Tongue stabilising device

• US 20040134490A1
• Filed: 10/29/2003
• Published: 07/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovative Health Technologies (NZ) Limited
• Original Assignee: Innovative Health Technologies (NZ) Limited
• Inventors: Robertson, Christopher John, Whittington, James Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,073,506 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/200.24
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/56 Devices for preventing snoring by influencing the respiratory system by gas treatment A61M16/00

Abstract

A one piece tongue stabilising device formed of a resiliently flexible material and comprises a body having a hollow interior within which the end of a user'"'"'s tongue fits and is held by negative pressure. The body of the device comprises an entry portion having an opening to the hollow interior of the device and a bulb portion connected by a narrower diameter neck portion. Tabs extend from the bulb portion which in use engage the exterior of the user'"'"'s face around the user'"'"'s mouth or between the user'"'"'s teeth and lips, to hold the tongue forward to assist in opening user'"'"'s airway and reducing snoring. A major benefit of the device of the invention is that it does not require specialist fitting or the taking of upper and lower jaw impressions of the patient to produce a tailored device for the patient.

Claims

1. A one piece tongue stabilising device formed of a resiliently flexible material and comprising a body having a hollow interior within which the end of a user'"'"'s tongue fits and is held by negative pressure when the device is fitted on to the user'"'"'s tongue and which body comprises an entry portion having an opening to the hollow interior of the device and a bulb portion connected by a narrower diameter neck portion, and tabs extending from the bulb portion which in use engage the exterior of the user'"'"'s face around the user'"'"'s mouth or between the user'"'"'s teeth and lips, to hold the tongue forward to assist in opening user'"'"'s airway and reducing snoring.

2. A tongue stabilising device according to claim 1 wherein said entry portion is tapered with a reducing diameter from said opening to said neck portion.

3. A tongue stabilising device according to claim 2 wherein at least said opening and said entry portion have a larger cross-sectional dimension across the device.

4. A tongue stabilising device according to either one of claims 2 and 3 wherein the hollow interior of the device has a general heart shape in cross-section at said neck portion.

5. A tongue stabilising device as claimed in claim 4 including a cut out into the side wall of the entry portion.

6. A tongue stabilising device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said tabs comprise a first tab extending from the exterior of said bulb portion substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the device for engaging the exterior of the user'"'"'s mouth or between the user'"'"'s teeth and lips, and a second tab extending in substantially an opposite direction to said first tab.

7. A tongue stabilising device according to claim 6 wherein said tabs are hollow.

8. A one piece tongue stabilising device formed of a resiliently flexible material and comprising a body having a hollow interior within which the end of a user'"'"'s tongue fits and is held by negative pressure when the device is fitted on to the user'"'"'s tongue and which body comprises an opening to the hollow interior of the device, a bulb portion, and a narrower diameter neck portion between said opening and said bulb portion and which is tapered with a reducing diameter from said opening to said neck portion, and tabs extending from the bulb portion which in use engage the exterior of the user'"'"'s face around the user'"'"'s mouth, to hold the tongue forward to assist in opening user'"'"'s airway and reducing snoring.

9. A tongue stabilising device according to claim 8 wherein at least said opening and said entry portion have a larger cross-sectional dimension across the device.

10. A tongue stabilising device according to claim 9 wherein the hollow interior of the device has a general heart shape in cross-section at said neck portion.