Method and device for holding a tongue in a forward position

• US 6,408,851 B1
• Filed: 10/01/1999
• Issued: 06/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Manuel L. Karell
• Original Assignee: Manuel L. Karell
• Inventors: Karell, Manuel L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US09/411,349
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 128/846, 128/848, 128/859-862, 602/902
• US Class Current: 128/848
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/566 Intra-oral devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 602/902 Antisnoring or mouth closing devices

Abstract

A device and method for pulling a tongue forward thereby preventing obstruction to the flow of air during sleep or an emergency.

Claims

1. A device for reducing interference of breathing or bruxism by holding a tongue in a forward position comprising a structural support means having a configuration that is adapted for insertion into a user'"'"'s mouth, an attachment means attached directly to said structural support, said attachment means includes a vertical member extending from said structural support and a bar attached to said vertical member by a horizontal pivot mechanism which permits to the bar to be inserted in the tongue, than rotated from a vertical position to a horizontal position so the bar can be locked against the lower surface of the user'"'"'s tongue.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said structural support means further comprises an airway means for providing air exchange between the user'"'"'s and ambient air.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said structural support means further comprises at least one electrode connected to an energy source, wherein said electrode make contact to intraoral structures for increasing muscle tone and muscle contraction.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said attachment means further comprises a tongue piercing means for piercing a hole in user'"'"'s tongue.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the attachment means is a hook.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the vertical member and the bar is bifurcated so the bar can be pass through the hole and form a perpendicular support.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the structural support is configured to be placed between teeth.

8. A method for reducing interference of breathing during an emergency comprising the following steps:

inserting an airway into a mouth wherein said airway comprises a releasable fastening means having a piercing means;

piercing a tongue with said piercing means thereby affixing tongue to airway, pulling tongue forward and preventing obstruction to the flow of air.

9. A device for using method claim 8 for reducing interference of breathing comprising:

a structural support means configured for insertion into a user'"'"'s mouth;

said structural support means comprising an airway means for providing air exchange between the user and ambient air;

said airway means comprising a stop means for preventing the device from wholly entering the mouth;

said structural support means additionally comprising a piercer means for piercing the tongue of the user.

10. A method for reducing interference of breathing during sleep comprising the following step:

placing a bar through a forward portion of a tongue so that during sleep the bar is positioned external to a user'"'"'s dentition for keeping the tongue in a forward position.

11. A device using method of claim 10 for reducing interference of breathing during sleep comprising:

a bar inserted through a user'"'"'s tongue for keeping the tongue in a forward position wherein said bar is placed external to the teeth.

12. A method for reducing interference of breathing by holding a tongue in a forward position comprising the following steps:

making a hole in the tongue of a user;

molding a structural support to fit within a user'"'"'s mouth wherein the structural support comprises a releasable fastener means;

inserting the releasable fastener means through the hole in the tongue thereby affixing the tongue to the structural support, pulling the tongue forward and reducing interference of breathing.

13. A method of claim 12 wherein said structural support additionally comprises one or more electrodes for making contact with one or more intraoral anatomical structures wherein said electrodes are operably connected to an energizing source for an additional step of energizing said electrodes for increasing muscle tone or causing a muscle contraction of the user.

14. A method of claim 12 wherein said structural support additionally comprises an airway means for an additional step of providing for air to exchange between said user and ambient air.