Apparatus for prevention of snoring and improved breathing during sleep

• US 6,516,805 B1
• Filed: 03/31/1997
• Issued: 02/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Airway Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Thornton W Keith
• Inventors: Thornton, W. Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US08/828,523
• Time in Patent Office: 2,143 Days
• Field of Search: 128/846, 128/848, 128/859-862, 2/2, 602/902
• US Class Current: 128/848
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/566 Intra-oral devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/00 Devices for influencing the respiratory system of patients by gas treatment, e.g. mouth-to-mouth respiration; Tracheal tubes stimulating the respiratory movement by mechanical, pneumatic or electrical means, iron lungs combined with gas breathing means A61H31/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0493 with means for protecting the tube from damage caused by the patient's teeth, e.g. bite block
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 602/902 Antisnoring or mouth closing devices

Abstract

A dental device is provided in which an upper arch (12) and a lower arch (14) are inserted in a user'"'"'s mouth. A deformable material (20) is included with upper arch (12) and lower arch (14) so as to allow a user to form his or her own teeth molding. A post (16) extends from the upper arch (12) and contacts the lower arch (14) so as to extend the user'"'"'s lower jaw forward, thereby reducing snoring.

Claims

1. An oral appliance, comprising:

an upper arch including a deformable material in which a mold of one or more of a user'"'"'s upper teeth may be formed, the upper arch further including a downwardly extending post; and

a lower arch including a deformable material in which a mold of one or more of the user'"'"'s lower teeth may be formed, the lower arch uncoupled from the upper arch until the appliance is inserted into the user'"'"'s mouth, the post contacting a surface of the lower arch after the appliance is inserted into the user'"'"'s mouth to cause the user'"'"'s lower jaw to extend forward from its natural position.

2. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the forward location of the lower arch is adjustable while the appliance is inserted into the user'"'"'s mouth.

3. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the post is forwardly adjustable.

4. The appliance of claim 1 further comprising an adjustable stop coupled to the lower arch, the post operable to contact the adjustable stop.

5. The appliance of claim 1, wherein:

the upper arch includes a slot; and

the post is operable to engage the upper arch using the slot.

6. The appliance of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of posts, only one of which is engaged with the upper arch at any one time, the posts having different forward locations with respect to the user when engaged with the upper arch.

7. The appliance of claim 1, further comprising a set screw operable to adjust the forward position of the post.

8. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the appliance is operable to cause the user'"'"'s lower jaw to extend forward to a fixed forward position.

9. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the post is operable to engage the lower arch.

10. The appliance of claim 9, wherein:

the post includes a first shoulder; and

the lower arch includes a second shoulder operable to engage the first shoulder.

11. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the appliance accommodates lateral movement of the lower jaw.

12. An oral appliance, comprising:

an upper arch adapted to receive one or more of a user'"'"'s upper teeth and including a downwardly extending post, the upper arch leaving the most posterior upper teeth exposed; and

a lower arch uncoupled from the upper arch until the appliance is inserted into the user'"'"'s mouth, the lower arch adapted to receive one or more of the user'"'"'s lower teeth, the lower arch leaving the most posterior lower teeth exposed, the post operable to contact a surface of the lower arch after the appliance is inserted into the user'"'"'s mouth to cause the user'"'"'s lower jaw to extend forward from its natural position, the appliance operable to maintain a separation between the most posterior lower teeth and the most posterior upper teeth.

13. The appliance of claim 12, wherein the forward location of the lower arch is adjustable while the appliance is inserted into the user'"'"'s mouth.

14. A method of treating a user'"'"'s breathing disorder using an oral appliance, comprising:

inserting an upper arch into the user'"'"'s mouth, the upper arch comprising a mold of one or more of the user'"'"'s upper teeth formed using a deformable material, the upper arch further comprising a downwardly extending post;

inserting a lower arch into the user'"'"'s mouth, the lower arch comprising a mold of one or more of the user'"'"'s lower teeth formed using a deformable material, the lower arch uncoupled from the upper arch;

contacting, with the post, a surface of the lower arch after the upper arch and the lower arch have been inserted into the user'"'"'s mouth; and

causing the user'"'"'s lower jaw to extend forward from its natural position for purposes of treating the user'"'"'s breathing disorder.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising adjusting the forward position of the lower arch while the oral appliance is inserted into the user'"'"'s mouth.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the user'"'"'s lower jaw is extended forward to a to a fixed forward position.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein contacting the surface of the lower arch comprises contacting, with the post, an adjustable stop coupled to the lower arch.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising adjusting the forward position of the post while the oral appliance is inserted into the user'"'"'s mouth.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising engaging the lower arch with the post.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising accommodating lateral movement of the lower jaw while the oral appliance is inserted into the user'"'"'s mouth.