable in the mouth of a user for facilitating breathing while sleeping. The device comprising:
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an upper member, the upper member having upper and lower depressions and right and left sides corresponding to the location of at least back molars and second bicuspids, the upper member configured to fit a mouth of a user, the upper and lower depressions forming right and left biting surfaces wherein said biting surfaces are spaced at a height to force the mouth open to a position that protrudes the jaw, the upper member further having a plate-like bridge conforming to the back of the maxillary anterior and the upper palate of the mouth, the plate-like bridge contiguous connected between the biting surfaces;
a lower member positioned in underlying spaced relationship relative to the plate-like bridge of the upper member, the lower member having an upper surface oriented toward the plate-like bridge and a lower surface opposed to the upper surface, the lower member further having at least one curvilinear side surface extending between the upper and lower surfaces from a frontal location proximate the upper incisors to a terminal location proximate to the maxillary anterior of the user'"'"'s mouth, the at least one side edge releasably connected to associated interiorly oriented regions of the upper member, the lower member positioned relative to the upper member so as to define an air passage for conveying pressurized air from the mouth opening to the anterior of the mouth of the user;
means for releasably connecting the airway defined between the upper and lower members to a source of pressurized air external to the oral device, the connection means extending from the device to a location external to the mouth where the device is in position. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An oral device for facilitating breathing comprising:
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a first member, the first member having a pair of tooth-engaging elements and a plate-like bridge positioned and contiguously formed with the tooth-engaging elements, wherein the tooth-engaging elements each have at least one depression defined in an upper face thereof, the depressions adapted to form biting surfaces and to removably receive at least upper back molars and upper bicuspids therein, the tooth-engaging elements further having a lower face opposed to the upper face;
a pair of tooth-engaging members having at least one depression defined therein, the depression adapted to form biting surfaces and to removably receive at least lower back molars and lower bicuspids therein, the tooth engaging members further having an upper face opposed to the tooth engaging depression;
means for adjustably connecting the first member and the tooth-engaging members, wherein the biting surfaces are spaced at a height to force the mouth open to a position which protrudes the jaw. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification