APPARATUS FOR IMPROVED BREATHING

• US 20140053852A1
• Filed: 04/05/2012
• Published: 02/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airway Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Airway Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Thornton, W. Keith, McAuley, Alastar Edwin
• Granted Patent: US 10,596,026 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/862
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/566 Intra-oral devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0488 Mouthpieces; Means for guiding, securing or introducing the tubes guiding or introducing with laryngoscopes A61B1/267; holding devices on the body A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0605 Means for improving the adaptation of the mask to the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0666 Nasal cannulas or tubing devices for improving normal breathing through the nose A61F5/08; nose filters A62B23/06; outside holding devices A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 13/02 by heating B29B13/06, B29B13/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 13/08 by using wave energy or particle radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/562 using extra joining elements, i.e. which are not integral with the parts to be joined using plastic snap elements B29C65/58; using plastic rivets B29C65/601
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2667/00 Use of polyesters or derivatives thereof for preformed parts, e.g. for inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/753 Medical equipment; Accessories therefor bloodbags, medical bags B29L2031/7148; artificial eyes B29L2011/0008

Abstract

According to one embodiment, an apparatus for improved breathing is provided. The apparatus may include an improved oral appliance, an improved mask, an improved coupler to couple an oral appliance to a mask, and/or a combination of these improvements.

Claims

1-118. -118. (canceled)

119. A dental device comprising:

an arched frame configured to be positioned proximate to the occlusal surface of a user'"'"'s dental arch, such that the arched frame extends beyond the cuspids of the user'"'"'s dental arch; and

a cross-linked thermoplastic moldable tray coupled to the arched frame such that the moldable tray extends beyond a labial edge of the arched frame in the labial direction, the moldable tray comprising a channel configured to engage at least some of the teeth of the user'"'"'s dental arch.

120. The dental device of claim 119, wherein the moldable tray comprises cross-linked polycaprolactone.

121. The dental device of claim 119, wherein the moldable tray comprises irradiated thermoplastic.

122. The dental device of claim 119, wherein the arched frame is substantially rigid at temperatures up to 100 degrees Celsius.

123. The dental device of claim 119, wherein the arched frame is liquid silicone rubber.

124. The dental device of claim 119, wherein the arched frame defines a plurality of apertures and the moldable tray engages the plurality of apertures

125. The dental device of claim 119, wherein the arched frame comprises an adjustment mechanism.

126. The dental device of claim 125, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a tension element extending from the arched frame in an anterior direction.

127. The dental device of claim 119, further comprising:

a second arched frame configured to be positioned proximate to the occlusal surface of the user'"'"'s second dental arch, such that the second arched frame extends beyond the cuspids of the user'"'"'s second dental arch;

a second cross-linked thermoplastic moldable tray coupled to the second arched frame such that the second moldable tray extends beyond a labial edge of the arched frame in the labial direction, the second moldable tray comprising a second channel configured to engage at least some of the teeth of the user'"'"'s second dental arch; and

an adjustable coupler configured to couple the arched frame to the second arched frame and to adjust the forward position of the arched frame relative to the second arched frame.

128. A dental device comprising:

a substantially-rigid arched frame configured to be positioned proximate to the occlusal surface of a user'"'"'s dental arch, such that the arched frame extends beyond the cuspids of the user'"'"'s dental arch; and

a moldable tray coupled to the arched frame such that the moldable tray extends beyond a labial edge of the arched frame in the labial direction, the moldable tray comprising irradiated polycaprolactone and a channel configured to engage at least some of the teeth of the user'"'"'s dental arch.

129. The dental device of claim 128, wherein the arched frame defines a plurality of apertures and the moldable tray engages the plurality of apertures

130. The dental device of claim 128, wherein the arched frame comprises an adjustment mechanism.

131. The dental device of claim 128, wherein the arched frame comprises a tension element extending from the arched frame in an anterior direction.

132. The dental device of claim 128, further comprising:

a second substantially-rigid arched frame configured to be positioned proximate to the occlusal surface of the user'"'"'s second dental arch, such that the second arched frame extends beyond the cuspids of the user'"'"'s second dental arch; and

a second moldable tray coupled to the second arched frame such that the second moldable tray extends beyond a labial edge of the arched frame in the labial direction, the second moldable tray comprising irradiated polycaprolactone and a second channel configured to engage at least some of the teeth of the user'"'"'s second dental arch; and

an adjustable coupler configured to couple the arched frame to the second arched frame and to adjust the forward position of the arched frame relative to the second arched frame.

133. A dental device comprising:

a first substantially-rigid arched frame configured to be positioned proximate to the occlusal surface of a user'"'"'s mandibular dental arch, such that the first arched frame extends beyond the cuspids of the user'"'"'s mandibular dental arch;

a first moldable tray coupled to the first arched frame such that the first moldable tray extends beyond a labial edge of the first arched frame in the labial direction, the first moldable tray comprising irradiated polycaprolactone and a channel configured to engage at least some of the teeth of the user'"'"'s mandibular dental arch;

a second substantially-rigid arched frame configured to be positioned proximate to the occlusal surface of the user'"'"'s maxillary dental arch, such that the second arched frame extends beyond the cuspids of the user'"'"'s maxillary dental arch; and

a second moldable tray coupled to the second arched frame such that the second moldable tray extends beyond a labial edge of the arched frame in the labial direction, the second moldable tray comprising irradiated polycaprolactone and a second channel configured to engage at least some of the teeth of the user'"'"'s maxillary dental arch; and

an adjustable coupler configured to couple the first arched frame to the second arched frame and to adjust the forward position of the first arched frame relative to the second arched frame to adjust the anterior-posterior position of the user'"'"'s mandibular dental arch relative to the user'"'"'s maxillary dental arch.

134. The dental device of claim 133, wherein the adjustable coupler comprises:

an anchoring element extending from the second arched frame in an anterior direction;

a tension element extending from the first arched frame in an anterior direction, the tension element configured to adjustably engage the anchoring element outside the user'"'"'s mouth.

135. A breathing device comprising:

an arched frame configured to be positioned proximate to the occlusal surface of a user'"'"'s maxillary dental arch such that the arched frame extends beyond the cuspids of the user'"'"'s maxillary dental arch, the arched frame comprising a post configured to extend out of the user'"'"' mouth when the arched frame is positioned proximate to the occlusal surface of the user'"'"'s maxillary dental arch; and

a thermoplastic moldable tray coupled to the arched frame such that the moldable tray extends beyond a labial edge of the arched frame in the labial direction, the moldable tray comprising a channel configured to engage at least some of the teeth of the user'"'"'s maxillary dental arch;

a mask configured to seal against portions of the user'"'"'s face and to direct the flow of gases to the user;

a coupler configured to engage the post of the arched frame to couple the mask to the arched frame, such that the coupler allows for adjustment of the mask relative to the arched frame.

136. The breathing device of claim 135, wherein the coupler is configured to allow for the mask to be adjusted in the anterior-posterior direction, adjusted in the superior-inferior direction, and rotated in a substantially sagittal plane.

137. The breathing device of claim 135, wherein the mask is a nasal mask comprising a pair of nasal inserts configured to seal against the user'"'"'s nostrils.

138. The breathing device of claim 137, wherein the nasal inserts are each configured to rotate independent of each other.

139. The breathing device of claim 135, wherein the mask comprises a flexible gasket configured to receive the post and create a seal around the post.

140. The breathing device of claim 135, wherein:

the coupler comprises a flange configured to engage the post of the arched frame

141. The breathing device of claim 135, wherein:

the post of the arched frame defines at least one vertical channel proximate to the anterior end of the post; and

the coupler comprises a flange configured to engage the at least one vertical channel, to adjustably couple the mask to the arched frame.

142. The breathing device of claim 135, wherein the moldable tray comprises irradiated polycaprolactone.

143. The breathing device of claim 135, wherein the moldable tray comprises cross-linked thermoplastic.

144. The breathing device of claim 135, wherein the moldable tray comprises polycaprolactone reinforced with an aramid fiber.

145. The breathing device of claim 135, wherein the arched frame is substantially rigid at temperatures up to 100 degrees Celsius.

146. A breathing device comprising:

an arched frame configured to be positioned proximate to the occlusal surface of a user'"'"'s maxillary dental arch such that the arched frame extends beyond the cuspids of the user'"'"'s maxillary dental arch, the arched frame comprising a post configured to extend out of the user'"'"' mouth when the arched frame is positioned proximate to the occlusal surface of the user'"'"'s maxillary dental arch, the arched frame being substantially rigid at temperatures up to 100 degrees Celsius; and

an irradiated polycaprolactone moldable tray coupled to the arched frame such that the moldable tray extends beyond a labial edge of the arched frame in the labial direction, the moldable tray comprising a channel configured to engage at least some of the teeth of the user'"'"'s maxillary dental arch;

a mask configured to seal against portions of the user'"'"'s face and to direct the flow of gases to the user;

a coupler configured to engage the post of the arched frame to couple the mask to the arched frame, such that the coupler allows for adjustment of the mask in the anterior-posterior direction, adjusted in the superior-inferior direction, and rotated in a substantially sagittal plane.

147. The breathing device of claim 146, wherein the mask is a nasal mask comprising a pair of nasal inserts configured to seal against the user'"'"'s nostrils.

148. The breathing device of claim 147, wherein the nasal inserts are each configured to rotate independent of each other.