TMJ tensioning device

• US 6,016,807 A
• Filed: 10/13/1998
• Issued: 01/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Darlene Lodge
• Original Assignee: Darlene Lodge
• Inventors: Lodge, Darlene
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US09/170,559
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 128/846, 128/848, 128/857, 128/858, 128/859-862, 602/902, 602/17, 2/171, 2/171.2
• US Class Current: 128/848
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/12 specially adapted for the head or neck
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 602/902 Antisnoring or mouth closing devices

Abstract

A comfortable harness device for tensioning the temporomandibular joint. The harness has a plurality of pliable, but substantially non-elastic bands. A first band encircles a wearer'"'"'s face and passes under the wearer'"'"'s chin. A second band is attached to the first band and with the first band forms a cup for the wearer'"'"'s chin that applies a posterosuperior force on the chin. A third band is attached to the first band and embraces the posterior portion of the wearer'"'"'s head adjacent the wearer'"'"'s temples. A fourth band at the base of the wearer'"'"'s skull may be attached to the first band adjacent the wearer'"'"'s chin.

Claims

1. A harness device for tensioning a temporomandibular joint comprising

a first band adapted to encircle a wearer'"'"'s face in a frontal plane and passing under the wearer'"'"'s chin, said first band having first and second ends and a closure for adjusting the tension applied by the first band to the wearer'"'"'s head, a second band with first and second ends, said second band hinged to the first band along a section of the first band under the wearer'"'"'s chin forming a cup for the wearer'"'"'s chin, said first and second ends of the second band attached to the first band for adjusting the tension and applying a posterosuperior force on the chin,

a third band adapted to embrace the posterior portion of a wearer'"'"'s head adjacent the wearer'"'"'s temples and having first and second ends, said ends attached to the first band adjacent the wearer'"'"'s temples for adjusting the tension applied by the third band to the posterior portion of the wearer'"'"'s head, and,

a fourth band adapted to embrace the posterior portion of the wearer'"'"'s neck at the base of his or her skull and having first and second ends, said ends attached to the first band adjacent the cup for adjusting the tension applied by the fourth band to the posterior portion of the wearer'"'"'s neck,

said bands being pliable but substantially non-elastic,

whereby said harness device tensions the wearer'"'"'s temporomandibular joints and restrains the wearer from opening his or her jaw beyond a selected extent determined by the tension applied by the first and second bands and whereby the fourth band prevents the user from removing the harness accidentally.

2. The harness device of claim 1 further comprising a strap adapted to interconnect the first, third and fourth bands in a midsagittal plane, said strap being pliable but substantially non-elastic.

3. A harness device for tensioning a temporomandibular joint comprising

a first band having lateral side edges and adapted to encircle a wearer'"'"'s face in a frontal plane and passing under the wearer'"'"'s chin, said first band having first and second ends and a closure for adjusting the tension applied by the first band to the wearer'"'"'s head, a second band having lateral side edges, said second band attached to the first band along the lateral side edges of said bands under a wearer'"'"'s face forming a cup for the wearer'"'"'s chin, said second band having first and second ends attached at an angle to the first band for conforming the cup to a wearer'"'"'s face and applying a posterosuperior force on the wearer'"'"'s chin,

a third band adapted to embrace the posterior portion of a wearer'"'"'s head adjacent the wearer'"'"'s temples and having first and second ends, said ends attached to the first band adjacent the wearer'"'"'s temples for adjusting the tension applied by the third band to the posterior portion of the wearer'"'"'s head,

a fourth band adapted to embrace the posterior portion of the wearer'"'"'s neck at the base of his or her skull and having first and second ends, said ends attached to the first band adjacent the cup for adjusting the tension applied by the fourth band to the posterior portion of the wearer'"'"'s neck, and

a strap adapted to interconnect the first, third and fourth bands in a midsagittal plane,

said bands and said strap being pliable but substantially non-elastic,

whereby said harness device tensions the wearer'"'"'s temporomandibular joints and restrains the wearer from opening his or her jaw beyond a selected extent determined by the tension applied by the first and second bands and whereby the fourth band prevents the user from removing the harness accidentally.

4. The harness of claim 3 wherein the first band has a hook fastener facing away from the wearer'"'"'s face extending from at least the wearer'"'"'s chin level to the first and second ends.

5. The harness of claim 4 wherein the first and second ends of the second, third and fourth bands have a pile fastener facing towards the wearer'"'"'s face.

6. A method of use for a TMJ joint tensioning harness, said harness comprising a first band adapted to encircle a wearer'"'"'s face in a frontal plane and passing under the wearer'"'"'s chin, said first band having first and second ends and a closure for adjusting the tension applied by the first band to the wearer'"'"'s head, a second band attached to the first band and with the first band forming a cup for the wearer'"'"'s chin that applies a posterosuperior force on the chin, and a third band adapted to embrace the posterior portion of a wearer'"'"'s head adjacent the wearer'"'"'s temples and having first and second ends, said ends attached to the first band adjacent the wearer'"'"'s temples for adjusting the tension applied by the third band to the posterior portion of the wearer'"'"'s head, a fourth band adapted to embrace the posterior portion of the wearer'"'"'s neck at the base of his or her skull and having first and second ends, said ends attached to the first band adjacent the cup for adjusting the tension applied by the fourth band to the posterior portion of the wearer'"'"'s neck, said bands being pliable but substantially non-elastic, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) applying the harness to a wearer,

(b) tightening the third and fourth bands around the posterior portion of the wearer'"'"'s head, and

(c) inserting a finger between the harness and the wearer under the wearer'"'"'s chin and tightening the first and second bands with the finger under the harness and then removing the finger

whereby the harness tensions the wearer'"'"'s temporomandibular joints and restrains his or her jaw from opening by more than about 11/2 inches.