Method and device for the prevention of snoring and sleep apnea
First Claim
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1. A device, comprising:
- a rigid headpiece that fits to a given human head in a stable manner; and
first and second mandibular cradles, said mandibular cradles being operatively attached to said headpiece, wherein said first and second mandibular cradles maintain the mandible in a position anterior to its normal resting position.
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Abstract
Snoring and sleep apnea are prevented by advancing the mandible of an individual during sleep. Instead of using an intra-oral device that has the potential to cause movement of the teeth, an extra-oral device is used, having a rigid headpiece, mandibular cradles that press against the posterior angle of the mandible, and a connector between the headpiece and the jaw pads to cause the force that maintains the mandible in the forward position to be transmitted to the head, rather than the teeth.
46 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A device, comprising:
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a rigid headpiece that fits to a given human head in a stable manner; and
first and second mandibular cradles, said mandibular cradles being operatively attached to said headpiece, wherein said first and second mandibular cradles maintain the mandible in a position anterior to its normal resting position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A device for preventing snoring, comprising:
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a rigid framework adapted to attach to a human head in a removable manner;
a first rod and a second rod, each of said rods being attached at a first end to opposite sides of said rigid framework, wherein, when said rigid framework is seated on a designated human head, a second end of each of said rods extends posterior to the mandible; and
first and second mandibular cradles operatively attached to respective ones of said first and said second rod;
wherein said first and second mandibular cradles are adjustable to provide an anteriorly directed force against the mandible. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for preventing snoring and sleep apnea in a person, comprising the steps of:
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removably seating a rigid framework on the head of the person;
adjusting a pair of mandibular cradles attached to said framework so that said pair of mandibular cradles exert a force on the mandible of the person sufficient to maintain the mandible in a protruded position relative to the maxilla. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification