Non-Surgical Method and System for Reducing Snoring

• US 20140238411A1
• Filed: 03/26/2014
• Published: 08/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seed Health, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Joseph E. Kovarik
• Inventors: Kovarik, Joseph E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,445,936 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/848
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/566 Intra-oral devices

Abstract

A method, system and device for addressing the reduction of snoring includes a removable or dissolvable strip of material that adhere to mucosal tissue of a person'"'"'s soft palate to provide stiffening support therefore, thus reducing the occurrence of vibration of such tissue during sleep. Preferred embodiments include of a specially textured surface, either one both or at least the outer side of an adhesive strip (the side facing away from the mucosal tissue to which it is attached) that has anti-microbial characteristics, bioluminescent expressions, etc. and a surface topography that resists bioadhesion of undesired bacteria that are typically present in a human'"'"'s mouth.

Claims

1. A buccal bioadhesive strip having no active drugs, that when applied to the tissue of the soft palate, stiffens the tissue to reduce vibration, comprising:

at least one surface having a pattern defined by a plurality of spaced apart features each having at least one microscale dimension and having at least one neighboring feature having a substantially different geometry, wherein an average spacing between adjacent ones of said features is between 0.5 and 5 .mu.m in at least a portion of said at least one surface, said strip having a first and second side, the first side having a bioadhesive that is adapted to bind to a mucosal membrane for at least 1 hour while inside a person'"'"'s mouth, wherein said strip extends over a majority of the soft palate, and wherein said strip includes at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of pullulan, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, carboxymethyl cellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, sodium alginate, polyethylene glycol, tragacanth gum, guar gum, acacia gum, arabic gum, polyacrylic acid, methylmethacrylate copolymer, carboxyvinyl polymer, amylose, high amylose starch, hydroxypropylated high amylose starch, dextrin, pectin, chitin, chitosan, levan, elsinan, collagen, gelatin, zein, gluten, soy protein isolate, whey protein isolate, casein and mixtures thereof.

2. The strip of claim 1 wherein said strip further includes a toxic substance associated with the strip that is effective to kill undesired bacteria in the mouth.

3. The strip of claim 1 wherein said strip comprises bioluminescent material.

4. The strip of claim 1 wherein said strip comprises a non-fast drying adhesive.

5. The strip of claim 1 wherein said strip is devoid of paper, rice or hemp products.

6. The strip of claim 1 wherein said strip includes phase change materials.

7. The strip of claim 1 wherein said strip comprises materials that cause the strip to stiffen when exposed to one of:

1) vibration of underlying tissue during the snoring of an individual; and

     2) a change in temperature.

8. The strip of claim 1 wherein said strip comprises structural features that direct airflow in a manner that further reduces the occasion of throat tissue vibration, such features selected from the group consisting of grooves, hollow structures and curved, elevated surfaces.

9. The film as set forth in claim 1, wherein the film has first and second sides and the first side has adhesive material associated therewith and the second side does not.

10. The film as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second side includes a lubricant.

11. The strip of claim 1 wherein said strip has at least one perforated tear line.

12. The strip of claim 1 wherein said strip has compounds residing thereon to facilitate the growth of desired bacteria beneficial to a person'"'"'s health.

13. The strip of claim 1 wherein said strip includes breath freshening components.

14. The strip of claim 1 wherein said strip is non-dissolvable in a person'"'"'s mouth.

15. The strip of claim 1 wherein said strip is adapted to persist in a mouth of a user for at least 3 hours.

16. The strip of claim 1 wherein said strip reduces the proliferation of bacteria in a person'"'"'s mouth.

17. The strip of claim 1 wherein said strip is dissolvable in a person'"'"'s mouth within a period of 3 hours.

18. A buccal bioadhesive strip that when applied to the tissue of the soft palate, stiffens the tissue to reduce vibration, comprising:

at least one surface having a pattern defined by a plurality of spaced apart features each having at least one microscale dimension and having at least one neighboring feature having a substantially different geometry, wherein an average spacing between adjacent ones of said features is between 0.5 and 5 .mu.m in at least a portion of said at least one surface, said strip having a first and second side, the first side having a bioadhesive that is adapted to bind to a mucosal membrane for at least 1 hour while inside a person'"'"'s mouth, wherein said strip extends over a majority of the soft palate, and wherein said strip includes at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of pullulan, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, carboxymethyl cellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, sodium alginate, polyethylene glycol, tragacanth gum, guar gum, acacia gum, arabic gum, polyacrylic acid, methylmethacrylate copolymer, carboxyvinyl polymer, amylose, high amylose starch, hydroxypropylated high amylose starch, dextrin, pectin, chitin, chitosan, levan, elsinan, collagen, gelatin, zein, gluten, soy protein isolate, whey protein isolate, casein and mixtures thereof.

19. A buccal bioadhesive strip that when applied to the tissue of the soft palate, stiffens the tissue to reduce vibration, comprising:

at least one surface having a pattern defined by a plurality of spaced apart features each having at least one microscale dimension and having at least one neighboring feature having a substantially different geometry, wherein an average spacing between adjacent ones of said features is between 0.5 and 5 .mu.m in at least a portion of said at least one surface, said strip having a first and second side, the first side having a bioadhesive that is adapted to bind to a mucosal membrane for at least 1 hour while inside a person'"'"'s mouth, wherein said strip extends over a majority of the soft palate, and wherein said strip includes at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of pullulan, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, carboxymethyl cellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, sodium alginate, polyethylene glycol, tragacanth gum, guar gum, acacia gum, arabic gum, polyacrylic acid, methylmethacrylate copolymer, carboxyvinyl polymer, amylose, high amylose starch, hydroxypropylated high amylose starch, dextrin, pectin, chitin, chitosan, levan, elsinan, collagen, gelatin, zein, gluten, soy protein isolate, whey protein isolate, casein and mixtures thereof; and

wherein said strip includes breath freshening components and is devoid of paper, rice or hemp products.