Tongue positioning device with optional filter
First Claim
1. A tongue positioning mouthpiece comprising:
- a mouthpiece body including a center hole therein, the body further including a flange portion around the periphery thereof;
a pair of bite blocks protruding from the mouthpiece body, the bite blocks positioned on opposing lateral sides of the center hole; and
a tongue bridge fixedly secured between the pair of bite blocks, the tongue bridge located below the centerline of the center hole and disposed away from the mouthpiece body, the tongue bridge further including a platform where a patient'"'"'s tongue is placed under during use of the mouthpiece.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tongue positioning device is disclosed for positioning the tongue within a user'"'"'s mouth. The device includes a tongue positioning mouthpiece that includes a mouthpiece body with a center hole therein. A flange portion extends around the periphery of the mouthpiece body that forms an acoustic seal with the teeth and lips of a patient during use. A pair of bite blocks protrude from the mouthpiece body on opposing lateral sides of the center hole. A tongue bridge is fixedly secured to the bite blocks via a pair of downwardly extending arms. The tongue bridge includes a platform area where a patient'"'"'s tongue is placed under when the mouthpiece is used. A cylindrical portion extends from the mouthpiece body in a direction away from the flange. An optional filter is removable from the cylindrical portion and acts as a protective barrier for viruses, bacteria, microbes, and other pathogens. The filter includes a removable filter body containing a filter media. The tongue bridge can also be incorporated into an oral appliance.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A tongue positioning mouthpiece comprising:
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a mouthpiece body including a center hole therein, the body further including a flange portion around the periphery thereof;
a pair of bite blocks protruding from the mouthpiece body, the bite blocks positioned on opposing lateral sides of the center hole; and
a tongue bridge fixedly secured between the pair of bite blocks, the tongue bridge located below the centerline of the center hole and disposed away from the mouthpiece body, the tongue bridge further including a platform where a patient'"'"'s tongue is placed under during use of the mouthpiece. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A tongue positioning mouthpiece comprising:
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a mouthpiece body including a center hole therein, the body further including a flange portion around the periphery thereof;
a pair of bite blocks protruding from the mouthpiece body, the bite blocks positioned on opposing lateral sides of the center hole;
a pair of downwardly extending arms originating at the pair of bite blocks and extending down and terminating below the centerline of the center hole and away from the surface of the mouthpiece body; and
a tongue bridge fixedly secured to the pair of downwardly extending arms at their point of termination, the tongue bridge located below the centerline of the center hole and away from the mouthpiece body, the tongue bridge further including a platform where a patient'"'"'s tongue is placed under during use of the mouthpiece. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A tongue positioning mouthpiece comprising:
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a mouthpiece body including a center hole therein, the body further including a flange portion around the periphery thereof;
a pair of bite blocks protruding from the mouthpiece body, the bite blocks positioned on opposing lateral sides of the center hole;
a pair of downwardly extending arms originating at the pair of bite blocks and extending down and terminating below the centerline of the center hole and away from the surface of the mouthpiece body;
a tongue bridge fixedly secured between the pair of bite blocks, the tongue bridge located below the centerline of the center hole and away from the mouthpiece body; and
a cylindrical portion extending in a direction away from the flange, the cylindrical portion further including a hollow passageway connecting to the center hole. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A tongue positioning mouthpiece comprising:
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mouthpiece body including a center hole therein, the body further including a flange portion around the periphery thereof;
a pair of bite blocks protruding from the mouthpiece body, the bite blocks positioned on opposing lateral sides of the center hole;
a pair of downwardly extending arms originating at the pair of bite blocks and extending down and terminating below the centerline of the center hole and away from the surface of the mouthpiece body;
a tongue bridge fixedly secured to the pair of downwardly extending arms at their point of termination, the tongue bridge located below the centerline of the center hole and away from the mouthpiece body, the tongue bridge further including a platform where a patient'"'"'s tongue is placed under during use of the mouthpiece;
a cylindrical portion extending in a direction away from the flange, the cylindrical portion further including a hollow passageway connecting to the center hole, the cylindrical portion of the mouthpiece body further including an abutment on the interior surface thereof, the abutment further including a front flexible o-ring seal fixedly attached thereon, the front flexible o-ring seal extending away from the abutment to form a gap region between the front flexible o-ring seal and the interior cylindrical portion;
a removable filter body having a retaining ring therein, an air-tight seal formed between the removable filter body and the mouthpiece body when the removable filter body is positioned in the mouthpiece body; and
a filter media that acts as a protective barrier for viruses, bacteria, microbes, and other pathogens, the filter media sandwiched between the front flexible o-ring seal and the retaining ring of the filter body. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
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37. A tongue positioning mouthpiece comprising:
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a mouthpiece body including a center hole therein, the body including a flange portion around the periphery thereof, the body further including a cylindrical portion extending in a direction away from the flange, the cylindrical portion including a hollow passageway therein that connects to the center hole;
a filter media disposed within the cylindrical portion of the mouthpiece body;
a pair of bite blocks protruding from the mouthpiece body, the bite blocks positioned on opposing lateral sides of the center hole; and
a tongue bridge fixedly secured to the mouthpiece, the tongue bridge located below the centerline of the center hole and away from the mouthpiece body, the tongue bridge further including a platform where a patient'"'"'s tongue is placed under during use of the mouthpiece. - View Dependent Claims (38)
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39. A tongue positioning mouthpiece comprising:
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a mouthpiece body including a center hole therein, the body including a flange portion around the periphery thereof, the body further including a cylindrical portion extending in a direction away from the flange, the cylindrical portion including a hollow passageway therein that connects to the center hole;
an abutment located on an interior surface of the cylindrical portion of the mouthpiece body, the abutment having a front flexible o-ring seal fixedly attached thereon;
a pair of bite blocks protruding from the mouthpiece body, the bite blocks positioned on opposing lateral sides of the center hole; and
a tongue bridge fixedly secured to the mouthpiece, the tongue bridge located below the centerline of the center hole and away from the mouthpiece body, the tongue bridge further including a platform where a patient'"'"'s tongue is placed under during use of the mouthpiece. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification