MANDIBULAR ADVANCEMENT DEVICE

• US 20160184129A1
• Filed: 07/25/2015
• Published: 06/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Prosomnus Sleep Technologies Inc. (Prosomnus, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Microdental Laboratories, Inc. (Biohorizons Incorporated)
• Inventors: LIPTAK, Leonard A., KUHNS, David W., KIM, Sung, SHEPPARD, Laura
• Granted Patent: US 9,820,882 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/08 Mouthpiece-type retainers or positioners, e.g. for both the lower and upper arch arch-shaped medicament applicators for teeth or gums A61C19/063; mouthguards for protecting the teeth of sportsmen A63B71/085
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/36 Devices acting between upper and lower teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/566 Intra-oral devices
• CPC Class Codes: B23C 2226/61 Plastics not otherwise provided for, e.g. nylon
• CPC Class Codes: B23C 3/00 Milling particular work; Special milling operations; Machines therefor milling gear-teeth B23F, heat assisted machining B23P25/00

Abstract

Disclosed herein are mandibular advancement devices comprising an upper splint and a lower splint, where the upper splint comprises one or more upper fins, where each upper fin is located at a distance UD from back of the upper splint; the lower splints comprise one or more lower fins, where each lower fin is located at a distance LD from back of the lower splint; where the position of the upper and lower fins is unchangeable. Also disclosed are methods of reducing partial constriction of airway during sleep for a patient, the method comprising identifying a patient in need thereof; and administering to the patient the disclosed mandibular advancement device. Also disclosed are methods of manufacturing a mandibular advancement device, the method comprising obtaining measurements from a patient'"'"'s dentition; digitally designing a mandibular advancement device; and milling the mandibular advancement device.

Claims

1. A mandibular advancement device comprising an upper splint and a lower splint, wherein

the upper splint comprises one or more upper fins, wherein each upper fin is located at a distance UD from back of the upper splint;

the lower splints comprise one or more lower fins, wherein each lower fin is located at a distance LD from back of the lower splint;

wherein the UD and the LD are unchangeable;

wherein each upper fin comprises a front surface and each lower fin comprises a back surface, wherein when the upper and lower splints are worn by a patient, the front surface of the upper fin contacts the back surface of the lower fin along a contact surface; and

wherein each upper fin and each lower fin are of sufficient height such that when the patient'"'"'s mouth is opened during sleep, the contact between the front surface of the upper fin and the back surface of the lower fin is maintained.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the upper and lower splints is designed digitally and milled as a single unit according to the digital design.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the upper splint and lower splint independently comprises an empty center, wherein the empty center provides room for a patient'"'"'s tongue when the device is in use.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein a rake angle of the contact surface is selected from the group consisting of a neutral angle, a recline angle, and a procline angle.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the shape of each upper fin and each lower fin is independently selected from a predesigned digital library of fins.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a gap between the lower fin and the lower splint.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a gap between the upper fin and the upper splint.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising two or more gaps between the lower fin and the lower splint, or further comprising two or more gaps between the upper fin and the upper splint, wherein the gaps are between the patient'"'"'s dentition and the lower splint or upper splint, and wherein the gaps are digitally designed to be varied in size, wherein the varied-sized gaps optimize the retention of the device on the patient'"'"'s dentition.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the upper splint and the lower splint contact each other along a plane of the splint, wherein the plane of the splint is the same as a patient'"'"'s occlusal plane.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the upper splint and the lower splint contact each other along a plane of the splint, wherein the plane of the splint is at an angle with respect to a patient'"'"'s occlusal plane.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising one or more structural feature configured to accommodate an add on selected from the group consisting of a support member, a ball clasp, retention wire, treatment wire, alignment wires, and a tongue behavior modification wire.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising one or more retention arms.