Anti-snoring device and method

• US 6,467,485 B1
• Filed: 10/01/2001
• Issued: 10/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Xomed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Bruno Schmidt
• Inventors: Schmidt, Bruno
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US09/967,540
• Time in Patent Office: 386 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

An apparatus that inhibits snoring includes a handle and a distal free end that is disposed at an angle relative to the handle to facilitate placing the distal free end against the soft pallet at the back of a throat. A flexible material such as a sheet of paper is placed into overlying relation to the distal free end and a layer of adhesive is disposed in overlying relation to the paper. When the distal free end of the apparatus is pressed against the soft pallet, the adhesive quickly adheres to the soft pallet so that the paper adheres to the soft pallet when the apparatus is withdrawn. The paper provides rigidity that inhibits vibration of the soft pallet. Multiple layers of paper may be used. In an alternative embodiment, at least one layer of adhesive is applied to prevent vibration of the soft pallet and no paper is needed.

Claims

1. A device that inhibits snoring, comprising:

an applicator having a handle and a distal free end;

a flexible material having sufficient rigidity to inhibit vibration of a soft pallet when air flows past said soft pallet;

said flexible material being disposed in overlying relation to said distal free end of said applicator;

a thin layer of a non-toxic adhesive disposed in overlying relation to said flexible material;

whereby said material is pressed against said soft pallet so that said material is transferred from said distal free end to said soft pallet when said adhesive adheres to said soft pallet;

whereby said material adds sufficient rigidity to said soft pallet to inhibit vibration of said soft pallet when air flows past said soft pallet.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein a bend is formed in said applicator so that said distal end is disposed in angular relation to said handle to facilitate placement of said material onto said soft pallet.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said material is a cellulose-based paper.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said material is a rice-based paper.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said material is a hemp-based paper.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said material is bioabsorbable.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said adhesive is bioabsorbable.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said material is impregnated with at least one preselected compound of the type that promotes a fresh and odor-free mouth at the end of a sleep period.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said handle has a convex curvature.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein said distal free end has a convex curvature.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of parallel, transversely disposed grooves formed on said distal free end.

12. A method that inhibits snoring, comprising the steps of:

providing an applicator having a handle and a distal free end;

positioning in overlying relation to said distal free end a flexible material having sufficient rigidity to inhibit vibration of a soft pallet when air flows past said soft pallet;

applying a thin layer of a non-toxic adhesive in overlying relation to said flexible material;

pressing said material against said soft pallet so that said material is transferred from said distal free end to said soft pallet when said adhesive cures and said applicator is withdrawn so that said material adds sufficient rigidity to said soft pallet to inhibit vibration of said soft pallet when air flows past said soft pallet.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of forming a bend in said handle so that said distal free end is disposed in angular relation to said handle to facilitate placing said material in overlying relation to said soft pallet.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of repeating said positioning step at least once so that at least a second layer of said flexible material is disposed in overlying relation to said first-applied flexible material to increase the rigidity of said soft pallet.

15. A method that inhibits scoring, comprising the step of spraying a soft pallet with a non-toxic adhesive that increases the rigidity of said soft pallet when said adhesive cures.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of repeating said spraying step at least once after said first-sprayed adhesive has cured to further increase the rigidity of said soft pallet.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of spraying said soft pallet with a bioabsorbable adhesive.